Australian Colonial navies, before Federation (2)

The Colonial Navies of Australia.
I acknowledge and respect the work and research done by Ross Gillett for his book Australia's Colonial Navies, published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia (1982) ISBN 0 909153 08 6. Without that this page would not exist.	New South Wales Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Torpedo Boats
All photos with a blue border are thumbnails. Click to enlarge
New South Wales Naval Forces

The need to protect Sydney from Russian warships based at Vladivostock, coupled with the continuing Crimean War in Europe, convinced the public of New South Wales that a small warship was required for the defence of Sydney Harbour.

Unlike the other Australian colonies, the need for local naval defence was not as great as the Royal Navy warships normally based on Port Jackson and a system of forts having been established on the harbour cliff-tops.

To satisfy the locals' desire to assist with their own defence, Spitfire, a wooden gunboat, was designed and built in Sydney during 1855. For the ensuing four years she operated on harbour as a training ship for volunteers and during exercises with the forts.

Although the Tasmanian-built Eliza had been completed in 1835, for the primary mission of preventing the escape of convicts, New South Wales' Spitfire was Australia's first true warship designed for defence as well as the first constructed locally. Spitfire therefore preceded the sloop Victoria by more than a year.

Despite any visible threats, feelings in the colony continued to run high with the fear of a Russian invasion during the 1870s. Although a Royal Navy squadron was permanently stationed in Sydney as part of Australian Squadron, on many occasions the ships were absent and the port was without any form of naval defence. To allay these fears, local authorities turned toward the Atlas Engineering Company of Pyrmont, who were requested to design and construct two "outrigger" torpedo boats. The boats, named Acheron and Avernus, entered service in March, 1878. An interesting feature of the pair of torpedo boats was their single funnel, which could be lowered in action.

Both boats were originally equipped with a 62 foot long spar, which was pivoted at the bow. At the end of the spar a small explosive charge was fitted. This system differed from the later second class torpedo boats of Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, whose spar as originally designed, was extended over the bow in a straight line and not pivoted.

Following the successful trials of Acheron and Avernus, the New South Wales Government considered the acquisition of a 2,380 ton ironclad, firing two 10 inch guns in a centrally mounted turret and a 6 inch gun astern. A similar ship, classed as a coastal defence battleship, had been launched in 1876 at the Thames Iron Works. Top speed required was 10 knots, with a fully operational complement of 232 Officers and men, (an exceedingly high number for New South Wales to recruit and train). The ship was to be rigged as a barquentine. Like the Victorian Cerberus, iron armour protected her armament and vital spaces. The cost was reported at £150,000. After considering the usefulness of the projected ship, plus the added fact that she would be inferior to the earlier Cerberus, no order was placed.

In 1882 moves were made to acquire a training ship for the New South Wales Naval Forces. Although Acheron and Avernus were proving to be sturdy and efficient boats, they were unable to provide training for the numbers required.

The ship chosen was HMS Wolverene, the outgoing flagship of the Imperial Squadron soon to be replaced by the two year old armoured frigate HMS Nelson.

Arrangements proceeded for her transfer as an outright gift and she transferred in January, 1882.

Following Wolverene, New South Wales took delivery of the minelayer Miner in 1883, a vessel which operated to 1902, after which she reverted to Australian Army control, (including service in
Melbourne from 1904). Wolverene undertook a series of regular training cruises and in 1889 sailed to Jervis Bay. About this time the New South Wales Naval Forces reached peak strength with the introduction in Sydney of the auxiliaries Ohm, Miner, Neptune, Rhea, as well as the torpedo boats Acheron and Avernus. In Newcastle the Government pilot steamers Thetis and Ajax were each fitted with a bow gun and three smaller units, Kate, Carrington and Dayspring also used in manoeuvres.


Some, not all, of the NSW auxiliary vessels

Exercises normally involved the "fleet" challenging an imaginary enemy at Sydney Heads, or attacking the forts located on the coast and within Port Jackson. By 1892 it was decided to decommission Wolverene. The pair of torpedo boats carried on, but saw less service. During 1896 the aggregate cost of the Naval Forces amounted to £7,987, including money allotted for repairs to Acheron and Avernus and the expenses of 574 men.

Eventually Acheron and Avernus were integrated into the Commonwealth Naval Forces. Being of an earlier vintage than the second class torpedo boats of Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, the New South Wales pair were ordered for disposal in 1902. Ironically both enjoyed further careers after naval service, unlike the smaller and more modern boats of the other colonies, which were soon broken up or discarded.

Of the two 1884 vintage gunboats, Paluma, (aboriginal for thunder) was offered to and accepted by the Royal Navy for survey duties and did not rejoin her sister until 1895.

