HMAS Anzac (G90)

HMAS Anzac was a Parker-class destroyer leader that served in the Royal Navy (as HMS Anzac) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Launched in early 1917 and commissioned into the Royal Navy, Anzac led the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet during the First World War. In 1919, she and five other destroyers were transferred to the RAN, with Anzac commissioning as an Australian warship in 1920. Most of the ship's operations were confined to Australian waters, and she was decommissioned in 1931. The ship was sold four years later, stripped for parts, then towed outside Sydney Heads and sunk as a target ship in 1936.

Design and construction
Anzac was a Parker-class destroyer leader, based on the Marksman or Lightfoot class. The ship had a displacement of 1,660 tons, was 327 ft long overall and 314 ft long between perpendiculars, had a beam of 31 ft, and a draught of 13 ft at maximum load. Propulsion was provided by four Yarrow boilers providing steam to Brown-Curtis geared turbines, which delivered 37,060 shaft horsepower to the destroyer's three propellers. The ship was designed to reach 34 kn, but could only achieve an avearge of 32.9 kn during full-power trials. Maximum range was 3360 nmi at 11.5 kn. The ship's company consisted of 8 officers and 114 sailors.

The primary armament for Anzac consisted of four single QF 4-inch Mark IV guns. This was supplemented by two 2-pounder "pom-pom" guns for air defence, a single .303-inch Maxim machine gun, four .303-inch Lewis machine guns (two single guns and a twin-mount), two twin 21-inch torpedo tube sets, two depth charge throwers, and four depth charge chutes.

The order to build Anzac was placed with William Denny and Brothers in December 1915, and the ship was laid down at their shipyard in Dumbarton, Scotland on 31 January 1916. The destroyer was launched on 11 January 1917, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 24 April 1917, the day of her completion. The destroyer went through a rapid succession of penant numbers during her British service; although assigned the pennant F6 during construction, this was changed three days before launch to G80, then became G50 at the start of 1918, before changing again to G70 in April.

Royal Navy
On entering service, Anzac was assigned to lead the 14th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet, an anti-submarine force based at Scapa Flow. Anzac served in the North Sea and the English Channel during the First World War.

On 21 March 1919, Anzac and five S-class destroyers were transferred to the RAN as a gift. Anzac was commissioned into RAN service on 27 January 1920, and departed from Plymoth a month later for the voyage to Australia.

Royal Australian Navy
Anzac spent most of her RAN career operating off the eastern coast of Australia, although some visits were made to the regions of New Guinea, New Britain, and the Solomon Islands.

Decommissioning and fate
Anzac paid off for disposal on 30 July 1931. The ship was sold to Messrs. Abraham and Wilson of Redfern, New South Wales on 8 August 1935. Anzac was stripped down to a hulk, then towed outside Sydney Heads on 7 May 1936 and sunk as a target ship.