HMAS Stalwart (D 215)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia
|
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| Builder: | Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney |
| Laid down: | 23 June 1964 |
| Launched: | 7 October 1966 |
| Completed: | 8 February 1968 |
| Commissioned: | 9 February 1968 |
| Decommissioned: | 9 March 1990 |
| Homeport: | HMAS Kuttabul |
| Motto: | "Heart of Oak" |
| Nickname(s): |
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| Fate: | Sold into civilian service in 1990, scrapped in 2003 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Escort Maintenance Ship |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | |
| Beam: | 67 ft 6 in (20.57 m) |
| Draught: | 20 ft 1 in (6.12 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × 6-cylinder Scott-Sulzer diesels of 7,000 hp (5,200 kW) driving twin screws |
| Speed: | Over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | One utility helicopter (Wessex; later Sea King) |
HMAS Stalwart (A 215/D 215) was an Australian-designed and constructed Escort Maintenance ship of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Commissioned on 9 February 1968 and decommissioned on 9 March 1990, Stalwart served as a destroyer tender, the RAN flagship, and a training vessel during her career. She was sold in 1993 for conversion into a short-range cruise ship, under the names MV Her Majesty M, then MV Tara II. The vessel did not enter civilian service before she was broken up for scrap in 2003.
The ship was designed by Navy Office in Canberra to provide afloat support for the RAN, primarily by providing maintenance and minor repairs to the navy's destroyers and frigates. 75 percent of the ship's company were geared towards the maintenance role.Stalwart could perform these tasks at sea, and could operate out of minor ports or forward bases around and away from Australia. Up to four ships could be assisted simultaneously, with Stalwart providing power, water, communications, and personnel facilities for the ships' companies of those alongside.
Stalwart was designed with a displacement of 15,000 tons, although her actual displacement was 15,500 tons. This was the largest displacement of any ship operated by the RAN to that point, except for the two Majestic class aircraft carriers and the battlecruiser HMAS Australia.Stalwart was 515 feet 6 inches (157.12 m) long overall, 458 feet (140 m) long between perpendiculars, had a beam of 67 feet 6 inches (20.57 m), and a draught of 20 feet 1 inch (6.12 m). Propulsion was provided by two 6-cylinder Scott-Sulzer diesels, which provided 7,000 horsepower (5,200 kW) to the ship's two propellers, and allowing Stalwart to sail at over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).
The size of the ship's company varies between sources: Cassells states a complement of 396, while the RAN website gives 25 officers and 392 sailors.Stalwart's armament consisted of two 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns. The ship was fitted for but not with two Sea Cat missile launchers. A single helicopter was carried for utility purposes; initially, this was a Westland Wessex, although it was later replaced by a Westland Sea King. The ship's helipad was capable of receiving any helicopter flown by the RAN.
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Wikipedia