By

                                                                               Robin Clark

                                                           ( photo courtesy of  RAN HMAS  Torren`s)

A class of six ships have played an important role in the post war history of the Royal Australian Navy. Named after Australian rivers, the ships became known as the River Class. The ships are significant in that they introduced the Australian Navy to guided missile weapons systems, and also in that they were the last of the Australian surface fighting ships of a British design. Traditionally, since the formation of the Royal Australian Navy, Australia had operated ships, armaments and stores based on Royal Navy classes; the three classes of surface fighting ships subsequent to the River Class are of United States and German designs.

In August 1950 the Australian Government decided to acquire a new generation of anti-submarine frigates. Initially six vessels were to be built, three each in the dockyards at Cockatoo Island, Sydney and Williamstown, Melbourne, however, in the event, only four hulls were ordered. The ships were to be similar to the Royal Navy Type 12 or Rothsay class, but with modifications in habitability and equipment to meet specific RAN needs.

The Type 12 has proven to be one of the most successful British frigate designs since the Second World War. The ships were designed to protect convoys and to be effective submarine hunters. A total of 41 were built for the Royal Navy as well as a large number for service with the navies of other countries, including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, India and the Netherlands.

In 1964 following the loss of the destroyer, HMAS VOYAGER, the Australian Government ordered two additional frigates as replacements. The new ships, SWAN and TORRENS, would have the same hull dimensions as the previous four vessels, but with superstructures similar to the Royal Navy Leander class. The main differences between the two Australian ships and the Leanders were that they were not fitted with helicopter decks or hangar space, they had a redesigned bipod mast with spherical director on the top, a squatter funnel and a lower radar mounting aft of the funnel.

                                                              (photo courtesy of RAN  HMAS SWAN)

SWAN and TORRENS were the first Australian warships to be equipped with a computer-controlled and radar-guided gun turret, and also the first to have automatic steering. The pair was also the first Australian fighting ships to be built with stabilisers.

All six ships were based on the Type 12 design, however, there were significant differences in their profiles to form three sub-groups. HMAS PARRAMATTA and YARRA, the first two built, had their sterns stepped down to a lower level. The second pair, DERWENT and STUART had sterns level with main deck, but with a cutout at the starboard side aft. The final pair SWAN and TORRENS, apart from the Leander style superstructure, had sterns level with main deck. They also had a small aperture on the starboard side forward of the stern to house the Ikara anti-submarine missile launcher.

Although originally ordered as frigates, the class designation was changed to destroyer escort in 1969. This was to more closely reflect the role played by the ships in the Australian naval strategy.

The River Class served Australia for 37 years from 1961 to 1998. In this time the ships have been key elements of the Australian fleet. They have proved to be versatile and reliable ships performing a wide array of tasks.

HMAS DERWENT was the first of the class to be equipped with the Seacat anti-aircraft missile system. The missile launchers were fitted during construction. On 25 May 1964 she test-fired a Seacat missile and became the first Australian warship to fire a guided missile.

Through their lives the River Class ships have played an important role in the development of Australian designed weapon systems. Key amongst these being the Ikara and Mulloka weapons.

In 1963, HMAS STUART was the first of the frigates to be fitted with the Australian designed and developed anti-submarine guided missile system, Ikara. From her commissioning until June 1965 she was almost wholly engaged in the testing and development Ikara. In November 1965, DERWENT was the next to be fitted with Ikara. PARRAMATTA and YARRA were subsequently equipped with Ikara during refits in 1967. SWAN and TORRENS were equipped with Ikara whilst being built. The anti submarine system was also fitted to the Australian Charles F Adams destroyers as well as to ships of the Royal and Brazilian Navies.

YARRA was fitted with the Mulloka sonar system during a refit at Cockatoo Island Dockyard conducted between October 1976 and December 1977. In the following year the ship was almost exclusively used for Mulloka trials. The system has subsequently been fitted to the other surface fighting ships of the Australian Navy.

In May 1965, while on passage from Singapore to Manilla to participate in the SEATO Exercise Sea Horse, HMAS YARRA was diverted to locate and mark the wreck of the Royal Navy battle cruiser, HMS REPULSE. The wreck was found laying at a depth of 16.5 fathoms about 45 nautical miles to the north of Pulau Tioman off the west coast of Malaya. The purpose of locating REPULSE was that Royal Navy divers could recover the ship’s bell. A diving team from HMS BARFOIL later dived on the wreck, but was unable to find the bell. The ship lay at about 30 degrees to the port with the bell mounting buried under silt and sand. There is an ongoing attempt by the British Government to have the REPULSE and the PRINCE OF WALES wrecks declared as war graves and restrict diver access, action made difficult as the wrecks are in international waters.

