Queensland Maritime Defence Force Auxiliary Gunboats

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State Library of Queensland 39016 HMQS Bonito 1890.png
Bonito in 1896
Class overview
NameQueensland auxiliary gunboats
BuildersWalkers of Maryborough
OperatorsFlag of Queensland Queensland and Australia
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byNone
Built1884–1885
In service1884 – at least 1901
In commission1884 – at least 1901
Completed5
Active0
Retired5
General characteristics
Displacement450 tons
PropulsionExpansion steam engines
Armament
  • 1 × BL 5-inch (127 mm) gun
  • Except Benito:
  • 1 × 64-pounder gun

After the formation of the Queensland Maritime Defence Force in 1884, the colonial government purchased two gunboats and a torpedo boat to equip the new force.[1] However, given the number of ports along the Queensland coast it was realised that additional ships were required. Five ships had already been ordered for the Queensland Department of Harbours and Rivers when the decision was taken to convert them to also serve as auxiliary gunboats. This resulted in the fitting of a 5-inch gun and the relocation of the boilers below the waterline. The ships were as follows: Bonito, Bream, Dolphin, Pumba, and Stingaree.[2]

Steam-propelled twin screwed "hopper barges",[3] these ships were built by Walkers at Maryborough and, at 450 tons, they were the largest warships built in the Australian colonies before Federation. The depression of the 1890s greatly curtailed operations with most of the vessels placed in reserve and being used as training vessels. Stingaree served until 1895 whilst Pumba remained on strength at the time of Federation in 1901, before being sold to Pioneer Gravels (Queensland). She was rebuilt in 1958 and renamed Enterprise, serving as a cargo vessel beyond the late 1970s.[2] Bream (1963), Dolphin (1963) and Stingaree (1966) were sunk off Tangalooma, Moreton Bay.[4]

See also[]

  • List of Queensland Maritime Defence Force ships
  • Colonial navies of Australia – Queensland

Notes[]

  1. ^ Gillett 1977, p. 105.
  2. ^ a b Gillett 1977, p. 110.
  3. ^ Pixley 1972, p. 18.
  4. ^ Diving the Gold Coast.

References[]

  • Banks, Ian. "Diving the Gold Coast". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  • Gillett, Ross (1977). Warships of Australia. Adelaide, South Australia: Rigby. ISBN 0-7270-0472-7.
  • Pixley, Norman (1972). Quensland—Harbours, Rivers and Marine (PDF). Royal Historical Society of Queensland.
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