- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see HMAS Moresby in game.
Description:
HMAS Moresby was originally one of many 24-class Sloops built for the Royal Navy during the First World War, however she would transfer to the Royal Australian Navy as a survey ship in the 1920s, being the only one of her class in that force.
The 24-class were originally envisioned to be fast minesweepers that could operate the fleet, and as such were large and fast, at least for minesweepers. They were based of the older Flower-class sloops, but had a modified deckhouse layout and stern, as to appear double ended. This was helped by the equal length masts, and dual superstructures, one fore and one aft.
In RAN service she would replace the aging screw sloop HMAS Fantome of 1900 vintage, retaining a small and limited armament compared to her original fit. The capability to fit a larger armament for wartime use was kept.
This suggestion is for the HMAS Moresby during her service as an escort in the Second World War in 1943.
History:
Royal Navy Service:
Originally laid down as the HMS Silvio, by Barclay Curle, in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 27th of November 1917. She would launch on the 12th of April 1918, fitting out and commissioning later that year.
Upon commissioning she would engage in convoy escort and minesweeping operations around UK waters. In her minesweeper role, she would sweep for German minefields, and maintain the British defensive fields. However, upon the end of that war, she would assist in removing both German and British minefields, as they were an impedance to trade vessels.
In 1924, she and three of her sisters were chosen to be converted into a survey vessel. They were suitable for this role due to their large size, and provisions for minesweeping equipment, which were broadly similar in size as the equipment needed for survey work.
This resulted in a large refit, which included the removal of her depth charges, both 4" guns, the reduction of the aft mast, and the aft ‘fake bridge’ being cut down flush to the amidship superstructure. A single 3pdr was fitted aft in lieu of the 4" gun in that position.
Shortly after this refit she would be offered to the Royal Australian Navy as to replace the aging HMAS Fantome, and assist the HMAS Geranium in their work surveying the Australian Coast. This was accepted, and she had her name changed. She would commission as the HMAS Moresby on the 20th of June 1925.
Royal Australian Navy Service:
Her first job as survey would be to map the Cumberland Passage in the Great Battier Reef in detail, this work would be extensive and busy, however she would be laid up on reserve and decommissioned on the 21st of December 1929 due to a lack of funds.
This would last until the 27th of April 1933, where she would recommission as to undertake urgent strategic survey work around the north of Australia. This work would mostly take place around Queensland, but would visit many port towns around this area, earning her the nickname, The White Lady of the North. She would pay off for another refit on the 14th of December 1934, where her boilers were converted to burn oil instead of coal.
Work would finish and she would recommission on the 11th of April 1935, where she would survey the approaches to the port of Darwin, continuing though to the start of the War in 1939 where she was put to use as an antisubmarine training vessel on the eastern seaboard. This would last until January 1941, where she would continue survey work. In December 1941, with the Japanese declaration of war she would be rearmed, as the need for escorts was extremely high.
In this refit she would replace the 3pdr with a QF 4-inch Mk.II (LA), which was placed fore, and would gain a single 12pdr in addition to multiple MGs. Her minesweeping and survey equipment was removed, and two DC chutes and throwers were fitted. Overall this lightened her load, and she subsequently became faster, gaining three knots for a top speed of 17kt.
Once this work was finished, she would serve as convoy escort on ASW duties around eastern Australia. As there were many Japanese submarines operating around these seas during this time, and few escorts to go around, the Moresby was almost constantly at sea. Sometime during this period she replaced two .303 Vickers on the bridge wings with 20mm Oerlikons.
By November 1943, she would cease escort duties, and would regain the survey equipment, as she would again survey the Darwin and Bathurst areas. During this refit her 4" gun was moved aft. By the end of that year she would move north to survey the seas around New Guinea, operating within the US 7th Fleet. On the 7th of September 1945, during her time in theatre, the Japanese surrender of Timor was held aboard her. She would return to Sydney in 1946 to be paid off.
She would pay off on the 14th of March 1946, being sold for scrap on the 3rd of February 1947.
| General Characteristics: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: HMAS Moresby | |||||
| Country: Australia | |||||
| Type: ASW Escort vessel | |||||
| Class name: 24-Class | |||||
| Year of commission: 1925 | |||||
| Refit: 1943 | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Dimensions: | |||||
| Length: 267ft (81 m) | |||||
| Beam: 35ft (10.6m) | |||||
| Draught: 12ft (3.6m) | |||||
| Displacement: 1,320t standard | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Propulsion: | |||||
| Powerplant: 2x oil fired boilers driving 4 cyl triple expansion steam engine @ 2,500ihp (1,900kW) across one screw | |||||
| Speed: 17kt | |||||
| Endurance: unknown | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armament & sensors: | |||||
| Compliment: 141 | |||||
| Primary armament: 1x1 QF 4-inch Mk.II (LA) | |||||
| Secondary armament: 1x1 12pdr 12cwt, 2x1 20mm Oerlikon | |||||
| Tertiary armament: 2x1 .303 Lewis, 2x DCt, 2x DC rails | |||||
| Radar: -nil | |||||
| Sonar: -nil |
Sources:
Gillett, R. (1983). Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945 (pp.112, 155)
HMAS Moresby (1918) - Wikipedia
White Lady of the North - HMAS Moresby - Naval Historical Society of Australia
https://seapower.navy.gov.au/history/units/hmas-moresby-i
HMAS Moresby of the Royal Australian Navy - Australian Sloop of the 24 class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net