HMAS Tobruk (D37) - Design and Construction

Design and Construction

Tobruk was a Battle class destroyer. The ship had a standard load displacement of 2,436 tons and a full load displacement of 3,400 tons. She was 379 feet (116 m) long overall and 355 feet (108 m) long between perpendiculars, had a beam of 41 feet (12 m), and a draught of 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m). Propulsion machiney consisted of Admiralty 3-drum boilers connected to Parsons geared turbines, which supplied 50,000 shaft horsepower (37,000 kW) to the ship's two propeller shafts. Although designed with a maximum speed of 31.5 knots (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph), Tobruk achieved 32.36 knots (59.93 km/h; 37.24 mph) during full-power trials. Maximum range was 1,140 nautical miles (2,110 km; 1,310 mi) at 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph), or 4,420 nautical miles (8,190 km; 5,090 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The ship's company consisted of 19 officers and 301 sailors.

Tobruk's primary armament consisted of four 4.5-inch Mark III guns, fitted forward in two twin turrets. For anti-aircraft defence, the ship carried twelve 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns: three twin mountings on the aft half of the ship, and six single mountings. Two five-tube Pentad torpedo tube sets were carried. Tobruk was also fitted with a Squid anti-submarine mortar.

The ship was laid down by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company at their shipyard on Cockatoo Island, New South Wales on 5 August 1946. Tobruk was launched on 20 December 1947 by the wife of Bill Riordan, Minister for the Navy. The destroyer was commissioned into the RAN on 8 May 1950, although she was not completed until 17 May. The ship's name comes from the Siege of Tobruk.