HMAS Hobart (DDG 39) explained

HMAS Hobart (DDG 39), named after the city of Hobart, Tasmania, is the lead ship of the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers used by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ship, based on the Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate designed by Navantia, was built at ASC's shipyard in Osborne, South Australia from modules fabricated by ASC, BAE Systems Australia in Victoria, and Forgacs Group in New South Wales. Hobart was ordered in 2007, but errors and delays in construction caused extensive schedule slippage. Despite commissioning initially planned for December 2014, the ship was not laid down until September 2012, and launched in May 2015. The Department of Defence accepted delivery of HMAS Hobart on 16 June 2017.[1] The ship was commissioned on 23 September 2017.[2]

Construction

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.[3] [4] Modules were fabricated by ASC in South Australia, BAE Systems Australia in Victoria, and Forgacs Group in New South Wales, with final assembly of the ship at ASC's shipyard in Osborne, South Australia.[5] [6] [3] [4] Delays and project slippage resulted in the redistribution of block construction across the three shipbuilders, and the bow hull block was constructed by Navantia.[7] [8]

In October 2010, the 20mby17mm (70feetby56feetm) central keel block for Hobart was found to be distorted and incompatible with other hull sections.[9] Incorrect drawings from designer Navantia and first-of-kind manufacturing errors by manufacturer BAE were blamed, and the delay in reworking the block set construction back at least six months.[9] [10] Other major issues during construction included the need to replace 25% of the destroyer's internal pipework due to faulty manufacture, and the initial rejection of the ship's mainmast block because of defects in the cabling and combat system equipment.[11] [12]

Hobarts keel was laid down on 6 September 2012. The ship was launched on 23 May 2015, with 76% of construction complete.[13] [14] Construction of Hobart and her sister ships saw numerous delays: a planned December 2014 commissioning for Hobart was pushed back in September 2012 to March 2016, then again in May 2015 to delivery in June 2017.[5] [15] [16] As of October 2015, construction of Hobart was estimated to be 30 months behind schedule and $870 million over budget.[17] Sea trials were completed in September 2016.[17] Hobart was handed over to the Navy in June 2017, and was commissioned on 23 September 2017 with the designation Guided missile destroyer 'DDG' and assigned the pennant number '39'.[18] [19]

Operational service

Hobart conducted a five-month deployment to the United States during late 2018 which was undertaken to test her combat systems. During the deployment the ship completed a range of intensive trials, and fired multiple missiles.[20] [21]

Hobart commenced her first operational deployment in late September 2019. During this deployment she served as the flagship for a RAN task group in Northern and South-East Asia.[22] Hobart was one of the Australian ships which participated in the RIMPAC 2020 exercise in mid-2020. This was undertaken as part of a broader deployment by the ships to South-East Asia and the Pacific.[23]

Hobart visited her namesake city for the 183rd Royal Hobart Regatta in February 2018, which was the first time in 18 years a vessel bearing its name had done so.[24] She returned again for the next regatta in 2022.[25] On 9 March 2024 Hobarts crew marched in a Freedom of Entry parade through the Hobart City Centre.[26]

References

Journal articles
News articles
Press releases

Notes and References

  1. Defence accepts delivery of first Air Warfare Destroyer Hobart. Australian Department of Defence. 16 June 2017. 16 June 2017.
  2. Web site: PM to commission new navy destroyer. skynews.com.au. 2 November 2017.
  3. Grevatt, AWD Alliance admits destroyer contract hit by construction 'difficulties
  4. Grevatt, NQEA loses block-building deal for Australian destroyers
  5. Pengelley, Aussie rules
  6. Kerr, Australia seeks to extend AWD options
  7. Stewart, Overdue and over budget
  8. Royal Australian Navy, Changes to Air Warfare Destroyer Construction Program
  9. Stewart, $8bn navy flagship founders after construction bungle
  10. Stewart, BAE shipyard to blame for destroyer delays: Defence
  11. McPhedran, Navy warships project heading for cost blowout
  12. Greene, Companies building multi-billion-dollar warships feared defects would damage their reputations, leaked documents show
  13. Starick, First look aboard Adelaide-built air warfare destroyer, the Hobart
  14. Radio Australia, Air Warfare Destroyer project: HMAS Hobart launched, SA Premier calls on Government to trust workers with next generation submarines
  15. Cullen, Work on $8bn destroyer fleet delayed
  16. Sheridan, Warships cost blows out to $9bn
  17. Naval-technology.com, HMAS Hobart construction costs overrun by $870m, says AWD Alliance
  18. http://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/first-destroyer-hobart-handed-over-to-navy First destroyer Hobart handed over to Navy
  19. Web site: Welcome to the fleet - HMAS Hobart III. Royal Australian. Navy. navy.gov.au. 2 November 2017.
  20. News: Martin . Anthony . HMAS Hobart returns home, mission achieved, systems ready . 29 August 2020 . Navy Daily . Royal Australian Navy . 22 December 2018.
  21. News: McLaughlin . Andrew . HMAS Hobart returns from weapons system testing in US . 29 August 2020 . ADBR . 7 January 2019.
  22. News: Zerbe . Ryan . Hobart leads biggest task group of year . 12 October 2019 . Navy News . Department of Defence . 3 October 2019.
  23. News: Fitzgerald . Todd . Hobart flexes her might . 29 August 2020 . Navy Daily . Royal Australian Navy . 27 August 2020.
  24. News: HMAS Hobart visits namesake city for the first time . 20 June 2024 . Defence Media . 9 February 2018.
  25. News: Cotton . Lt Nancy . HMAS Hobart comes home for regatta . 20 June 2024 . Defence Australia . 28 February 2022.
  26. News: City to host Freedom of Entry march for guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart . 20 June 2024 . Pulse Tasmania . 9 March 2024.

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