HMAS Attack (P 90)

HMAS Attack (second from right) with three other Attack-class patrol boats
History
Australia
Builder	Evans Deakin and Company
Launched	8 April 1967
Commissioned	17 November 1967
Decommissioned	21 February 1985
Motto	"Never Waver"
Fate	Sold to Indonesia
Badge
Indonesia
Name	Sikuda
Acquired	24 May 1985
Status	Active as of 2011
General characteristics
Class and type	Attack-class patrol boat
Displacement	100 tons standard 146 tons full load
Length	107.6 ft (32.8 m) length overall
Beam	20 ft (6.1 m)
Draught	6.4 ft (2.0 m) at standard load 7.3 ft (2.2 m) at full load
Propulsion	2 × 16-cylinder Paxman YJCM diesel engines 3,460 shp (2,580 kW) 2 shafts
Speed	24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Range	1,200 nmi (2,200 km; 1,400 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement	3 officers, 16 sailors
Armament	1 × Bofors 40 mm L/60 QF Mark VII gun 2 × .50-calibre M2 Browning machine guns Small arms

HMAS Attack (P 90) was the lead ship of the Attack-class patrol boats used by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Launched in April 1967 and commissioned in November that year, the ship was largely commercial in design and was used to protect fisheries in Australia's northern waters, and to support the survey ship Moresby. The vessel remained in RAN service until 1985 when it was transferred to the Indonesian Navy and renamed Sikuda.

Design and construction

Main article: Attack-class patrol boat

The Attack class was ordered in 1964 to operate in Australian waters as patrol boats based on lessons learned through using the Ton-class minesweepers on patrols of Borneo during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation, and to replace a variety of old patrol, search-and-rescue, and general-purpose craft. ^[1] Initially, nine were ordered for the RAN, with another five for Papua New Guinea's Australian-run coastal security force, although another six ships were later ordered to bring the class to twenty vessels. ^[1]

The patrol boats had a displacement of 100 tons at standard load and 146 tons at full load, were 107.6 feet (32.8 m) in length overall, had a beam of 20 feet (6.1 m), and draughts of 6.4 feet (2.0 m) at standard load, and 7.3 feet (2.2 m) at full load. ^{[1] [2]} The vessels' propulsion machinery consisted of two 16-cylinder Paxman YJCM diesel engines, which supplied 3,460 shaft horsepower (2,580 kW) to the two propellers, ^{[1] [2]} producing a top speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) and a range of 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 km; 1,400 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph). ^{[1] [2]} The ship's company consisted of three officers and sixteen sailors. ^[2] Its main armament was a bow-mounted Bofors 40 mm gun, supplemented by two .50-calibre M2 Browning machine guns and various small arms. ^{[1] [2]} The ships were designed with as many commercial components as possible: the Attacks were to operate in remote regions of Australia and New Guinea, and a town's hardware store would be more accessible than home base in a mechanical emergency. ^[3]

Attack was built by Evans Deakin and Company at Brisbane, Queensland, ^[4] launched on 8 April 1967 ^[5] and commissioned on 17 November 1967. ^[4] Although it was the lead ship of the class, Attack was the second ship commissioned into the RAN, four days behind HMAS Aitape. ^[4]

Operational history

Following its commission, Attack served in the RAN for 17 years, during which time it was employed mainly in the waters to Australia's north, protecting fisheries. It was also used to support survey work conducted by Moresby. ^[6] Attack paid off on 21 February 1985. ^[4] She was transferred to the Indonesian Navy on 24 May 1985 and renamed Sikuda. ^[7]

Citations

1. Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Ships Since 1946, p. 86
2. Blackman (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships, 1968–69, p. 18
3. The patrol boat, Australian National Maritime Museum
4. Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Ships Since 1946, p. 87
5. Gillett & Graham, Warships of Australia, p. 227.
6. Gillett & Graham, Warships of Australia, pp. 227–228.
7. Prézelin and Baker, The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991, p. 250

References

• Blackman, Raymond, ed. (1968). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1968–69 (71st ed.). London: Jane's Publishing Company. OCLC   123786869.
• Gillett, Ross (1988). Australian and New Zealand Warships Since 1946. Brookvale, New South Wales: Child & Associates. ISBN   0-86777-219-0. OCLC   23470364.
• Gillett, Ross; Graham, Colin (1977). Warships of Australia. Adelaide, South Australia: Rigby. ISBN   0-7270-0472-7.
• Prézelin, Bernard; Baker III, A.D., eds. (1991). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   0-87021-250-8.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2011). Jane's Fighting Ships 2011–2012. Coulsdon: IHS Jane's. ISBN   9780710629593. OCLC   751789024.
• "The patrol boat". Australian National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.