Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/April 12

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HMAS Platypus with all six Australian J Class submarines in 1919
HMAS Platypus with all six Australian J Class submarines in 1919

HMAS Platypus was a submarine tender and depot ship operated by the Royal Australian Navy between 1919 and 1946. Platypus was built for the Royal Navy and commissioned in March 1917. She was transferred to the RAN in March 1919 and arrived in Australia with the RAN's six J class submarines in July 1919. After these submarines were decommissioned in mid 1922 she served as a destroyer tender until 1929 when she reverted to a submarine tender to support the RAN's two O class submarines. From 1930 to 1944 she was mainly used as a base ship, and was stationed in Darwin between 1941 and 1943 and Carins from 1943 to mid-1944. From June 1944 until December 1945 she served as a repair ship off New Guinea and Morotai Island. Platypus was placed into reserve in May 1946 and was sold for scrap in February 1958.