TRV ''Tuna'' (801) was one of three Torpedo Recovery Vessels operated by the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

(RAN) and Defence Maritime Services (DMS). Ordered in 1969, the vessel, originally identified as TRV 253, was completed in 1970 and assigned to the torpedo firing range at Jervis Bay. The ship received a name and the pennant number "TRV 801" in 1983. In 1988, the three vessels were sold to DMS. ''Tuna'' was assigned to the naval base at in Jervis Bay. ''Tuna'' was active in DMS service as of 2007.

Design and construction

The class was ordered in 1969 as replacements for World War II-era torpedo recovery vessels. The vessels each have a full load displacement of , a length of , a beam of , and a draught of . Propulsion machinery consists of three GM V8 diesels, which supply to the three propeller shafts. Top speed is , and the vessels have an endurance of 63 hours at . Each Fish-class vessel can recover up to eight torpedoes via a watertight stern gate.Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', pp. 104–5 They are unarmed, and their sensor suite is limited to an I-band navigational radar. Nine personnel make up the crew. Three vessels were built at

Williamstown Dockyard Williamstown Dockyard was one of Australia's principal ship building yards at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia. The Colony of Victoria decided to construct a large slipway at Williamstown to provide ship repair facilities in 1856 and the Govern ...

for the

, with TRV 253 completed in 1970.Saunders (ed.), ''IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013'', p. 36

Operational history

On entering service, TRV 253 was assigned to the target range at Jervis Bay. In addition to torpedo recovery, the vessels were used as dive tenders and as training vessels for the

Royal Australian Naval Reserve The Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Australian Navy in Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian co ...

. In 1983, the boats were named and redesignated, with TRV 253 become ''Tuna'', with the pennant number "TRV 801". In 1988, the three vessels were sold to DMS.Saunders (ed.), ''IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013'', p. 35 As part of the company's role in providing maritime support for the RAN, ''Tuna'' was assigned to the nearby naval base .Wertheim, ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World'', p. 32 ''Tuna'' was still active with DMS as of 2007, but was no longer listed as active by 2012.

Citations

References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tuna Ships built in Victoria (Australia) Fish-class torpedo recovery vessels