HMAS SHROPSHIRE - COUNTY CLASS

Shropshire was orinially built for service in the British, Royal Navy. She was completed on 12th September 1929 and for the first part of WW2 served in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

In early 1941 she was fitted with two 8-Barrelled Pom Poms then later in at a refit in Chatham (Oct 41-Feb42) she replaced her single four inch mountings with twin mounts, plus 7 single 20mm Oerlikon Mountings. At the end of 42 she was to get a further 3 20mm's.

With Canberra's tragic loss at Guadalcanal (Savo Island), the British Government offered HMS Shropshire to the RAN. The offer was graciously accepted and 'Shroppy" became a member of the Australian Fleet on 25th June, 1943.

Prior to her transfer she was to undergo another refit which saw even more changes and additions to her armament: two quadruple 0.50 Cal Machine Gun Mountings added and four single 20mm mounts removed then another seven Twin 20mm mounts added. Her catapault was removed during this refit.

In 1945 her torpedo tubes were considered redundant and removed and all 20 mm Oerlikons were replaced by 11 Single 40mm Bofors.

'Shroppy', as she was known to the blokes who served in her was paid off in 1949.

Pendant Number: 73 (Royal Navy).
Builder: W.M. Beardmore & Co.
Construction Time: 3 Years 7 Months
Commissioned: 20 April 1943
Fate: Sold 16/7/54

Displacement (Tons): 14,540
Dimensions (Feet): Length 633, Beam 66, Draught 22.6
Machinery; Parsons geared turbines 4 Screws 80,000 s.h.p.
Speed (Knots): 32
Range (Miles): 12,800 @ 12 Knots
Complement: 820
Armament: 8 x 8 Inch (4x2), 8 x 4 Inch (4x2), 12x 40mm Bofors (12x1), 2x2 Pdrs, * x 21 Inch Torpedo Tubes.

 

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