HMAS Albatross (later HMS Albatross) was a seaplane tender of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which was later transferred to the Royal Navy and used as a repair ship. Albatross was built by Cockatoo Island Dockyard during the mid-1920s and entered service at the start of 1929. The ship experienced problems with the aircraft assigned to her during her career: the amphibious aircraft she had been designed for were retired just before the ship entered service, the replacement aircraft could not be catapult-launched from the ship, and a new plane designed specifically to work with the ship began operations after Albatross was demoted from seagoing status in 1933.
After five years in reserve, Albatross was transferred to the Royal Navy to offset the Australian purchase of the light cruiser Hobart. Although the British had little use for a seaplane carrier, the ship found a niche after two aircraft carriers were sunk by the Germans early in World War II. Albatross was initially based in Freetown, Sierra Leone for patrol and convoy escort duties in the southern Atlantic, then was relocated to the Indian Ocean in mid-1942. From late 1943 to early 1944, the vessel underwent conversion into a “Landing Ship (Engineering)” to support the Normandy landings, and was used to repair landing craft and other support vessels off Sword and Juno Beaches. Albatross was torpedoed in October, but survived to be towed back to England and repaired. After repairs completed at the start of 1945, she served as a minesweeper depot ship, but was decommissioned after the war’s end.
Albatross was sold into civilian service in August 1946, and after several changes of hands was renamed Hellenic Prince in 1948 and converted into a passenger liner. The vessel was chartered by the International Refugee Organisation to transport refugees from Europe to Australia. Hellenic Prince saw service as a troopship during the 1953 Mau Mau uprising, but was broken up for scrap a year later.
Photographs of HMAS Albatross
HMAS Albatross After Launching 23 February 1928HMAS AlbatrossHMAS AlbatrossHMAS AlbatrossHMAS AlbatrossHMAS AlbatrossHMS Albatross Sierra Leone 8 June 1940HMAS Albatross 1929HMAS Albatross 1929HMAS Albatross 1929HMAS Albatross 1929 Melbourne 1932HMAS Albatross Sydney January 1929HMAS Albatross Sydney 1937HMAS Albatross Sydney 1937HMAS Albatross With Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians On DeckSupermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFWith its wings folded back, a Supermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is about to be lowered into the hold
Supermarine Seagull III Amphibians Onboard HMAS Albatross
With its wings folded back, a Supermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is about to be lowered into the holdSupermarine Seagull III A9-2 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being lowered onto the deck of HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III A9-3 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being lowered onto the deckSupermarine Seagull III A9-3 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being hoisted out of the water and aboard HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFSeveral Supermarine Seagull III seaplanes of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF lined up on the top deckA Supermarine Seagull III seaplane of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFSeveral Supermarine Seagull III seaplanes of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF Being Lowered into the HangerSupermarine Seagull III on HMAS AlbatrossA Supermarine Seagull III seaplane of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is lowered into the hold of HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull flying boat A9-6 being winched over the side from HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull flying boat being brought up on to the deck of HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III Aboard HMAS AlbatrossSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF which has just landed on the water and is about to be hoisted aboardSupermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAFSupermarine Seagull III of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF Supermarine Seagull III A9-8 of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF is about to be hoisted aboard HMAS AlbatrossTwo Supermarine Seagull III seaplanes of No. 101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF being hoisted out of the waterSupermarine Seagull III on the water next to HMAS AlbatrossHMAS Albatross
