HMQS Otter was a patrol vessel that served with the Queensland Maritime Defence Force and Commonwealth Naval Forces. She was subsequently requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

 in both world wars.

Following the Jervois-Scratchley reports

Jervois-Scratchley reports

The Jervois-Scratchley reports of 1877 concerned the defences of the Australian colonies, and influenced defence policy into the twentieth century. From the time of the first settlement in Australia, the Royal Marines, the New South Wales Corps and a succession of regiments of the British army had...

 the colonial governments of Australia restructured their defence forces. This process led to the formation of the Queensland Maritime Defence Force. To equip the new force the colonial government initially ordered two gunboats and a torpedo boat. As an interim measure as well as to supplement the purpose built warships it was decided that other ships already under construction be modified for military use.

HMQS Otter was originally designed as a tug. For military service she was fitted with a single 5 inch gun allowing her to operate as an auxiliary. In this capacity she performed tender duties as well as conducting patrols. Following federation she was transferred to the Commonwealth but served only until 1906 when she was paid off.

Otter was requisitioned during World War I by the Royal Australian Navy for service as an examination vessel

Examination vessel

An examination vessel is a vessel used to inspect ships and boats entering a port during wartime.An examination vessel would typically be responsible for examining and verifying all merchant ships and small craft entering or departing a port...

. In World War II, she again served as an examination vessel but only until December 1940. Otter was returned to private operations on Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...

, and was scrapped in 1946.

See also

• List of Queensland Maritime Defence Force ships
• Colonial navies of Australia - Queensland