HMAS ''Tamworth'' (J181/B250/A124), named for the city of
Tamworth, New South Wales, was one of 60 s constructed during
World War II and one of 20 built on
Admiralty order but manned by personnel of and later commissioned into the
Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
''Tamworth'' later saw service in the
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Royal Netherlands Navy ( nl, Koninklijke Marine, links=no) is the naval force of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
During the 17th century, the navy of the Dutch Republic (1581–1795) was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world an ...
(RNLN) and in the
Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL).
[
]
Design and construction
In 1938, the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board (ACNB) identified the need for a general purpose 'local defence vessel' capable of both anti-submarine and mine-warfare duties, while easy to construct and operate.[Stevens, ''The Australian Corvettes'', p. 1][Stevens, ''A Critical Vulnerability'', p. 103] The vessel was initially envisaged as having a displacement of approximately 500 tons, a speed of at least , and a range of [Stevens, ''A Critical Vulnerability'', pp. 103–4] The opportunity to build a prototype in the place of a cancelled Bar-class boom defence vessel
The Bar class were a class of boom defence vessels of the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy and South African Navy during World War II.
Ships Royal Navy
* HMS ''Barbain'' (Z01)
* HMS ''Barbarian'' (Z18)
* HMS ''Barbastel'' (Z276)
* HMS ''Bar ...
saw the proposed design increased to a 680-ton vessel, with a top speed, and a range of , armed with a 4 inch Mk XIX gun, equipped with asdic, and able to fitted with either depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive Shock factor, hydraulic shock. Most depth ...
s or minesweeping equipment depending on the planned operations: although closer in size to a sloop
A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig, and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular sa ...
than a local defence vessel, the resulting increased capabilities were accepted due to advantages over British-designed mine warfare and anti-submarine vessels.[ Construction of the prototype did not go ahead, but the plans were retained.][Stevens, ''A Critical Vulnerability'', p. 104] The need for locally built 'all-rounder' vessels at the start of World War II saw the "Australian Minesweepers" (designated as such to hide their anti-submarine capability, but popularly referred to as "corvettes") approved in September 1939, with 60 constructed during the course of the war: 36 ordered by the RAN, 20 (including ''Tamworth'') ordered by the British Admiralty
The Admiralty was a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy until 1964, historically under its titular head, the Lord High Admiral – one of the Great Officers of State. For much of it ...
but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels, and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy.[Stevens, ''A Critical Vulnerability'', pp. 105, 148][Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 29][Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 108][
''Tamworth'' was laid down by Walkers Limited at ]Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough ( ) is a city and a suburb in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. At the 2021 Census, Maryborough had a population of 15,287.
Geography
Maryborough is located on the Mary River in Queensland, Australia, approximate ...
on 25 August 1941.[ She was launched on 14 March 1942 by Mrs. A. M. Horsburgh, the wife of one of the shipyard's directors, and commissioned on 8 August 1942.][
]
Operational history
From February 1943 until January 1945, ''Tamworth'' was assigned to the British Eastern Fleet.[ Following this, she was deployed with the British Pacific Fleet.][ ''Tamworth'' returned to Australian operational control on 28 September 1945.][ ''Tamworth'' earned two battle honours for her wartime service, "Pacific 1942–45" and "Indian Ocean 1943–44".][ In RNLN service, the ship operated under the name HNLMS ''Tidore'', and served until December 1949.][
Following this, the ship was transferred to the Indonesian Navy, renamed RI ''Pati Unus'', and served until disposal in 1969.][
]
Citations
References
Books
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Journal and news articles
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External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamworth (J181)
Bathurst-class corvettes of the Royal Australian Navy
Ships built in Queensland
1942 ships
World War II corvettes of Australia
Bathurst-class corvettes of the Indonesian Navy
Corvettes of the Cold War