List of active Royal Australian Navy ships

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) fleet is made up of 46 commissioned warships and 3 non-commissioned as of May 2020.

The main strength is the eight frigates and three destroyers of the surface combatant force: eight Anzac class frigates and three Hobart class destroyers. Six Collins-class boats make up the submarine service, although due to the maintenance cycle not all submarines are active at any time. The issues have now been fixed and five submarines are available for service. Amphibious warfare assets include two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ships and the landing ship HMAS Choules. Thirteen Armidale-class patrol boats perform coastal and economic exclusion zone patrols, and four Huon-class vessels are used for minehunting and clearance (another two are commissioned but in reserve since October 2011). Replenishment at sea is provided by the Sirius, while the two Leeuwin-class and four Paluma-class vessels perform survey and charting duties.

In addition to the commissioned warships, the RAN operates the sail training ship Young Endeavour and two Cape-class patrol boats. Other auxiliaries and small craft are not operated by the RAN, but by DMS Maritime, who are contracted to provide support services.[1]

The lion's share of the RAN fleet is divided between Fleet Base East (HMAS Kuttabul, in Sydney) and Fleet Base West (HMAS Stirling, near Perth). Mine warfare assets are located at HMAS Waterhen (also in Sydney), while HMAS Cairns in Cairns and HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin host the navy's patrol and survey vessels.

Submarines

Collins class

HMAS Collins, lead ship of her class

Australia operates a single class of diesel-electric submarines, the six Collins-class boats which began entering service in 1993. The Collins was designed by the Swedish submarine builder Kockums as the Type 471 specifically to meet Australian requirements, many of which were derived from Australia's need for great range without utilizing a nuclear propulsion system. The ships themselves were built in Australia by the Australian Submarine Corporation in Adelaide. The submarines are classified by the RAN as guided missile submarines (SSG), but are often referred to as hunter-killer submarines (SSK) in the international press. While these vessels represented a major increase in capability for the RAN, they have found themselves mired in numerous technical and operational problems. Meanwhile, the RAN has struggled to sufficiently crew their submarine fleet, with at times no more than two qualified crews available.[2] The twelve-boat strong Future Submarine Program (SEA 1000) was initiated to replace the existing six Collins-class boats. The Shortfin Barracuda, the conventional-powered variant of the French Barracuda-class submarine, proposed by French shipbuilder DCNS, was chosen by the Australian government as the design for the new boats.[3]

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 3051 t surfaced 3353 t submerged Length: 77.4 metres (254 ft) Complement: 58	Submerged speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) Surfaced speed: 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) Surfaced range: 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) Submerged range: 480 nautical miles (890 km; 550 mi)	6 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, firing: Mark 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedoes, UGM-84C Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles, or Stonefish Mark III mines	Sonars: Scylla, SHORT-TAS Radar: Type 1007 Periscope: CK043, CH093

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Collins	SSG 73	27 July 1996	Fleet Base West
Farncomb	SSG 74	31 January 1998	Fleet Base West
Waller	SSG 75	10 July 1999	Fleet Base West
Dechaineux	SSG 76	23 February 2001	Fleet Base West
Sheean	SSG 77	23 February 2001	Fleet Base West
Rankin	SSG 78	29 March 2003	Fleet Base West

Attack class

• 12 on order

Amphibious warfare

Canberra class

HMAS Adelaide

The Canberra class are landing helicopter dock ships based on the design of Spanish ship Juan Carlos I. The hull of each ship was built by the designer, Navantia, then was transported to Australia by heavy lift ship for internal fitout and installation of the superstructure by BAE Systems Australia. Designed to transport and land an amphibious force of up to 1,600 soldiers by landing craft and helicopter, the Canberras are the largest ships ever operated by the RAN. Lead ship HMAS Canberra was commissioned into the RAN in late 2014. The second ship of the class, Adelaide, was commissioned at the end of 2015.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 27,500 t full load Length: 230.82 metres (757.3 ft) Complement: 358 personnel (293 RAN, 62 Army, 3 RAAF) 1,046–1,600 troops	Maximum speed: Over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) Range: 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi)	4 × Rafael Typhoon 25 mm 6 × 12.7 mm machine guns	Aviation: 6-spot helicopter deck 8 × helicopters (standard load) Boats carried: 4 × LLC in well deck Vehicle deck: Up to 110 vehicles

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Canberra	L02	28 November 2014	Fleet Base East	RAN Flagship[4]
Adelaide	L01	4 December 2015	Fleet Base East

