HMAS Protector ( 1884 ) HMCS / HMAS " Protector " was a large flat - iron gunboat commissioned and purchased by the South Australia n government in 1884 , for the purpose of defending the local coastline against possible attacks in the aftermath of the ‘ Russian scare ' , of 1870s . She arrived in Adelaide in September 1884 and subsequently served in the Boxer Rebellion , World War I and World War II . During July 1943 , " Protector " was requisitioned for war service by the US Army . On the way to New Guinea and off Gladstone , she was damaged in a collision with a tug and abandoned . The hull was subsequently taken to Heron Island off the Queensland coast and later sunk for use as a breakwater . Her rusting remains are still visible to this day . Description and armament . Built at William Armstrong & Co , Newcastle - on - Tyne , England , " Protector " was built to a standard type F1 flat - iron gunboat design , but was one of the largest of its type , and was classified as a light cruiser , with a displacement of 920 tons . Her length was , with two compound surface - condensing engines that produced . Her top speed was . To conserve fuel ( coal ) she was also originally rigged as a topsail schooner . For her size , " Protector " was exceptionally heavily armed . Her largest weapon was the Armstrong Rifled Breech - Load gun mounted at the bow . The gun weighed 12 tons and could fire a shell using a charge of of black powder . Other armaments included five Woolwich - Armstrong Rifled Breech - Load guns ; four 3 - pounder 1 . 85 calibre Hotchkiss QF guns and five Gatling machines guns . Her small arms consisted of : 200 0 . 45 Martini - Henry rifles Mk IV ; 100 Breech - Load revolvers ; 100 cutlasses and 30 boarding pikes . At the outbreak of World War I , her armament was increased to include two guns , two 12 - pounder guns and four 3 - pounder guns . Operational history . In July 1882 , motions were brought forward in both houses of the Parliament of South Australia to establish a naval force with the creation of a cruiser - type warship , capable of defending the local coastline and harbours . At the suggestion of Sir William Jervois , William Armstrong & Co . of Newcastle upon Tyne were chosen to build the vessel , named " Protector " , for approximately £40 , 000 to £50 , 000 pounds sterling . The builder ’ s estimate was £63 , 600 pounds . The contract authorising construction was signed on 16 November 1882 and the time allotted was fourteen months . The final cost was £65 , 000 pounds sterling . A number of alterations were incorporated during the vessel ’ s time on the builder ’ s slip , delaying completion until May 1884 . On 19 June , the " Protector " was ready for sea . She was officially commissioned and during the day undertook her initial speed trial run over a four hour period with the average speed attained being . The guns were then tested in the open sea . " Protector " sailed from Newcastle upon Tyne on 27 June 1884 , en route to Australia and arrived in Gibraltar on 5 July . Sailing via Malta and Port Said , the " Protector " anchored at Suez on 25 July . Rigged as a topsail schooner the gunboat sailed on to Colombo ( Sri Lanka ) , leaving there on 25 August . During her voyage to Adelaide " Protector " flew the blue ensign . She left King George ’ s Sound in late September and on 30 September , arrived at Port Adelaide . " Protector " ’ s first commanding officer was Commander J . C . P . Walcott RN , who brought her out from England and served as Commander in Charge of the South Australian Naval Forces until August 1893 , when he was succeeded by Captain Creswell . " Protector " remained in South Australian waters for the next 15 uneventful years . Her only activities comprised regular deployments on station at Largs Bay . Boxer Rebellion . Around the turn of the 20th century , all Australian colonies were involved in the Boer War in South Africa , when a call from Britain came to help containing and defend a dangerous threat to all foreigners in China , by the fanatical Chinese secret society known as the Boxers . South Australia responded by offering " Protector " and her crew , which varied in number between 85 and 96 . " Protector " was to join an international force composed of sailors , marines , and soldiers from Britain , France , Italy , the United States , Japan , and Russia , to protect the lives of foreign nationals and to defend their economic interests . She sailed from Adelaide , flying the White Ensign , on 6 August 1900 under the command of Commissioner William R . Creswell , Commandant , Queensland Marine Defence Force . She was temporarily commissioned as