                                                                           (Photo RAN  HMAS Torrens)

Over the years there have been a number of Royal visits to Australia, some of which included the use of the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA. On each occasion a naval ships of the Royal Australian Navy escorted the Royal Yacht while she was in Australian waters. On three occasions ships of the River Class performed the escort duty. In March 1963 HMAS PARRAMATTA and HMAS YARRA together with the destroyer, HMAS ANZAC performed the escort duty. In April 1970, HMAS STUART escorted the Royal Yacht. Four years later BRITANNIA was again in the south Pacific, and this time the escort duties were performed by HMAS TORRENS.

Ships of the Royal Australian Navy share the waters of Sydney Harbour, and inevitably incidents occur between naval ships and the large number of vessels on the busy harbour. On 28 February 1970, HMAS PARRAMATTA was involved with a collision with the Sydney ferry BELLUBERA. The warship had been refuelling at Chowder Bay in Sydney Harbour. At 4.35 pm, the warship was being towed backwards to Garden Island when she crossed the path of the ferry. PARRAMATTA suffered some damage; a hole 1.8 by 2.5 meters punched in her side, whereas the ferry incurred minor damage to her bows and forward rudder.

Some years later a member of the class was again involved with a Sydney ferry, although not on Sydney Harbour. On this occasion HMAS YARRA together with HMAS TEAL and HMAS PERTH sunk the retired ferry KARA KARA. The ferry was sunk as a target about 30 nautical miles off Jervis Bay on 31 January 1973.

Since the 1980s the Australian Government has adopted a two-ocean navy policy. Under this policy the navy operates from two major bases, one in Sydney Harbour, known as Fleet Base East and one in Western Australia, known as Fleet Base West, or HMAS Stirling. The first warship to be permanently based in the west was HMAS STUART, transferred there in January 1984. HMAS SWAN later joined STUART. In January 1987 HMAS DERWENT was moved to the west. The last of the class to be stationed at Fleet Base West was HMAS TORRENS, moved there in 1991

In the late 1980s two naval reviews were staged in Sydney Harbour. The first in 1986 celebrated the 75^th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy. PARRAMATTA, DERWENT and TORRENS took part in this review. The second review in October 1988 was part of the Australian bicentennial celebrations. PARRAMATTA, STUART and TORRENS represented the class in this event.

Members of the class have visited other countries to take part in various national celebrations. During June 1976, HMAS STUART visited the United States to participate in that nation’s bicentennial celebrations. The tour included visits to Hawaii, San Francisco, San Diego and Esquimalt. Other Australian ships to visit the United States during the bicentennial celebrations were HMAS SUPPLY, HMAS VAMPIRE and HMAS HOBART. During May 1990 sixty-four warships from eighteen countries attended the Malaysian Fleet Review. PARAMATTA and DERWENT as well as the frigate CANBERRA represented Australia. In August 1995 HMAS TORRENS together with DARWIN, WOOLLONGONG and YOUNG ENDEAVOUR made a visit to Jakarta to join in the celebration of Indonesia’s 50^th Anniversary of independence.

In September 1981, HMAS SWAN made a four-day visit to Shanghai. This was the first Australian naval vessel to visit modern day China. The visit took place between visits to Japan and Hong Kong. From 31 August until 3 September the ship anchored in the typhoon anchorage at Yawosha sheltering from Typhoon Agnes. This delayed the scheduled arrival at Shanghai. Units of the class again visited China on two subsequent occasions. HMAS STUART and YARRA together with the destroyer tender HMAS STALWART paid a visit in September 1984. The last members of the class to visit China were PARRAMATTA and DERWENT in August 1986.

At the ends of their service lives, prior to being decommissioned, two of the class, DERWENT and TORRENS assumed roles as training ships. In each case the Ikara and Sea Cat missile systems were removed. TORRENS had her complement reduced to 207. DERWENT had one remaining weapons task. That was to trial the RBS70 surface-to-air missile system before it was fitted to the fleet oiler HMAS WESTRALIA for her deployment to the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War and the subsequent naval activity in support of United Nations trade sanctions imposed on Iraq.

In spite of their long service life with the Royal Australian Navy, the ships of the class have had a relatively limited exposure to combat conditions.

In 1963 the nation of Malaysia was formed with the federation of Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah (North Borneo) and Singapore (later to withdraw from the federation). Indonesia expressed strong opposition to the establishment of the new nation, and promptly adopted a policy of confrontation with a threat to crush Malaysia. Australia provided military assistance to Malaysian and British forces. Included in the Australian military forces were units of the Royal Australian Navy in the British Commonwealth Strategic reserve. These warships were available for patrol and escort operations.

