herakles
19-03-2008, 03:38
She was a wooden motor vessel built in Fremantle in 1945 and commissioned as AV Ashburton
Displacement: 603 tons
Length: 125 feet
Beam: 24 feet
Draught: 12 feet, 6 inches
Propulsion: Ruston-Hornsby diesel engines - 2 shafts BHP 306
Speed: 7.5 knots
Range: 1000 nm @ 7.5 knots
Complement: 3 officers, 17 sailors
First used by the Australian Army, she was taken over by the RAN in early 1946 and renamed HMAS Woomera (spear thrower)
Her main rle was store carrying and ammunition dumping. As such she travelled widely around Australia and New Guinea.
On 11 October 1960, whilst dumping ammunition off Sydney, a huge explosion ripped through the ship. She burst into flames and quickly sank. Two sailors lost their lives.
The survivors were rescued by HMAS Quickmatch and HMS Cavendish.
Displacement: 603 tons
Length: 125 feet
Beam: 24 feet
Draught: 12 feet, 6 inches
Propulsion: Ruston-Hornsby diesel engines - 2 shafts BHP 306
Speed: 7.5 knots
Range: 1000 nm @ 7.5 knots
Complement: 3 officers, 17 sailors
First used by the Australian Army, she was taken over by the RAN in early 1946 and renamed HMAS Woomera (spear thrower)
Her main rle was store carrying and ammunition dumping. As such she travelled widely around Australia and New Guinea.
On 11 October 1960, whilst dumping ammunition off Sydney, a huge explosion ripped through the ship. She burst into flames and quickly sank. Two sailors lost their lives.
The survivors were rescued by HMAS Quickmatch and HMS Cavendish.