.PNG)
HMAS Kanimbla (FRS-1940+)
When fighting in the Pacific with long distances between supply depots made Fleet Replenishment ships a must. Australis had had either their own supply depots or access to other supply depots to keep their ships at sea and supplied. The Japanese advances were so swift that all of the Australis protectorates with their bases disappeared and the US and UK alternates disappeared as well. Darwin and its surrounding harbours, airfields and army bases became of great importance as the forward base for Australis-US fight back from the south.
Anything the Australis Navy would need would have to be carried with the fleet so speedier units were produced to do just that. With large carrying capacity and some with major repair facilities the ships of the Australis Fleet Replenishment Unit made life bearable for those ships at the front. Some were used as depot ships and carried spares for its particular specialty, submarine, destroyer, etc.
| Displacement | 11,800 tons std |
| Length | 487 ft |
| Breadth | 74 ft |
| Draught | 22 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft steam turbines, 18,000shp |
| Speed | 20 knots |
| Range | 8000 miles at 10 knots |
| Armour | nil |
| Armament | 8 x 4" (4x2) 14 x 20mm (14x1) |
| Aircraft | nil |
| Torpedoes | nil |
| Complement | 280 |
| Notes | HMAS Kanimbla 1940 HMAS Ekatahuna 1941 HMAS Packsaddle 1941 HMAS Queenscliff 1941 HMAS Picton 1941 HMAS Norseman 1941 HMAS Hopetoun 1942 HMAS Carterton 1942 HMAS Karumbah 1942 HMAS Kaikoura 1942 HMAS Melton 1942 HMAS Reefton 1942 HMAS Ohakune 1942 HMAS Haumoana 1942 HMAS Humpty Doo 1943 HMAS Donnybrook 1943 HMAS Avoca 1943 HMAS Wangaratta 1943 HMAS Wynyard 1943 HMAS Watinuna 1943 HMAS Walakarra 1943 HMAS Silkwood 1943 HMAS Sapphire 1944 HMAS Railton 1944 |