In April 1964 YARRA and PARRAMATTA operated patrols off the Malayan coast. The patrols were to intercept intruding fast patrol boats and submarines. Later that year HMAS DERWENT joined the Australian naval forces on patrol duties

Indonesia mounted numerous incursions of troops into Malaysian Borneo as well as sea landings on the Malayan coast and light naval raids in the Straits of Malacca. Indonesian forces crossed into eastern Sabatik Island near Tawau in June and July of 1965. HMAS YARRA was guard ship off Tawau at that time and engaged in shore bombardment against the invading forces.

The policy of confrontation ended in 1966 when the Indonesian Government formally recognised the nation of Malaysia.

Unlike the Perth Class destroyers, the River Class ships did not see active service during Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict. This was largely to the belief by naval planners that the ships would not adequately fit in with the United States Navy vessels and equipment. However, all six members of the class undertook escort duties in Vietnamese waters. They escorted the former aircraft carrier HMAS SYDNEY, which was converted to a fast troop transport, as well as other vessels used to carry personnel and equipment between Australia and Vietnam. Australian naval vessels escorting the troop transport included the River Class.

The six ships served throughout the Australian commitment to the conflict. YARRA performed five tours between April 1966 and February 1971. PARRAMATTA undertook three tours between May 1965 and May 1971. STUART performed two tours between May 1967 and January 1968. DERWENT sailed on three tours between May 1966 and November 1971. Between October and December 1971, HMAS SWAN made two tours of duty. The last vessel of the class, HMAS TORRENS undertook one tour of duty starting in February 1972

As well as participating in Australian involvements in regional conflicts, taking part in numerous military exercises and general naval tasks, ships of the Class have engaged in a number of activities that could be best described as humanitarian.

One of the first duties of the then recently commissioned HMAS STUART was the rescue of survivors from the destroyer HMAS VOYAGER. On the night of 10^th February 1964 the Australian Navy experienced its worst peacetime accident. Whilst engaged in night flying exercises off Jervis Bay, the aircraft carrier, HMAS MELBOURNE, collided with the destroyer. The latter sank with the loss of 82 men out of the complement of 314.

From September 1967 to March 1968, HMAS YARRA was deployed in the Far East with elements of the Royal Navy. During this time she assisted HMS AJAX in the search and rescue of personnel from a RAF Shackleton which had ditched west of Sumatra. Three survivors were found, including one who needed urgent medical attention. The survivors were transferred to YARRA for attention and eventual hospital treatment while AJAX continued her voyage.

Whilst participating in a SEATO exercise in the South China Sea, the aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE was again involved in a naval accident when she collided with the United States destroyer FRANK E EVANS on 2 June 1969. The destroyer sank with heavy loss of life. HMAS STUART, one of the Australian vessels in the exercise, assisted in the search and rescue of survivors.

Following the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, the world saw the outpouring of refugees from that country. People sailed from South Vietnam in small and often unseaworthy craft, earning themselves the nickname "boat people’. On occasions Australian naval ships, including SWAN and TORRENS, have rescued refugees. In June 1980 HMAS SWAN rescued 72 people in the South China Sea. A year later, HMAS MELBOURNE and HMAS TORRENS, while in the South China Sea, rescued 99 people about 200 nautical miles east of Ho Chi Minh City.

On Christmas Day 1974, the Australian northern city of Darwin was severely damaged by the force of Cyclone Tracy. The Australian Government was quick to respond and a task force comprising units of the navy, army and airforce was set up to deliver essential supplies, establish communications links and to provide personnel to assist in repairs and to clear debris. HMAS STUART was part of the naval task force, the other vessels being BRISBANE, MELBOURNE, SUPPLY, STALWART, HOBART, and VENDETTA.

In July 1976 a large earthquake hit the Indonesian island of Bali. HMAS PARRAMATTA, en route to the Far East, was diverted to provide immediate assistance to the local community. Personnel from the ship helped restore electricity supply, provided medical care and cleared debris at the town of Seririt.

(Photos RAN HMAS TORRENS meets her end from a hit by a mk48 torpedo  fired from HMAS Farncomb Collins Class SSK)

After many years the ships reached the end of their effective service life. The lack of development of the Ikara system, the limitations imposed by the aging Seacat system, together with the forthcoming commissioning of new ships and the re-evaluation of future Australian naval priorities led to the decision to retire the River Class.

The first of the class to be retired was HMAS YARRA. She was decommissioned on 22 November 1985. The ship was moved to Athol Bight in Sydney Harbour where she was laid up in reserve. In 1992 she was sold to Victorian Shipping of Singapore for demolition. The ship departed Sydney on 12 June 1992 under tow of the tug SHALOM initially bound for Singapore and eventually for the Indian port of Alang where she was broken up.

