By
world standards, the Austrlian Navy is a medium sized naval force in terms of both
people and equipment. In our region, however, the Royal Australian Navy is
a force to be reckoned with and a major contributor to regional stability.
The Fleet constantly changes over a cycle of 20 to 30 years, so that as
some older ships are retired, others will be modernised and new ships
commissioned. The Royal Australian Navy is now in the middle of a major
Fleet expansion programme which includes:
-eight
ANZAC class frigates, which will progressively enter service over the next
decade (HMAS ANZAC was
commissioned 18 May 1996);
-six advanced diesel-electric submarines of the COLLINS class which will
replace the OBERON class submarines through to the end of the 1990s (HMAS
COLLINS was commissioned 27 July 1996)
-two Training and Helicopter Ships (THSS) - former USN amphibious assault
ships - commissioned in 1994 for conversion to the dual helicopter and
training role
-six coastal mine hunters
of the HUON class which will be built throughout the 1990s;
and
-two Hydrographic
ships dedicated to charting Australian waters which will join the fleet
over the coming years.
Here are the Ships of the RAN :
- Perth (CF Adams) Class air defense destroyer
From time to time, a class of ship emerges that is so
successful that it continues to be useful well beyond normal life
expectation. The RAN's guided missile destroyers, HMA Ships HOBART and
BRISBANE are examples of such an exceptional design. The three American
built Charles F. Adams class destroyers, constructed during the 1960s all
saw operational service during the Vietnam War. All have been extensively
modernised. The DDGs are long range escort ships with duties including
interdiction, surveillance, area air defence and anti-submarine warfare.
The DDG's air defence power is based on their Standard Missile System.
With their modern combat data, command and control systems the DDGs are
well equipped to act as control ships.
- Adelaide (Perry) class frigates
The RAN has six of these multi-purpose warships which are
part of the FFG07 or Oliver Hazard Perry class, the largest peacetime
class of fleet combatant ever built. About 70 have been built or are under
construction around the world. The first four FFGs were built in the USA,
while the last two were built in Melbourne, Victoria. The FFG is the most
sophisticated ship ever built in Australia and is high evidence indeed of
the quality of our ship building industry
- Anzac class patrol frigates
In November 1989,
the Australian/New Zealand frigate building project contracted Australian
shipbuilders Tenix Defence Systems to construct ten Anzac Class frigates;
eight for Australia, two for New Zealand. The first frigate - HMAS Anzac,
for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) - was commissioned in May 1996. The
sixth (HMAS Stuart) was launched in July 1999. The last (HMAS Perth) is
due for delivery in 2004. Of the two frigates for New Zealand, Te Kaha has
been commissioned and Te Mana has been launched.
The 3,600 ton frigates are being built at Tenix’s Williamstown yard
in Victoria, Australia. The design is based on the Blohm + Voss’ Meko
200 modular design which utilises a basic hull and construction concept to
provide flexibility in the choice of command and control, weapons,
equipment and sensors.
- Collins class submarines
The Collins Class
Type 471 diesel-electric submarines have been designed by the Swedish
shipbuilders, Kockums for the Royal Australian Navy. Construction is being
carried out by the Australian Submarine Corporation in Adelaide, South
Australia, although the bow and escape tower sections of the first
submarines were built in Sweden.
The first of class HMAS Collins (73) was commissioned in 1996. HMAS
Farncomb (74) was commissioned in January 1998 and HMAS Waller (75) in
July 1999. HMAS Dechaineaux (76), HMAS Sheean (77) and HMAS Rankin (78)
are due in 2001. The submarines are based at Cockburn Sound in Western
Australia.
UPGRADE PROGRAMME
The Australian Ministry of Defence has announced plans to upgrade four
Collins Submarines. Work on HMAS Dechaineaux and Sheean is nearing
completion. Farncombe and Rankin are to follow. Work is to be completed by
December 2001.
- Kanimbla class amphibious transports
Two former USN tank landing ships (FAIRFAX COUNTY and
SAGINAW), were commissioned into the RAN to replace HMAS JERVIS BAY
(recently decommissioned) and HMAS TOBRUK. The RAN plans to convert its
latest acquisitions, HMA Ships MANOORA and KANIMBLA, for the dual roles of
helicopter support and sea training. Modification of the ships began in
1996, and HMAS MANOORA should enter full operational service in 2000,
followed by HMAS KANIMBLA a few months later. Each ship will be able to
transport 450 troops, a number of vehicles and landing craft (in addition
to its own complement of about 180 naval personnel and 4 Army Black Hawk
helicopters) over long distances. These ships will also be capable of
performing other tasks such as providing command, control, communications,
intelligence (C3I) and the electronic warfare needs of a deployable Joint
Force Headquarters and for support of disaster relief operations.
- Tobruk large landing ship
The heavy lift ship (LSH) HMAS TOBRUK is the first purpose
built major amphibious ship in the RAN. HMAS TOBRUK has provided the
Australian Defence Force with a heavy lift capability not available in any
other Australian-owned ship since her handover to the RAN on 11
April,1981. The ship is equipped with roll-off roll-on hull and a
strengthened deck extending the full length of the ship between the bow
and stern ramps.
HMAS Tobruk can carry up to 18 Leopard tanks on this deck. An extending
bow ramp was fitted behind the bow doors which can be hydraulically
lowered onto a beach or harbour quay. A dual purpose stern/door ramp is
provided aft to allow ramp-to-ramp operations with landing craft, as well
as the more conventional roll-on roll-off operations.