Choules

HMAS Choules in 2012

The Bay-class landing ship dock HMAS Choules was acquired by the RAN in 2011. The ship was originally built by Swan Hunter for the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and entered British service in 2006 as RFA Largs Bay. She was made redundant in the 2011 Strategic Defence and Security Review and sold to Australia. Choules represents a major increase in sealift capability for the RAN, particularly after mechanical issues in 2010 and 2011 forced the early retirement of the navy's two Kanimbla-class vessels, and put HMAS Tobruk in dock for an extensive refit.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 16,190 t full load Length: 176.6 metres (579 ft) Complement: 158 personnel 356–700 troops	Maximum speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) Range: 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi)	Unarmed	Aviation: Helicopter deck, no permanent hangar; temporary hangar can be fitted Boats carried: 1 × LCU, 1 × LCM-8, or 2 × LCVP in well deck 2 × Mexeflotes on flanks Vehicle deck: 32 tanks or 150 trucks

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Choules	L100	13 December 2011	Fleet Base East	In Royal Fleet Auxiliary service 2006–2011

Surface combatants

Hobart Class

HMAS Hobart in December 2017

The Australian Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project commenced in 2000, to replace the Adelaide-class frigates and restore the capability last exhibited by the Perth-class destroyers. The ship was assembled from 31 pre-fabricated modules ('blocks'): 12 for the hull, 9 for the forward superstructure, and 10 for the aft superstructure. The Hobarts are built around the Aegis combat system. The first ship HMAS Hobart was ordered on 4 October 2007 and commissioned on 23 September 2017.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 7,000 t full load Length: 147.2 metres (483 ft) Complement: 186 + 16 aircrew	Maximum speed: 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) Range: 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi)	48-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System 2 × 4-canister Harpoon missile launchers 1 × Mark 45 Mod 4 5-inch gun 2 × Mark 32 Mod 9 two-tube torpedo launchers 1 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × 25mm M242 Bushmaster autocannons in Typhoon mounts	Aviation: 1 x MH-60R Seahawk Radar: Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D(V) S-band radar Sonar: Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems' Integrated Sonar System

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Hobart	DDG 39	23 September 2017	Fleet Base East
Brisbane	DDG 41	27 October 2018	Fleet Base East
Sydney	DDG 42	19 May 2020	Fleet Base East

Anzac class

Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth (post-ASMD configuration)

There are eight frigates of the Anzac class. These were commissioned from 1996 to 2006 as part of a joint program with New Zealand, whose navy operates an additional two examples. Derived from Blohm + Voss' MEKO modular ship family and designated the MEKO 200 ANZ by that company, the ships were built in Australia by Tenix in Williamstown, Victoria. They are designated as helicopter frigates (FFH) by the RAN, and are designed to be capable of both mid-level patrol and blue water operations. In 2010, these vessels began to receive upgrades to their anti-ship missile defence (ASMD) capabilities.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 3600 t full load Length: 118 metres (387 ft) Complement: 22 officers + 141 sailors	Maximum speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi)	5-inch/54 Mk 45 DP gun 8-cell Mk 41 VLS 8 × Harpoon Block II 2 × 3-tube Mk 32 torpedo tubes	Aviation: 1 × S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter Radar: SPS-49(V)8 CEAFAR (part of ASMD upgrade being rolled out across the class) Sonar: Spherion B

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Anzac	FFH 150	18 May 1996	Fleet Base East
Arunta	FFH 151	12 December 1998	Fleet Base West
Warramunga	FFH 152	31 March 2001	Fleet Base West
Stuart	FFH 153	17 August 2002	Fleet Base West
Parramatta	FFH 154	4 October 2003	Fleet Base East
Ballarat	FFH 155	26 June 2004	Fleet Base East
Toowoomba	FFH 156	8 October 2005	Fleet Base West
Perth	FFH 157	26 August 2006	Fleet Base West
Two additional ships built for and operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy

Patrol and mine warfare

Armidale class

Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Broome

For patrol of Australia's vast coastline, territorial waters, and offshore territories, the RAN operates thirteen Armidale-class patrol boats. These replaced the Fremantle class from 2005 as the navy's primary asset for border protection, fisheries patrols, and interception of unauthorised arrivals by sea. Based on the Bay-class customs vessels, the Armidales are significantly enlarged to allow for better range and seakeeping ability. Originally, twelve boats were to be built by Austal, but the establishment of a dedicated patrol force for the North West Shelf Venture saw another two ordered. The Australian Patrol Boat Group has divided the class into four divisions, with three ships' companies assigned for every two vessels to achieve higher operational availability. HMAS Bundaberg was decommissioned in December 2014 after being extensively damaged by an onboard fire.[5] Ongoing problems with the patrol boats, including wear from high operational use and structural issues, prompted the RAN to acquire two Cape-class patrol boats from the Australian Border Force.[6]

