Quiberon
Aerial view of the former Australian destroyer HMAS Quiberon (G81) after her conversion to an anti submarine frigate (new pennant "F03"), photo dated 1958 in pencil on the back of this RAN publicity photo.
In early 1950, the decision was made to convert all five Q class destroyers in RAN service (three more had been acquired after World War II) to anti-submarine warfare frigates, similar to the Type 15 frigate conversions performed on several War Emergency Programme destroyers of the RN.
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. Instead, the British Admiralty presented the ships to the RAN on 1 June as gifts. The conversions were part of an overall plan to improve the anti-submarine warfare capability of the RAN, although Quiberon and the other ships were only a 'stopgap' measure until purpose-built ASW frigates could be constructed.[8]
Quiberon paid off on 15 May 1950 for conversion .
In November 1950 the task of converting Quiberon to a modern fast anti-submarine frigate was commenced at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney. Later the ship was transferred to the Naval Dockyard at Garden Island, Sydney, where the conversion was completed in December 1957.
Quiberon recommissioned on 18 December 1957 as a unit of the 1st Frigate Squadron. When completed by the conversion of three sister ships from destroyers to frigates, the Squadron comprised HMA Ships Quadrant, Queenborough, Quiberon and Quickmatch.
During the following six and a half years, Quiberon spent several periods of duty on Far East service as a unit of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve and from time to time operated as a unit of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation forces on periodical exercises in Far East waters. Otherwise she operated as a unit of the Australian Fleet on the Australia Station. Her service career ended when she paid off to Reserve on 26 June 1964.
Quiberon was sold on 15 February 1972 for breaking up to Fujita Salvage Company Limited of Osaka, Japan, for $68,260.00. On 10 April 1972 the Japanese tug SUMI MARU No 38 left Sydney for Japan with Quiberon and another former RAN vessel, Tobruk , in tow
Footnote on her history published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia
No Australian destroyer had a more distinguished wartime career and only two other destroyers sank enemy submarines. Like her sister ship Quickmatch, she was a lucky ship and suffered no casualties in action.
Quiberon
Aerial view of the former Australian destroyer HMAS Quiberon (G81) after her conversion to an anti submarine frigate (new pennant "F03"), photo dated 1958 in pencil on the back of this RAN publicity photo.
In early 1950, the decision was made to convert all five Q class destroyers in RAN service (three more had been acquired after World War II) to anti-submarine warfare frigates, similar to the Type 15 frigate conversions performed on several War Emergency Programme destroyers of the RN.
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. Instead, the British Admiralty presented the ships to the RAN on 1 June as gifts. The conversions were part of an overall plan to improve the anti-submarine warfare capability of the RAN, although Quiberon and the other ships were only a 'stopgap' measure until purpose-built ASW frigates could be constructed.[8]
Quiberon paid off on 15 May 1950 for conversion .
In November 1950 the task of converting Quiberon to a modern fast anti-submarine frigate was commenced at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney. Later the ship was transferred to the Naval Dockyard at Garden Island, Sydney, where the conversion was completed in December 1957.
Quiberon recommissioned on 18 December 1957 as a unit of the 1st Frigate Squadron. When completed by the conversion of three sister ships from destroyers to frigates, the Squadron comprised HMA Ships Quadrant, Queenborough, Quiberon and Quickmatch.
During the following six and a half years, Quiberon spent several periods of duty on Far East service as a unit of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve and from time to time operated as a unit of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation forces on periodical exercises in Far East waters. Otherwise she operated as a unit of the Australian Fleet on the Australia Station. Her service career ended when she paid off to Reserve on 26 June 1964.
Quiberon was sold on 15 February 1972 for breaking up to Fujita Salvage Company Limited of Osaka, Japan, for $68,260.00. On 10 April 1972 the Japanese tug SUMI MARU No 38 left Sydney for Japan with Quiberon and another former RAN vessel, Tobruk , in tow
Footnote on her history published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia
No Australian destroyer had a more distinguished wartime career and only two other destroyers sank enemy submarines. Like her sister ship Quickmatch, she was a lucky ship and suffered no casualties in action.