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{{Short description|1940 N-class destroyer}}
{{distinguish|HMS Nizam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
|image=HMS Nizam SLV Green.jpg
|image_caption=HMAS ''Nizam'' in May 1945 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
|country=Australia
|flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
|name=''Nizam''
|namesake=[[Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII|Sir Osman Ali Khan, The Last Nizam of Hyderabad]]
|builder=[[John Brown & Company]]
|laid_down=27 July 1939
|launched=4 July 1940
|commissioned=19 December 1940
|decommissioned=17 October 1945
|motto=
|nickname=
|honours=*'''Battle honours:'''
*[[Malta Convoys]] 1941–42
*[[Battle of Crete|Crete]] 1941
*Libya 1941
*[[Battle of the Mediterranean|Mediterranean]] 1941
*[[Indian Ocean in World War II|Indian Ocean]] 1942–44
*[[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|Pacific]] 1943
*[[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa]] 1945
|fate=Returned to RN, not returned to service, scrapped in 1956
|notes=
|badge=
}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
|header_caption=(as built)
|class= [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class destroyer]]
|displacement={{convert|1773|LT|t|lk=on}} ([[Standard displacement|standard]])
|length= {{convert|356|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|beam= {{convert|35|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|draught= {{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|power=*2 × [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s
*{{cvt|40000|shp|lk=on}}
|propulsion= 2 shafts; 2 [[steam turbines]]
|speed= {{convert|36|kn|lk=in}}
|range= {{cvt|5500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
|complement=183
|sensors=*[[ASDIC]]
*[[Type 285 radar|Type 285 gunnery radar]]
*[[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 286|Type 286 radar]] surface-search radar
|EW=
|armament=*3 × twin [[4.7 inch QF Mark IX|4.7 in (120 mm) guns]]
* 1 × single [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|4 in (102 mm)]] [[AA gun]]
* 1 × quadruple [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2 pdr ({{cvt|40|mm}})]] AA gun
* 4 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|1}}]] AA guns
* 2 × twin [[Vickers .50 machine gun|0.5-inch (12.7 mm)]] machineguns
* 1 × quintuple [[British 21-inch torpedo|21 in (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tubes]]
*45 × [[depth charge]]s, 1 × rack, 2 × throwers
}}
}}
'''HMAS ''Nizam'' (G38/D15)''' was an [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class]] [[destroyer]] of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). The destroyer, named after [[Osman Ali Khan]], the last [[Nizam of Hyderabad]], was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the RAN in 1940, although the ship remained the property of the [[Royal Navy]] for her entire career.

''Nizam'' spent the early part of her service in the Atlantic, then was reassigned to the Mediterranean, where she was involved in the [[Battle of Crete|Crete]] and [[Syria-Lebanon Campaign|Syria-Lebanon]] Campaigns, the [[Tobruk Ferry Service]], and the [[Malta Convoys]]. During 1942, the destroyer was involved in [[Operation Vigorous]] and the [[Battle of Madagascar|Madagascar Campaign]]. The next year saw the ship involved in patrols of the Indian and South Atlantic oceans, searching for German ships and submarines, and rescuing the survivors of [[U-boat]] attacks. After returning to Australia for a refit at the end of 1944, ten sailors were washed overboard in February 1945, with none ever seen again. The rest of [[World War II]] was spent operating in the Philippines and New Guinea regions.

After returning to Australia in late 1945, ''Nizam'' was [[Ship commissioning#Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] and returned to the Royal Navy. The ship was not returned to active service, and was [[ship breaking|broken up]] for scrap in 1956.

