HMAS Sprightly (W 103)

Sister ship HMAS Reserve in 1951
History
Australia
Builder:	Levingston Shipbuilding Company, Orange, Texas
Laid down:	1942
Launched:	7 August 1942.
Acquired:	1942 (Commonwealth Marine Salvage Board) 1943 (RAN)
Commissioned:	23 February 1944
Decommissioned:	31 March 1958
Fate:	Sold in 1969
General characteristics
Displacement:	800 tons
Length:	143 ft (44 m)
Beam:	33 ft 1 in (10.08 m)
Draught:	14 ft 7 in (4.45 m)
Speed:	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Armament:	1 × 3 inch HA/LA gun, 2 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, 2 × M2 Browning machine gun
Notes:	Ship characteristics from[1]

HMAS Sprightly was a tugboat operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) between 1943 and 1953.

Construction

She was built by the Levingston Shipbuilding Company, Orange, Texas during 1942.

Operational history

Sprightly was acquired by the Commonwealth Marine Salvage Board in 1942. She was commissioned into the RAN in 1943.

Decommissioning and fate

Sprightly was paid off on 31 March 1958 and was finally sold on 29 August 1969 to T. Korevaar and Sons Pty Ltd, Williamstown, Victoria.

In May 1990 the Sprightly was impounded by the authorities in Loyang OffShore supply Base Singapore for carrying a large amount of firearms and ammunition.

References

1. Straczek, J.H. (1996). The Royal Australian Navy. Ships, Aircraft and Shore Establishments. Sydney: Navy Public Affairs - Sydney. ISBN 1-876043-78-4.