RATS OF TOBRUK

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HMAS Tobruk in 1954
Career (Australia (RAN))
Namesake:	Siege of Tobruk
Builder:	Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company
Laid down:	5 August 1946
Launched:	20 December 1947
Commissioned:	8 May 1950
Decommissioned:	9 October 1960
Motto:	“Faithful and Strong”
Honours and awards:	Battle honours: Korea 1951-53[1]
Fate:	Sold for scrap in 1972

The first Royal Australian Navy ship with the name Tobruk was a Battle Class Destroyer built after WW2 and commissioned as HMAS Tobruk in 1950. The ship served in the Korean War on two deployments. In 1960 it was accidentally hit by a sister ship, HMAS ANZAC during gunnery exercises and taken our of service. It was sold for scrap in 1972 and towed to Japan for breaking.

HMAS Tobruk in 2008
Career (Australia (RAN))
Namesake:	The Siege of Tobruk
Ordered:	3 November 1977 (construction contract signed)
Builder:	Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd, Tomago
Cost:	$59 million[1]
Laid down:	7 February 1978
Launched:	1 March 1980
Commissioned:	23 April 1981
Motto:	“Faithful and Strong”
Honours and awards:	One inherited battle honour
Status:	Active as of 2009
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Modified Round Table class Landing Ship Heavy
Displacement:	5,800 tons
Length:	126 metres (413 ft)
Beam:	18 metres (59 ft)
Draught:	4.9 metres (16 ft)
Propulsion:	2 x Mirrlees Blackstone KDMR8 diesel engines providing 9,600 hp (7.2 mW)
Speed:	17 knots (31 km/h)
Range:	8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Boats and landing craft carried:	2 x LCM-8, 2 x LCVPs
Capacity:	up to 18 Leopard 1 MBTs and 40 APCs, 300 to 520 soldiers
Complement:	145
Armament:	As built: 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns 2 x Bofors 40/60 bow mounted guns Current: 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns 2 x Mini Typhoon Guns (current)
Aviation facilities:	2 helicopter spots on main cargo deck 1 helicopter spot on rear flight deck Both decks rated up to Chinook
Notes:	Ship diagrams[2] Launching Ceremony Booklet[3]

The second and current warship carrying the name Tobruk was commissioned into service as the HMAS Tobruk in 1981. This vessel is a Round Table Class Landing Ship Heavy (LSH). HMAS Tobruk has been involved in most major overseas deployments of Australian forces and has served with distinction in the true spirit of the Rats of Tobruk after whom she is named.