Armidale class patrol boat
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| Armidale class |  |
|---|---|
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 270 tonnes |
| Length: | 56.8 metres |
| Beam: | 9.5 metres |
| Draught: | 2.7 metres |
| Propulsion: | Two MTU 16V M70 2320 kW diesels driving twin screws through ZF transmissions |
| Speed: | 25 knots |
| Range: | 3000 nautical miles |
| Complement: | 21 (accommodation for 41) |
| Armaments: | One Rafael Typhoon 25 mm naval stabilised deck gun
Two 12.7 mm machine guns Two Zodiac 7.2 m waterjet seaboats |
| Surveillance: | low light optical, communication direction finding and radar. |
The Armidale class patrol boat is a new class of patrol boats under construction for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and intended to replace the RAN's Fremantle class patrol boats. Designed and built by Austal Ships, the leadship HMAS Armidale was commissioned into the RAN in June 2005. The final ship in the class (HMAS Launceston) is due to be delivered to the RAN in May 2007.
The ships will be based in Cairns, Darwin and Dampier to conduct border security and fishing patrols of Australia's northern waters. The ships may also be used to support the Army's Regional Force Surveillance Units and special forces. All of the Armidale Class ships will be operated by the Australian Patrol Boat Group.
Unlike the Fremantle class patrol boats, the Armidale class patrol boats will not have a crew permanently assigned to the vessel. Under current plans 21 crews will be raised to man the 14 Armidale class patrol boats. Three of the four Divisions equipped with the patrol boats will be assigned six crews to man the Division’s four ships, with the 4th Division (equipped with two patrol boats) being assigned the remaining three crews. These crews will rotate between the ships in their Division. The Royal Australian Navy believes that multi-crewing the Armidale class vessels will allow the ships to spend more time at sea while providing adequate rest time for their crews.
[edit] Units
| Ship | Commissioning date | Commissioning location |
| HMAS Armidale (ACPB 83) | 24 June 2005 | Darwin, Northern Territory |
| HMAS Larrakia (ACPB 84) | 10 February 2006 | Darwin, Northern Territory |
| HMAS Bathurst (ACPB 85) | 10 February 2006 | Darwin, Northern Territory |
| HMAS Albany (ACPB 86) | 15 July 2006 | Albany, Western Australia |
| HMAS Pirie (ACPB 87) | 29 July 2006 | Port Pirie, South Australia |
| HMAS Maitland (ACPB 88) | September 2006 | Newcastle, New South Wales |
| HMAS Ararat (ACPB 89) | October 2006 | Melbourne, Victoria |
| HMAS Broome (ACPB 90) | February 2007 | Broome, Western Australia |
| HMAS Bundaberg (ACPB 91) | February 2007 | Bundaberg, Queensland |
| HMAS Wollongong (ACPB 92) | June 2007 | Port Kembla, New South Wales |
| HMAS Childers (ACPB 93) | May 2007 | Cairns, Queensland |
| HMAS Launceston (ACPB 94) | September 2007 | Launceston, Tasmania |
| HMAS Maryborough (ACPB 95) | TBA | TBA |
| HMAS Glenelg (ACPB 96) | TBA | TBA |
The Royal Australian Navy published an article on previous ships with these names in Navy News
[edit] References
- Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boats
- Royal Australian Navy Sea Power Centre Welcome to the Armidale Class
- Defence Materiel Office Project SEA 1444
- Australian National Audit Office The Armidale Class Patrol Boat Project: Project Management
- Austal Royal Australian Navy 56m patrol boats