==Design and construction==
The [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|N-class destroyer]] had a [[displacement (ship)|displacement]] of 1,773 tons at standard load, and 2,554 tons at full load.<ref name=Cassells65>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 65</ref> ''Nizam'' was {{convert|356|ft|6|in|m}} [[length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|229|ft|6|in|m}} long [[between perpendiculars]], had a [[beam (ship)|beam]] of {{convert|35|ft|8|in|m}}, and a maximum draught of {{convert|16|ft|4|in|m}}.<ref name=Cassells65/> Propulsion was provided by [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s connected to Parsons geared steam turbines, which provided 40,000 shaft horsepower to the ship's two propellers.<ref name=Cassells66>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 66</ref> ''Nizam'' was capable of reaching {{convert|36|kn}}.<ref name=Cassells65/> The ship's company consisted of 226 officers and sailors.<ref name=Cassells66/>

[[File:HMAS Nizam AWM-009410.jpg|thumb|left|View looking down on ''Nizam''{{'}}s bridge and the forward 4.7-inch gun turret]]
The ship's armament consisted of six [[4.7 inch QF Mark XII|4.7-inch QF Mark XII guns]] in three twin mounts, a single [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|4-inch QF Mark V gun]], a [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder 4-barrel Pom Pom]], four [[0.5 inch Vickers machine gun|0.5-inch machine guns]], four [[20 mm Oerlikon|20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns]], four [[Lewis gun|.303 Lewis machine guns]], ten 21-inch torpedo tubes in two Pentad mounts, and a complement of [[depth charge]]s.<ref name=Cassells65.6>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pp. 65–6</ref><ref name=RAN/>

HMAS ''Nizam'' was laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 27 July 1939.<ref name=Cassells66/> She was launched by the wife of Sir [[Holberry Mensforth]], a director of John Brown, on 4 July 1940.<ref name=Cassells66/> The ship was commissioned on 19 December 1940; an error in a file at Navy Office caused some sources to incorrectly record the commissioning date as 8 January 1941.<ref>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pgs 66, 239</ref> Although commissioned into the RAN, the destroyer was on loan from the [[Royal Navy]].<ref name=Cassells66/> HMAS ''Nizam'' was paid for<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |title=HMAS Nizam |url=https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nizam |language=en |access-date=19 July 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726095116/https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nizam |url-status=live}}</ref> and named after [[Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII|Sir Osman Ali Khan, The Last Nizam of Hyderabad]].<ref name=Cassells65/>

==Operational history==
After completing [[sea trial]]s, ''Nizam'' was assigned to [[Scapa Flow]], where she was assigned to fleet duties, then retasked as an escort for convoys crossing the Atlantic.<ref name=Cassells66/> In April 1941, the destroyer joined a convoy sailing to Gibraltar, then sailed around Africa to meet the troop transports [[RMS Queen Mary|''Queen Mary'']] and [[RMS Queen Elizabeth|''Queen Elizabeth'']], which ''Nizam'' helped escort to Alexandria.<ref name=Cassells66/> Around the same time, all watchkeeping sailors staged a mutiny in response to alterations to watchkeeping and messing arrangements by locking themselves into their messdeck compartments.<ref name=FrameBaker154>Frame & Baker, ''Mutiny'', p. 154</ref> Following mediation between the sailors and the officers, the captain agreed to restore the original arrangements and decided not to charge the sailors, after which the watchkeepers returned to duty.<ref name=FrameBaker154/>

On 21 May, ''Nizam'' participated in the shelling of [[Scarpanto]], then became involved in the [[Battle of Crete]].<ref name=Cassells66/> The destroyer transported commandos from Alexandria to [[Suda Bay]], and returned with wounded.<ref name=RAN>Royal Australian Navy, ''HMAS Nizam''</ref> When the campaign turned for the worse, ''Nizam'' and {{HMAS|Napier||2}} made two evacuation runs to ferry troops from the island to Alexandria.<ref name=RAN/> Following the unsuccessful campaign, ''Nizam'' was assigned to the [[Syria-Lebanon Campaign]] for three weeks, then retasked to the [[Tobruk Ferry Service]], a force of British and Australian warships making supply runs to the Allied forces [[Siege of Tobruk|under siege in Tobruk]].<ref name=Cassells66/> ''Nizam'' made fourteen runs before receiving damage on 14 September; a near-miss from a bomb cracked oil pumps, and the destroyer was towed away from the area by the destroyer {{HMS|Kingston|F64|6}}, then was able to make temporary repairs and reach [[Alexandria]].<ref name=Cassells66/>