HMAS PARRAMATTA was decommissioned on 11 January 1991. There was early speculation that the ship would be sunk as a target by an Exocet missile fired from HMS SIRIUS. Instead she was sold to Silooka Steels of Karachi. On 11 October 1991 the ship departed from Sydney towed by the tug WOOREE. The voyage to Pakistan was delayed at Adelaide for a number of weeks owing to mechanical problems with the tug.

HMAS DERWENT was decommissioned on 8 August 1994 at Fleet Base West. Although no longer an active member of the Australian fleet, she was still able to serve the Navy. A series of destructive tests were conducted on the hulk over a ten-week period off Garden Island, Western Australia. These tests were part of the Royal Australian Navy’s ship survivability enhancement program. Included were a series of fire, smoke, weapons effects and electronics experiments. One of the tests performed on 17 October 1994 was a controlled explosion in the Seacat magazine. The purpose of the program was to collect data on how fire spreads through a ship and to enable future ship designs to minimise the effects of fire and explosion.

On completion of the test program, the DERWENT was towed from Fleet Base West by the naval tugs QUOKKA and TAMMAR. Naval divers of the Australian Clearance Team Four set internal charges and the ship was scuttled 15 nautical miles west of Rottnest Island on 21 December 1994.

HMAS STUART was decommissioned on 26 July 1991 at HMS Stirling. She departed Cokburn Sound Western Australia on 7 May 1992, towed by the tug CTW EAGLE, bound for India via Singapore to be scrapped.

HMAS SWAN was decommissioned on 13 September 1996 at Fleet Base West. It was decided to gift the ship to the Western Australia Government, who then sought expressions of interest for the future use of the vessel. The State Government decided that SWAN would be scuttled and used as an artificial reef and diving wreck.

On 27 November 1996 SWAN was towed by the naval tug QUOKKA to Bunbury, Western Australia. At Bunbury preparation the hulk was prepared for scuttling. The twenty month task included removal of oil from bilges and tanks, all electrical cabling, false ceilings and insulation; some rooms such as the engine room were sealed for diver safety, also fourteen diver access holes were cut in the hull. The gun turret was removed and donated to the City of Albany, where it has been mounted for public display in a park at the historic Princess Royal Fortress.

The hulk was scuttled in Geographe Bay, Busselton, Western Australia south of Perth on 14 December 1997. Although the scuttling was not a Navy controlled exercise, Navy divers from HMAS Stirling assisted in the task. She was sunk in 30 metres of water and is resting upright on a bed of sand.

The last member of the class to be retired was HMAS TORRENS. She was decommissioned at Fleet Base West on 11 September 1998. As preparation for sinking the ship was rendered environmentally safe. This included the removal of stores, most of the internal panelling, fuel oil, hydraulic fluid and greases and the tanks cleaned. On 14 June 1999 TORRENS was sunk about 90 kilometres west of Perth by a torpedo fired by the Collins class submarine HMAS FARNCOMB. The exercise was used to trial and validate the submarine’s combat systems and was a rare opportunity for the Navy to use a war shot Mark 48 wire guided torpedo.

Three of the River Class names have been selected for new RAN ships.

                                                        ( Photo RAN  ANZAC class frigate (HMAS ANZAC) ) 

Two of the Anzac Class frigates have been named STUART and PARRAMATTA. The new class of frigates which are based on the German Meko 2000 design are being built by Tenix Defence Systems, the owners of the privatised Williamstown Naval Dockyard. STUART (153) was laid down in July 1998, launched on 17 April 1999, and is due to enter service in December 2001. PARRAMATTA (154) was laid down in April 1999, launched on 17 June 2000, and scheduled to be commissioned in February 2002.

The third name to be continued is YARRA, selected for the last of the Huon Class minehunters. This vessel, pennant number 87, was laid down in June 1999 and is scheduled to be launched in September 2001. These vessels, a customised version of the Italian Gaeta class, are being built by the Australian Defence Industries at Newcastle, New South Wales.

Displacement 2,200 tons (standard); 2,700 tons (full load)

Length 109.7 metres (between perpendiculars); 112.8 metres (overall)

Beam 12.5 metres

Draught 5.3 metres

Machinery 2 double reduction geared steam turbines; 30,000 shaft horsepower 22,370 kw

Boilers 2 Babcock & Wilcox

Armament 2x4.5inch guns

1 Seacat anti-aircraft guided missile launcher

1 Ikara anti-submarine guided missile launcher

2 triple barrel anti-submarine mortar.Replaced with mk32 anti-submarine torpedo launchers.

Complement 250

Speed 30 knots