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

Surface Combatants Submarines Amphibious Ships Patrol Craft Mine Countermeasures Vessels Auxiliaries

Surface Combatants

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]

Submarines

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]

Amphibious Ships

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

Patrol Craft

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

Mine Countermeasures Vessels

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

Auxiliaries

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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