After repairs were completed, ''Nizam'' spent the rest of 1941 escorting [[Malta Convoys]], on bombardment operations in north Africa, and transporting troops to Cyprus and Haifa.<ref name=Cassells66/> On 21 October 1941 ''Nizam'' was part of a convoy which came under [[Junkers Ju 87|Stuka]] dive bomber attack while evacuating Australian infantry [[The Rats of Tobruk|Rats of Tobruk]] to Alexandria. Twenty fully kitted troops were swept overboard during evasion manoeuvres, six being lost at sea and never recovered.

At the start of 1942, ''Nizam'' and her sister ship, {{HMAS|Napier|G97|2}} sailed for Singapore to join {{HMAS|Nestor|G02|2}} as escort for the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Indomitable|R92|6}}.<ref name=Cassells66/> In June, the N class ships joined the escort of a [[Operation Vigorous|large convoy to Malta]], during which ''Nestor'' was sunk by aircraft.<ref name=Cassells66/> ''Nizam'' and her sisters were assigned to the [[Battle of Madagascar|Madagascar Campaign]] during September.<ref name=Cassells66/> On 22 September, ''Nizam'' was assigned to Durban to patrol for [[Vichy French]] merchant ships, capturing one and forcing another to [[Scuttling|scuttle]] during the week spent in this role.<ref name=Cassells66/> The destroyer then sailed to [[Simon's Town]] in South Africa for a refit, which lasted until the end of the year.<ref name=Cassells66/>

[[File:HMAS Nizam AWM-301090.jpg|thumb|right|''Nizam'' in Port Phillip during late 1944, shortly before entering refit in Melbourne]]
After refitting, ''Nizam'' was attached to the [[British Eastern Fleet]], and participated in sweeps of the Indian Ocean for enemy ships.<ref name=Cassells66/> She was then reassigned to the South Atlantic for shipping protection.<ref name=Cassells66/> On 13 July 1943, the destroyer rescued survivors from an American [[liberty ship]] sunk by {{GS|U-511}}.<ref name=Cassells66/> On 31 July, ''Nizam'' rescued survivors from a British merchant ship sunk by {{GS|U-177}}.<ref name=Cassells66/> After delivering the British survivors ashore, ''Nizam'' made for Australia, and docked in Melbourne on 18 August for an eight-week refit.<ref name=Cassells66/> The ship returned to operations in the Indian Ocean, and on 17 October was unsuccessfully fired on by a German [[U-boat]].<ref name=Cassells66/> Between late 1943 and early 1944, the destroyer was based in Kenya, then was transferred on 8 March to the Bay of Bengal.<ref name=Cassells67>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 67</ref> During her time based here, ''Nizam'' participated in [[Operation Cockpit]], a carrier air raid on Japanese assets in south-east Asia.<ref name=Cassells67/> In November, the destroyer sailed to Melbourne for another refit.<ref name=Cassells67/> In a tragedy which harked back to that of 21 October 1941, on 11 February 1945, while crossing the [[Great Australian Bight]] in poor weather after the refit, ''Nizam'' was hit by a freak wave which caused the ship to roll almost eighty degrees to port, and washed ten sailors overboard, none of whom were ever seen again.<ref name=Cassells67/>

