The Royal Australian Navy in Twilight

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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”