The Royal Australian Navy in Twilight

[dragoon500ly]

The Royal Australian Navy in Twilight

Personnel: 15,492; 1,436 reserves; some 5,000 civilians.

Naval Aviation: 16 S-70B2 ASW helos, 7 Sea King Mk56 ASW helos, 6 AS-350B Ecureuil utility helos, 3 Bell 206B Kiowa utility helicopters. The RAAF operates 20 P-3C Orion maritime patrol ac.

0 + 6 Collins-class Diesel-Electric Submarines
Collins; Farncomb; Waller; Dechaineux; Sheehan; Rankin
Displacement of 2,450/2,700 tons. Speed of 10.5/20kts. Crew of 42. Armament consists of six 533mm torpedo tubes. To enter service 1995-1999. Based on the Swedish Type 471 submarine.

6 ex British Oberon-class Diesel-Electric Submarines
S 57 Oxley; S 59 Otway; S 60 Onslow; S 61 Orion; S 62 Otama; S 70 Owens
Displacement of 2,196/2,417 tons. Speed of 17.5/15kts. Crew of 63. Armament consists of six 533mm torpedo tubes. All are scheduled to be stricken in 1993-1998.

3 ex US Charles F. Adams-class Guided Missile Destroyers
D 38 Perth; D 39 Hobert; D 41 Brisbane
Displacement of 4,720 tons. Speed of 35kts. Crew of 333. Armament consists of one single Mk13 SAM launcher w/Stamdard MR and Harpoon, two single Mk42 5in/54, two single Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, two single 12.7mm HMGs, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes. The Phalanx were fitted to D 41 for Desert Storm, plans are to purchase two additional sets for fitting to the other two.

0 + 8 ANZAC Frigate
Displacement of 3,495 tons. Speed of 31.75kts. Crew of 163. Armament consists of one eight-cell Mk41 VLS with Sea Sparrow, one single Mk45 5in/54, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, 1 S-70 ASW helo. Contract provides for options for up to four to be purchased by New Zealand. Not scheduled to enter service until 1996-2004.

4 + 2 US Oliver Hazard Perry-class Guided Missile Frigates
F 01 Adelaide; F 02 Canberra; F 03 Sydney; F 04 Darwin; F 05 Melbourne;
F 06 Newcastle
Displacement of 3,962 tons. Speed of 29kts. Crew of 187. Armament consists of one single Mk13 launcher with Standard MR and Harpoon, one single Mk75 76mm, one single Mk15 Phalanx CIWS, two single 12.7mm HMGs, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes, 2 S-70 ASW helos. The first four were built in the US, the last two to be built in Australia. The Australian-built units have different sonar/electronics suites.

3 River-class Frigates
DE 49 Derwent; DE 50 Swan; DE 53 Torrens
Displacement of 2,750 tons. Speed of 30kts. Crew of 232. Armament consists of one twin Mk6 114mm DP gun; two single 12.7mm HMGs, two triple 324mm ASW torpedo tubes. Three sister ships have been stricken and cannibalized for spares. To be scraped in 1995-96.

15 Fremantle-class Patrol Boats
P 203 Fremantle; P 204 Warrnambool; P 205 Townsville; P 206 Wollongong;
P 207 Launceton; P 208 Whyalla; P 209 Ipswich; P 210 Cessnock; P 211 Bendigo; P 212 Gawler; P 213 Geraldton; P 214 Dubbo; P 215 Geelong; P 216 Gladstone; P 217 Bunbury
Displacement of 230 tons. Speed of 30kts. Crew of 23. Armament consists of one single 40mm AA gun, one single 81mm mortar, two twin 12.7mm HMGs.

3 Attack-class Patrol Boats
P 82 Adriot; P 87 Ardent; P 91 Aware
Displacement of 149 tons. Speed of 24kts. Crew of 24. Armament consists of one single 40mm AA gun, two single GPMG. All assigned to reserve training, to be stricken in 195-98.

2 Bay-class Catamaran Minehunters
M 80 Rushcutter; M 81 Shoalwater
Displacement of 170 tons. Speed of 10kts. Crew of 14. Armament consists of two single 12.7mm HMGs.