Meanwhile Gayundah (aboriginal for lightning) conducted extended training cruises up the Queensland coast, as Naval Corps of a purely volunteer basis had been formed in most of the principal ports and at Thursday Island.

Coinciding with the arrival of the gunboats, preparations began in earnest for the protection of the Brisbane River against the Russian threat.

Plans developed for such an emergency saw boom gates at the mouth of the river and the use of mines in Moreton Bay and its approaches.

To assist in these defensive measures the small launches Pippo Laura and Advance were taken over.

To further improve maritime defences, the small torpedo/picket boat Midge arrived in 1888 and five hopper barges, built for the Department of Harbours & River, were altered for naval duties.

Financial problems beset the force in the late 1880s and the corps were kept together only under very adverse circumstances. The ships and torpedo boats were kept as fit as possible with the aid of occasional casual labour.

Meanwhile the Brisbane Naval Corps conducted their training afloat under much difficulty, while the northern corps deteriorated for the want of a vessel. This state continued for a number of years as more retrenchments became necessary. Personnel were only fully mustered for the annual Easter manoeuvres.

After March, 1901, the remaining Queensland colonial warships, like those of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, came under charge of the Australian Commonwealth Government, flying the Australian Blue Ensign.

The combined force eventually came under the command of Captain W.R. Creswell, who Ieft the Queensland Marine Defence Force in 1904 to assume a similar position with the Victorian fleet.

To test the ships, Creswell ordered the torpedo boats Childers and Countess of Hopetoun to Tasmania in a test of their sea-keeping qualities, while Gayundah sailed north to Cairns and Paluma to Rockhampton.

In 1911, Gayundah, Paluma, Mosquito and Midge were transferred to the RAN, but the last pair were deleted in 1913, Mosquito being abandoned as a hulk and Midge sold as a yacht and renamed Nola II.

Paluma survived in private ownership until, 1951, Midge to the late 1940s and Gayundah as a gravel barge to 1958 and a breakwater to the present day.

In November, 1882, it signed a contract for the construction of a specially designed vessel for service in the South Australian gulfs, but armed sufficiently to engage a commerce raider. The vessel, to be named Protector, was superior to a gunboat and was classified as a cruiser.

Under the stress of these war preparations Protector was fully manned, her numbers only reducing in later years due to a more peaceful environment and the ever present problem of financial restrictions. Many locals, as well as naval personnel, were to comment in subsequent years how a ship the size of Protector could carry such an impressive armament, (11 x 8 inch, 5 x 6 inch, 4 x 3 pounder and 5 Gatling guns).

Throughout the years up to the turn of the century, Protector was professionally maintained, being in a state of combat readiness equaling any other colonial unit. Apart from regular slippings and refits, she served continually during this period and in 1893 survived proposals to remove her from service. The question of auxiliaries to support the South Australian cruiser was regularly raised, but no ship was ever modified along the same lines as New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.

In 1900 Protector was offered to British authorities in China to resist the Boxer rebellion. As such, she became the only colonial warship to leave Australian waters since the sloop Victoria during New Zealand's Maori Wars. Volunteers were called for from the Naval Brigade, and nearly all applied to go.

One difficulty encountered arose with Imperial authorities in respect to officering of the ship. The Imperial Government requested that Protector be commanded by an officer of the Royal Navy. Finally South Australia's Captain Clare agreed to go as senior lieutenant, with Captain Creswell, who had originally served in the Royal Navy, in command.

Not long after her return to Australia, Protector came under the control of the Commonwealth Government, flying the Blue Ensign. In 1906 she received a major refit and subsequently commenced a series of training cruises which took the ship to Sydney and Melbourne. With various other ex-colonial warships she was integrated into the RAN in 1911 and was not paid off until June, 1924, an impressive 40 years of service.

South Australia's only other warship, the ex-Tasmania torpedo boat, was ready for service in 1907, but lasted only to 1911 when she was reduced to a hulk. The boat had experienced very little active service on the River Derwent and by 1907 was displaying many signs of her 23 years afloat and lack of employment.

Although Tasmania operated the schooner Eliza for nine years from 1835, the island colony's first built-for-the- purpose "warship" was an unnamed second class torpedo boat ordered in 1883.

Both Houses of the Colony's Parliament had recommended the purchase of a gunboat for harbour defence in 1859 and three years later the acquisition of a steam ram with two cupolas, each mounting two 10 inch guns.

Despite these grandiose plans, nothing ever materialised until the second class torpedo boat which was delivered in 1884.

The new craft was designated TB No. 191 and employed for defence of the River Derwent. Why the boat was never named is unknown, maybe others were envisaged for Tasmania's northern ports.

