NAVYPEDIA

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Albatross 1939

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Albatross (RAN, 9.1938 - RN)	I22	106	Cockatoo DYd, Australia	5.5.1926	23.2.1928	23.1.1929	repair ship 4.1944

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	4800
Displacement full, t	6350
Length, m	135.3
Breadth, m	18.6 wl 23.7 by sponsons
Draught, m	5.26 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	12000
Max speed, kts	21
Fuel, t	oil 942
Endurance, nm(kts)	12150(10)
Armament	4 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 4 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 9 seaplanes (Seagull)
Complement	450

Air group

Year	1929	1939
Recon flying boats	9 Seagull	6 Walrus

Standard scale images

Graphics

Aircraft facilities

There were hangar and compressed air catapult. Aircraft fuel stowage was 37,700l.

Project history

Albatross was designed in Australia for RAN and was the largest ship built in dominion at the moment of completion. Significantly revised design of first seaplane/aircraft carrier Ark Royal was taken for a basis. The single-level hangar was arranged fwd from a superstructure. An aviation petrol stowage was 37,732l.

Modernizations 12.

1940: catapult was replaced by new  of powder type.

1943: + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk III, type 286 radar

Naval service

Ship was converted to repair ship for escorts in 11.1943 - 4.1944. AA armament was strengthened: old single pompoms were replaced by 2 quadruple 40mm pompoms and 6 20mm Oerlikons. Albatross was damaged by  torpedo 11.8.1944 and never completely repaired and used as a hulk; she eventually sold mercantile in 1946.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.