- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see HMQS Midge in game.
HMQS Midge sailing in Harbour, note auxiliary gunboat sailing aft, (~1890)
Description:
The independent Australian state of Queensland began ordering it’s naval fleet as to defend its ports and harbours from a potential Russian Invasion, this would be apart of the Naval fortifications and defences built up by Australia and New Zealand around this time due to a perceived threat from the expansion of the Russian Empire into the Pacific. As part of this, the Queensland Maritime Defence force (QMDF) was formed with a fleet of two ‘Flat-Iron’ gunboats, a torpedo boat, and five auxiliary gunboats in order to protect it’s Harbours and maritime borders.
As she was ordered by the Independent state of Queensland she would have the prefix HMQS (His/Her Majesty’s Queensland ship). As is common with Colonial navies, the Queensland Maritime Defence Force would fall under British Admiralty command in times of War, however it was understood that these vessels would remain on station. In times of peace, her operations were controlled by the Queensland government.
This suggestion is for the HMQS Midge’s 1900 refit, just before Australian federation.
HMQS MIdge sitting laid up (back right), with the HMQS Gayundah sailing behind her and the paddlewheeler Natone on the opposite bank. (nd)
History:
Laid down by J.Samual White, at Cowes in October 1887, she would complete and be transported to Queensland on a merchant vessel, the Midge herself unable to complete a voyage from the UK to Australia. She would be fully built out of Teak and Mahogany.
Now in Australia, she wouldn’t commission as normal with vessels, instead she would simply be placed into service as needs arose, mostly when other vessels were unavailable. Due to this she would spend most of her time at the Depot at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane (now HMAS Moreton). She would have a tarp placed over her, and her mast removed to keep her in better condition, with her small size enabling her to quickly re-establish sailing capability.
Although she did not commission, she was still known with the prefix HMQS for simplicity as to her owner and operator. Similarly to other torpedo boats in service with the other independent Australian States & Colonial New Zealand around this time she was armed with a spar torpedo as built.
While not laid up, the Midge would spend most of her time as a picket boat at Brisbane, but also training the naval reserve of Queensland.
Around 1900 she would undergo a minor refit, removing the spar torpedo, as that system was viewed unfavourably, due to potential damage to the attacking vessel when it exploded, and the fact that the deploying boat had to touch the enemy’s hull itself. It would be replaced by dropping gear for two 14 inch Whitehead torpedoes that had been purchased earlier from the UK. Her gun armament remained the same, however she would often sail unarmed.
She would be kept in service with the Federation of Australia creating the Commonwealth Naval Service, which joined the various Stately Australian Navies together in 1901. In this service she would be known with the prefix HMCS (His/Her Majesty’s Colonial Ship). She would however remain on the same duties as previous.
HMCS Midge would survive through to the creation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911, however as her usefulness had been doubted for some time, and she was decommissioned and stripped in 1912. Her engines were in good condition and used in the RAN’s Engineering school for many years. Her hull meanwhile was sold to a civilian owner, and transformed into the Yacht Nola II.
Her fate after this is unknown, however it is likely that she was scrapped.
HMQS Midge in Moreton Bay on training duty, note armament has been removed, (1901)
| General Characteristics: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: HMQS Midge | |||||
| Country: Queensland (Australia) | |||||
| Type: Torpedo Launch | |||||
| Class name: Midge | |||||
| Year of commission: 1887 | |||||
| Refit: 1900 | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Dimensions: | |||||
| Length: 56ft 4in (17.1m) | |||||
| Beam: 9ft 3in (2.8m) | |||||
| Draught: 4ft 7in (1.4m) | |||||
| Displacement: 12t | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Propulsion: | |||||
| Powerplant: coal fired compound engines @ 150hp (111kW) | |||||
| Speed: 18kt | |||||
| Endurance: unknown | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armament & sensors: | |||||
| Compliment: 7 | |||||
| Primary armament: 1x1 QF 3pdr Hotchkiss | |||||
| Secondary armament: 2x2 1-inch Nordenfelt | |||||
| Tertiary armament: 2x 14 inch Mk.IX Whitehead torpedoes | |||||
| Radar: -nil | |||||
| Sonar:-nil |
Sources:
R.Gillett (1977) Warships of Australia (p.94)
HMQS Midge – HMQS Gayundah
HMQS Midge - Wikipedia
The Harrington Papers - Queensland Defence Force (Marine) 1900-1907 - Page 2 of 3 - Naval Historical Society of Australia