During July, 1887, TB No. 191 was refitted and a proposal made that another boat be obtained. Although not approved the proposal was again raised in the early 1890s, together with a P-20,000 gunboat to carry 4.7 inch guns. These, together with plans to convert river ferries to mount 3 pounder guns were rejected outright.

TB No. 191 was manned by Army personnel and a special torpedo corps of about 40 was formed to manage the boat and her related affairs. Money to keep TB No. 191 in top condition was not always readily available, and thus the boat spent much of her time laid up. Further difficulties were experienced as the permission required to fire practice torpedoes was never forthcoming, due, it seems, to the cost of such exercises.

During the early 1900s, the need to maintain TB No. 191 in Tasmanian waters lessened. The naval force was no longer active and a decision was made to transfer the boat to Adelaide. The gunboat Protector took the boat in tow for her new base where a shed and slipway were constructed. The boat saw little service and was disposed of after 1911.

including one plan for a dozen Algerine class gunboats of 370 tons. Four of these craft were in service with the Royal Navy from 1857, but by 1873 had all been deleted. No definite orders were made and it was not until 1867 that firm orders would be placed for additional ships.

The first new tonnage acquired was actually in the form of the 55 year old ship of the line, Nelson, constructed during the era of the wooden battleship, but by 1867 standards' an obsolete warship. Despite her age and lack of modern equipment, Nelson was to serve competently as a training ship. For minimal outlay the Victorian fleet had received an impressive addition, one which would serve faithfully for over two decades.

At the same time as negotiations for Nelson were in progress, the Victorian Treasurer arranged for the construction of a monitor-type warship for which Great Britain would pay 80% of the cost.

The new vessel, named Cerberus, was a powerful warship equipped with two twin 10 inch guns, but with a maximum speed of only 9 knots. When completed the monitor was the first British armoured ship to dispense with sail. The local press commented upon her arrival that "Victorians can sleep peacefully upon their pillows, with the consciousness that Cerberus is in every way fit to fight their battles and to fight them in modern style".

One of the conditions affecting the acquisition of both Nelson and Cerberus was the requirement to maintain both vessels in full commission. To effect this, Cerberus was manned by approximately 96 officers and men. In early 1877, six years after Cerberus's arrival, proposals were made for another armoured ship, fitted with 12 inch guns and torpedo gear, as opposed to the 10 inch weapons borne by Cerberus, Like many other projects, this scheme too came to nothing.

Because no new construction was to be ordered, Captain Mardeville, commanding officer of the Victorian Naval Forces, arranged for the removal of one deck from Nelson for her further service as a target ship and for the mounting of two 9 inch guns. Removal of the deck commenced on 11th February 1878, employing crew members off Cerberus.

The same year also witnessed the return to active service of the sloop Victoria, rearmed with one 64 pounder and four 12 pounder guns. Her commission was cut short when she was laid up again on 5th July. An inspection was made of both Cerberus and Nelson in June, 1877.

The report stated that Cerberus' equipment was in good order, her crew well drilled and the ship clean throughout. She was not however provided with any protection against torpedoes, suggesting that outriggers and nets be fitted.

Nelson was described as not worthy of further expenditure, her hull being defective in several places, particularly the after part. At the time she carried no crew and two of her guns were of an old pattern, little suited to the conditions of the day. Instead of incurring considerable expense on the modernisation of the ship, it was suggested that a smaller vessel, capable of sea service and with all the modern improvements would prove a much more efficient means of defence.

Following the retirement of Victoria, only Cerberus and Nelson were in commission, a state which remained unchanged for over five years.

The year 1883 witnessed new orders for two third class gunboats, two second class and one first class torpedo boats, a total investment exceeding £84,200.

The largest of the warships, named Victoria, was described as a B1 type gunboat, Albert the smaller gunboat, a type D. Both ships were rigged for sailing and in fact employed sails during their delivery voyages. Like Cerberus, Victoria and Albert were maintained in full commission with a well-trained nucleus crew. Accompanying both gunboats during the Malta to Australia leg of the delivery voyage was one first class torpedo boat Childers, herself equipped with three masts for the long voyage to Melbourne.

With the successful arrival of the new ships, the fleet now comprised seven vessels, including one monitor, two gunboats, three torpedo boats and the training ship Nelson. However, concern about Russian motives in the region and the conviction that still more defence vessels were required, led to the Government ordering a number of merchant ships as auxiliary warships.

These included the minelayer Miner in 1882, the Melbourne Harbour Trust hopper barges Batman and Fawkner in 1885, the tugs Gannet and Eagle, yacht Commissioner and launch Spray. Despite this increase in fleet strength, the navy was very much undermanned.

Although 410 officers and men were required to man five ships active in the 1885 Easter manoeuvres, only 329 men were embarked. Nelson, the older and largest of the five had to be anchored in the stream as the crew required to man her were just not available.

