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HMAS Tauranga (DDL-1916 (1935-mod))
Later Marksman Class Leaders built by the Australis Navy to act as leaders with their L, R & S class destroyers. With the R & S class ships being refitted/rebuilt into destroyer escorts (the L's had been sold discarded in the 1920's early 30's), the need still existed for those ships to require a 'Leader' type vessel. The decision was taken to refurbish the 6 Hastings Class ships along the same lines as the Stuart class destroyers of the same generation and size.
Rebuilt with 2 twin 4.5" turrets this gave these ships a much better armament than the 4 x 4" in single mounts they started with. The forward superfiring position was removed. This gave space and weight for the 4.5" mounting to be placed as far back from the bow as possible. The aft superstructure was rebuilt to allow the mounting of the aft turret.
| Displacement | 1650 tons std, 2300 tons full load |
| Length | 325.5 ft |
| Breadth | 32 ft |
| Draught | 14 ft |
| Machinery | 3 shaft steam turbines 37,000shp |
| Speed | 34 knots |
| Range | 3500 miles at 12 knots |
| Armour | nil |
| Armament | 4 x 4.5" (2x2) 4 x 2pd (1x4) 6 x 20mm (3x2) |
| Aircraft | nil |
| Torpedoes | 6 x 21" (2x3) |
| Complement | 125 |
| Notes | HMAS Hastings HMAS Tauranga HMAS Harbord HMAS Manly HMAS Bondi HMAS Avalon |
Marksman Class before conversion.