During 1945, ''Nizam'' was assigned to the Philippines and New Guinea theatres as part of the [[British Pacific Fleet]], during which, her [[pennant number]] was changed from G38 to D15.<ref>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', pgs. 65, 67</ref> On 15 August 1945, ''Nizam'' received orders to cease hostilities; shortly after this, the ship was attacked by a Japanese fighter, which was shot down.<ref name=Cassells67/> ''Nizam'' was present in [[Tokyo Bay]] for the Japanese surrender, and served as duty destroyer on 2 September, the day the [[Japanese Instrument of Surrender]] was signed.<ref name=Cassells67/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |title=Allied Ships Present in Tokyo Bay During the Surrender Ceremony, 2 September 1945 |access-date=13 January 2007 |date=27 May 2005 |publisher=Naval Historical Center – U.S. Navy |quote=Taken from ''Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC/CINCPOA) A16-3/FF12 Serial 0395, 11 February 1946: Report of Surrender and Occupation of Japan'' |archive-date=5 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205021301/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq69-2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The destroyer left for Australia on 24 September.<ref name=Cassells67/>

''Nizam'' earned seven [[battle honour]]s for her wartime service: "Malta Convoys 1941–42", "Crete 1941", "Libya 1941", "Mediterranean 1941", "Indian Ocean 1942–44", "Pacific 1943", and "Okinawa 1945".<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref>

==Decommissioning and fate==
''Nizam'' was decommissioned on 17 October 1945 and returned to the Royal Navy; her ship's company transferred to {{HMAS|Quadrant|G11|6}}, and the N-class destroyer was temporarily recommissioned as HMS ''Nizam'' for the voyage to England.<ref name=Cassells67/> The ship was not returned to active service and was passed to the [[British Iron & Steel Corporation]] in 1955 who allocated her to [[Thos. W. Ward]] for scrapping at their yard in [[Grays, Essex|Grays]].<ref name="English">{{cite book|last1=English|first1=John|title=Afridi to Nizam British Fleet Destroyers 1937-43|date=2001|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Gravesend|isbn=0-905617-64-9|page=141}}</ref>

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Destroyers: Their Battles and Their Badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, New South Wales |isbn=0-7318-0893-2 |oclc=46829686}}
*{{cite book |last=Frame |first=Tom |author2=Baker, Kevin |title=Mutiny! Naval Insurrections in Australia and New Zealand |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St. Leonards, New South Wales |year=2000 |isbn=1-86508-351-8 |oclc=46882022}}
*{{cite web |title=HMAS Nizam |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nizam |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=24 March 2015}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|HMAS Nizam (G38)}}
*{{cite book |last1=Colledge |first1=J. J. |title=Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present |date=2020 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |location=Barnsley, UK |isbn=978-1-5267-9327-0 |edition=5th revised and updated|first2=Ben|last2=Warlow|first3=Steve|last3=Bush|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=''Afridi'' to ''Nizam'': British Fleet Destroyers 1937–43|publisher=World Ship Society |location=Gravesend, Kent|year=2001|isbn=0-905617-64-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=2006|isbn=1-86176-137-6|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
*{{cite book |last1=Gillett |first1=Ross |last2=Graham |first2=Colin |title=Warships of Australia|year=1977 |publisher=Rigby |location=Adelaide, South Australia |isbn=0-7270-0472-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Hodges |first=Peter |author2=Friedman, Norman |title=Destroyer Weapons of World War 2 |year=1979 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich |isbn=978-0-85177-137-3 }}
*{{cite book|last=Langtree|first=Charles|title=The ''Kelly''{{'}}s: British J, K, and N Class Destroyers of World War II |year=2002 |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=1-55750-422-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998 |isbn=1-55750-048-7 |author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton}}
*{{cite book|last=March|first=Edgar J.|title=British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans|year=1966|publisher=Seeley Service|location=London |oclc=164893555}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005 |edition=Third Revised |isbn=1-59114-119-2|author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
*{{cite book |title=Man Overboard!: The HMAS ''Nizam'' Tragedy |first1=Andrew |last1=Rose |first2=Sandra |last2=Rose |year=2006 |location=Augusta, Western Australia |publisher=Red Rose Books | isbn=0-9775238-0-2}}
*{{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |year=2000| publisher=Cassell & Co.|location=London|isbn=1-85409-521-8|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}

{{J, K and N class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nizam (G38)}}
[[Category:N-class destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:1940 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Australia]]

HMAS Nizam - Revision history

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