- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see HMAS Tattoo in game.
Description:
HMAS Tattoo was one of five S-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy, then gifted for use within the Royal Australian Navy. She would serve the RAN into the late 30’s, without firing a shot in anger.
The S-class and their Parker-class Leader, HMAS ANZAC, were acquired by the RAN to replace their outdated River-class (I-class in the Royal Navy). These new ships would be gifted to the RAN in exchange for the older vessels, as they were loaned directly from the RN and they wanted them back for scrap. As the S-class and the ANZAC were gifted, not loaned or purchased, these vessels would be known as the ‘Gift Destroyers’.
This suggestion is for HMAS Tattoo in her final year of service in the RAN before her scrapping.
History:
Royal Navy:
Laid down as HMS Tattoo on the 21st of December 1917, at Dalmuir, Scotland, by William Beardmore and Co. She would launch on the 28th of December 1918, finishing fitting out and commissioning into the Royal Navy on the 7th of April 1919.
She would not serve here for long, only being eight months old when she was selected for transfer to the RAN, commissioning as HMAS Tattoo on the 27th of January 1920 in Devonport. Upon acquiring her, the Australian Government considered renaming her to Melbourne, however this was scrapped and she remained the HMAS Tattoo.
Royal Australian Navy:
She would arrive in Sydney, Australia, on the 29th of April 1920 via Gibraltar and the Mediterranean. Once arrived she would take up Fleet screening, convoy escort, and ASW exercises around the Australian Coast, being assigned to the Australian Squadron.
This would not last long, as on the 6th of October 1921, she would be decommissioned into the reserve due to extreme post war budget cuts, which limited funds for vessels and manpower. As other vessels were seen as priority, Tattoo would remain in reserve until the 13th of July 1931. This has the exception of a very short recommissioning, being commissioned for six weeks from 12th March 1926 - 27th April 1926.
Once she exited reserve, she would once again join the Australian Squadron on her old duties. She would visit New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in September of 1932. She would again be placed in reserve on the 30th of June 1933, occasionally recommissioning over the next three years for training. Mostly gunnery, torpedoes, and general sailing. This was done at Flinders Naval Depot, Melbourne.
She would be paid off on the 19th of June 1936, being sold for breaking on the 4th of June 1937. She and her class were replaced by the four V&W-class vessels, which would later be famous for the Scrap Iron Flotilla.
| General Characteristics: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: HMAS Tattoo | |||||
| Country: Australia | |||||
| Type: Destroyer | |||||
| Class name: S-class | |||||
| Year of commission: 1920 | |||||
| Refit: 1936 | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Dimensions: | |||||
| Length: 275 ft 11.25 in (84.1058 m) | |||||
| Beam: 26 ft 9.75 in (8.1725 m) | |||||
| Draught: 9 ft 10 in (3.0 m) | |||||
| Displacement: 1,075t | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Propulsion: | |||||
| Powerplant: 3x Oil fired boilers w/ 2x Geared steam turbines, generating 27,000shp (20,134kW) across two shafts | |||||
| Speed: 33.75 kt on trials, 36kt design speed. | |||||
| Endurance: 2,589nmi @ 13kt | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armament & sensors: | |||||
| Compliment: 99 | |||||
| Primary armament: 3x1 QF 4-Inch Mk.IV on LA Mount | |||||
| Secondary armament: 1x1 2pdr (Pom-Pom), 2x2 .303 Lewis, 1x1 .303 Lewis | |||||
| Tertiary armament: 2x2 21" Torpedoes, 4 DC rails, two DCT | |||||
| Sensors: -nil | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Sources
N.Friedman. (2009). British Destroyers from Earliest Days to the Second World War. (pp 236-237, 297, 311)
V. Cassells, (2000). The Destroyers. Their Battles & Their Badges. (pp. 144, 130-131)
HMAS Tattoo - Wikipedia
https://seapower.navy.gov.au/history/units/hmas-tattoo
The RAN's Destroyers - Naval Historical Society of Australia
https://navyhistory.au/the-gift-fleet/
https://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/H.M.S._Tattoo_(1918)