In 1938, the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board (ACNB) identified the need for a general purpose 'local defence vessel' capable of both anti-submarine and mine-warfare duties, while easy to construct and operate.[2][3] The vessel was initially envisaged as having a displacement of approximately 500 tons, a speed of at least 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), and a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi)[4] The opportunity to build a prototype in the place of a cancelled Bar-class boom defence vessel saw the proposed design increased to a 680-ton vessel, with a 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph) top speed, and a range of 2,850 nautical miles (5,280 km; 3,280 mi), armed with a 4-inch gun, equipped with asdic, and able to fitted with either depth charges or minesweeping equipment depending on the planned operations: although closer in size to a sloop than a local defence vessel, the resulting increased capabilities were accepted due to advantages over British-designed mine warfare and anti-submarine vessels.[2][5] Construction of the prototype HMAS Kangaroo did not go ahead, but the plans were retained.[6] The need for locally built 'all-rounder' vessels at the start of World War II saw the "Australian Minesweepers" (designated as such to hide their anti-submarine capability, but popularly referred to as "corvettes") approved in September 1939, with 60 constructed during the course of the war: 36 (including Lithgow) ordered by the RAN, 20 ordered by the British Admiralty but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels, and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy.[2][7][8][9][1]
Lithgow was laid down by Morts Dock & Engineering Co at Mort's Dock in Balmain, New South Wales on 19 August 1940.[1] She was launched on 21 December 1940, and commissioned into the RAN on 14 June 1941.[1]
^Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 29
^Stevens et al., The Royal Australian Navy, p. 108
^Smith, A.E. (May 1992) [1991]. Three Minutes of Time – the torpedoing of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur (Second Printing ed.). Miami, QLD: Tasman Press. ISBN0-646-07631-0.
^. Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
^(PDF). Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
Referencesedit
Books
Donohue, Hector (October 1996). From Empire Defence to the Long Haul: post-war defence policy and its impact on naval force structure planning 1945–1955. Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs. Vol. 1. Canberra: Sea Power Centre. ISBN0-642-25907-0. ISSN 1327-5658. OCLC 36817771.
Stevens, David (2005). A Critical Vulnerability: the impact of the submarine threat on Australia's maritime defense 1915–1954. Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs. Vol. 15. Canberra: Sea Power Centre Australia. ISBN0-642-29625-1. ISSN 1327-5658. OCLC 62548623.
Stevens, David; Sears, Jason; Goldrick, James; Cooper, Alastair; Jones, Peter; Spurling, Kathryn (2001). Stevens, David (ed.). The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-554116-2. OCLC 50418095.
Journal and news articles
Stevens, David (May 2010). (PDF). Hindsight (Semaphore). 2010 (5). Sea Power Centre – Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMAS Lithgow (J206).
January 01, 1970
hmas, lithgow, j206, hmas, lithgow, j206, m206, named, city, lithgow, south, wales, australia, bathurst, class, corvettes, constructed, during, world, initially, manned, commissioned, solely, royal, australian, navy, hmas, lithgowat, milne, papua, during, 1943. HMAS Lithgow J206 M206 named for the city of Lithgow New South Wales Australia was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy RAN 1 HMAS Lithgowat Milne Bay Papua during 1943History Australia NamesakeCity of Lithgow New South Wales BuilderMort s Dock amp Engineering Co in Sydney Laid down19 August 1940 Launched21 December 1940 Commissioned14 June 1941 Decommissioned8 June 1948 Honours andawardsBattle honours Darwin 1942 Pacific 1941 45 New Guinea 1942 44 FateSold for scrap in 1956 General characteristics Class and typeBathurst class corvette Displacement650 tons standard 1 025 tons full war load Length186 ft 57 m Beam31 ft 9 4 m Draught10 ft 3 0 m Propulsiontriple expansion engine 2 shafts Speed15 knots 28 km h 17 mph at 1 750 hp Complement85 Armament1 4 inch Mk XIX gun 3 Oerlikon 20 mm cannons Contents 1 Design and construction 2 Operational history 3 Fate 4 Citations 5 References 6 External linksDesign and construction editMain article Bathurst class corvette In 