HMAS Warrego: Австралиялық торпедалық кеме тарихы

River class torpedo boat destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Warrego, named for the Warrego River, was a of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Ordered in 1909, construction of the destroyer started in Scotland, but she was then broken down and reassembled at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in order for the Australian shipbuilding industry to gain experience in warship construction. Warrego was commissioned into the RAN in 1912, and spent her early career operating in Australian waters. At the start of World War I, Warrego was assigned to the Australian force tasked with neutralising German colonies in the region, along with finding and destroying the German East Asia Squadron. She was involved in the capture of Rabaul and the Battle of Bita Paka during 1914. After patrol work in Australian, New Guinea, and South east Asian waters, Warrego and her sister ship were assigned to the Mediterranean in 1917, and served as an anti submarine patrol force. The ship participated in the Second Battle of Durazzo in 1918. After the war's end, Warrego returned to Australia, and was placed in reserve. The destroyer was reactivated for short periods in 1920 and 1928, but was paid off in 1928 and marked for disposal. The destroyer was partially disassembled, then used as an accommodation hulk at Cockatoo Island. Warrego sank at her berth in 1931, and was demolished with underwater charges.

Warrego had a displacement of 700 tons, a length overall of 246 feet (75 m), and beam of 24 feet (7 m), and a maximum draught of 8 feet (2 m). The destroyer was powered by three Yarrow oil burning boilers connected to Parsons turbines, which delivered 10,000 shaft horsepower to three propeller shafts. Warregos maximum speed was , and she had a cruising speed of , giving the ship a range of The ship's company consisted of between 66 and 73 personnel, including five officers. Warrego was laid down by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, but when she reached launch condition, the destroyer was disassembled and transported to Australia by ship. She was re laid at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in December 1910. The reasoning behind this was to raise the standard of the Australian shipbuilding industry by giving Cockatoo Island hands on experience in warship construction. The destroyer was launched on 4 April 1911 by the wife of George Pearce, the Minister for Defence. The ship earned two battle honours for her wartime service: "Rabaul 1914" and "Adriatic 1917–18". The six destroyers, accompanying the cruiser , arrived in Darwin on 26 March 1919: Warrego had to tow Parramatta and Yarra into harbour, as they ran out of fuel.

Warrego was paid off for the final time on 19 April 1928.) , and had to be broken up with underwater demolition charges.