HMS " Protector " for legal reasons , and arrived at Hong Kong on 11 September 1900 . A week later , she departed for Shanghai . In Chinese waters , the expected use of shallow draught vessels such as " Protector " was not called for , but she performed useful work as a survey vessel and in carrying despatches in the Gulf of Pechili . By the beginning of November , the Admiralty had decided it could dispense with her services , and she was released to return to Adelaide on 2 November 1900 . During her return voyage , " Protector " participated in the ceremonies inaugurating the Australian Commonwealth in Sydney on 1 January 1901 . Australian Commonwealth . In 1901 , " Protector " was transferred to the Australian Commonwealth Government and became a Commonwealth naval vessel primarily based in Sydney , New South Wales . In the years leading up to the establishment of an Australian Naval Fleet , " Protector " was active around the southern and eastern seaboards . Her main role was to train the Naval Militia Forces of New South Wales , Victoria , and South Australia , a duty which she continued on following the foundation of the Royal Australian Navy . From September 1913 , she served as a tender to the naval base HMAS " Cerberus " in Williamstown , Victoria . World War I . When World War I broke out in 1914 , " Protector " was sent to Sydney and she began service as a parent / depot ship to two Australian submarines , " AE1 " and " AE2 " . On 28 August 1914 , she sailed from Sydney as escort to the submarines headed for German New Guinea colonies . After the surrender of these colonies on 17 September , " Protector " remained based at Rabaul as a port guard ship until early October 1914 , when she sailed for Sydney in the company of HMAS " Fantome " . " Protector " remained in Australian waters , mainly at Melbourne , until October 1915 , when she sailed for the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean to report on the wreck of the German cruiser " Emden " . " Emden " had been driven ashore on North Keeling Island by on 9 November 1914 . " Protector " returned to Australia in December 1915 and thereafter , for the remainder of the war period , was employed again as a tender to HMAS " Cerberus " and seagoing duty for a period as a minesweeper in Victorian coastal waters . Between the wars . In the post war period , she continued to serve as a tender to HMAS " Cerberus " at Williamstown . In May 1920 , she carried the advance party to Flinders Naval depot on Westernport Bay in preparation for the official opening which took place on 1 September 1920 . On 1 April 1921 , the thirty - seven - year - old " Protector " lost her identity when she was renamed HMAS " Cerberus " . In turn , the old " Cerberus " was renamed " Platypus II " . Disposal . In June 1924 , " Protector " s 40 - year naval career came to a close when she was paid off for disposal and was sold to Mr J . Hill of Melbourne for £677 and 10 shillings . " Protector " was dismantled and her armament , engines and all movable parts were sold at auction . Conversion work to a lighter then took place and was completed in November 1929 . Her old ammunition magazines served as a tank for approximately 300 tons of oil fuel . In 1931 , she was re - sold to the Victorian Lighterage Co and was renamed " Sidney " . For several years she served as a wool lighter . World War II . During July 1943 , " Protector " was requisitioned for war service by the US Army . En route to New Guinea and off Gladstone , she was damaged in a collision with a tug and abandoned . The hull was subsequently taken to Heron Island off the Queensland coast and later sunk for use as a breakwater . Present day . Today , only the deteriorated and rusted iron hull of " Protector " remains , which is clearly visible from Heron Island as a breakwater in position . The wreck can also be reached by walking at low tide . The reef around the wreck provides good diving and snorkeling at high tide . " Protector " s stern breech - loading gun mounting was located at Semaphore ' s foreshore , a historic seaside suburb of Adelaide , South Australia , for many years . It is now located a short distance away outside TS Adelaide at the Birkenhead Naval Depot in Birkenhead , South Australia . A QF gun from " Protector " is on display outside the Elizabeth and Salisbury Navy Club in Elizabeth , South Australia . The ship ' s wheel is on display at the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre in Sydney . Following an overhaul of the RAN battle honour s system , completed in March 2010 , " Protector " was retroactively awarded the honours " China 1900 " and " Rabaul 1914 " .