Size[7][8]	Performance[7][8]	Armament[7][8]	Other features[7][8]
Displacement: 270 t Length: 56.8 metres (186 ft) Complement: 21	Maximum speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi)	1 × 25 mm M242 Bushmaster 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns	2 × Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Armidale	ACPB 83	24 June 2005	HMAS Coonawarra
Larrakia	ACPB 84	10 February 2006	HMAS Coonawarra
Bathurst	ACPB 85	10 February 2006	HMAS Coonawarra
Albany	ACPB 86	15 July 2006	HMAS Coonawarra
Pirie	ACPB 87	29 July 2006	HMAS Coonawarra
Maitland	ACPB 88	29 September 2006	HMAS Coonawarra
Ararat	ACPB 89	13 November 2006	HMAS Coonawarra
Broome	ACPB 90	10 February 2007	HMAS Coonawarra
Wollongong	ACPB 92	23 June 2007	HMAS Cairns
Childers	ACPB 93	7 July 2007	HMAS Cairns
Launceston	ACPB 94	22 September 2007	HMAS Cairns
Maryborough	ACPB 95	8 December 2007	HMAS Coonawarra
Glenelg	ACPB 96	22 February 2008	HMAS Coonawarra
One additional ship (Bundaberg) destroyed by fire

Huon class

Huon-class minehunter HMAS Gascoyne

Mine countermeasures at sea are handled by the Huon-class minehunters, which began to enter RAN service from 1999. The class was based on the Italian Navy's Gaeta-class minehunter developed by Intermarine. Development was undertaken in partnership between Intermarine and Australian Defence Industries (ADI). The first hull was built in Italy, with fitting out the first and construction of the remaining five vessels of the class done by ADI in Newcastle, replacing the problematic Bay-class minehunters. In addition to the mine warfare role, individual have been deployed on occasion to support patrol and border protection operations. Four vessels operate out of HMAS Waterhen, in Sydney. An additional two ships were placed in reserve in October 2011.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 720 t full load Length: 52.5 metres (172 ft) Complement: 6 officers + 33 sailors	Maximum speed: 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) Range: 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km; 1,700 mi)	1 × 30 mm DS30B autocannon 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns	2 × Double Eagle mine disposal vehicles Type 1007 navigational radar Type 2093M minehunting sonar Type 133 PRISM radar warning 2 × Wallop Super Barricade decoy launchers

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Huon	M 82	15 May 1999	HMAS Waterhen
Hawkesbury	M 83	12 February 2000	HMAS Waterhen	In reserve
Norman	M 84	26 August 2000	HMAS Waterhen	In reserve
Gascoyne	M 85	2 June 2001	HMAS Waterhen
Diamantina	M 86	4 May 2002	HMAS Waterhen
Yarra	M 87	1 March 2003	HMAS Waterhen

Replenishment

Sirius

HMAS Sirius in 2006

HMAS Sirius was initially built as a civilian oil tanker, but was purchased by the RAN during construction and converted into a replenishment ship for the west coast. Built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, she was launched in 2004 and commissioned in 2006; costing half the price and becoming active three years before the RAN's original plan of a purpose-build ship.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 25,016.53 t Length: 191.3 metres (628 ft) Complement: 60	Maximum speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) Range: -	Small arms only	34,806 cz fuel capacity Aviation: Helicopter deck, no hangar

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Sirius	O 266	16 September 2006	Fleet Base West

Hydrographic survey

Leeuwin class

Leeuwin-class survey vessel HMAS Leeuwin

Two Leeuwin-class survey ships were built for the RAN by NQEA Australia of Cairns. Ordered in 1996, the ships were commissioned in a joint ceremony in 2000. They are capable of charting waters up to 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) deep, and carry three Fantome-class survey boats for shallow-water work. In addition to hydrographic surveying duties, since 2001 both vessels have also operated in support of the RAN patrol force.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 2,170 t Length: 71.2 metres (234 ft) Complement: 10 officers + 46 sailors	Maximum speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) Range: 18,000 nautical miles (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)	2 × × 12.7 mm machine guns	Sonars: C-Tech CMAS 36/39 hull mounted high frequency active sonar Atlas Fansweep-20 multibeam echo sounder Atlas Hydrographic Deso single-beam echo sounder Klein 2000 towed sidescan sonar array Radar STN Atlas 9600 ARPA navigation radar Aviation: Helicopter deck, no hangar

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Leeuwin	A 245	27 May 2000	HMAS Cairns
Melville	A 246	27 May 2000	HMAS Cairns

Paluma class

Paluma-class survey motor launch HMAS Benalla

The Paluma-class survey motor launches are large catamarans designed for survey operations around northern and eastern Australia. Four ships were built by Eglo Engineering at Port Adelaide, South Australia between 1988 and 1990. The vessels normally operate in pairs.

