HMAS Queenborough
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsHMAS 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).
Constructed during World War II as part of the War Emergency Programme, Queenborough was laid down in 1940 and launched in 1942, serving in the Arctic, Mediterranean, and Pacific theatres. After the war ended, the ship was transferred on loan to the RAN in exchange for an N-class destroyer, then given to Australia as a gift in 1950.
Queenborough was converted to an anti-submarine frigate, and served with the RAN until 1966. During this time, she was deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve on multiple occasions, participated in numerous fleet exercises, and took on a partial training role. She was decommissioned and placed in reserve, but reactivated in 1969 as a training ship. Queenborough remained in service for another three years, until a series of mechanical and structural faults required that she be retired, decommissioning in 1972 and being scrapped in Hong Kong in 1975.
Design and constructionEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The sixth RN ship to be named after the town of Queenborough in Kent, England, Queenborough was laid down by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson at Wallsend-on-Tyne on 6 November 1940.<ref name=Bas157>Bastock, Australia's Ships of War, p. 157</ref><ref name=Cass92>Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 92</ref> She was launched on 16 January 1942, commissioned into the RN on 15 September, and completed on 10 December.<ref name=Bas157/> She cost £725,000 to complete.<ref name=GillWOA163>Gillett, Warships of Australia, p. 163</ref>
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The main armament for Queenborough consisted of four single 4.7-inch QF Mark IX guns, two before and two aft of the main superstructure.<ref name=GillWOA163/> Secondary weapons included a quadruple-mounting QF 2-pounder Mark VIII pom-pom located just aft of the funnel, and six single Oerlikon 20 mm cannons provided anti-air capability, while eight Mark VIII torpedo tubes (4 forward, 4 aft) firing [[British 21-inch torpedo|Template:Convert]] Mark IX torpedoes for anti-ship engagements.<ref name=GillWOA163/>
RN serviceEdit
HMS Queenborough served in the Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean during World War II.<ref name=Cass93/> She was assigned to the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, which was made up of Q-class destroyers.<ref name=RowHum382>Rohwer & Hümmelchen, Chronology of the war at sea, 1939–1945, p. 347</ref>
Arctic convoysEdit
Following commissioning, Queenborough was assigned to the British Home Fleet and spent the end of 1942 and the early part of 1943 as an Arctic convoy escort.<ref name=Bas157/>
On 31 December 1942, Queenborough was one of ten ships taken by Home Fleet commander Admiral Tovey to reinforce the ships covering Arctic convoy JW 51B, following the Battle of the Barents Sea.<ref>Pope, 73 North, p. 263</ref>
She was briefly deployed to the waters off South Africa before the 4th Destroyer Flotilla was assigned to Force H and the Mediterranean theatre in mid-1943.<ref name=Bas157/>
Italian landingsEdit
Template:See also Queenborough was involved in numerous Allied landings of the Italian Campaign. She was part of the British covering force for the Allied invasion of Sicily on 10 July.<ref>Rohwer & Hümmelchen, Chronology of the war at sea, 1939–1945, pp. 338–39</ref> The destroyer was involved in the leadup to the British landings at Calabria from 31 August to 3 September, including preparatory shelling of the landing site on 31 August and 2 September.<ref name="RowHum382"/> A week later, she supported the United States troop landings at Salerno, remaining on station until 16 September.<ref>Rohwer & Hümmelchen, Chronology of the war at sea, 1939–1945, pp. 350–51</ref>
British Eastern FleetEdit
The 4th Destroyer Flotilla was ordered to depart the Mediterranean theatre and sail for the Indian Ocean in March 1944, to join the British Eastern Fleet.<ref name=RowHum382/>
