HMAS Wollongong (ACPB 92)

Last updated

History
Naval Ensign of Australia.svgAustralia
Namesake: City of Wollongong
Builder: Austal, Henderson, Western Australia
Commissioned: 23 June 2007
Homeport: HMAS Cairns, Cairns
Identification:
Motto: "Heed The Call"
Honours and
awards:		 Six inherited battle honours
Status: Active as of 2016
Badge: HMAS wollongong crest.png
General characteristics
Class and type: Armidale-class patrol boat
Displacement: 300 tons standard load
Length: 56.8 m (186 ft)
Beam: 9.7 m (32 ft)
Draught: 2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Propulsion: 2 × MTU 4000 16V 6,225 horsepower (4,642 kW) diesels driving twin propellers
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance: 21 days standard, 42 days maximum
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 × Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs
Complement: 21 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 Wollongong (ACPB 92), named for the city of Wollongong, 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. [2] [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. [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), named Wolf and Hawk. [2] [5] 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] [6]

Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29. [2] [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. [2] [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]

Wollongong was constructed by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia. [3] Wollongong was commissioned into the RAN at Fleet Base East in Sydney on 23 June 2007. [1] [9]

Operational history

Operationally, Wollongong has spent the majority of her career on border patrol to Australia's north and north-west. The ship is assigned to Ardent Division of the Australian Patrol Boat Group, is based in Cairns, and performs border protection and fisheries protection patrols. [10]

In July 2007, the ship became the first vessel of her class to visit the port of Brisbane, Queensland. [9]

Following a request from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Wollongong was 'commanded' for a day in January 2008 by an 11-year-old. [5]

In June 2012, Wollongong was one of several ships to respond to a Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel which sank with 206 passengers while en route to Australia. [11] The patrol boat transported the 109 survivors found during the initial rescue operation to immigrant processing facilities at Christmas Island. [11]

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 5 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. 1 2 "Nathan's wish to be a patrol boat captain for a day". Image Gallery. Department of Defence. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  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. 1 2 Taylor, Mark (22 August 2007). "HMAS Wollongong handed over". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "HMAS Wollongong (III)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  11. 1 2 Kwek, Glenda; Coorey, Phillip (22 June 2012). "Dozens feared dead as packed asylum boat capsizes off Christmas Island". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 June 2012.

Related Research Articles

<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 North Queensland Engineers and Agents, 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

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).

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).

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 can 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 2019.

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

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)

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

HMAS <i>Broome</i> (ACPB 90)

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>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)

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

TRV Tuna (801) 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 253, was completed in 1970 and assigned to the torpedo firing range at Jervis Bay. The ship received a name and the pennant number "TRV 801" in 1983. In 1988, the three vessels were sold to DMS. Tuna was assigned to the naval base at HMAS Creswell in Jervis Bay. Tuna was active in DMS service as of 2007.

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).

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.