The auxiliaries provided a significant increase in the fleet's strength up until the mid 1890s, when financial restrictions forced not only their demise, but that of Victoria and Albert.

Victoria's main 10 inch guns had proven unsuccessful and in 1886 it was decided to remove them to Fort Franklin. At the same time the gunboat was rearmed with an 8 inch gun in its bow position and a 6 inch gun aft.

Her 13 pounder guns were re-sited amidships along the same lines as Albert. Both gunboats were also fitted with searchlights.

At the same time as the gunboat modernisation, refits were being completed to the trio of torpedo boats with the fitting of torpedo dropping gear.

The year 1886 also witnessed the arrival of the turnabout torpedo launch Gordon, designed to turn rapidly in the water after launching her torpedoes.

Lady Loch, the Victorian fleet's largest auxiliary entered service during December, 1886. She was armed with one 6 inch weapon and two 1 inch Nordenfelt guns.

Cerberus was fitted with torpedo netting in 1887 and in July tested these for the first time.

During the year ending 30th June, 1888, Nelson undertook seven target practice cruises as well as providing diving classes. Cerberus also made six target practice cruises, the gunboats Albert and Victoria made four apiece.

On 25th May, 1889, the yacht-like auxiliary Vulcan, was launched into the waters off Williamstown. A 75 ton coastal minelayer, she boasted a top speed of 101/2 knots. Later the same year, she transferred from navy control to the Permanent Engineers, as the responsibility for controlled mine-laying was now vested with the army. The smaller mine-laying Miner was also transferred.

The surviving vessels carried out their annual manoeuvres in Port Phillip. During the 1890 Easter break, the force drilled for four days. From July, 1889, to June, 1890, 160 practice runs were made by the torpedo boats and 298 gun drills by Cerberus, Nelson, Albert and Victoria.

Manpower strength stood at 235 with 382 in the Naval Brigade at 30th June, 1890. The 1890 financial year allowed £37,527.6.4 for the naval forces, out of £145,000.00 overall for defence.

Countess of Hopetoun, (photo right) the first front-line warship to be ordered for a number of years was laid down in 1890 as Yard No. 905 by Yarrow & Co. The new boat was the largest torpedo boat and most powerful to operate in any colonial fleet.

A top speed of 24 knots gave her an added advantage over any adversaries. She was also the first colonial boat to feature a twin revolving torpedo mount.

During early 1895, it was announced that both Albert and Victoria would be withdrawn from service, plus all auxiliary gunboats, With Nelson having gone into reserve in 1893, the colony now maintained only Cerberus and the five torpedo boats. Throughout the years up to 1900, £27,000 was allotted annually for fleet operations and upkeep, reducing to £19,000 per annum after Federation.

Like the other Colonial Fleets Victoria's naval force was controlled by the Commonwealth from March, 1901, although the central administration body did not commence until 1st March, 1904, following the Commonwealth Defence Act of the previous year. Captain W.R. Creswell assumed command of the Victorian Navy in 1904 and immediately set about improving the combat readiness of his forces. Childers and Countess of Hopetoun were dispatched across Bass Strait to Launceston in February, 1905, in a test of their sea-keeping qualities after 21 and 13 years service respectively.

As a result of the voyage Childers two bow torpedo tubes were replaced by a single to reduce hull strain. Later in 1906 and 1908 further cruises were undertaken to Tasmania. Despite the attention paid to these ships and other units of the colonial fleets, no colonial warship was fully modernised or rebuilt to improve its effectiveness. As such the colonial fleets soldiered on.

In 1911 Cerberus, Childers, Countess of Hopetoun, Lonsdale, Nepean and Gordon were integrated into the Royal Australian Navy. However in November Childers and Countess of Hopetoun were paid off, while Lonsdale and Nepean were ordered to be beached at Swan Island. By the outbreak of the Great War, only Cerberus, Childers and Countess of Hopetoun remained.

The two torpedo boats were actively employed, Childers until 1916 and Countess of Hopetoun to 1920. Only Cerberus continued on, but eventually she too paid off for disposal, the last Victorian Colonial warship in full commission. During its active years, the Victorian Navy operated more than twenty ships and was by far the best organised colonial fleet. On two occasions its ships were dispatched for war service, Victoria to New Zealand in 1860 and Albert, Victoria and Childers to Suakin in the Red Sea during 1884.

The Victorian Fleet, once described as "the great navy of the southern seas" enjoyed an effective life of only forty-five years, but when compared to the other colonial fleets its ships saw many more hours of active service. The wealth of training and experience gained through the Victorian fleet was put to good use when the new Royal Australian Navy was established in 1911