Australian Patrol Boat Group

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Australian Patrol Boat Group
Country Australia
Branch Royal Australian Navy
Type Force Element Group
Headquarters HMAS Coonawarra

The Australian Patrol Boat Group is a Force Element Group (FEG) of the Royal Australian Navy. It manages the Navy's patrol boats.

Contents

The Patrol Boat Group operates six Armidale-class patrol boats. The Group's headquarters is located at HMAS Coonawarra in the city of Darwin, additional support is provided by the class logistics office at HMAS Cairns.

History

There have been three classes of patrol boat to serve in the Royal Australian Navy; the Attack class from 1967 to 1994, the Fremantle class from 1980 to 2007, and the Armidale class, which entered service in 2005.

1900s

During the 1960s to mid-1980s, the local Australia Patrol Boat was divided into three main squadrons which were ported in the regions of Sydney (NSW), Cairns (Qld) and Darwin (NT). In the mid-1980s, the separation of squadrons was discontinued; HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin was established as the centralised headquarters. [1]

2000s

In 2002, increased illegal activity in Australia's northern maritime zones instigated the relocation of the patrol headquarters and vessels. [2] This change resulted in the increase of capacity of the primary ports in Coonawarra, Darwin and Cairns, Queensland to incorporate the vessels from the Sydney home port, which was disestablished. [2]

2010s

In July 2010, the Australian Border Force submitted a request for the construction of a new class of patrol vessels to supplement, and eventually replace, the patrol capacities of the Bay Class Patrol Group (which were due to end service in early 2010). From the 2010–2011 budget, Australian government commissioned eight larger, upgraded vessels, named the Cape class. The $350m contract, stipulating the vessels' design, construction, and ongoing maintenance, was awarded to Austal on 12 August 2011. [3] The vessels entered service over March 2013 to September 2015.

On 18 December 2014, the RAN was forced to decommission the Patrol Boat group's HMAS Bundaberg of the Armidale Fleet. [4] The vessel had sustained irreparable damage during a refit in August 2014 by a fire aboard the ship. [5] To supplement the Armidale class, Austal was commissioned for two additional Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which were completed in 2017. [6]

Insignia

Commencing in 1968, the Australian Naval Board changed the visual squadron designation of all RAN vessels to the US classification style. [1] The new patrol squadron classifications included:

·      AUSPABRON 1 (First Australian Patrol Boat Squadron)

·      AUSPABRON 2 (Second Australian Patrol Boat Squadron)

·      AUSPABRON 3 (Third Australian Patrol Boat Squadron)

·      PNGPABRON (Papua/New Guinea Patrol Boat Squadron)

Australian Patrol boats also adopted the traditional number system of the British Royal Navy. Single numbers were painted on the funnel of individual vessels as intra squadron identification. Each squadron also developed regional insignia, relating to its operational area. [1]

The Sydney squadron, AUSPABRON 1, displayed the motif of a red kangaroo superimposed upon the harbour bridge.

The Cairns squadron, AUSPABRON 2, displayed the symbol of a blue marlin and the number 2 ringed in gold. The signification of the marlin was adopted from the official badge of HMAS Cairns.

The Darwin squadron, AUSPABRON 3, displayed the number 3 and an insignia of a water buffalo.

Patrol boats stationed in other Australian areas including Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia also developed regional inspired insignia. These Included a black swan, Tasmanian devil, and magpie, respectively. The Papua New Guinea region squadron's Attack-class patrol boat insignia was unofficially displayed as a shark circling a palm tree. [1]

Following the mid-1980s dissolution of separate regional squadrons, the squadron numerical identification ceased. Current nomenclature is displayed on the vessel's pennant, as a 2 to 3-digit number. Each patrol vessel is also ascribed a name according to their region of operation. [7]

Relevant legislation evolution

The Maritime Power Bill 2012 was introduced by the Gillard government on 30 May 2012. [8] The 2012 Attorney-General Department stated the purpose for the bill was to "harmonise and simplify" existing legislation by creating a clear framework for the extent and abilities of Australian maritime enforcement powers. [9] This framework outlines the authorisation of capabilities held by current vessels including Australian Patrol Boat Groups.  

The Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012 was introduced concurrently to the Maritime Power Bill 2012. [10] The most significant action of the bill was repealing all maritime enforcement powers contained within the Migration Act 1958, as these powers were now enshrined within the new Maritime Power Bill. The bill repealed subsection 245F (8), which defined the ability of Australian vessels, including Patrol boat groups, to turn back unauthorised boats in Australian waters. [10] However, this amendment was stated by the Attorney-General Department to not reduce or increase existing maritime powers. [9] These Bills were passed and enforced as of 13 March 2013. [10]

The Patrol Boat Group today

The Australian Defence Force sets the Patrol Boat Group's mandate as to "protect the Australian border and offshore interests" ("Patrol Boat, General", n.d.). [7] In concurrence with this federal policy, Australian patrol boats are tasked with constabulary and environmental protective duties. In peacetime, the group commit to civil surveillance and enforce Australian law on the border, policing illegal activity including unauthorised entry, illegal immigration, breaches of customs and drug smuggling. [11] Patrol vessels also enhance law enforcement aiding preservation efforts to retain the condition of Australian marine life, aquatic environment, and resources.

Active vessels are authorised with multiple law enforcement responsibilities. The Royal Australian Navy authorises the currently active Armidale-class vessels with "tracking, intercepting, stopping and boarding other vessels, and sometimes arresting their crews and seizing cargo." [7] ("Patrol Boat, General", n.d.).

These activities are supported and allied with the operations of Australian Federal Police, Australian Fisheries and Australian Border Force. Patrol vessels have jurisdiction in coastal Australian maritime zones, surrounding Australian island territories and Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The majority of patrol operations occur in northern maritime zones. [2]

The Armidale-class fleet was commissioned into the RAN and became operational on 24 June 2005. [12] and remains in active service as of 2021 and currently consists of 12 active vessels. In addition to the Armidale-class patrol boats, two additional Cape-class vessels (ADV Cape Fourcroy and ADV Cape Inscription) are also in active service. [7] All 14 vessels act as naval support for civilian authorities to enforce Australian regulation of maritime law and environment. The Patrol group provides 21 trained available crews to allow rotation. [13]

Active patrol boat tetails [7]
NamePennantCommissioned
HMAS Armidale IIP8324 June 2005
HMAS Larrakia IIP8410 February 2006
HMAS Bathurst IIP8510 February 2006
HMAS AlbanyP8615 July 2006
HMAS Broome IIP9010 February 2007
HMAS Wollongong IIIP9223 June 2007
HMAS ChildersP937 July 2007
HMAS Launceston IIIP9422 September 2007
HMAS Maryborough IIP958 December 2007
ADV Cape Fourcroy 3102017
ADV Cape Inscription 3202017
ADV Cape Otway 3142022
ADV Cape Peron 3152022
ADV Cape Naturaliste 3162022
ADV Cape Capricorn 3172023
ADV Cape Woolamai 3182023

Role in Operation Sovereign Borders

In cooperation with Australian Border Force, Australian Patrol boats are the primary contribution to the National policy of “Operation Sovereign Borders” which was implemented by the Abbott government in 2013. [7] Under the Policy, between its enactment and September 2018, Patrol boats intercepted and apprehended 33 vessels in Australian maritime zones. 827 individuals aboard were refouled and returned to their original country. [14]

Ongoing/future vessels and contracts

The federal defence initiative, the National Shipbuilding Plan aims to build 12 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to supplement, and eventually succeed the current Armidale-class fleet. [15] In May 2017, Luerssen Australia Pty Ltd was selected as the main contractor and designer of the SEA1180 Offshore Patrol Vessel program. The company's US$3.6B [16] contract stipulated the design and construction of 12 offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Australian Navy. As of October 2018, the projected competition date is 2029–2030. [17] Construction of the first two patrol boat began on 15 November 2018. Construction of the subsequent 10 OPVs bean on 27 March 2020, in the Western Australian Facility, the Henderson Maritime Precinct. [18]

The Department of Defence estimated the building of the 12 OPVs would create over 1,200 Australian construction jobs: 400 direct and 600 indirect supply chain jobs. [19]

Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels are anticipated to enter service in 2023. [20] The role of these active vessels will be to "undertake patrol and response duties, security operations and border protection activities." [21] The Arafura class was designed to enhance the capabilities of the current Australian patrol boat group to fulfil these constabulary, preventative and protection duties. Minister for Defence Reynolds expressed this mission statement as "The Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels are larger than the Armidale-class patrol boats currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy, and will offer greater endurance and capability for patrolling Australia's maritime borders." [22]

In May 2020, six additional Cape-class vessels were ordered by the RAN to serve, in interim, for the upcoming Arafura class. [23] The ordered vessels are constructed similarly to the current Cape class model, which is a “58 metre aluminium monohull patrol boat design”. [24] Reported design enhancements include increased crew accommodation capacity from 22 people to 32 people and enable Wi-Fi connectivity aboard the vessel. [24] The projected completion of the first Cape-class vessel (Hull 811) is September 2021, and the completion of all vessels is anticipated in 2023.

