HMAS Voyager (D04) - Design and Construction

Design and Construction

The Royal Australian Navy initially ordered four Daring class destroyers, which were to be named after the ships of the "Scrap Iron Flotilla" of World War II. The ships were modified during construction: most changes were made to improve habitability, including the installation of air-conditioning.

Voyager was laid down by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company at Sydney, New South Wales on 10 October 1949. She was launched on 1 May 1952 by Dame Pattie Menzies, wife of the Prime Minister. Voyager was commissioned on 12 February 1957—she was the first ship of the RAN commissioned as 'Her' Majesty's Australian Ship. She was the first all-welded ship to be constructed in Australia. During construction the cost of Voyager nearly tripled to AU£7 million.

Voyager was armed with six 4.5-inch (110 mm) Mark V guns in three double turrets (A and B turret before the bridge, X turret on the aft superstructure), six Bofors 40 mm guns in three twin mounts (one each side on the forward superstructure, the third on the aft superstructure behind the rear funnel), two 5-tube 21-inch (530 mm) Petand torpedo launchers (located between the forward and aft superstructure), and one Limbo anti-submarine mortar (located near the stern). Voyager's armament differed from the other two Australian Darings, Vendetta and Vampire: the latter ships were equipped with two single Bofors on the forward superstructure, and two twin Bofors on the aft superstructure.