The Fish class was a ship class of three torpedo recovery vessels previously operated by Defence Maritime Services (DMS).
Design and construction The class was ordered in 1969 as replacements for World War II-era torpedo recovery vessels.
The vessels each had a full load displacement of , a length of , a beam of , and a draught of . Propulsion machinery consisted of three GM V8 diesels, which supplied to the three propeller shafts. Top speed was , and the vessels had an endurance of 63 hours at . Each Fish-class vessel could recover up to eight torpedoes via a watertight stern gate.Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, pp. 104–5 They were unarmed, and their sensor suite was limited to an I-band navigational radar. Nine personnel made up the crew.
All three vessels were built at Williamstown Dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy between January 1970 and April 1971.Wertheim, The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 32Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013, p. 36
Operational history Originally identified only by the numbers 253–255, the vessels were named in 1983 and renumbered 801–803.
On entering service, TRV 253 was assigned to the target range at Jervis Bay, while the other two vessels were attached to in Sydney. In addition to torpedo recovery, the boats were used as dive tenders and as training vessels for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
In 1988, the three vessels were sold to DMS.Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013, p. 35 As part of the company's role in providing maritime support for the RAN, the vessels were assigned to various bases: Tuna to nearby , Trevally remaining at Waterhen, while Tailor sailed to in Western Australia.
As of 2012, only Tailor remained in service.
As of 2018, Tailor was decommissioned and put up for sale to the public effectively ending the service of this class
Ships , originally TRV 253. , originally TRV 254. , originally TRV 255.
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