HMAS Maryborough (ACPB 95)

Last updated

HMAS Maryborough arriving at Jakarta in February 2017.jpg
HMAS Maryborough arriving at Jakarta in 2017
History
Naval Ensign of Australia.svgAustralia
NamesakeCity of Maryborough, Queensland
Commissioned8 December 2008
Decommissioned23 September 2023
Homeport HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin
Motto"Strength and Courage"
Honours and
awards		Three inherited battle honours
StatusDecommissioned
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

HMAS Maryborough (ACPB 95), named after the city of Maryborough, Queensland, [1] is one of fourteen Armidale-class patrol boats operated by 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. [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] 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. [4] [3]

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. [4] Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried. [5] Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). [3] 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. [3] [6]

Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29. [4] [3] 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. [3] [7] 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. [8] However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard HMAS Maitland 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. [7] [8]

Maryborough was one of two patrol boats ordered in 2005, following an 2004 federal election promise that the Coalition would provide a dedicated patrol force for the oil and gas producing facilities located off the north-west coast of Australia. [4] [3] [9] Maryborough was constructed by Austal at their shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. [2] She was commissioned into the RAN in Brisbane[ citation needed ] on 8 December 2007. [2]

Operational history

In December 2019 the Maryborough left Darwin, for Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, accompanied by the newly commissioned Solomon Islands patrol vessel RSIPV Gizo. [10] The vessels engaged in joint training exercises. Now it is decommissioned as of 23 September 2023. It was given a farewell to its crew in Maryborough with a 'Freedom of Entry Parade'.

Fire

On 26 May 2017 Maryborough suffered from an Engine Room fire while at sea operating North-West of Darwin. No crew members were injured and the ship returned to Darwin for an assessment of the damage. [11]

Citations

  1. ↑ "Navy boat to be named HMAS Maryborough". ABC News. 7 December 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013, p. 33
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kerr, Plain sailing
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 22
  5. ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 132
  6. ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 131
  7. 1 2 Kerr, Patrol boats shake down fuel faults
  8. 1 2 McKenna, Gas risk remains for navy boats
  9. ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 130
  10. ↑ Todd Fitzgerald (3 January 2020). "Patrol boats the guardians of regional security and stability". Navy Daily . Retrieved 2 January 2020. Cross-decking, as it is known in naval jargon, is practised by navies all over the world and is designed to improve the personal and professional development of those fortunate enough to be selected. It is also a sign of diplomacy and trust between participating vessels.
  11. ↑ "Navy safely responds to fire in HMAS Maryborough". Australian Department of Defence News and Media. Retrieved 2 June 2017.

Related Research Articles

HMAS <i>Balikpapan</i>

HMAS Balikpapan was the lead ship of the Balikpapan class of heavy landing craft (LCH). Ordered in 1969, Balikpapan entered service with the Australian Army Water Transport Squadron in late 1971. After this, the decision to place all seagoing Army vessels under the control of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) saw Balikpapan transferred and commissioned in 1974; the last of the eight-vessel class to enter RAN service. Balikpapan was placed in reserve in 1985, but was reactivated three years later. During late 1999 and early 2000, the vessel was part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, and made additional deployments to East Timor in 2001 and 2006. On 12 December 2012, Balikpapan was retired from RAN service.

<i>Fremantle</i>-class patrol boat Patrol boat class of the Royal Australian Navy

The Fremantle-class patrol boats were coastal patrol vessels operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1979 to 2007. Designed by British shipbuilder Brooke Marine and constructed in Australia by NQEA, the Fremantle class were larger, more powerful, and more capable than the preceding Attack class, and the two primary patrol boat bases required infrastructure upgrades to support them. Although up to 30 vessels were planned, fifteen were ordered and constructed, with an unexercised option for five more.

<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.

<i>Balikpapan</i>-class landing craft heavy In service with the Australian Defence Force and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force

The Balikpapan class is a ship class of eight heavy landing craft. All eight were originally laid down by Walkers Limited for the Australian Army in the early 1970s. A reorganisation of watercraft responsibilities in the Australian military meant the landing craft were to be operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), with seven commissioned directly into RAN service during 1973 and 1974, and lead ship Balikpapan transferred from the army to the navy. During the leadup to the independence of Papua New Guinea in 1975, two of the vessels were transferred to the new Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

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).

<i>Leeuwin</i>-class survey vessel

The Leeuwin class is a two-ship class of hydrographic survey vessels operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Leeuwin and Melville were ordered from NQEA Australia in 1996, and were commissioned in 2000. The ships are capable of charting waters up to 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) deep, carry three Fantome-class survey boats, and could operate an AS 350B Squirrel helicopter. In addition to surveying duties, since 2001 both vessels have been used to supplement the RAN patrol force. Leeuwin and Melville are based at HMAS Cairns, and are active as of 2023.

HMAS <i>Maitland</i> (ACPB 88)

PBAT Sentinel, formerly HMAS Maitland, named for the city of Maitland, New South Wales, 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.

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

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.