HMAS Air Sprite (Y 256/SAR 6301) was an air-sea rescue vessel operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was an Australian-built version of the 63-foot (19 m) air-sea rescue vessels which the RAN operated during World War II, with the only difference being that she was fitted with a lattice mast instead of the tripod masts in the older ships.[1] Air Sprite was ordered in 1958 and was built by Lars Halvorsen and Sons in Sydney.[1] She was commissioned into the RAN on 15 June 1960 and was based at HMAS Creswell at Jervis Bay near the RAN Fleet Air Arm's base, HMAS Albatross.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia (RAN) | |
| Ordered | 1958 |
| Builder | Lars Halvorsen and Sons |
| Laid down | 1959 |
| Commissioned | 15 June 1960 |
| Decommissioned | 1976 |
| Fate | Sunk as a target, 17 May 1979 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 24 tons |
| Length | 63 ft (19.2 m) |
| Beam | 15.6 ft (4.8 m) |
| Draught | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Hall Scott Defender, twin screws, 1,260 shp |
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Range | 200 mi (320 km) |
| Complement | 6-8 |
| Armament | Light arms |
| Notes | Taken from:[1] |
On the night of 10 February 1964 Air Sprite was one of two air-sea rescue vessels which responded to the collision between HMAS Melbourne and Voyager in Jervis Bay. Air Sprite rescued 36 Voyager crewmen and HMAS Air Nymph saved a further 34.[2]
In 1976 Air Sprite was laid up at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney for a major refit, which was scheduled for mid-1977, prior to being used as a general purpose vessel in Western Australia.[1] This refit did not go ahead, and instead the ship was marked for disposal.[1] Air Sprite was sunk as a target by a Tartar missile fired by HMAS Brisbane on 17 May 1979.[1]