View source for HMAS Brisbane (1915)

{{short description|Town-class light cruiser}}
{{other ships|HMAS Brisbane}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:HMAS Brisbane AWM P01886 001.jpg|300px|HMAS Brisbane]]
|Ship caption=HMAS ''Brisbane'' shortly after completion in 1916
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
|Ship name=''Brisbane''
|Ship namesake=City of [[Brisbane]]
|Ship builder=Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney
|Ship cost=A£746,624
|Ship laid down=25 January 1913
|Ship launched=30 September 1915
|Ship commissioned=31 October 1916
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship completed=12 December 1916
|Ship decommissioned=24 September 1935
|Ship motto=*''Conjunctis Viribus''
*Latin: "With United Strength"
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=*'''Battle honours:'''
*Indian Ocean 1917
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap in 1936
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship class=[[Town-class cruiser (1910)|Town class light cruiser]] (''Chatham'' subtype)
|Ship displacement={{convert|5400|LT|t}} (standard)
|Ship length={{convert|456|ft|8+3/8|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam={{convert|49|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draught={{convert|19|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}} (maximum)
|Ship propulsion=Parsons turbines, 4 screws, {{convert|25000|hp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed=*{{convert|25|kn}} (design)
*{{convert|25.6|kn}} (speed trials)
*{{convert|11.5|kn}} (cruising)
|Ship range={{convert|4000|nmi}} at {{convert|11.5|kn}}
|Ship complement=31 officers, 454 sailors
|Ship sensors=
|Ship armament=*8 × [[BL 6-inch Mk XI naval gun|BL {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} Mk XI* guns]]
*1 × [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|QF {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on}} anti-aircraft gun]]
*1 × [[QF 12-pounder 8 cwt gun|12-pounder field gun]]
*4 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|3-pounder (47-mm, 1.9-in) quick-firing Hotchkiss guns]]
*8 × [[Lewis gun|{{convert|0.303|in|mm|adj=on}} Lewis machine guns]]
*2 × [[Maxim gun|{{convert|0.303|in|mm|adj=on}} Maxim machine guns]]
*2 × submerged [[British 18-inch torpedo|18-inch (450-mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''HMAS ''Brisbane''''' was a [[Town-class cruiser (1910)|Town class]] light cruiser of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). Built in Sydney between 1913 and 1916 to the ''Chatham'' subtype design, ''Brisbane'' operated in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Australian coastal waters during World War I.

Following the end of the war, the cruiser was decommissioned and recommissioned on several occasions, and was reclassified as a training ship in late 1925. In 1935, ''Brisbane'' was reactivated to transport personnel for the new cruiser {{HMAS|Sydney|D48|6}} to Britain, after which she was decommissioned and sold for [[ship breaking|breaking up]] as scrap.

==Design and construction==
''Brisbane'' was built by [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard]] to the ''Chatham'' subtype of the [[Town-class cruiser (1910)|Town class cruiser]] design.<ref name=Cassells35.6>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pp. 35–6</ref> Laid down on 25 January 1913, the cruiser was launched on 30 September 1915 by the wife of [[Andrew Fisher]]; [[Prime Minister of Australia]] on three occasions.<ref name=Cassells36/> ''Brisbane'' was commissioned into the RAN on 31 October 1916, although she was not completed until 12 December.<ref name=Cassells36/> The ship cost [[Australian pound|A£746,624]] to build; unlike her Australian sister ships, the cost of adding armour was included in the original estimate.<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock38>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 38</ref>

She was {{convert|456|ft|8+3/8|in|m}} [[length overall|long overall]], with a beam of {{convert|49|ft|10|in|m}} and a maximum draught of {{convert|19|ft|11|in|m}}.<ref name=Cassells35.6/> The cruiser had a standard displacement of 5,400 tons.<ref name=Cassells35/> ''Brisbane'' was propelled by Parsons steam turbines, which provided {{convert|25000|SHP}} to four propellers.<ref name=Cassells36/> Although designed with a maximum speed of {{convert|25|kn|km/h}}, ''Brisbane'' once reached {{convert|25.67|kn|km/h}} during full speed trials.<ref name=Cassells35/> Her standard cruising speed was {{convert|11.5|kn|km/h}}, which could be maintained for {{convert|4000|nmi|km}}.<ref name=Cassells35.6/> The ship was fuelled by a combination of coal (1,196 tons at full load) and oil (260 tons).<ref name=Cassells36>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 36</ref> Her ship's company consisted of 31 officers and 454 sailors.<ref name=Cassells36/>

[[File:HMAS Brisbane 6 inch gun crew AWM A00100.png|thumb|left|6-inch gun practice on ''Brisbane'' during World War I]]
The cruiser's primary armament consisted of eight [[BL 6-inch Mk XI naval gun|BL {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} Mk XI* guns]], arranged in single mountings behind open-backed gunshields.<ref name=Cassells35>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 35</ref> A single [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|quick-firing {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on}} gun]] was used to protect the ship from air attack.<ref name=Cassells35/> ''Brisbane'' carried a [[QF 12-pounder 8 cwt gun|12-pounder field gun]] for ashore deployment.<ref name=Cassells35/> Four [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|3-pounder (47-mm, 1.9-in) quick-firing Hotchkiss guns]] were used as [[saluting gun]]s.<ref name=Cassells35/> Ten [[.303 British|.303-inch]] machine guns were carried for close defence work (eight [[Lewis gun]]s and two [[Maxim gun]]s).<ref name=Cassells35/> Two submerged [[British 18-inch torpedo|18-inch (450-mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s were fitted: one on each side, firing [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]].<ref name=Cassells35/> Armour plating consisted of side belts {{convert|3|in|adj=on}} thick amidships, tapering to {{convert|1.5|in|adj=on}} thick at the bow and stern, along with protective decking over the engineering and magazine spaces, and an armoured [[conning tower]].<ref name=Bastock38/>

