HMAS Diamantina (K377)
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 HMAS Diamantina (K377) |
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| Career (Australia) |  Royal Australian Navy |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Diamantina River |
| Builder: | Walkers Ltd., Maryborough |
| Laid down: | 12 Apr 1943 |
| Launched: | 6 Apr 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 27 Apr 1945 |
| Decommissioned: | 21 Feb 1980 |
| Fate: | Preserved as a museum ship at Queensland Maritime Museum. |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | River class frigate |
| Displacement: | 1,420 long tons (1,440 t/1,590 S/T) 2,020 L/T (2,050 t/2,260 S/T) (deep load) |
| Length: | 283 feet (86.26 m) p/p 301.25 feet (91.82 m)o/a |
| Beam: | 36.5 feet (11.13 m) |
| Draught: | 9 feet (2.74 m); 13 feet (3.96 m) (deep load) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, reciprocating vertical triple expansion, 5,500 ihp (4,100 kW) |
| Speed: | 20 knots (37.0 km/h) |
| Range: | 500 L/T (510 t/560 S/T) oil fuel; 5,180 nautical miles (9,593 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h) |
| Complement: | 140 |
| Armament: |
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HMAS Diamantina (K377) was a River class frigate that served the Royal Australian Navy from 1944-1946.
She was named for the Diamantina River in Queensland and was one of twelve River class frigates built for the RAN during World War II.
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[edit] Construction
Diamantina was laid down on 12 April 1943 at Walkers Ltd., Maryborough. She was launched on 6 April 1944 and commissioned into the RAN at Hervey Bay, Queensland on 27 April 1945 carrying pennant number K377. Her first commanding officer was Cmdr. G.M. Rose.
[edit] Service history
Diamantina saw several months war-time service in the RAN before the Surrender of Japan. She was paid off to reserve on 9 August 1946, but was recommissioned as an oceanographic survey ship on 22 June 1959.
As an oceanographic survey ship Diamantina was responsible for discovering the deepest point in the Indian Ocean in 1961, which was named Diamantina Trench. She carried the pennant numbers F377, A266, and GOR266 at various points throughout her career.
[edit] Preservation
Diamantina paid off from the RAN on 29 February 1980, and was the last World War II-era frigate to serve Australia. Diamantina was handed over to the Queensland Maritime Museum where she was permanently berthed in the drydock located on the Brisbane River. In March 2006, Diamantina was towed out into the river to allow repairs to the dock, which had been flooded since the seals failed in 1998. As of July 2006, she has been returned to the dry dock adjacent to the Queensland Maritime Museum, where she is used as a self-touring museum ship.
[edit] References
[edit] Gallery
 Engine room |
 In dry dock |
 Wheel house |
 Radio room |
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