HMAS Cook
 Sailors from USS Missouri cheer to honour Prince Philip as he passes by aboard HMAS Cook in 1986 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia
| |
| Namesake: | Captain James Cook |
| Builder: | HMA Naval Dockyard, Williamstown, Victoria |
| Laid down: | 30 September 1974 |
| Launched: | 27 August 1977 |
| Commissioned: | 28 January 1980 |
| Decommissioned: | 31 October 1990 |
| Motto: | "With Diligence and Skill" |
| Fate: | Converted to merchant vessel, fate unknown |
| Badge: |
 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Oceanographic research vessel |
| Length: | 316.6 feet (96.5 m) in length overall |
| Beam: | 44 feet (13 m) |
| Draught: | 15.1 feet (4.6 m) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
| Range: | 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement: | 150 + 13 scientists |
| Armament: | Light calibre weapons only |
HMAS Cook (GOR 291/A 219), named after Captain James Cook, was an oceanographic research vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Design work for a dedicated oceanographic research vessel to replace the converted frigate HMAS Diamantina began in the late 1960s.[1] The ship was ordered in 1973.[1] Cook was 316.6 feet (96.5 m) in length overall, with a beam of 44 feet (13 m) and a draught of 15.1 feet (4.6 m).[2] Displacement was 1,900 tons at standard load, and 2,450 tons at full load.[2] Propulsion machinery consisted of diesel engines, connected to two propeller shafts.[2] Top speed was 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph), with a range of 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[2] Cook was operated by a ship's company of 150, with facilities for up to 13 civilian scientists.[2] The ship's armament was limited to light calibre weapons only.[2]
Cook was laid down by HMA Naval Dockyard at Williamstown, Victoria,[2] on 30 September 1974, launched on 27 August 1977 and commissioned into the RAN on 28 January 1980.[1] After a six-year construction period the ship spent another two years in dockyard hands fixing defects from the building period, including the realignment of the entire propulsion mechanism to reduce vibration.[1]
Cook paid off on 31 October 1990 and was sold for conversion to a merchant vessel. As of 2009, the vessel (named Cosmos and registered in the United Arab Emirates), was in the hands of Platinum Yachts for conversion into a private yacht, but work had been suspended.[3]
Citations
References
- Gillett, Ross (1988). Australian and New Zealand Warships Since 1946. Brookvale, New South Wales: Child & Associates. ISBN 0867772190. OCLC 23470364.