Fish-class torpedo recovery vessel

The Fish class was a ship class of three torpedo recovery vessels previously operated by Defence Maritime Services (DMS).

Class overview
Builders	Williamstown Dockyard, Williamstown, Victoria
Operators	Royal Australian Navy/Defence Maritime Services
Built	January 1970 – April 1971
Active	None
Retired	3
General characteristics
Type	Torpedo Recovery Vessel
Displacement	94 long tons (96 t) full load
Length	26.8 metres (88 ft)
Beam	6.1 metres (20 ft)
Draught	1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	3 x V8 GM diesels, 890 horsepower (660 kW), 3 shafts
Speed	9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph)
Endurance	63 hours at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Crew	9
Sensors & processing systems	I-band navigational radar

Design and construction

The class was ordered in 1969 as replacements for World War II-era torpedo recovery vessels.^[1]

The vessels each had a full load displacement of 94 long tons (96 t), a length of 26.8 metres (88 ft), a beam of 6.1 metres (20 ft), and a draught of 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in).^[2] Propulsion machinery consisted of three GM V8 diesels, which supplied 890 horsepower (660 kW) to the three propeller shafts.^[2][1] Top speed was 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph), and the vessels had an endurance of 63 hours at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).^[1][2] Each Fish-class vessel could recover up to eight torpedoes via a watertight stern gate.^[2][1] They were unarmed, and their sensor suite was limited to an I-band navigational radar.^[2] Nine personnel made up the crew.^[2]

All three vessels were built at Williamstown Dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy between January 1970 and April 1971.^[3][2]

Operational history

Originally identified only by the numbers 253–255, the vessels were named in 1983 and renumbered 801–803.^[1]

On entering service, TRV 253 was assigned to the target range at Jervis Bay, while the other two vessels were attached to HMAS Waterhen in Sydney.^[1] In addition to torpedo recovery, the boats were used as dive tenders and as training vessels for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.^[1]

In 1988, the three vessels were sold^{[citation needed]} to DMS.^[4] As part of the company's role in providing maritime support for the RAN, the vessels were assigned to various bases: Tuna to nearby HMAS Creswell, Trevally remaining at Waterhen, while Tailor sailed to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.^[3]

As of 2012, only Tailor remained in service.^[2]

As of 2018, Tailor was decommissioned and put up for sale to the public effectively ending the service of this class^[5]

Ships

• TRV Tuna (801), originally TRV 253.^[1]
• TRV Trevally (802), originally TRV 254.^[1]
• TRV Tailor (803) , originally TRV 255.^[1]