The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) fleet is made up of 31 commissioned warships and 16 non-commissioned .
The main strength is the seven frigates and three destroyers of the surface combatant force: seven 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. Issues present early in the service life of the submarines have now been fixed and five submarines are mission capable. Amphibious warfare assets include two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ships and the landing ship . Four 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 perform survey and charting duties.
In addition to the commissioned warships, the RAN operates the sail training ship Young Endeavour, eight Cape-class patrol boats and seven ships making up the National Support Squadron. Other auxiliaries and small craft are not operated by the RAN, but by DMS Maritime, who are contracted to provide support services.[1]
The majority 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.
For over 30 years, the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia has been the main supplier of 'Tier 1 combatant' vessels to the RAN, having constructed the entire Collins-class submarine fleet and Hobart-class destroyer fleet. Osborne will further supply the navy with the currently under-construction Hunter-class frigate vessels, aswell as SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarines and Hobart class guided-missile destroyer replacements. The Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia will supply the RAN with smaller 'Tier 2 surface combatant' vessels. These include Australian general purpose frigate's, Large Optionally-Crewed Surface Vessel's (LOSV), and Cape class and Arafura class patrol boats.
See main article: Collins-class submarine. 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.[2]
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.[3] 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 partnership between Australia, the UK and the US named AUKUS.[4] [5] In March 2023, AUKUS announced that Australia will buy three submarines from the US, with the option to buy two more, with the first boat planned to be delivered to Australia in the early 2030s.[6] AUKUS also announced that Australia and the UK will commence construction of a new nuclear-powered submarine class known as the SSN-AUKUS with the first Australian built SSN-AUKUS boat to be delivered by the early 2040s.[6] Australia will reportedly build five SSN-AUKUS boats.[7] The entire Collins-class fleet will now receive a Life-of-Type Extension.[5]
| Name | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | SSG 73 | 27 July 1996 | ||||
| valign=top | SSG 74 | 31 January 1998 | Fleet Base West | |||
| valign=top | SSG 75 | 10 July 1999 | Fleet Base West | |||
| valign=top | SSG 76 | 23 February 2001 | Fleet Base West | |||
| valign=top | SSG 77 | 23 February 2001 | Fleet Base West | |||
| valign=top | SSG 78 | 29 March 2003 | Fleet Base West |
See main article: Canberra-class landing helicopter dock. 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 Canberras 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.
| Name | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | L02 | 28 November 2014 | RAN Flagship[8] | |||
| valign=top | L01 | 4 December 2015 |
See main article: HMAS Choules (L100). 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 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 in dock for an extensive refit.
See main article: Hobart-class destroyer. 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 .
| Name | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMAS Hobart | DDG 39 | 23 September 2017 | |||
| HMAS Brisbane | DDG 41 | 27 October 2018 | Fleet Base East | ||
| HMAS Sydney | DDG 42 | 19 May 2020 | Fleet Base East |
See main article: Anzac-class frigate. 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.
| Name | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | FFH 151 | 12 December 1998 | |||
| valign=top | FFH 152 | 31 March 2001 | Fleet Base East | ||
| valign=top | FFH 153 | 17 August 2002 | Fleet Base West | ||
| valign=top | FFH 154 | 4 October 2003 | Fleet Base West | ||
| valign=top | FFH 155 | 26 June 2004 | Fleet Base West | ||
| valign=top | FFH 156 | 8 October 2005 | Fleet Base West | ||
| valign=top | FFH 157 | 26 August 2006 | Fleet Base West | ||
| One ship (Anzac) decommissioned. Two additional ships built for and operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy | |||||
See main article: Armidale-class patrol boat. For patrol of Australia's vast coastline, territorial waters, and offshore territories, the RAN operates four Armidale-class patrol boats. These replaced the from 2005 as the navy's primary asset for border protection, fisheries patrols, and interception of unauthorised arrivals by sea. Based on the 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.[10] 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.[11]
| Name | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | ACPB 85 | 10 February 2006 | |||
| valign=top | ACPB 86 | 15 July 2006 | |||
| valign=top | ACPB 90 | 10 February 2007 | |||
| valign=top | ACPB 93 | 7 July 2007 | |||
| Nine boats (and) decommissioned and another destroyed by fire | |||||
See main article: Huon-class minehunter. 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 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 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.
| Name | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | M 85 | 2 June 2001 | HMAS Waterhen | ||
| valign=top | M 86 | 4 May 2002 | HMAS Waterhen | ||
| valign=top | M 87 | 1 March 2003 | HMAS Waterhen | ||
| Hawkesbury and Norman were both placed into reserve in 2011 and subsequently decommissioned in 2018 and sold. Huon decommissioned. | |||||
See main article: Supply-class replenishment oiler. Two Supply-class replenishment ships were ordered in 2016, the ships are based on Spanish Navantia's design AOR Cantabria, these ships replaced 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 vessels were built at Navantia's shipyard in Ferrol.
| Name | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | A195 | 10 April 2021 | |||
| HMAS Stalwart | A304 | 13 November 2021 | Fleet Base West |
See main article: Leeuwin-class survey vessel.
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 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.
| Name | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | A 245 | 27 May 2000 | ||||
| valign=top | A 246 | 27 May 2000 | HMAS Cairns |
See main article: STS Young Endeavour (1987). The sail training ship 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.
See main article: Cape-class patrol boat. 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 .[14] [15] 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.[11] The patrol boats operate from and in Darwin. These vessles are identified with the Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) prefix, ADV Cape Fourcroy and ADV Cape Inscription retain the blue-and-red customs colour scheme whilst the Evolved Cape-class ships have a gray colour scheme.[16] Two new boats were ordered on 2017 and the two leased were returned to the ABF.
| Name | Pennant Number | In service | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| valign=top | 310 | 2017 | |||
| valign=top | 320 | 2017 | |||
| ADV Cape Otway | 314 | 23 March 2022 | Evolved Cape class | ||
| ADV Cape Peron | 315 | 5 August 2022 | Evolved Cape class | ||
| ADV Cape Naturaliste | 316 | 4 November 2022 | Evolved Cape class | ||
| ADV Cape Capricorn | 317 | 13 February 2023 | Evolved Cape class | ||
| ADV Cape Woolamai | 318 | 22 June 2023 | Evolved Cape class | ||
| ADV Cape Pillar | 319 | 13 October 2023 | Evolved Cape class | ||
| ADV Cape Solander | 312 | 1 August 2024 | Evolved Cape class | ||
| Eight additional ships built for and operated by the Australian Border Force | |||||
In addition to commissioned ships, the RAN is supported by the National Support Squadron which is made up of vessels operated by Teekay Shipping Australia and crewed mainly by civilian mariners. The force comprises:[19]
.