- Landing Craft Heavy (LCH)
The LCH is an all-welded twin-screw vessel, able to
trans-ship cargo and supplies from ships lying offshore to water terminals
or across the beach. Maximum cargo load is governed by the load-fuel
balance and varies between 140 and 180 tonnes. A typical load of 175
tonnes gives the LCH a range of 1300 nautical miles, increasing to 2280
nautical miles for a load of 150 tonnes.
With respect to Army equipment, usual lift can comprise three battle
tanks, twenty-three quarter-tonne trucks or thirteen armored personnel
carriers.
All six LCHs are currently active, with one based in Darwin, three in
Cairns and two in Sydney.
- Fremantle class patrol boats
The Fremantle Class Patrol Boats (FCPBs), perform one of the
more visible of the Navy's tasks - patrolling Australia's extensive
coastline and Economic Exclusion Zone. HMAS FREMANTLE, the first of the
class, was built in the UK while the remainder were built in Cairns, close
to their primary area of operations by North Queensland Engineers and
Agents (NQEA). The RAN is now considering options for the eventual
replacement of the FCPBs, which were commissioned between 1980 and 1984.
It is anticipated however, that the FCPBs will have their current life
extended by up to 10 years.
- Huon class minehunters
The Huon design is
based on the Italian Gaeta/Lerici Class. Six minehunters are being built
by ADI in Newcastle, Australia and will operate from the HMAS Waterhen
naval base in Sydney. The ships are the Huon, Hawkesbury, Norman, Gasgoyne,
Diamantina and Yarra. The first, Huon, entered service in 1999, Hawkesbury
has been delivered and the third, Norman, has been launched. The last of
class, the Yarra, is due to commission in 2002. The ships are equipped
with two Bofors SUTEC Double Eagle II mine disposal vehicles. The vehicles
are electrically powered and are equipped with a search light, closed
circuit low light television camera, and onboard detection and
identification sonar. The Integrated Ship Communications System has been
developed by CEA Technologies.
A Fleet Underway Replenishment Ship based on the French
'Durance' Class, HMAS SUCCESS was built in Australia by Cockatoo Island
Dockyard Pty Ltd at Sydney. She is the largest ship ever built in
Australia for the RAN, and the largest ship ever built in the Port of
Sydney
Contemporary maritime operation demand that naval combat units be
supplied with fuel, ammunition, food and stores at sea whilst underway.
HMAS SUCCESS is designed for this task. She is capable of day and night
replenishment to ships alongside and concurrently by her embarked
helicopter to other ships in company.
HMAS SUCCESS has the capability to provide fuel (F76 dieso, F44 avcat),
ammunition, food and stores at sea whilst underway during the day or
night.
- Westralia (Appleleaf clas) fleet oiler
Displacement: 40,870 tons full load Dimensions: 170.69
x 25.94 x 11.56 meters (560 x 85 x 38 feet) Propulsion: 2 diesels,
1 shaft, 14,000 hp, 16.4 knots Crew: 60 Armament: 2 12.7 mm
MG; 2 Phalanx CIWS can be fitted Former merchant tanker taken over for the
RFA (UK), later transferred to RAN. Suffered major engine room fire
5/1998. Number Name Year Homeport Notes A0 195 Westralia 1975/89
Perth Ex-Appleleaf
- Pacific class oceanographic research/survey ships
Displacement: 2,550 tons Dimensions: 71.2 x
15.2 x 4.37 meters (233 x 50 x 14 feet) Propulsion: Diesel-electric,
4 diesels, 2 shafts Crew: 50 Aviation: Aft helicopter deck
and hangar for one light helo New survey ships; to replace two old ships.
Three crews will rotate among two ships. Number Name Year Homeport
Notes HS01 Leeuwin 2000 Cairns HS02 Melville 2000 Cairns
Aircraft of the RAN :
- SH-60 Seahawk
The Seahawk is a twin-engine
helicopter. It is used for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, drug
interdiction, anti-ship warfare, cargo lift, and special operations. The
SH-60B typically has a crew of three: a pilot, an airborne tactical
officer (ATO) and a sensor operator, or “senso.” The ATO is
responsible for the tactical situa-tion, deciding what assets will be used
to prosecute the target and handling the coordination of other assets on
scene. The sensor operator is an enlisted Sailor who operates the radar
and magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) equipment, interprets acoustic data
and performs SAR rescues.
- Sea King
The Sea King
helicopter is manufactured by GKN Westland in the UK. Development started
in the late 1950s under licence from Sikorsky. Westland initially
developed the S-61 as an antisubmarine warfare helicopter (or HAS,
Helicopter Anti-Submarine) for the UK Royal Navy. Sea King is also
operational as a search and rescue (SAR) and airborne early warning (AEW)
helicopter. The helicopter can carry four torpedoes, either Alliant
Techsystems Mark 46, Whitehead A244S or BAE SYSTEMS Sting Ray torpedoes.
It can also be armed with four Mark 11 depth charges. The helicopter can
carry two anti-ship missiles, either Sea Eagle or Exocet. Sea Eagle from
Matra BAe Dynamics (UK), is an all weather, fire and forget, sea skimming
anti-ship missile.
Here are the Ships of the RAN : 