National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise

The National naval shipbuilding enterprise is an investment in maritime defence vessels, maintenance, and ship building locations by the Australian government. The current the prospected investment is approximately $168 to $183 billion. [25] The program, including the 2017 Naval Shipbuilding Plan and the 2020 Force Structure Plan [26] outlines a framework to technologically equip, fiscally sustain and develop capabilities for current and future Australian Naval Operations. [25]

Plan Galileo

Plan Galileo was launched in April 2020. The plan aims to sustain and improve upon the available resources of Regional Maintenance Centres (RMCs). [27] The sites of these centres include Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Sydney: [27] centres which provide logistical support and physical harbour space for existing RAN vessels including the currently operating Armidale-class patrol boat groups. [1]  

Organisation

HMAS Larrakia in 2015 HMAS Larrakia (ACPB 84) in Sunda Strait on 1 March 2015.JPG
HMAS Larrakia in 2015

On introduction of the Armidale class, the Australian Patrol Boat Group was reorganised into four divisions, named after Attack-class ships:

In 2016 the Patrol Boat force was reorganised to allocate a single crew to each platform

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Navy</span> Naval warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence as part of the Australian Public Service administers the ADF.

<i>Armidale</i>-class patrol boat Class of patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy

The Armidale class is a class of patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning for a class of vessels to replace the fifteen Fremantle-class patrol boats began in 1993 as a joint project with the Royal Malaysian Navy, but was cancelled when Malaysia pulled out of the process. The project was reopened in 1999 under the designation SEA 1444, with the RAN as the sole participant. Of the seven proposals tendered, the Austal/Defence Maritime Services (DMS) proposal for twelve vessels based on an enlarged Bay-class patrol boat was selected. Two additional boats were ordered in 2005 to provide a dedicated patrol force for the North West Shelf Venture.

The Royal Australian Navy, although a significant force in the Asia-Pacific region, is nonetheless classed as a medium-sized navy. Its fleet is based around two main types of surface combatant, with limited global deployment and air power capability. However, in 2009, a white paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was produced by the Australian government which set out a programme of defence spending that will see significant improvements to the RAN's fleet and capabilities.

HMAS <i>Coonawarra</i> Royal Australian Navy base in the Northern Territory

HMAS Coonawarra is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base located in Darwin, Northern Territory, and is home to seven fleet units of the RAN. The current commander is Captain Moses Raudino, ADC, RAN.

HMAS <i>Cairns</i> (naval base) Australian naval base

HMAS Cairns is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base located adjacent to the Trinity Inlet on the shore of Trinity Bay in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Although used regularly as a port-of-call since before World War II, a permanent RAN presence was not established until 1971, when a maintenance and support base for patrol boats was set up. The base was formally commissioned in 1971 as a minor war vessel base. The current commander of the base is Commander David Hannah, RAN.

HMAS <i>Armidale</i> (ACPB 83)

HMAS Armidale, named for the city of Armidale, New South Wales, is the lead ship of the Armidale class of patrol boats serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was commissioned in June 2005 and decommissioned in March 2023.

HMAS <i>Bathurst</i> (ACPB 85)

HMAS Bathurst, named for the city of Bathurst, New South Wales, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS <i>Bundaberg</i> (ACPB 91)

HMAS Bundaberg, named after the city of Bundaberg, was an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ship was built in Henderson, Western Australia, and was commissioned into the RAN in March 2007. Based at HMAS Cairns, Bundaberg spent much of her career deployed as part of border protection and fisheries protection patrols as part of Operation Resolute. In addition, the patrol boat was involved in several national and multinational training exercises, visited Vanuatu in 2011, tracked a suspected drug-smuggling vessel that led to a multimillion-dollar seizure, and participated in the International Fleet Review 2013. In August 2014, a large fire broke out on the ship while she was undergoing refit. Extensive damage from the fire led to the ship's decommissioning in December 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Unit (Australian Border Force)</span> Division of the Australian Border Force which acts as a Coast Guard

The Marine Unit, formerly the Australian Customs Service National Marine Unit, is a division of the Australian Border Force which acts as a Coast Guard in guarding Australia's coast. The Marine Unit focuses on surveillance and response activities within the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone, and the operation and training of ships and crews to do so.

