World Navies Today: Australia
Revised 25 March 2002
Version 1.22
Compiled and Maintained by: Andrew Toppan
World Navies Today Main Page: http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/
This list includes all surface combatants, submarines, mine warfare
vessels and patrol craft over 100 tons displacement, and all amphibious
ships and auxiliaries over 500 tons displacement. Non-self-propelled
craft and vessels without seagoing capability are not included.
Ships not yet commissioned, or in long-term overhaul/conversion, are
listed in [brackets]. Navigation and surface-search radars are not
listed. All designations & classifications are unofficial; they may or
may not correspond to "official" designations.
Each fleet base is named, as follows:
HMAS Stirling -- Cockburn Sound (Perth) -- Fleet Base West
HMAS Kuttabul -- Garden Island (Sydney) -- Fleet Base East
HMAS Coonawarra -- Darwin
HMAS Cairns -- Cairns
Adelaide (Perry) class frigates
Displacement: 3,962 tons full load
Dimensions: 138.6 x 13.72 x 4.52 meters (454.5 x 45 x 15 feet)
Propulsion: 2 LM2500 gas turbines, 1 shaft, 41,000 shp, 30 knots
Crew: 190
Aviation: aft helicopter deck, RAST and dual hangars; up to 2 SH-60
Radar: SPS-49(V) 2-D air search
Sonar: SQS-56 hull, SQR-19 towed
Fire Control: Mk92 weapons control, SPG-60 STIR
EW: SLQ-32(V) intercept, 2 SRBOC, SLQ-25 Nixie
Armament: 1 Mk13 launcher (40 SM-1MR/Harpoon), 1 76 mm OTO DP, 1 2O mm
Phalanx CIWS, 2 triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes
US OH Perry class frigates; first four US-built. A mid-life
upgrade is planned; an 8-cell VLS will be added (for 32 ESSM),
a new EW system will be installed, and the sonar will be replaced.
Upgrades will take place 2001-2005.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
F01 Adelaide 1980 Perth
F02 Canberra 1981 Perth
F03 Sydney 1983 Sydney
F04 Darwin 1984 Perth
F05 Melbourne 1992 Sydney
F06 Newcastle 1992 Sydney
Anzac class patrol frigates
Displacement: 3,600 tons full load
Dimensions: 118 x 14.4 x 4.4 meters (387 x 47 x 14.5 feet)
Propulsion: 2 shaft: 2 cruise diesels, 8,840 bhp, 18 knots;
1 LM2500 boost turbine, 30,000 shp, 28 knots
Crew: 163
Aviation: aft helicopter deck and hangar; 1 SH-2G
Radar: SPS-49(V) 2-D air search
Sonar: Spherion-B
EW: Spectre XL intercept, 4 SRBOC
Armament: VLS for 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (ESSM when available), 1 5/54 DP,
2 triple 12.75 inch torpedo tubes, 2 12.7 mm MG
MEKO 200 variant. Are lightly armed, but all units have
space and weight for Phalanx CIWS, Harpoon SSM, 8 additional VLS cells,
second fire control radar, improved ECM/ESM. Joint program with
New Zealand.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
F150 Anzac 1996 Perth
F151 Arunta 1998 Perth
F152 Warramunga 2000 Perth
F153 Stuart 2001 Perth
[F154 Parramatta 1/2002 fitting out]
[F155 Ballarat 12/2002 building]
[F156 Toowoomba 11/2003 building]
[F157 Perth 10/2004 building]
Collins class submarines
Displacement: 3,350 tons submerged
Dimensions: 77.5 x 7.8 x 6.8 meters (254 x 25.5 x 23 feet)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric, 3 diesels, 1 shaft, 5,000 hp, 20 knots
Crew: 42 + 5 transients
Sonar: Scylla bow & flank array, Karriwarra towed
Armament: 6 21 inch torpedo tubes (Mk48 torpedoes, Harpoon, mines)
Highly capable conventionally powered submarines; Swedish design.
They are suffering from combat systems problems which will delay
full combat capability for several years. All of the
previous Oberon class have been retired.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
SSG 73 Collins 1996 Perth
SSG 74 Farncomb 1998 Perth
SSG 75 Waller 1999 Perth
SSG 76 Dechaineux 2001 Perth
SSG 77 Sheehan 2001 Perth
[SSG 78 Rankin 2002? fitting out]
Kanimbla class amphibious transports
Displ: approx 8,700+ tons full load
Dim: 159.2 x 21.18 x 5.3 meters
Prop: 6 diesels, 2 shafts, 16,500 bhp, 20 knots
Crew: 180 plus 450 troops
Aviation: aft helicopter deck and hangar; 4 H-60 helos
Arm: 4 12.7mm MG
Ex-USN LSTs converted to helicopter support/assault ships.
