HMAS Maitland (ACPB 88)

Last updated

PLJohnson HMAS Maitland, Commissioning..jpg
HMAS Maitland on the day of her commissioning at Newcastle, New South Wales
History
Flag of Australia (converted).svgAustralia
Recommissioned6 October 2022
Identification
StatusFitting out
History
Naval Ensign of Australia.svgAustralia
NamesakeCity of Maitland, New South Wales
BuilderAustal Ships, Henderson, Western Australia
Commissioned29 September 2006
Decommissioned28 April 2022
Identification
Motto"Invincible"
StatusTransferred to Austal
General characteristics
Class and type Armidale-class patrol boat
Displacement300 tons standard load
Length56.8 m (186 ft)
Beam9.7 m (32 ft)
Draught2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Propulsion2 × MTU 4000 16V 6,225 horsepower (4,642 kW) diesels driving twin propellers
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance21 days standard, 42 days maximum
Boats & landing
craft carried		2 × Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs
Complement21 standard, 29 maximum
Sensors and
processing systems		Bridgemaster E surface search/navigation radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Prism III radar warning system
  • Toplite electro-optical detection system
  • Warrlock direction finding system
Armament

PBAT Sentinel, formerly HMAS Maitland (ACPB 88), named for the city of Maitland, New South Wales, is an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Contents

Design and construction

The Armidale-class patrol boats are 56.8 metres (186 ft) long, with a beam of 9.7 metres (32 ft), a draught of 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in), and a standard displacement of 270 tons. [1] The semi-displacement vee hull is fabricated from aluminium alloy, and each vessel is built to a combination of Det Norske Veritas standards for high-speed light craft and RAN requirements. [2] The Armidales can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and are driven by two propeller shafts, each connected to an MTU 16V M70 diesel. [3] The ships have a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), allowing them to patrol the waters around the distant territories of Australia, and are designed for standard patrols of 21 days, with a maximum endurance of 42 days. [3] [2]

The main armament of the Armidale class is a Rafael Typhoon stabilised 25-millimetre (0.98 in) gun mount fitted with an M242 Bushmaster autocannon. [3] Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried. [4] Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). [2] Each RHIB is stored in a dedicated cradle and davit, and is capable of operating independently from the patrol boat as it carries its own communications, navigation, and safety equipment. [2] [5]

Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29. [3] [2] The Armidales do not have a permanently assigned ship's company; instead, they are assigned to divisions at a ratio of two vessels to three companies, which rotate through the vessels and allow the Armidales to spend more time at sea, without compromising sailors' rest time or training requirements. [2] [6] A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside. [7] However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard Maitland during pre-commissioning trials in August 2006 pumped hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class. [6] [7]

The former HMAS Maitland, now decommissioned and renamed PBAT Sentinel at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia in July 2022 PBAT Sentinel (formerly HMAS Maitland (ACPB 88)) at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia, July 2022 05.jpg
The former HMAS Maitland, now decommissioned and renamed PBAT Sentinel at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia in July 2022

Maitland was constructed by Austal at their shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. [1] She was commissioned into the RAN in Newcastle, New South Wales on 29 September 2006. [8] A day later, the ship was granted the right of Freedom of Entry to her namesake city, Maitland. [8]

Operational history

Maitland was assigned to Assail Division, and was based in Darwin. She was decommissioned on 29 April 2022.

After being decommissioned the ship was selected for conversion to an uncrewed autonomous vessel as part of a trial of artificial intelligence. Austral will refit the ship over 18 months. Once this work is completed, the ship will be used for a range of tests and trials. [9]

Citations

  1. 1 2 Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013, p. 33
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kerr, Plain sailing
  3. 1 2 3 4 Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 22
  4. ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 132
  5. ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 131
  6. 1 2 Kerr, Patrol boats shake down fuel faults
  7. 1 2 McKenna, Gas risk remains for navy boats
  8. 1 2 "Freedom of Entry to the City Granted to HMAS Maitland". Maitland City Council. 2006. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  9. ↑ Felton, Benjamin (10 May 2022). "Austal to Convert Decommissioned RAN Patrol Boat into USV". Naval News. Retrieved 26 July 2022.

Related Research Articles

<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>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>Larrakia</i> (ACPB 84)

HMAS Larrakia is an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

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).

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

HMAS <i>Albany</i> (ACPB 86)

HMAS Albany, named for the city of Albany, Western Australia, is an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS <i>Pirie</i> (ACPB 87)

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

HMAS <i>Ararat</i> (ACPB 89) Patrol boat of Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ararat, named for the town of Ararat, Victoria, was an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS <i>Broome</i> (ACPB 90) Armidale-class patrol boat

HMAS Broome, named for the city of Broome, Western Australia, 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.

Bay-class patrol boat Australian border protection boats

The Bay class is a class of eight armed patrol boats, built by Austal and used by the Customs Marine Unit of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. They entered service during the late 1990s and early 2000s, and are primarily used on border protection duties.

HMAS <i>Wollongong</i> (ACPB 92)

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

HMAS <i>Childers</i> (ACPB 93)

HMAS Childers is an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Named for the towns of Childers, Queensland and Childers, Victoria, Childers is the only ship in the RAN to be named after two towns.

HMAS <i>Launceston</i> (ACPB 94)

HMAS Launceston is an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS <i>Maryborough</i> (ACPB 95) Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Maryborough, named after the city of Maryborough, Queensland, is one of fourteen Armidale-class patrol boats operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

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

TRV Tailor (803) was one of three Torpedo Recovery Vessels operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Defence Maritime Services (DMS). Ordered in 1969, the vessel, originally identified as TRV 255, was completed in 1971 and assigned to the naval base HMAS Waterhen in Sydney. The ship received a name and the pennant number "TRV 803" in 1983. In 1988, the three vessels were sold to DMS. Tailor was assigned to the naval base HMAS Creswell in Western Australia. Tailor was decommissioned in 2018.

The Fish class was a ship class of three torpedo recovery vessels previously operated by Defence Maritime Services (DMS).

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.

References

Books
Journal and news articles
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.