HMAS Torrens (D-67)

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HMAS Torrens
HMAS Torrens
Career (Australia (RAN)) RAN ensign
Namesake: The River Torrens
Builder: Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co at Sydney
Laid down: 25 January 1913
Launched: 28 August 1915
Commissioned: 3 July 1916
Decommissioned: 19 July 1920 (to reserve)
Reclassified: Training ship (1920-1925)
Fate: Sunk as target in 1930
General characteristics
Class and type: River class torpedo boat destroyer

The first HMAS Torrens (D-67) was a River class torpedo boat destroyer laid down by the Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Co at Sydney on 25 January 1913, launched on 28 August 1915 by Lady Helen Munro-Ferguson, wife of the Governor-General and commissioned on 3 July 1916.

HMAS Torrens paid off into reserve on 19 July 1920 and was based on Westernport for Royal Australian Navy Reserve Training from June 1924 to mid March 1925. During the general reduction in naval activity imposed by lack of finance during the depression it was decided to scrap the six Torpedo Boat Destroyers and she was towed to sea by the tug Heroic for use as a Fleet Gunnery Practice Target on 24 November 1930. She withstood considerable shelling before being sunk by a charge of gelignite placed in her hull.