==Operational history==
On 13 December 1916, ''Brisbane'' departed on a voyage to the Mediterranean.<ref name=Cassells36/> After reaching Malta on 4 February, the ship was fitted with equipment not available in Australia at the time.<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock40>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 40</ref> Soon after, the ship was redeployed to Colombo, and employed on Indian Ocean patrols to search for the German raiders [[SMS Wolf (1913)|''Wolf'']] and [[SMS Seeadler (auxiliary cruiser)|''Seeadler'']].<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock40/>

In February 1917, a [[Sopwith Baby]] seaplane was acquired from {{HMS|Raven II||6}} for reconnaissance work; the first aircraft to be used by a RAN ship.<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock40/> This remained aboard until June, when ''Brisbane'' was sent back to Australia with orders to patrol the Western Australian coast.<ref name=Cassells36/> From October 1917, the cruiser was assigned to operations in the western Pacific in response to reports of German raider activity.<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock40/> Initially deployed to the [[Solomon Islands]], ''Brisbane'' visited [[Nauru]], the [[Gilbert Islands]], and [[Fiji]], before returning to duties in Australian waters in January 1918.<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock40/>

On 21 October 1918, ''Brisbane'' departed for the eastern Mediterranean, and was between [[Colombo]] and [[Suez]] when World War I ended.<ref name=Bastock40/> The [[battle honour]] "Indian Ocean 1917" recognises the cruiser's wartime service.<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref> The ship reached [[Murdos]] in late November, and spent most of December operating with the [[River-class torpedo-boat destroyer|Australian Destroyer Squadron]], before visiting [[Smyrna]] and the [[Dardanelles]].<ref name=Bastock40/>

[[File:StateLibQld 1 202167 Brisbane (ship).jpg|thumb|left|HMAS ''Brisbane'' in 1919]]
''Brisbane'' reached the United Kingdom before the end of December 1918, and began refitting at [[Portsmouth]].<ref name=Bastock40/> The most visible aspect of the refit was the installation of a [[tripod mast]].<ref name=Bastock40/> The cruiser remained in British waters until 17 April 1919, when she departed from Portsmouth for home.<ref name=Cassells36/> During the return trip, she caught up with the submarine depot ship {{HMAS|Platypus|1917|6}} and the six [[British J class submarine|J class submarines]] transferred from the [[Royal Navy]] to the RAN after the war, and relieved {{HMAS|Sydney|1912|6}} as their escort.<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock40/> {{HMS|J5||2}} was experiencing problems, and ''Brisbane'' took the boat under tow: the two vessels reached Sydney on 27 June.<ref name=Cassells36/> The cruiser operated in Australian waters until 4 August 1922, when she was decommissioned into reserve.<ref name=Cassells36/>

''Brisbane'' was reactivated on 14 April 1923.<ref name=Cassells36/> On 23 July 1924, she ran aground off [[Port Moresby]], [[New Guinea]]; she was refloated later that day.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Telegrams in Brief |date=24 July 1924 |page=13 |issue=43712 |column=G }}</ref> From February until August 1925, the ship served with the Royal Navy's [[China Squadron]] as part of an exchange, with {{HMS|Concord|1916|6}} sent to Australia.<ref name=Bastock40/> While deployed with the China Squadron, ''Brisbane'' became the first RAN ship to visit Japan.<ref name=Bastock41/> The cruiser was placed back in reserve on 7 October, underwent a refit, and recommissioned on 17 November as a training ship attached to [[Flinders Naval Depot]].<ref name=Cassells36/> A longer period of decommissioning and refit ran from 30 October 1926 until 28 June 1928, when she resumed training duties.<ref name=Cassells36/> In August 1928, ''Brisbane'' visited [[Hawaii]], and was present for celebrations commemorating the 150th anniversary of the islands' discovery.<ref name=Cassells36/> The cruiser was again decommissioned, on 16 August 1929.<ref name=Cassells36/>

''Brisbane'' was commissioned for the final time on 2 April 1935, for the specific purpose of conveying the ship's company of the new cruiser {{HMAS|Sydney|D48|6}} to their ship in Britain.<ref name=Cassells36/> During the voyage, the cruiser assisted the British sloop {{HMS|Hastings|L27|6}}.<ref name=Bastock41>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 41</ref> ''Brisbane'' reached Portsmouth on 12 July 1935, and was decommissioned on 24 September.<ref name=Cassells36/> She was the last coal-fuelled cruiser operational in any British Empire navy.<ref name=Bastock41/> On 13 June 1936, ''Brisbane'' was sold to [[Thos. W. Ward]] for A£19,215 to be [[Ship breaking|broken up]].<ref name=Cassells36/> The cruiser was scrapped at [[Briton Ferry, Wales]] by the end of 1936.<ref name=Cassells36/><ref name=Bastock41/>

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Bastock |first=John |title=Australia's Ships of War |year=1975 |publisher=Angus and Robertson |location=Cremorne, NSW |isbn=0207129274 |oclc=2525523}}
*{{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Capital Ships: Their Battles and Their Badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, NSW |isbn=0-7318-0941-6 |oclc=48761594}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMAS Brisbane (1915)}}
* [http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-brisbane-i Royal Australian Navy history of HMAS ''Brisbane'']

{{Town class cruiser 1910}}
{{1924 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brisbane}}
[[Category:Town-class cruisers (1910) of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in New South Wales]]
[[Category:1915 ships]]
[[Category:World War I cruisers of Australia]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1924]]