Dates: 1933 - 1942
Two HMAS Vampire’s have served with the RAN, the first was originally HMS Vampire, a V class destroyer, commissioned to the Royal Navy in 1917, she was transferred to the RAN in 1933 and recommissioned HMAS Vampire.
She was paid off to reserve in 1934, but recommissioned in 1938, after a period of commission and decommission in 1936.
During the second world war she assisted in the evacuation of Greece, 1941, later in the year she joined the British Eastern Fleet.
On December 8th 1941, as part of Force Z, she put to sea after hearing reports of the attacks on Pearl Harbour, she assisted in rescuing the survivors of HMS Repulse after her sinking by Japanese dive bombers.
In 1942 whilst escorting HMS Hermes, she was attacked and sunk with the loss of nine crew by a Japanese aircraft carrier.
The second HMAS Vampire, a Daring class destroyer was commissioned in 1959, decommissioned in 1986 and preserved as a museum ship in Darling Harbour, Port Jackson, Sydney.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMAS Vampire
"Don’t know why people getso worried about the state of the RN - we can always do what we do best in world wars, call on our friends to bail us out. The Aussies still have HMAS Vampire and the submarine HMAS Onslow - I’ve seen em! Got some piccies of them somewhere. "
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"There’s an HMAS Vampire, Daring Class, moored in Darling Harbour [the one by the Sydney Harbour Bridge] in Sydney? "
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" Colin you are so right. Yes,HMAS Vampire is indeed moored (perpetually)in Darling Harbour and has many visitors daily. I was one a few, years ago when taking Pommy friends in to see a few sights of the city. Have you been to Oz - sounds as if you must have at some time. If you haven’t,get ..."
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" I live in Wellington Nigel, and Sydney would have to be one of my most favourite places in the world, and Darling Harbour right up there1 Been there lots of times. I might be wrong, and if I am then I’ll happily stand corrected, but wasn’t HMAS Vampire built in Australia? "
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" Quoting: nigel kendall I seem to recall that HMAS Vampire was once HMS Vampire but when the turnover happened I really couldn’t say. Perhaps someone out there can help...wasn’t Vampire one of the second batch of Daring Class destroyers ? Alright Nigel, HMAS Vampire pennant ..."
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