Australian light cruiser HMAS Brisbane 1913-1936

HMAS Brisbane

Part of the Town-class light cruisers Chatham-class design just like the HMAS Melbourne (1911) and Sydney (1911). Laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, Australia on 25 January 1913, launched on 30 September 1915, commissioned on 31 October 1916, completed on 12 December 1916, several times de- and decommissioned and used for training purposes, decommissioned on 24 September 1935 and sold to Thos. W. Ward to be broken up which was done at Briton Ferry, Wales.

Displacement 5.500 (standard) tons and as dimensions 139,202 x 15,19 x 6,07 maximum) metres or 456.8 3/8” x 49.10 x 19.11 feet. Oil and coal fuelled machinery consisting of Parsons turbines delivering 25.000shp allowing with the 4 screws a speed of 11.5 (cruising) 25 (maximum design)-25,6 (trial) knots. The range was with a speed of 11 knots and a coal bunker capacity of 1.196 (coal full load) and 260 ton oil bunker capacity 4.000 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 485 men (including 31 officers). The armament consisted of 8x1-15,2cm/6” breech loading Mk XI guns protected by open-backed gunshields, 1-7,6cm/3” anti aircraft gun, 1-12pd field field gun to be used ashore, 4-4,7cm/1.9”/3pd quick firing Hotchkiss saluting guns, 10-303” machineguns and 2x1-45cm/18” submerged torpedo tubes in the broadsides. The armour consisted of a belt with a thickness 3,8cm/1.5” (bow and stern)-7,6cm/3” (amidships), while the machinery and magazine spaces were also protected just like the conning tower.