| Career (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Sir Joseph Banks |
| Builder: | Walkers Limited, Maryborough, Queensland |
| Launched: | 15 December 1959 |
| Commissioned: | 16 February 1960 |
| Decommissioned: | 17 December 1982 |
| Out of service: | 1995 |
| Motto: | "Integrity" |
| Status: | Active in civilian service |
| Badge: | |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Explorer class general-purpose vessel |
| Displacement: | 207 tonnes standard 260 tonnes full load |
| Length: | 90 ft (27 m) between perpendiculars 101 ft (31 m) overall |
| Beam: | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| Draught: | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | Diesel twin screw, 342 shaft horsepower (255 kW)348 |
| Speed: | 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Complement: | 14 |
| Armament: | .50 cal machine guns fitted as required |
HMAS Banks (GPV 901/Y266/G244/244) was an Explorer class general-purpose vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), serving in a range of capacities from 1960 until 1995. She was named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks, the botanist aboard HM Bark Endeavour during the discovery of the eastern coast of Australia in 1770.
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The Explorer class was a two-ship class of general purpose vessels built for the RAN.[1] The ships had a displacement of 207 tons at standard load and 260 tons at full load.[1] Banks was 90 feet (27 m) long between perpendiculars and 101 feet (31 m) long overall, had a [[beam (ship)| of 22 feet (6.7 m), and a draught of 8 feet (2.4 m).[1] Propulsion machinery consisted of GM diesels, which supplied 348 shaft horsepower (260 kW) to the two propeller screws, and allowed the vessel to reach 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph).[1] The ship's company consisted of 14 personnel.[1] The ship's armament of light weapons (usually .50 calibre machine guns) were only fitted as needed.[1]
Banks was laid down by Walkers Limited of Maryborough, Queensland in January 1959[2] and launched on 15 December 1959 by Mrs. W H Harrington, wife of the Second Naval Member of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board. She commissioned into the RAN on 16 February 1960 with pennant number GPV 901.[2] Banks wore the pennant numbers GPV 901, Y266, G244, and finally 244 during her career.[3]
On completion, Banks was initially deployed to northern Australia for fishery surveillance.[4] In April 1961, the ship surveyed the Adelaide River area; the first seagoing ship in 50 years to make the Adelaide River passage.[5] During 1962, Banks undertook surveys around northern Australia, then spent 1963 to 1966 in Papua New Guinea,[4] attached to the RAN's Papua New Guinea Division and carrying a mixed Australia-PNG complement.
In 1966, Banks returned to Sydney for a refit. On completion, she was assigned to Port Adelaide as a training vessel for the port's Royal Australian Navy Reserve division.[1] While here, the ship was attached to the naval base HMAS Encounter.[4] Banks remained in South Australia until November 1982, when she was replaced by the patrol boat HMAS Aware.[6] Banks was assigned to the Target Services Group at HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay in December.[1]
On 17 December, the ship was formally decommissioned, but remained in service at Jervis Bay.[1] In 1985, Banks was reassigned to the naval base HMAS Waterhen.[1]
In 1995, Banks left Sydney to undergo a major refit at Port Macquarie, however the refit was terminated on 1 September 1995 after a fire onboard.[4] Banks was sold shortly after to the present owners (Pleasure Cruises Australasia of Ulladulla, New South Wales), who converted her into a charter vessel, MV Banks.[4]