Australia Launches New Patrol Boat Class
First of the Armidale Class Patrol Boats Launched and Named
(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued Jan. 22, 2005)
Defence Minister Robert Hill welcomed the official naming of NUSHIP Armidale, the first of the Armidale Class Patrol Boats today.
Minister for Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell attended the naming ceremony, held at the Austal Ships construction facility, Western Australia on behalf of Senator Hill.
“This ceremony commemorates the successful launch of the vessel on 5 January 2005, following the design and construction over the past year,” Senator Hill said.
“This achievement is testament to Austal’s and Defence Materiel Organisation’s ability to deliver on time and on budget.
“I am sure that the ship trials over the next two months will also see the vessel’s ability to meet the required performance.
The vessel was named by Ms Jana Stone, the eldest daughter of Ordinary Seaman Donald Raymond LAWSON who served on the original HMAS “Armidale”, a Bathurst class corvette, during World War II.
This launch of the first vessel is a key milestone under Project Sea 1444 following the signing of a $553 million contract on 17 December 2003 with Defence Maritime Services (DMS) for the supply and long term support of a new Patrol Boat fleet of 12 Armidale class boats.
“I congratulate DMS, the principal contractor, and Austal Ships, responsible for the design and construction of the vessels for their work on this project,” Senator Hill said.
“The delivery of the first of this patrol boat class on schedule has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment that the contracted delivery schedule for the remainder of Armidale Patrol Boats will be met.
“The Armidale class vessels will substantially improve the Royal Australian Navy’s capability to intercept and apprehend vessels suspected of illegal fishing and quarantine, customs or immigration offences. The patrol boats in this regard play a major role in patrolling and protecting Australia’s coastline.”
Following the sea trials, NUSHIP ARMIDALE is scheduled for acceptance in May 2005.
By: Ja Worsley - 23rd April 2005 at 04:20
Daniel: mate thanks for the interest, please allow me to clear up a few issues you have raised…
I find it a little hard to believe that there are pirate vessels out there cruising around with something the size of a 5″ gun on deck. Its a bit hard to hide and you can’t really argue its just for self protection.
Actually it’s quite easy to hide a 5″ gun on a deck, throw a box structure around it and uncover it when you need it, the Germans did this during WWII to sink merchant ships- giving them a false sence of security allowing them to get in close and then springing a trap. The modern day versions would probably be painted to represent local law enforcement ships, thus when the ship is asked to heave to, they automatically comply. I have actually seen a captured priate vessel using this ploy.
I also think that given the coverage that this pirate issue from time to time in the media I have expected to have heard about such an impressive piece of kit there certainly seems to be no mention of it when conducting a web search.
Think about it mate, if you post this info on the web, what would happen to the tourism bureau! Economies would suffer and things would go bad.
The weapons of choice seem to be MGs and maybe an RPG for the better equipped bands. Against such foes I reiterate that a stabilised 25mm autocannon is quite sufficient.
I agree that such a weapon would would be good, but I know first hand, somewhat differently.
The Warfighting Improvement Program was cancelled years ago. The current round of upgrades are from a number of seperate (but obviously related) programs.
The current upgrades are also called WIP’s thought I must admit that this is used in house.
very nice pics though and it is good to see the vessels starting to the “ffited with” rather than “fitted for but not with”.
Sure is damd nice, makes the Anzac’s look mean and mean business with those missiles sitting there like that.
By: danrh - 22nd April 2005 at 21:46
And as soon as she gets back she’s going in to refit for the WIP to add the Harpoon tubes to her bow just like HMAS Warramunga and the rest of the Anzac fleet.
The Warfighting Improvement Program was cancelled years ago. The current round of upgrades are from a number of seperate (but obviously related) programs.
SEA 1229 Phase 1, 2 & 3 – Active Missile Decoy (AMD)
SEA 1348 Ph3 – ANZAC Ship Project Underwater & Surface War Fighting Upgrade Program
SEA 1448 – ANZAC Anti-ship Missile Defence Project
SEA 1428 – Evolved SEASPARROW Missile Project
very nice pics though and it is good to see the vessels starting to the “ffited with” rather than “fitted for but not with”.
Daniel
By: danrh - 22nd April 2005 at 21:32
Dan: I have been on a couple of patorlies where we were fired upon by 5″ guns, sure these are old WWII 5″ guns but still deadly none the less.
It’s getting to the point where our patrolies are nothing but fishing vessels, and their tasks of enforcement are being handed on to the Anzacs (which is why they are being upgraded).
Australia should have gone for the OPV back in 98, that was such a good program. And 11 of those vessels would have been quiet sufficient for the role.