Size	Performance	Armament	Other features
Displacement: 320 t Length: 36.6 metres (120 ft) Complement: 3 officers + 11 sailors	Maximum speed: 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) Range: 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)	None fitted	Radar: JRC JMA-3710-6 navigational radar Sonars: ELAC LAZ 72 side-scan mapping sonar Skipper 113 hull-mounted scanning sonar

Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Homeport	Notes
Paluma	A 01	27 February 1989	HMAS Cairns
Mermaid	A 02	4 December 1989	HMAS Cairns
Shepparton	A 03	24 January 1990	HMAS Cairns
Benalla	A 04	20 March 1990	HMAS Cairns

Non-commissioned vessels

Young Endeavour

The youth crew of Young Endeavour manning the mast after the ship's arrival at the Australian National Maritime Museum

The Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour was built as a gift from the United Kingdom to Australia for the latter's 1988 bicentenary of colonisation. Built by British shipbuilder Brooke Marine, the brigantine rig vessel is operated by the RAN, but is used to facilitate the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme; a sail training program for Australian youth aged between 16 and 23. A 10-strong RAN crew is supplemented by 24–30 youth on ten-day voyages, with 500 applicants selected every year through two ballots.

Name	Pennant number	In service	Homeport	Notes
Young Endeavour	–	25 January 1988	HMAS Waterhen

Cape class

ABFC Cape St. George, a Cape-class patrol boat in service with the Australian Border Force

Eight Cape-class patrol boats were built for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (now the Australian Border Force) by Austal between 2012 and 2015, as replacements for the Bay class.[9][10] Following the loss of HMAS Bundaberg and hull issues with the Armidale class requiring an intense remedial maintenance program, two Cape-class patrol boats were leased to the RAN from late 2015 until the end of 2016.[6] In naval service, the two rotating crew groups for each of the two vessel are made up of RAN personnel, the patrol boats operate from HMAS Cairns, and are identified with the Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) prefix, but retain the blue-and-red customs colour scheme.[11] 2 new boats were ordered on 2017 and the 2 leased were returned to the ABF.

Size[12]	Performance[12][13]	Armament[12][13]	Other features[12][13]
Length: 57.8 metres (190 ft) Complement: 18	Maximum speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) Range: 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)	2 x .50 calibre machine guns	2 × 7.3 m (24 ft) Gemini RHIBs

Name	In service[11]	Homeport[11]	Notes
ADV Cape Fourcroy	2017	HMAS Cairns
ADV Cape Inscription	2017	HMAS Cairns
Eight additional ships built for and operated by the Australian Border Force

See also

• List of Defence Maritime Services vessels
• List of Royal Australian Navy bases
• List of Royal Australian Navy ships

References

Citations

1. Saunders & Philpott (eds.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016, p. 35
2. Defense Industry Daily, 23 April 2012
3. Wroe, David (26 April 2016). "France wins $50b contract to help build Australia's new submarines". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
4. "HMAS Canberra (III)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
5. Staples, Natalie (19 December 2014). "HMAS Bundaberg decommissioned". Navy Daily. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
6. McPhedran, Ian (9 October 2015). "The $3 million cost of Navy's decision to lease patrol boats for border protection". News.com.au. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
7. Kerr, Julian (1 January 2008). "Plain sailing: Australia's Armidales prove fit for task". Jane's Navy International. Jane's Information Group.
8. Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156.
9. Australian Security Magazine, Govt to buy new border patrol vessels
10. "Austal Awarded Cape Class Patrol Boat Contract". Media Releases. Austal. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
11. Paroz, Des (5 December 2015). "Cape Class ships join the Fleet". Navy Daily. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
12. Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013, p. 39
13. "Austal Patrol 58 – Cape Class" (PDF). Austal. May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

Bibliography

• Defense Industry Daily (23 April 2012). "Australia's Submarine Program in the Dock". Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
• Defense Industry Daily (5 May 2012). "Australia's Next Generation Submarines". Defense Industry Daily. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
• Royal Australian Navy. "Current Ships". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
• Saunders, Stephen; Philpott, Tom, eds. (7 August 2015). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016. Jane's Fighting Ships (116th Revised ed.). Coulsdon: IHS Jane's. ISBN 9780710631435. OCLC 919022075.

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