Near the end of March, Queenborough commenced involvement in Operation Diplomat.<ref name=Gill391>Gill, Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945, p. 391</ref> Leaving Trincomalee, on 21 March, the 18-ship fleet practiced refuelling Template:Convert south of Ceylon.<ref name=Gill391/> On 27 March, the fleet met United States reinforcements—Template:USS and three escorts—with the combined force arriving back in Trincomalee on 31 March.<ref name=Gill391/>
From 16 to 24 April, Queenborough was assigned to Task Force 70 of Operation Cockpit as one of the ships escorting aircraft carriers Template:HMS and USS Saratoga.<ref>Waters, The Royal New Zealand Navy, pp. 358–59</ref> On her return to Trincomalee, the destroyer joined Task Force 66 for Operation Transom, a carrier-based air raid on Surabaya.<ref name=RohHum411>Rohwer & Hümmelchen, Chronology of the war at sea, 1939–1945, pp. 411–12</ref> The task force replenished from tankers at Exmouth Bay on 15 May, before attacking on 17 May.<ref name=RohHum411/> Queenborough returned to Trincomalee on 27 May.<ref name=RohHum411/>
Queenborough departed Trincomalee on 15 October as part of Task Force 63, a British Eastern Fleet operation to focus Japanese attention on the west coast of Malaya as a diversion for American amphibious landings in the Philippines.<ref name=RowHum460>Rohwer & Hümmelchen, Chronology of the war at sea, 1939–1945, p. 460</ref> The diversionary attacks, known as Operation Millet, included a series of bombardments and air raids against Japanese installations and ships in Malacca and Car Nicobar, and were intended to appear as if the Allies were preparing an invasion of Malaya.<ref name=Gill505/> Queenborough was attached to Group 1, consisting of the battleship Template:HMS and her escorts, and bombarded Car Nicobar on 17 and 18 October.<ref name=RowHum460/><ref name=Gill505>Gill, Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945, p. 505</ref> Despite heavy damage to the target areas, Operation Millet failed to attract a significant reaction from the Japanese, as available resources were already en route to defend Leyte from invasion.<ref name=RowHum460/><ref name=Gill505/>
British Pacific FleetEdit
At the end of 1944, the heavily reinforced British Eastern Fleet was split into two forces, The smaller East Indies Fleet remained in the Indian Ocean, while the larger British Pacific Fleet (BPF) was redeployed to the Pacific Ocean, to increase the British and Commonwealth presence in the war against Japan.Template:Citation needed Queenborough and the 4th Destroyer Flotilla were assigned to the latter at the end of November 1944.<ref name=Bas157/> As part of this deployment, ship numbers and designations were changed from the British pennant system to the American hull number system to facilitate operation with the United States Navy; QueenboroughTemplate:'s pennant was changed from G70 to D19.<ref name="Cass92"/>
From 23 March to 29 May 1945, Queenborough was part of the escort screen protecting British carriers as their aircraft attacked Japanese airfields in the Ryukyu Islands.<ref name=Bas157/><ref>Rohwer & Hümmelchen, Chronology of the war at sea, 1939–1945, pgs. 501-02, 516</ref>
The destroyer received five battle honours for her wartime service: "Arctic 1942–43", "Sicily 1943", "Salerno 1943", "Mediterranean 1943", and "Okinawa 1945".<ref name=Cass93>Cassells, The Destroyers, p. 93</ref>
Transfer to RANEdit
Following the conclusion of World War II, Queenborough was one of three RN Q-class destroyers transferred to the RAN on loan.<ref name=Bas157/> Another two had been loaned to the RAN since commissioning.<ref name=Bas157/> This arrangement allowed the four N-class destroyers loaned to the RAN during the war to be returned.<ref name=Dono28>Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 28</ref> Queenborough was the last ship to commission into the RAN, in September 1945, in trade for Template:HMAS.<ref name=Bas157/>
Frigate conversionEdit
