HMAS Cape Pillar

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ADV Cape Pillar at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia, July 2023 03.jpg
ADV Cape Pillar at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia in July 2023
History
Naval Ensign of Australia.svgAustralia
Namesake Cape Pillar
Builder Austal, Henderson, Western Australia
LaunchedJune 2023
Commissioned12 December 2024
In service13 October 2023
Homeport HMAS Coonawarra
Identification
General characteristics
Class and type Cape-class patrol boat
Length58.1 m (190 ft 7 in)
Beam10.6 m (34 ft 9 in)
Draught3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Propulsion2 x Caterpillar 3516C diesels 6,770 horsepower (5,050 kW) 2 shafts, 1 bow thruster
Speed26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement25 standard, 32 maximum
Armament2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns

The HMAS Cape Pillar, formerly the Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Pillar, named after Cape Pillar in Tasmania, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat under construction for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). [1] [2]

The ship will be the sixth of ten evolved Cape-class patrol boats to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. Prior to Cape Pillar, the RAN already operated the Cape-class patrol boats Cape Fourcroy and Cape Inscription as well as the evolved Cape-class patrol boats Cape Otway, Cape Peron, Cape Naturaliste, Cape Capricorn and Cape Woolamai. [1] [2]

The ship is the last of the original six evolved Cape-class patrol boats the RAN ordered in April 2020 to replace the Armidale-class patrol boats in this role, at a projected cost of A$324 million. This order was subsequently expanded by another two boats in April 2022, at an additional projected cost of $124 million. [3] In November 2023, the RAN ordered a further two evolved Cape-class patrols, at a cost of A$157.1 million. [4]

The ship is being built by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia and was launched in June 2023. [1] [2]

She was accepted on 13 October 2023 and is to be based at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, Northern Territory [5] The ship was officially welcomed at HMAS Coonawarra on 8 February 2024. [6]

On 12 December 2024, four of the Cape class vessels were commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy, one of them the Cape Pillar. [7]

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 branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. The Chief of Navy is also jointly responsible to the Minister for Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence, which is a part of the Australian Public Service, administers the ADF, and ergo, the Royal Australian Navy. In 2023, the Surface Fleet Review was introduced to outline the future of the Navy.

<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.

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.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austal</span> Australian defence company

Austal Limited is an Australian-based global ship building company and defence prime contractor that specialises in the design, construction and support of defence and commercial vessels. Austal's product range includes naval vessels, high-speed ferries, and supply or crew transfer vessels for offshore windfarms and oil and gas platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Marine Complex</span> Marine maintenance facility in Western Australia

The Australian Marine Complex (AMC) is a marine industry precinct located at Henderson, Western Australia, 23 kilometres (14 mi) south of the Perth CBD. It is located on Cockburn Sound.

Cape-class patrol boat Class of patrol boat

The Cape class is a ship class of 22 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, a second order in 2022 for an additional two vessels, and a third order in 2023 for a further two vessels.

Guardian-class patrol boat Class of patrol vessels built by Australia for Pacific nations

The Guardian-class patrol boats are a class of small patrol vessels designed and built in Australia and provided to small South Pacific Ocean countries as part of the Australian Government's Pacific Maritime Security Program.

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

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Solander, named after Cape Solander in New South Wales, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat under construction for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), launched in April 2024.

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).

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

The HMAS Cape Naturaliste, formerly the 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).

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

HMAS Cape Capricorn, formerly the 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).

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

The HMAS Cape Woolamai, formerly the 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).

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

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ADV Cape Pillar Launched by Austal". SeaWaves Magazine. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Navy receives fifth Evolved Cape-class patrol boat". Australian Defence Magazine. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. "Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats, Australia". Naval Technology. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  4. "Securing continuous Naval Shipbuilding at Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia". Australian Defence Ministry. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  5. Bahtić, Fatima (13 October 2023). "Austal delivers sixth evolved Cape-class patrol boat to Australia". Naval Today. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  6. Mike Hughes (8 February 2024). "New beginnings for new patrol boat". Contact. Minnamurra, New South Wales . Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  7. "Royal Australian Navy will commission HMA Ships Cape Pillar, Cape Naturaliste, Cape Woolamai and Cape Capricorn". Facebook. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 18 December 2024.