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Sunday 31 July 2016

British light cruiser HMS Apollo 1933-1938 and Australian light cruiser HMS Hobart 1938-1962

Leander-class

HMAS Hobart

Building ordered on 1 March 1933, laid down on the Navy Dockyard at Devonport, England on 15 August 1933, launched on 9 October 1934, commissioned on 13 January 1936, sold to Australia in 1938, (part of the deal was the handing over of the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross to England), renamed HMAS Hobart, commissioned in Australian service on 28 September 1938, decommissioned on 20 December 1947, laid up in reserve, plans to convert her into an aircraft carrier escort and afterwards as troop convoy escort in 1950 were not executed, plans for conversion at the State Dockyard, Newcastle as replacement for the Australia in 1952, reduced budget prevented her commissioning as training ship in 1953-1954, further more was a conversion into a guided missile cruiser planned but not executed, all plans were abandoned around April 1955, and again laid up in reserve despite the spent money for converting/modifying her, sold to the Japanese company Mitsui&Co. Pty. Ltd. be broken up on 22 February 1962 which was executed at Osaka, Japan in 1962 after her arrival on 2 April 1962.

Pennant 63 in British service and D63 in Australian service. Motto Ubertas et Fidelitas. Of the Leander-class light cruisers consisting of the Leander, Orion, Neptune, Ajax, Achilles, Amphion, Apollo and Sydney With the Leander and the Hobart-Perth-Sydney forming sub classes. Preceded by the Emerald class and succeeded by the Arethusa-class.

Displacement 7.105 tons and as dimensions 171,37 x 17,27 x 4,78 metres or 562.3 x 56.8 x 15.8 feet. The 4 Parsons geared steam turbines and 4 boilers supplied via 4 shafts 72.000 shp allowing a speed of 32,5 knots. Her crew numbered 570 men. The original armament of 4x2-15,2cm/6” breech loading Mk XXIII guns, 4x2-10,2cm/4” quick firing Mk XVI guns, 4-3pd quick firing guns, 2x4-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes and 1 Walrus seaplane.