List of current ships of the Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) fleet is made up of 38 commissioned warships and 6 non-commissioned .

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 . Eight ''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, for sale as 2018). Replenishment at sea is provided by two ''Supply-''class replenishment oilers, while the two ''Leeuwin''-class and two ''Paluma''-class vessels perform survey and charting duties.

In addition to the commissioned warships, the RAN operates the sail training ship ''Young Endeavour'' and five 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.Saunders & Philpott (eds.), ''IHS Jane's Fighting Ships'' 2015–2016'', p. 35

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

Submarines

''Collins'' 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 boats 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.Defense Industry Daily, 23 April 2012 The ''Collins'' was to be replaced by twelve Shortfin Barracudas a conventionally-powered design of the Barracuda-class nuclear submarine by French shipbuilder Naval Group that had been selected in 2016 and named the ''Attack''-class. In September 2021, in a joint announcement, it was announced that the ''Attack''-class contract had been cancelled, and that Australia would acquire up to eight nuclear-powered submarines with US and UK support through a new trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the US named AUKUS. The entire ''Collins''-class fleet will now receive a Life-of-Type Extension.

Amphibious warfare

''Canberra'' class

The ''Canberra'' class are landing helicopter dock ships based on the design of . 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 ''Canberra''s are the largest ships ever operated by the RAN. Lead ship was commissioned into the RAN in late 2014. The second ship of the class, , was commissioned at the end of 2015.

''Choules''

The Bay-class landing ship dock 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 2010, 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 landing platform amphibious, ''Kanimbla''-class vessels, and put in dock for an extensive refit.

Surface combatants

''Hobart Class''

Australia operates a single class of Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD). The Hobart class AWD are based on the Spanish Navantia F100 frigate and incorporate an Aegis Combat System with an AN/SPY-1D(V)phased array radar. These combined with the SM-2 missile provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150km.

''Anzac'' class

There are eight frigates of the Anzac-class frigate, ''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 Anzac-class frigate#Australian modifications, upgrades to their anti-ship missile defence (ASMD) capabilities.

Patrol and defence

''Armidale'' class

For patrol of Australia's vast coastline, territorial waters, and offshore territories, the RAN operates nine ''Armidale''-class patrol boats. These replaced the Fremantle-class patrol boat, ''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 patrol boat, ''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. was decommissioned in December 2014 after being extensively damaged by an onboard fire. 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.

''Huon'' class

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, ''Gaeta''-class minehunter developed by Intermarine. Development was undertaken in partnership between Intermarine and Thales Australia, 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, New South Wales, Newcastle, replacing the problematic Bay-class minehunter, 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 , in Sydney. An additional two ships were placed in reserve in October 2011.

Replenishment

''Supply'' class

Two ''Supply'' class replenishment ships were ordered from Navantia back in 2016 to replace the RAN's ageing replenishment vessels HMAS ''Success'' and HMAS ''Sirius''. The ships are designed to provide fuel, food, ammunition, and other stores to RAN vessels operating well beyond friendly ports. The two ships began commissioning in 2021.

Hydrographic survey

''Leeuwin'' class

Two ''Leeuwin''-class survey ships were built for the RAN by NQEA of Cairns. Ordered in 1996, the ships were commissioned in a joint ceremony in 2000. They are capable of charting waters up to deep, and carry three Fantome-class survey motor boat, ''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.

''Paluma'' class

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.

Non-commissioned vessels

''Young Endeavour''

The Sail Training Ship ''Young Endeavour'' was built as a gift from the United Kingdom to Australia for the latter's 1988 Australian Bicentenary, 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.

Cape class

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 patrol boat, Bay class.Australian Security Magazine, ''Govt to buy new border patrol vessels'' Following the loss of 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. 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 , and are identified with the Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) ship prefix, prefix, but retain the blue-and-red customs colour scheme.
2 new boats were ordered on 2017 and the 2 leased were returned to the ABF.

National Support Squadron

In addition to commissioned ships, the RAN is supported by the National Support Squadron which is made up of vessels operated by Teekay, Teekay Shipping Australia and crewed mainly by civilian mariners. The force comprises:
*MV Besant, MV ''Besant'' (Submarine support)
*Seahorse Mercator, MV ''Mercator'' (Navigational training vessel)
*MV Sycamore, MV ''Sycamore'' (Aviation training vessel)
*MV Stoker, MV ''Stoker'' (Submarine support)
*ADV Ocean Protector, ADV ''Ocean Protector'' (Border protection)
*ADV Reliant, ADV ''Reliant'' (Pacific support vessel)

See also

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

References

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