I forgot about this. Ja if you actually mean 5″/127mm then I stand corrected and agree with you. I find it a little hard to believe that there are pirate vessels out there cruising around with something the size of a 5″ gun on deck. Its a bit hard to hide and you can’t really argue its just for self protection. I also think that given the coverage that this pirate issue from time to time in the media I have expected to have heard about such an impressive piece of kit there certainly seems to be no mention of it when conducting a web search. The weapons of choice seem to be MGs and maybe an RPG for the better equipped bands. Against such foes I reiterate that a stabilised 25mm autocannon is quite sufficient.
I won’t argue that the OPV would have been a good vessel. Having an embarked helo (more Super Seasprites – the OPV was actually the reason the SH-2G was selected for the ANZAC’s) would significantly increase the utility of the vessles enable them to respond to situations much quicker, avoiding long sea chases etc.
Daniel
By: Ja Worsley - 22nd April 2005 at 17:01
HMAS Anzac in northern hemisphare. Photo taken on 18 April 2005.
And as soon as she gets back she’s going in to refit for the WIP to add the Harpoon tubes to her bow just like HMAS Warramunga and the rest of the Anzac fleet.
Here are a couple of pics and a mpeg file for you to look at and enjoy (at least our big ships are now getting some punch- Anzacs and the Adelaide class with their improvements).
By: Saturn5 - 22nd April 2005 at 15:22
HMAS Anzac in northern hemisphare. Photo taken on 18 April 2005.
By: Ja Worsley - 20th April 2005 at 23:50
Dan: I have been on a couple of patorlies where we were fired upon by 5″ guns, sure these are old WWII 5″ guns but still deadly none the less.
It’s getting to the point where our patrolies are nothing but fishing vessels, and their tasks of enforcement are being handed on to the Anzacs (which is why they are being upgraded).
Australia should have gone for the OPV back in 98, that was such a good program. And 11 of those vessels would have been quiet sufficient for the role.
By: danrh - 20th April 2005 at 02:24
No Jon, what I am refering to is the material that they are made of (Aluminium Alloy), this couldn’t stop a crab let alone a bullet, and if you fire an RPG-7 at these boats you’d sink them in a flash. Yes I know first hand that the Pirates up where we patrol do have these weapons.
The other fact is that they are too lightly armed, a stabilised 25mm gun as the only weapon. You can’t even mount Missiles on these things for fear of melting them with the exhaust of ther launch.
So how many times have the pirates actually been foolhardy enough to fire upon the Navy? The 25mm round still outranges a machine-gun, rifle or shoulder fired light anti-armour weapon quite handsomely and the stabilisation (something the old 40mm on the Freemantles doesn’t have) allows the effective employment of the weapon from a good standoff distance.
These boats are only intended for general patrolling, EEZ enforcement etc tasks. They are quite capable of handling the tasks reuired of them. They are not supposed to mount missiles and play a combatant role.
Daniel
By: Ja Worsley - 19th April 2005 at 21:56
No Jon, what I am refering to is the material that they are made of (Aluminium Alloy), this couldn’t stop a crab let alone a bullet, and if you fire an RPG-7 at these boats you’d sink them in a flash. Yes I know first hand that the Pirates up where we patrol do have these weapons.
The other fact is that they are too lightly armed, a stabilised 25mm gun as the only weapon. You can’t even mount Missiles on these things for fear of melting them with the exhaust of ther launch.
By: JonS - 19th April 2005 at 15:21
Whats wrong with armidale? the price looks bit steep is that what you are reffering to?
By: Ja Worsley - 19th April 2005 at 06:15
Do yourself a favour and don’t talk about those tin ships of the Armidale class, not many Aussies where happy with this perchase. These ships do not fulfil our needs at all and most people I know in the RAN are refusing to go near them.
As for the other two projects, The spanish ship is indeed what we are looking for, and the comp is just a formality. The new destoryers are more of a pic as to which one will serve us. Though most seem to think that the DDG-51 AB’s are not good and won’t serve our needs. The only thing they have going for them is they already have the radar system installed.
I believe that the RAN will go for the F-100 class as these have the best percentage of mission capabilities compared to the other sytstems, the F-124 maybe the second choice as these would be compatible with the current Anzac class and B+V have assured that should we choose it, the Aegis system could be fitted with out delay.
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th January 2005 at 05:59
The two most interesting programmes that the RAN has right now are the LHD programme and the air defence destroyer programme. In the former the new Spanish design and the French Mistral class are the alternatives (no doubt with Australian modifications) and in the latter the alternatives are a Burke version, a F-100 version and a Sachsen version IIRC.
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January 25, 2005 at 4:54 am