HMAS Air Sprite

HMAS Air Sprite (Y 256/SAR 6301) was an air-sea rescue vessel operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was an Australian-built version of the 63-foot (19 m) air-sea rescue vessels which the RAN operated during World War II, with the only difference being that she was fitted with a lattice mast instead of the tripod masts in the older ships.[1] Air Sprite was ordered in 1958 and was built by Lars Halvorsen and Sons in Sydney.[1] She was commissioned into the RAN on 15 June 1960 and was based at HMAS Creswell at Jervis Bay near the RAN Fleet Air Arm's base, HMAS Albatross.[1]

History
Australia (RAN)
Ordered:	1958
Builder:	Lars Halvorsen and Sons
Laid down:	1959
Commissioned:	15 June 1960
Decommissioned:	1976
Fate:	Sunk as a target, 17 May 1979
General characteristics
Displacement:	24 tons
Length:	63 ft (19.2 m)
Beam:	15.6 ft (4.8 m)
Draught:	4 ft (1.2 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Hall Scott Defender, twin screws, 1,260 shp
Speed:	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range:	200 mi (320 km)
Complement:	6-8
Armament:	Light arms
Notes:	Taken from:[1]

On the night of 10 February 1964 Air Sprite was one of two air-sea rescue vessels which responded to the collision between HMAS Melbourne and Voyager in Jervis Bay. Air Sprite rescued 36 Voyager crewmen and HMAS Air Nymph saved a further 34.[2]

In 1976 Air Sprite was laid up at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney for a major refit, which was scheduled for mid-1977, prior to being used as a general purpose vessel in Western Australia.[1] This refit did not go ahead, and instead the ship was marked for disposal.[1] Air Sprite was sunk as a target by a Tartar missile fired by HMAS Brisbane on 17 May 1979.[1]

References

1. Gillett, Ross (1988). Australian and New Zealand Warships Since 1946. Sydney: Child & Associates. p. 40. ISBN 0-86777-219-0.
2. McNicoll, D.D. (11 February 2009). "Forgotten saviours". The Australian. Retrieved 13 February 2009.