HMAS Queenborough (G70)

HMAS "Queenborough" (G70/D270/F02/57) (originally HMS "Queenborough" (G70/D19)) was a Q class destroyer that served in the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Launched in 1942, "Queenborough" was converted to an anti-submarine frigate in the early 1950s, and also served as a training ship.

Construction

"Queenborough" was laid down by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson at Wallsend-on-Tyne on 6 November 1940.cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Queenborough |title=HMAS Queenborough |accessdate=2008-09-15 |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia] She was launched on 16 January 1942, commissioned into the RN on 15 September 1942, and completed on 10 December 1942.

The ship is named after the town of Queenborough in Kent, England.Vic Cassells (2000). "The Destroyers", pg 92] She is the sixth British ship to use the name.Vic Cassells (2000). "The Destroyers", pg 94]

Operational history

RN service

HMS "Queenborough" served in the Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean during World War II.

"Queenborough" was involved in Operation Cockpit as one of the ships escorting aircraft carriers HMS "Illustrious" and USS "Saratoga". [Sydney David Waters (1956). "The Royal New Zealand Navy", pp 358-359]

Transfer

Following the conclusion of World War II, "Queenborough" was one of three Q-class destroyers loaned to and later purchased by the Royal Australian Navy. Two sister ships were loaned to Australia in 1942, with "Queenborough" and two others transferred in 1945 to coincide with the return of four N-class destroyers loaned to the RAN during the war.Hector Donohue (1996). "From Empire Defence to the Long Haul", pg 28] "Queenborough" commissioned into the RAN on 29 October 1955. Ownership of the ship remained with the British government until 1950, when she was gifted to the RAN.

RAN service

The destroyer served in Australian waters until January 1949, and was decommisisoned into reserve on 20 May 1949.

In May 1950, the destroyer and four of her sister ships were acquired from reserve by Cockatoo Island Dockyard, which converted them to anti-submarine frigates similar to the Type 15 frigate conversions performed on War Emergency Programme destroyers of the RN. The conversion was predicted to cost AU£400,000, and be completed within 18 months.Hector Donohue (1996). "From Empire Defence to the Long Haul", pg 67] Conversion of the Q-class was part of an overall plan to improve the anti-submarine warfare capability of the RAN, although "Queenborough" and her sister ships were only 'stopgap' ships to be used until purpouse-built ASW frigates could be constructed. The conversion was completed by late 1954, and the ship was recommissioned on 7 December 1954. The frigate spent 1955 in the United Kingdom for exercises with the Royal Navy; departing Australia in February and returning in December. In September 1956, "Queenborough" began a nine-month deployment to the Far East Strategic Reserve. Five more deployments to the FESR were made between 1959 and 1963.

On 10 July 1963, "Queenborough" was decommissioned and placed under the control of HMA Naval Dockyard in Williamstown, Victoria. The ship was recommissioned on 28 July 1966 as a training vessel. She was also renumbered 57, which led to a relationship with the Australian branch of the H. J. Heinz Company, as the new hull number matched the company's "57 Varieties" advertising slogan.cite news |author=Editor |title=Mystery ship - most joined the 'Q' |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS/editions/4914/images/reserve/NNAA01810c.pdf |format=PDF |work=Resereve News (vol. 49, no. 14) |publisher=Navy News Australia |pages= |page=p. 6 |date=2006-8-10 |accessdate=2008-02-20 ]

"Queenborough" was paid off for the last time on 7 April 1972. She was sold to Willtop (Asia) through the agents Banks Brothers and Streets at Sydney on 8 April 1975, and was broken up for scrap in Hong Kong.

References

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