Conversions took much longer than was planned.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
L51 Kanimbla 1971/00 Sydney ex-LST 1188
L52 Manoora 1971/01 Sydney ex-LST 1193
Tobruk large landing ship
Displacement: 6,000 tons full load
Dimensions: 129.5 x 19.6 x 4.3 meters (425 x 64 x 14 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 9,600 bhp, 17 knots
Crew: 68
Aviation: aft helicopter deck
Troops: 300-500
Armament: 2 40 mm
Modified version of RN LSL design. Was scheduled for disposal
but will be retained in service.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
L50 Tobruk 1981 Sydney
Fremantle class patrol boats
Displacement: 275 tons full load
Dimensions: 42 x 7.1 x 1.9 meters (138 x 23.5 x 7 feet)
Propulsion: 1 cruise diesel, 1 shaft; 2 high speed diesels,
2 shafts, 6,000 bhp, 30 knots
Crew: 22
Armament: 1 40 mm, 1 81 mm mortar, 2 12.7 mm MG
Lightly armed patrol boats. First unit UK-built.
Plans for replacement vessels are being considered.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
P203 Fremantle 1979 Sydney
P204 Warrnambool 1981 Sydney
P205 Townsville 1981 Cairns
P206 Wollongong 1981 Darwin
P207 Launceston 1982 Darwin
P208 Whyalla 1982 Cairns
P209 Ipswich 1982 Cairns
P210 Cessnock 1983 Darwin
P211 Bendigo 1983 Cairns
P212 Gawler 1983 Darwin
P213 Geraldton 1983 Fremantle
P214 Dubbo 1984 Darwin
P215 Geelong 1984 Darwin
P216 Gladstone 1984 Cairns
P217 Bunbury 1984 Fremantle
Huon class minehunters
Displacement: 720 tons full load
Dimensions: 52.5 x 9.9 x 3 meters (172 x 32.5 x 10 feet)
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 1 shaft, 2200 bhp, 12 knots
Crew: 36
Sonar: Type 2093 minehunting
Armament: 1 40 mm
New class of minehunters, based on an Italian design.
All to be based at HMAS Waterhen, Sydney.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
M82 Huon 1999
M83 Hawkesbury 2000
M84 Norman 2000
M85 Gascoyne 2000
M86 Diamantina 2001
[M87 Yarra 2002 fitting out]
Bandicoot class auxiliary minehunters
Displacement: 520 tons full load
Dimensions: 29.34 x 8.54 x 3.43 meters (96 x 28 x 11 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,160 bhp, 11 knots
Crew: 12
Commercial tugs acquired for use as auxiliary minehunters;
towing gear removed but could function as harbor tugs.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
Y298 Bandicoot 1984/91 Sydney Ex-Greenville VII
Y299 Wallaroo 1984/91 Sydney Ex-Greenville V
Success (Durance class) multi-product replenishment ship
Displacement: 17,933 tons full load
Dimensions: 157.3 x 21.2 x 10.8 meters (516 x 69.5 x 35.5 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 1 shaft, 20,000 bhp, 18 knots
Crew: 177
Aviation: aft helicopter deck
Cargo: 8,220 tons ship fuel, 1,131 tons aviation fuel, 170 tons
munitions, 183 tons provisions, 249 tons water, 45 tons spares
Armament: 2 Phalanx CIWS, 3 40 mm, 4 12.7 mm MG
Modified version of a French AOR design.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
AOR 304 Success 1986 Sydney
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.
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; replaced two old ships.
Three crews will rotate among two ships.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
HS01 Leeuwin 1999 Cairns
HS02 Melville 2000 Cairns
Balikpapan class support craft
Displacement: 503 tons full load
Dimensions: 44.5 x 10.1 x 1.9 meters (146 x 33 x 6 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 2 shafts, 675 bhp, 9 knots
Crew: approx. 12
Armament: 2 7.62 mm MG
Landing craft; now used for a variety of subsidiary duties.
Number Name Year Homeport Notes
L126 Balikpapan 1974 Darwin survey/training
L127 Brunei 1973 Sydney dive training
L128 Labuan 1973 Cairns
L129 Tarakan 1973 Cairns survey/training
L130 Wewak 1974 Darwin
L133 Betano 1974 Cairns dive training
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Compiled and maintained by Andrew Toppan.
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