From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See HMAS Torrens (DE-53) for a later ship to bear the name
The first HMAS Torrens was a "River" class torpedo boat destroyer laid down by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company Propriety Limited at Sydney in New South Wales on 25 January 1913, launched on 28 August 1915 by Lady Helen Munro-Ferguson, wife of the Governor-General and commissioned on 3 July 1916. HMAS Torrens paid off into reserve on 19 July 1920 and was based on Westernport for Royal Australian Navy Reserve Training from June 1924 to mid March 1925. During the general reduction in naval activity imposed by lack of finance during the depression it was decided to scrap the six Torpedo Boat Destroyers and she was towed to sea by the tug Heroic for use as a Fleet Gunnery Practice Target on 24 November 1930. She withstood considerable shelling before being sunk by a charge of gelignite placed in her hull.