In early 1950, the decision was made to convert all five Q-class destroyers in RAN service to anti-submarine warfare frigates, similar to the Type 15 frigate conversions performed on several War Emergency Programme destroyers of the RN.<ref name=Coop168>Cooper, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 168</ref> A proposal was made by the Australian government to pay for the upgrade to the five on-loan vessels, at the predicted cost of AU£400,000 each.<ref name=Coop168/> Instead, the British Admiralty presented the ships to the RAN on 1 June as gifts.<ref name=Coop168/><ref name=Bas316>Bastock, Australia's Ships of War, p. 316</ref> The conversions were part of an overall plan to improve the anti-submarine warfare capability of the RAN, although Queenborough and the other ships were only a 'stopgap' measure until purpose-built ASW frigates could be constructed.<ref name=Dono67/> Queenborough was the second ship to be converted, and was rebuilt as a frigate at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney.<ref name=Bas157/> The modernisation began in May 1950, and despite predictions that work would finish within 18 months, Queenborough was not recommissioned until 7 December 1954.<ref name=Bas316/><ref name=Dono67>Donohue, From Empire Defence to the Long Haul, p. 67</ref>
The conversion started with the removal of the ship's entire armament.<ref name=gillett33/> The entire superstructure was cut off, and replaced with a larger, aluminium construction.<ref name=Coop168/><ref name=gillett33>Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 33</ref> The quality of accommodation was improved.<ref name=gillett33/> Fuel stowage was reduced, in turn cutting the ship's range from Template:Convert at Template:Convert to Template:Convert at Template:Convert.<ref name=gillett33/> The bridge was enclosed, and a dedicated operations room was installed, in order to coordinate the great quantity and type of data collected by the ship's sensors.<ref name=StevensRAN168/> Queenborough was fitted with new guns: a twin 4 inch high angle/low angle gun aft of the superstructure, and a twin 40 mm Bofors gun forward of the bridge.<ref name=gillett33/> The reduction in gun armament was justified by the inclusion of a Limbo anti-submarine mortar.<ref name=StevensRAN168>Stevens (ed.) The Royal Australian Navy, p 168</ref>
The conversion resulted in a 315-ton increase in standard displacement.<ref name=Gillettconv>Comparison of statistics in Gillett, Warships of Australia, pgs 163, 182</ref> The ship's draught increased from Template:Convert to Template:Convert.<ref name=Gillettconv/>
The converted ships were formed as the 1st Australian Frigate Squadron.<ref name=Bas316/>
Post-conversion serviceEdit
As frigateEdit
On 24 February 1955, Queenborough departed Sydney for England, to participate in anti-submarine warfare training with the Royal Navy.<ref name=Bas316/> After repairs to damage sustained during the journey,Template:Citation needed Queenborough was assigned to the RN Training Squadron, attached to the Joint Anti-Submarine School in Derry, Northern Ireland.<ref name=Bas316/> The ship was attached to the 6th Frigate Squadron during this period.<ref name=PerrymanKangaroo>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In addition to the squadron's badge depicting the Red Hand of Ulster, Queenborough added a red kangaroo design to her funnel to depict the ship's Australian allegiance; one of the earliest instances of using a red kangaroo to identify an Australian warship.<ref name=PerrymanKangaroo/>
Queenborough was first deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve in early 1956.<ref name=Bas316/> After returning to Darwin on 10 April, the ship was made lead vessel of the 1st Frigate Squadron.<ref name=Bas316/>
Queenborough and sister ship Template:HMAS were sent to the Strategic Reserve at the end of January 1959.<ref name=Bas316/> During the four-month assignment, the ships were assigned to the royal escort of Template:Ship for the visit of Prince Philip to Singapore, and participated in SEATO Exercise Sea Demon.Template:Citation needed The frigate returned to Sydney on 16 May 1959.<ref name=Bas316/>
In October 1962 Queenborough together with Template:HMAS rescued 25 survivors from the Panamanian merchant steamer Kawi, which sank after being caught in a storm in the South China Sea. In December 1962, again with HMAS Quiberon, Queenborough rescued the crew of SS Tuscany, which had run aground on a reef in the South China Sea.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 8 May 1963 Queenborough collided with British submarine Template:HMS off Jervis Bay during anti-submarine training exercises.<ref name=Lind241>Lind, Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year, p 241</ref> TabardTemplate:'s fin and conning tower were damaged, and minor damage was inflicted to the underside of Queenborough, but both vessels were able to return to Sydney unaided.<ref name=Lind241/><ref name=Frame222>Frame, No Pleasure Cruise, p. 222</ref> In September, Queenborough and sister ship Quiberon were deployed to the FESR.Template:Citation needed On 26 October, the two ships were involved in the rescue of survivors from MV Kawi,<ref>Lind, Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year, p. 243</ref> The ships visited Calcutta in December, before returning to Hong Kong for Christmas.<ref name=Bas316/>
