View source for Explorer-class general-purpose vessel

{{Short description|Two-ship class of general purpose vessels}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=MV Bass at Ballast Point.jpg
|Ship caption=MV ''Bass'' moored off [[Ballast Point (New South Wales)|Ballast Point]] in 2012
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=Explorer
|Builders=[[Walkers Limited]], [[Maryborough, Queensland]]
|Operators={{Navy|Australia}} 
|Class before=
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=1959-1960
|In commission range=1960-1982
|In service range=1960 to 1995

|Total ships completed=2
|Total ships active=0
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships retired=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship type=General Purpose Vessel
|Ship displacement=*207 tonnes standard
*260 tonnes full load
|Ship length=*{{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}} between perpendiculars
*{{convert|101|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam={{convert|22|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draught={{convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=Diesel twin screw, {{convert|342|shp}}
|Ship speed={{convert|9|kn}}
|Ship complement=14
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=.50 cal machine guns fitted as required
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''Explorer class''' was a two-ship class of general purpose vessels of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] that served between 1960 and 1995.<ref name="Wilson">Wilson, ''Royal Australian Navy 21st Century Warships'', p. 37</ref>

==Design==
The Explorer class was a two-ship class of general purpose vessels built for the RAN.<ref name=Gillett46>Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 46</ref> The ships had a [[displacement (ship)|displacement]] of 207 tons at standard load and 260 tons at full load.<ref name=Gillett46/> Each was {{convert|90|ft}} long [[between perpendiculars]]{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} and {{convert|101|ft}} [[length overall|long overall]], had a [[beam (ship)|beam]] of {{convert|22|ft}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|8|ft}}.<ref name=Gillett46/> Propulsion machinery consisted of GM diesels, which supplied {{convert|348|shp}} to the two propeller screws, and allowed the vessel to reach {{convert|9|kn}}.<ref name=Gillett46/> The ship's company consisted of 14 personnel.<ref name=Gillett46/> The ship's armament of light weapons (usually .50 calibre machine guns{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}) were only fitted as needed.<ref name=Gillett46/>

The two vessel, {{HMAS|Bass}} and {{HMAS|Banks}}, were built by [[Walkers Limited]] of [[Maryborough, Queensland]].<ref name=Gillett47>Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 47</ref> Both were laid down in 1959, and were commissioned into the RAN in 1960.<ref name=Gillett47/>

==Operational history==
The Explorers' primary roles were [[hydrographic survey]] and [[Royal Australian Navy Reserve|reservist]] training, among other duties.<ref name=Gillett46/>

In December 1982, both vessels were decommissioned.<ref name=Gillett46/> Despite this, they remained active in training until the mid-1990s.<ref name=Gillett46/>

==Ships==
*{{HMAS|Bass}} - Sold 1994.<ref name="Wilson"/>
*{{HMAS|Banks}} - Sold 1995.<ref name="Wilson"/>

==References==
;Citations
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
*{{cite book |last=Gillett |first=Ross |title=Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946 |year=1988 |publisher=Child & Associates |location=Brookvale, NSW |isbn=0-86777-219-0 |oclc=23470364}}
* {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Michael |title=Royal Australian Navy 21st Century Warships: Naval auxiliaries 1911 to 1999 (including Defence Maritime Services) |year=1999 |volume=Profile No. 4 |edition=Revised |publisher=Topmill Pty Ltd |location=Marrickville, NSW |isbn=978-1-876270-72-8 |oclc=223731505}}

{{Explorer-class GPV}}

[[Category:Explorer-class general-purpose vessels| ]]
[[Category:Auxiliary training ship classes]]
[[Category:Auxiliary research ship classes]]