HMAS Platypus (1917)

For other ships by the 1929-1941 name, see HMAS Penguin.

For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Platypus.

HMAS Platypus was a submarine depot ship and base ship operated by the Royal Australian Navy between 1919 and 1946.

HMAS Platypus with all six Australian J Class submarines in 1919
History
United Kingdom
Builder	John Brown and Company
Laid down	14 October 1914
Launched	28 October 1916
Commissioned	21 March 1917
Fate	Transferred to Royal Australian Navy
History
Australia
Commissioned	25 March 1919
Decommissioned	13 May 1946 (into reserve) 1 November 1956 (paid off for disposal)
Renamed	HMAS Penguin 1929 HMAS Platypus 1941
Reclassified	Destroyer tender 1922-1929 Submarine tender 1929-1930 Depot ship 1930-1941 Training ship 1941-1944 Maintenance ship 1944-1946
Stricken	20 February 1958
Motto	"Nothing Too Difficult"
Fate	Sold for scrap in 1958
General characteristics
Displacement	3,476 tons
Length	310 ft (94 m) (water line), 325 ft (99 m) (overall)
Beam	44 ft (13 m)
Draught	15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Propulsion	2 sets of triple expansion reciprocating steam engines, twin screw
Speed	15.5 knots
Armament	1 x 4.7-inch gun

Construction and acquisition

Platypus was built for the Royal Navy by John Brown and Company at Clydebank in Scotland, launched on 28 October 1916 and commissioned on 21 March 1917. The ship was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and was commissioned into the RAN on 25 March 1919. Platypus's main role was to support the RAN's six J class submarines and she escorted these boats from Britain to Sydney between April and July 1919.

Operational history

HMAS Platypus and all six J class submarines were based at Geelong, Victoria in February 1920. Due to the poor condition of the submarines and financial pressure on the RAN the Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service was disbanded in May 1922 and Platypus was redesignated as a destroyer tender. Platypus reverted to her original role as a submarine tender in 1929 when the RAN acquired two O class submarines but was used as a depot ship after these submarines were placed into reserve in 1930. On 15 August 1930 she was renamed HMAS Penguin. She continued as a depot ship until 26 February 1941 when she was renamed HMAS Platypus and returned to seagoing service as a training ship.

In May 1941 Platypus sailed to Darwin to serve as a base ship. She survived the Japanese attack on Darwin in February 1942 and remained at Darwin until January 1943 when she sailed to Cairns, Queensland where she again served as a base ship until May 1944. In June 1944 Platypus received a major refit and sailed to New Guinea as a repair and maintenance vessel. She operated off New Guinea and Morotai Island until returning to Australia in December 1945.

Decommissioning and fate

Platypus was placed into reserve on 13 May 1946, paid off on 1 November 1956 and was sold for scrap on 20 February 1958.

References

• "HMAS Platypus - HMA Ships Histories". Sea Power Centre Australia - Royal Australian Navy. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)