In January 1963 Queenborough was replaced as the lead vessel of the 1st Frigate Squadron by Template:HMAS.<ref name=Bas316/> From 31 January to 4 February, Queenborough and Quiberon were in Saigon for a diplomatic visit; they were the last RAN ships to visit Vietnam before Australia's military became involved in the Vietnam War.<ref>Grey, Up Top, pp. 74–5</ref> Following the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Australia in March and April 1963, Queenborough was stationed between Australia and New Caledonia as a precautionary air-sea rescue ship for the first leg of the Queen's departure flight.<ref name=Bas316/> Queenborough was decommissioned into reserve on 10 July 1963.<ref name=GilWOA183>Gillett, Warships of Australia, p. 183</ref>
As training shipEdit
After spending three years in reserve, a need for expanded training capabilities saw Queenborough recommissioned on 28 July 1966 as a dedicated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training ship.<ref name=GilWOA183/> While being prepared for her new duties, the 4-inch guns and gunnery radar were removed (although the turret would remain until early 1968).<ref name=gillett162.3>Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, pp. 162–3</ref> An improved Type 978 radar was installed.<ref name=gillett162.3/>
In October 1966, Queenborough was deployed to Tasmania on a training cruise.<ref name=SPCsouthocean>Forbes, RAN Activities in the Southern Ocean</ref> An Australian researcher on Macquarie Island required a medical evacuation: as the closest Australian vessel, Queenborough changed course for the island.<ref name=SPCsouthocean/> The ship encountered Template:Convert seas, Template:Convert winds, hail, and snow en route, and arrived in time to collect the scientist before worse weather set in.<ref name=SPCsouthocean/><ref>"The Real Heroine", in Navy News</ref>
At the start of 1969, the RAN's ship designation and numbering system was changed from the British system to the US system.<ref name=Bas317>Bastock, Australia's Ships of War, p. 317</ref> Queenborough was reclassified as a destroyer escort, and received the number 57 (without any prefix letter).<ref name=Bas317/> The similarity of the new number to the "57 Varieties" advertising slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company, led to a relationship between the ship and the Australian branch of the company.<ref name=NNmysteryship>Editor, Mystery ship, p. 6</ref>
On 22 July 1969, Queenborough completed her 400,000th nautical mile of sailing since launching.<ref name=Bas317/>
On 16 April 1970, Queenborough was part of a 45-ship, 13-nation fleet assembled in Sydney Harbour as part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations.<ref>Lind, Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year, pp 274–75</ref>
In June 1971, Queenborough left Sydney to visit Fiji, Samoa, and New Zealand. Heavy weather between Fiji and New Zealand created cracks in the bow.<ref name=Bas317/> These were detected in New Zealand waters, with Queenborough docking in Auckland until 5 July for repairs.<ref name=Bas317/>
Decommissioning and fateEdit
Queenborough was decommissioned on 7 April 1972.<ref name=GilWOA183/> Tenders for purchase of the ship closed in February 1975, and on 8 April 1975 Queenborough was sold to Willtop (Asia) Ltd.<ref name=GilWOA183/> The ship was towed to Hong Kong, arriving on 20 June, to be broken up for scrap.<ref name=GilWOA183/>
Following an overhaul of the RAN battle honours system, completed in March 2010, Queenborough was retroactively awarded the honour "Malaya 1957" for her service during the Malayn Emergency.<ref name=newhonours>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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