HMAS Duchess (D154) [Pre Modernisation]

HMAS DUCHESS (D154) was a Daring Class Destroyer laid down at Southampton on 02 July 1948 as HMS Duchess (D154). She was launched on 9 April 1951 and commissioned into the British Royal Navy on 23 October 1952.

Following the sinking of HMAS VOYAGER, HMS DUCHESS was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 08 May 1964 and re-commissioned as HMAS DUCHESS. In 1972, Australia purchased DUCHESS and she subsequently operated as part of the 2nd Destroyer Squadron as a fleet destroyer.

As a gun ship of the 2nd Destroyer Squadron she was extensively deployed in Australian and South East Asian waters and frequently escorted the troopship HMAS “SYDNEY” in her service to Vietnam. DUCHESS deployed 6 times to Vietnam, 27 May - 05 Jul 65,   11 Sep - 20 Oct 65, 28 Oct - 05 Dec 68, 15 Nov - 12 Dec 69, 22 Mar - 23 Apr 71 and her final deployment to Vietnam was 10 May - 04 Jun 71.

In 1973 she entered Williamstown Naval Dockyard for extensive modernisation to provide Junior Officer practical sea training facilities. She was re-commissioned in August 1974 as a RAN training ship, with her aft turret and A/S Squid mountings removed and a large classroom fitted aft of the second funnel.

Despite these alterations she retained her gunfire support capabilities with 2 forward 4.5 in mounting. DUCHESS continued this role until 1977 when she paid off on 27 October 1977, remaining in reserve in Sydney until being sold for scrap on 7 May 1980 to Taiwanese ship breakers.

Launched: 9 April 1951
Type: Daring-Class Destroyer
Commissioned: 23 October 1952
Decommisioned: 27 October 1977
Displacement: Standard: 2,830 tons. Full load: 3,820 tons
Length: 390 ft (119 m)
Beam: 53 ft (16.2 m)
Armament: 6 x QF 4.5 in /45 (114 mm) Mark V in 3 twin mountings UD Mark VI, 4 x 40 mm /60 Bofors A/A in 2 twin mounts STAAG Mk.II, 2 x 40 mm /60 Bofors A/A in 1 twin mount Mk.V, 2 x pentad tubes for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes Mk.IX, 1 x Squid A/S mortar
Main Machinery: 2 Foster Wheeler boilers (650 psi, 850 °F), English Electric steam turbines, 2 shafts, 54,000 shp (40 MW)
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)
Ship's Company: 297

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