Launch program for HMAS TORRENS
Date28 August 1915
Object number00055493
NameProgram
MediumPaper
Ink
DimensionsOverall (overlapped pages): 233 × 158 mm
Overall (open program): 233 × 316 mm
Overall (open program): 233 × 316 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection gift of Megan Nott
DescriptionThe launch program of HMATBD (His Majesty's Australian Torpedo Boat Destroyer, later HMAS) TORRENS (I) on 28 August 1915 at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
TORRENS was launched by Her Excellency Lady Helen Munro Ferguson, wife of Sir Ronald Crawford Munro Ferguson, who served as Governor-General of Australia between 1914 and 1920.HistoryHMATBD (His Majesty's Australian Torpedo Boat Destroyer, later HMAS) TORRENS (I) was one of six River Class torpedo boat destroyers built for the Royal Australian Navy between 1909 and 1916. During the First World War they formed the Australian Destroyer Flotilla. TORRENS was laid down on 25 January 1913 at Cockatoo Island Dockyard and launched on 28 August 1915 by Lady Helen Munro-Ferguson, wife of Sir Ronald Crawford Munro Ferguson, who served as Governor-General of Australia between 1914 and 1920.
Upon being commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy at Sydney on 3 July 1916, TORRENS commenced service as a unit of the British Far East Patrol and was deployed to Sandakan in Borneo. The vessel conducted patrols of the Malayan Archipelago until May 1917, when it underwent a refit in Singapore.
TORRENS left Singapore on 2 July 1917 and proceeded to the Mediterranean as part of the Australian Destroyer Flotilla. From the end of 1917 to the end of the WWI TORRENS conducted anti-submarine patrols in the Strait of Otranto and participated in a number of engagements, but did not sink any enemy submarines. At the cessation of hostilities the Australian Destroyer Flotilla made its way to England and TORRENS departed back to Australia in March 1917.
For the remainder of its active duty career, TORRENS operated in home waters. It was one of several RAN ships and submarines that assembled at Melbourne for the arrival of the Prince of Wales on 26 May 1920, and was one of the escort ships when the Prince visited South Australia. TORRENS was paid off in July and spent the remainder of its naval service at Westernport (Victoria) and Port Adelaide as a training vessel for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.
TORRENS was decommissioned at Sydney on 12 May 1926 and in November 1930, TORRENS was towed outside Sydney Heads and used as a fleet gunnery practice target and sunk.SignificanceFew launch programs for early Royal Australian Navy warships are known to exist. TORRENS was one of the RAN's original fleet of destroyers and served with distinction in the Mediterranean during the First World War. It was also one of Australia's first domestically-built warships--a distinction that is specifically highlighted by the launch pamphlet/program.