HMAS Glenelg, named for the city of Glenelg, South Australia was an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

<i>Arafura</i>-class offshore patrol vessel Class of patrol vessel

The Arafura class is a class of offshore patrol vessels being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Initially proposed in the 2009 Defence White Paper and marked as procurement project SEA 1180, it was originally planned that 20 Offshore Combatant Vessels (OCV) would replace 26 vessels across four separate ship classes: the Armidale-class patrol boats, the Huon-class minehunters, the Leeuwin-class survey vessels, and the Paluma-class survey motor launches. Although having a common design, the ships would use a modular mission payload system to fulfill specific roles; primarily border patrol, mine warfare, and hydrographic survey. The 2013 Defence White Paper committed to the OCV project as a long-term goal, but opted in the short term for an accelerated procurement of an existing design to replace the Armidales, and life-extension refits for the other types. This resulted in the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) project and the amount of vessels reduced to 12. However, this was further increased to 14 when 2 further Mine Counter Measures variants were proposed under SEA 1905.

Cape-class patrol boat Class of patrol boat

The Cape class is a ship class of 20 large patrol boats operated by the Marine Unit of the Australian Border Force, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Ordered in 2011, the vessels were built by Austal to replace Customs' Bay-class patrol boats, and entered service from 2013 onwards. Following availability issues with the Armidale class, two vessels were chartered by the RAN from mid-2015 to late 2016. A further two vessels were ordered at the end of 2015 by the National Australia Bank, who will charter the patrol boats to the Department of Defence from completion in 2017. 2 vessels were ordered by Trinidad and Tobago for their coast guard in 2018 with the vessels delivered in 2021. The RAN placed an order for six 'Evolved' Cape-class vessels in 2020 and a second order in 2022 for an additional two vessels.

ADV <i>Cape Peron</i> Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Peron, named after Cape Peron in Western Australia, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

ADV <i>Cape Otway</i> Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Otway, named after Cape Otway, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

ADV <i>Cape Naturaliste</i> Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Naturaliste, named after Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

ADV <i>Cape Capricorn</i> Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Capricorn, named after Cape Capricorn in Queensland, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

ADV <i>Cape Woolamai</i> Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Woolamai, named after Cape Woolamai in Victoria, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

ADV <i>Cape Inscription</i> Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Inscription, named after Cape Inscription in Western Australia, is a Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

ADV <i>Cape Fourcroy</i> Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Fourcroy, named after Cape Fourcroy in the Northern Territory, is a Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Perryman, J (n.d.). "The Origin of RAN Squadron and National Insignia". www.navy.gov.au. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Chapter 3: Navy's Patrol Boat Capability". 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Cape Class Patrol Boats". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  4. ↑ Navy, Royal Australian. "HMAS Bundaberg decommissioned". Navy Daily. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Defence update on HMAS Bundaberg fire". Department of Defence. 2014.
  6. ↑ "Austal Rolls Out First Cape Class Patrol Boat For Royal Australian Navy". Austal: Corporate. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Patrol Boat, General (PB)". www.navy.gov.au. n.d. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  8. ↑ corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 27 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. 1 2 "Maritime Powers Bill 2012, Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012". Parliament of Australia. 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 27 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Horn M, Jiang H, Kilby P (2007). "Scheduling patrol boats and crews for the Royal Australian Navy". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Department of Defence - Annual Report 2005-06 : Outcome Two: Navy Capability". Defence.gov.au. 2006.
  13. ↑ Kerr, J (2007). "Plain sailing: Australia's Armidales prove fit for task". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Turning back boats". Kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au. 2019.
  15. ↑ "SEA 1180 Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessels". Defenceconnect.com.au. 2017.
  16. ↑ "German company to build 12 offshore patrol vessels for Australian navy". The Guardian. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "Australian Industry Capability : Industry : Department of Defence". www.defence.gov.au. 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "Capability". Department of Defence. 2020.
  19. ↑ "Joint media release - Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry". Department of defence. 2017.
  20. ↑ "Arafura Class OPV". www.navy.gov.au. n.d. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Defence's Procurement of Offshore Patrol Vessels — SEA 1180 Phase 1". ANAO. 2020.
  22. ↑ "Occasional Paper 83: Current Australian Ship Naval Building Projects". Naval Historical Society of Australia. 2020.
  23. ↑ Milne, Sandy (24 July 2020). "Program milestone for Navy's new patrol boats". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  24. 1 2 "Australia starts construction of new Cape-class patrol vessel". Defence Brief. 2020.
  25. 1 2 "National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise". Department of Defence. n.d.
  26. ↑ "2020 Defence Strategic Update & 2020 Force Structure Plan". Department of Defence. 2020.
  27. 1 2 "Plan Galileo". Department of Defence. n.d.
  28. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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