Explorer-class general-purpose vessel

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MV Bass at Ballast Point.jpg
MV Bass moored off Ballast Point in 2012
Class overview
Name: Explorer
Builders: Walkers Limited, Maryborough, Queensland
Operators:Naval Ensign of Australia.svg  Royal Australian Navy
Built: 1959-1960
In service: 1960 to 1995
In commission: 1960-1982
Completed: 2
Active: 0
General characteristics
Type: General Purpose Vessel
Displacement:
  • 207 tonnes standard
  • 260 tonnes full load
Length:
  • 90 ft (27 m) between perpendiculars
  • 101 ft (31 m) overall
Beam: 22 ft (6.7 m)
Draught: 8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion: Diesel twin screw, 342 shaft horsepower (255 kW)
Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Complement: 14
Armament: .50 cal machine guns fitted as required

The Explorer class was a two-ship class of general purpose vessels of the Royal Australian Navy that served between 1960 and 1995. [1]

Royal Australian Navy naval warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force, called the Commonwealth Naval Forces. Originally intended for local defence, the navy was granted the title of 'Royal Australian Navy' in 1911, and became increasingly responsible for defence of the region.

Contents

Design

The Explorer class was a two-ship class of general purpose vessels built for the RAN. [2] The ships had a displacement of 207 tons at standard load and 260 tons at full load. [2] Each was 90 feet (27 m) long between perpendiculars [ citation needed ] and 101 feet (31 m) long overall, had a beam of 22 feet (6.7 m), and a draught of 8 feet (2.4 m). [2] Propulsion machinery consisted of GM diesels, which supplied 348 shaft horsepower (260 kW) to the two propeller screws, and allowed the vessel to reach 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph). [2] The ship's company consisted of 14 personnel. [2] The ship's armament of light weapons (usually .50 calibre machine guns[ citation needed ]) were only fitted as needed. [2]

Displacement (ship) ships weight

The displacement or displacement tonnage of a ship is its weight based on the amount of water its hull displaces at varying loads. It is measured indirectly using Archimedes' principle by first calculating the volume of water displaced by the ship then converting that value into weight displaced. Traditionally, various measurement rules have been in use, giving various measures in long tons. Today, metric tonnes are more used.

Length overall maximum length of a vessels hull measured parallel to the waterline

Length overall is the maximum length of a vessel's hull measured parallel to the waterline. This length is important while docking the ship. It is the most commonly used way of expressing the size of a ship, and is also used for calculating the cost of a marina berth.

The two vessel, HMAS Bass and HMAS Banks, were built by Walkers Limited of Maryborough, Queensland. [3] Both were laid down in 1959, and were commissioned into the RAN in 1960. [3]

HMAS <i>Bass</i>

HMAS Bass was an Explorer class general-purpose vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), serving in a range of capacities from 1960 until 1994.

HMAS <i>Banks</i>

HMAS Banks was an Explorer class general-purpose vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), serving in a range of capacities from 1960 until 1995. She was named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks, the botanist aboard HM Bark Endeavour during the discovery of the eastern coast of Australia in 1770.

Walkers Limited Australian locomotive manufacturer

Walkers Limited was an Australian engineering company, based in Maryborough, Queensland. It built ships and railway locomotives. The Walkers factory still produces railway locomotives and rolling stock as part of Downer Rail.

Operational history

The Explorers' primary roles were hydrographic survey and reservist training, among other duties. [2]

Hydrographic survey

Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/offshore oil drilling and related activities. Strong emphasis is placed on soundings, shorelines, tides, currents, seabed and submerged obstructions that relate to the previously mentioned activities. The term hydrography is used synonymously to describe maritime cartography, which in the final stages of the hydrographic process uses the raw data collected through hydrographic survey into information usable by the end user.

In December 1982, both vessels were decommissioned. [2] Despite this, they remained active in training until the mid-1990s. [2]

Ships

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References

Citations
  1. 1 2 3 Wilson, Royal Australian Navy 21st Century Warships, p. 37
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 46
  3. 1 2 Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 47
Bibliography
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