1 modified British Sir Bedivere-class Amphibious Warfare Ship
L 50 Tobruk
Displacement of 6,000 tons. Speed of 17kts. Crew of 68. Armament consists of two single 40mm AA guns. Can carry up to 500 troops. Two LCVP and 2 LCM(8) landing craft are carried.

6 Balikpapan-class Heavy Landing Craft
L 126 Balkipan; L 127 Brunei; L 128 Labuan; L 129 Tarakan; L 130 Wewak;
L 133 Betano
Displacement of 503 tons. Speed of 10kts. Crew of 13. Armament consists of two single GPMG. Can carry up to 100 troops.

Source is the “Combat Fleets of the World: 1993”

[Webstral]

Is Australia counted as a “maritime” nation; i.e., one that derives its wealth from seaborne trade? I suppose that makes sense, but I’ve never actually read anything specifically designating Australia as a maritime nation (v a continental nation).

[Targan]

Is Australia counted as a “maritime” nation; i.e., one that derives its wealth from seaborne trade?

Australia's economy is nearly entirely dependent on exporting bulk commodities (iron ore, coal wheat etc). Putting it simply, without shipping, we're screwed.

[Olefin]

"Australia's economy is nearly entirely dependent on exporting bulk commodities (iron ore, coal wheat etc). Putting it simply, without shipping, we're screwed. "

Totally agree with you Targan. Succint and 100 percent correct.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

The RAN also had at least one and I think two fleet oilers on the books and also the HMAS Jervis Bay which although listed as a training ship was actually a civilian RO-RO transport before being taken up by the navy. While not capable of beach operations it was capable of extended harbour operations.

In regards to Australia being a maritime nation, definitely yes. Targan already mentioned that but to add to what he said, we could easily be self-sufficient but a significant part of our economy for the last 4-6 decades has been derived from export sales - wheat, sheep, beef, bauxite, coal, gas, iron ore, steel, nickel, copper, uranium (even beer but it's only Fosters so not "real" beer!) and also fruit and motor vehicles to a small extent - and all of it sent by ship.

It also means that many of our major imports (textiles, clothing, vehicles, electronics and so on) are brought in by ship.
Stop those cargo ships from coming here and we will face some very tough times until we can establish our own industries again.

[mikeo80]

I am really enjoying the posts describing the various Naval units of the world!! :D

A silly question here. On many of your posts, you list numbers such as A + B. For example, in the Australian navy, you list "0 + 8 Anzac Frigates"

Does this mean "A" units in service and "B" units being built? Bought? In reserve?

My $0.02

Mike

[dragoon500ly]

I am really enjoying the posts describing the various Naval units of the world!! :D

A silly question here. On many of your posts, you list numbers such as A + B. For example, in the Australian navy, you list "0 + 8 Anzac Frigates"

Does this mean "A" units in service and "B" units being built? Bought? In reserve?

My $0.02

Mike

A would be ships in commission (ie active service), B are ships laid down or scheduled to laid down in the next 2-3 years. You will also see the occassional C, these are ships planned (but all too often deleted due to shortage of funds).

[dragoon500ly]

The RAN also had at least one and I think two fleet oilers on the books and also the HMAS Jervis Bay which although listed as a training ship was actually a civilian RO-RO transport before being taken up by the navy. While not capable of beach operations it was capable of extended harbour operations.

In regards to Australia being a maritime nation, definitely yes. Targan already mentioned that but to add to what he said, we could easily be self-sufficient but a significant part of our economy for the last 4-6 decades has been derived from export sales - wheat, sheep, beef, bauxite, coal, gas, iron ore, steel, nickel, copper, uranium (even beer but it's only Fosters so not "real" beer!) and also fruit and motor vehicles to a small extent - and all of it sent by ship.

It also means that many of our major imports (textiles, clothing, vehicles, electronics and so on) are brought in by ship.
Stop those cargo ships from coming here and we will face some very tough times until we can establish our own industries again.

Had to draw the line somewhere, so I focused on combatants, if I added auxiliaries, support and training vessels, this project would be completed sometime in 2018!