7079 HMS ALBATROSS 1939

HMAS Albatross (later HMS Albatross) was an Australian and later British air tender and a repair ship, laid down in April 1926, launched in February 1928, and commissioned in January 1929. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 135.2 m, width 18 m, with a standard displacement of about 4,800 tons. In turn, the maximum speed was up to 22 knots. The ship's armament included: 4 120 mm cannons, 2 single 40 mm anti-aircraft cannons and 24 7.7 mm machine guns. HMAS Albatross was created primarily on the initiative of the Australian civilian authorities, which sought to create a ship that would be able to secure the operation of its own seaplanes on the high seas. The Royal Navy played a significant role at the early stage of construction and design of the units, taking into account, however, numerous demands of the Australian authorities. The Achilles' heel of HMAS Albatross turned out to be seaplanes, because the dedicated and adapted Fairey III D turned out to be finally unable to perform all operations from the deck of the vessel - for example, they could not be launched from ship catapults! Due to numerous engine failures, the unit stopped making sea voyages in 1933, and in 1938 it was transferred to the Royal Navy. In British service - until mid-1942 - he operated in the Atlantic, carrying out patrol and convoy tasks. In May 1942, HMS Albatross was transferred to the Indian Ocean, and shortly thereafter participated in the capture of Madagascar. At the turn of 1943/1944, the unit was rebuilt and adapted to the role of LSE (Landing Ship - Engineering) in order to support the landing in Normandy, in which it actually took part. In August 1944, it was damaged by a torpedo, but it remained afloat. HMS Albatross survived World War II, and from 1946 he was in the civil service. The unit was not put into scrap until 1954.