1938 the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board ACNB identified the need for a general purpose local defence vessel capable of both anti submarine and mine warfare duties while easy to construct and operate 2 3 The vessel was initially envisaged as having a displacement of approximately 500 tons a speed of at least 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph and a range of 2 000 nautical miles 3 700 km 2 300 mi 4 The opportunity to build a prototype in the place of a cancelled Bar class boom defence vessel saw the proposed design increased to a 680 ton vessel with a 15 5 knots 28 7 km h 17 8 mph top speed and a range of 2 850 nautical miles 5 280 km 3 280 mi armed with a 4 inch gun equipped with asdic and able to fitted with either depth charges or minesweeping equipment depending on the planned operations although closer in size to a sloop than a local defence vessel the resulting increased capabilities were accepted due to advantages over British designed mine warfare and anti submarine vessels 2 5 Construction of the prototype HMAS Kangaroo did not go ahead but the plans were retained 6 The need for locally built all rounder vessels at the start of World War II saw the Australian Minesweepers designated as such to hide their anti submarine capability but popularly referred to as corvettes approved in September 1939 with 60 constructed during the course of the war 36 including Lithgow ordered by the RAN 20 ordered by the British Admiralty but manned and commissioned as RAN vessels and 4 for the Royal Indian Navy 2 7 8 9 1 Lithgow was laid down by Morts Dock amp Engineering Co at Mort s Dock in Balmain New South Wales on 19 August 1940 1 She was launched on 21 December 1940 and commissioned into the RAN on 14 June 1941 1 Operational history editLithgow in company with USS Edsall HMAS Katoomba and HMAS Deloraine sank the enemy Japanese submarine I 124 off Darwin the first enemy submarine sunk in Australian waters on 20 January 1942 1 In May 1943 Lithgow was one of several ships to search for survivors following the torpedoing of AHS Centaur with no success 10 The corvette received three battle honours for her wartime service Darwin 1942 Pacific 1941 45 and New Guinea 1942 44 11 12 Fate editLithgow paid off to reserve on 8 June 1948 and was sold for scrap to the Hong Kong Delta Shipping Company on 8 August 1956 1 Citations edit a b c d e f HMAS Lithgow Sea Power Centre Australia Retrieved 15 September 2008 a b c Stevens The Australian Corvettes p 1 Stevens A Critical Vulnerability p 103 Stevens A Critical Vulnerability pp 103 4 Stevens A Critical Vulnerability pp 103 5 Stevens A Critical Vulnerability p 104 Stevens A Critical Vulnerability pp 105 148 Donohue From Empire Defence to the Long Haul p 29 Stevens et al The Royal Australian Navy p 108 Smith A E May 1992 1991 Three Minutes of Time the torpedoing of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur Second Printing ed Miami QLD Tasman Press ISBN 0 646 07631 0 Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours Royal Australian Navy 1 March 2010 Archived from the original on 13 June 2011 Retrieved 23 December 2012 Royal Australian Navy Ship Unit Battle Honours PDF Royal Australian Navy 1 March 2010 Archived from the original PDF on 14 June 2011 Retrieved 23 December 2012 References editBooks Donohue Hector October 1996 From Empire Defence to the Long Haul post war defence policy and its impact on naval force structure planning 1945 1955 Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs Vol 1 Canberra Sea Power Centre ISBN 0 642 25907 0 ISSN 1327 5658 OCLC 36817771 Stevens David 2005 A Critical Vulnerability the impact of the submarine threat on Australia s maritime defense 1915 1954 Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs Vol 15 Canberra Sea Power Centre Australia ISBN 0 642 29625 1 ISSN 1327 5658 OCLC 62548623 Stevens David Sears Jason Goldrick James Cooper Alastair Jones Peter Spurling Kathryn 2001 Stevens David ed The Royal Australian Navy The Australian Centenary History of Defence vol III South Melbourne VIC Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 554116 2 OCLC 50418095 Journal and news articles Stevens David May 2010 The Australian Corvettes PDF Hindsight Semaphore 2010 5 Sea Power Centre Australia Archived from the original PDF on 20 March 2011 Retrieved 13 August 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMAS Lithgow J206 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMAS Lithgow J206 amp oldid 1215343980, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
