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The River class was a class of six destroyer escorts (originally designated anti-submarine frigates) operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Plans to acquire four vessels, based on the British Type 12M (or ''Rothesay'' class) frigate, began in the 1950s. The first two vessels had some slight modifications to the design, while the next two underwent further changes. Two more ships were ordered in 1964, following the Melbourne-Voyager collision; these were based on the Type 12I (or ''Leander'' class) frigate. By the 1990s, all six ships had left service. Two were sunk as part of tests, and a third was scuttled as an artificial reef, while the other three ships were scrapped. ==Design and construction== In August 1950, the Australian government announced plans to acquire a new class of anti-submarine warfare frigates, based on the British Type 12M (or ''Rothesay'' class) frigate design.〔Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 68〕 Originally six were planned, with construction to be split between Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney and Williamstown Naval Dockyard in Melbourne, but only four were approved.〔 The first two ships, and , were based directly on the ''Rothesay'' class, with changes to fire control system, air warning radar, and habitability to meet RAN operating conditions.〔 The second pair, and , were modified to carry a variable-depth sonar over the stern.〔Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 70〕 Although originally classified as frigates, the ships' designation was later changed to destroyer escort.〔 In 1964, the aircraft carrier collided with the destroyer , resulting in the destroyer's sinking.〔Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 72〕 In order to replace the lost capability, the Australian government ordered another two River class ships, and .〔 Unlike the previous four, the new ships were based on the more advanced Type 12I (or ''Leander'' class) design.〔 The ships had a displacement of 2,150 tons at standard load and 2,700 tons at full load.〔Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 69〕 They were 370 ft. (113m) long, had a beam of 41 ft. (12.5m), and a draught of 13 ft. (3.9 m).〔 Propulsion was provided by two double-reduction gearded turbines, which supplied to two propeller shafts, allowing the vessels to reach .〔 Maximum range was at .〔 The ship's company consisted of 250 personnel.〔 Weapons fit for the first four ships at commissioning consisted of two 4.5 inch Mark 6 guns in a single twin turret, two 40 mm Boforss in a twin mount, and two Limbo anti-submarine mortars.〔Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', pp. 68–70〕 During the 1960s, a quadruple Sea Cat anti-aircraft missile launcher was fitted in place of the Bofors, and one of the Limbo mortars was removed in favour of an Ikara missile launcher.〔Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', pgs. 68, 71〕 ''Stuart'' was the first RAN ship fitted with Ikara, and ''Derwent'' the first to carry Sea Cat.〔 In the early 1990s, the missile systems were removed from all active Rivers, with an Army RBS 70 unit available for use if required. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「River-class destroyer escort」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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