Australia is a large country with extensive coasts. There is a necessity of a flexible and strong patrol force. There is only one class of patrol ships in the RAN:
Armidale-class
The Royal Australian Navy patrol force 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. The vessels are based on the Bay-class customs, however, the Armidales are significantly enlarged to allow for better range and seakeeping ability. Originally, twelve boats were to be built by Austal Ships, but the establishment of a dedicated patrol force for the North West Shelf Venture saw another two ordered.
Organization of the patrol force
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. 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.
The names of the units of the patrol force are denoted below. The commissioned date and the operative port assigned are also indicated next to the name.
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
▽ Royal Australian Navy
Frigate Surface Force
The Australian Navy Frigate
Surface Force
Submarine Force
The Australian Navy
Submarine Force
Amphibious Force
The Australian Navy
Amphibious Force
Patrol Force
The Australian Navy
Patrol Force
MineHunting Force
The Australian Navy
Mine Warfare Force
Replenishment and Survey Force
The Australian Navy
Replenishment and Survey Force
Training Ships and other Non-Commissioned Units
The Australian Navy Training Ships
and Other Non-Commissioned Units
▽Warships in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
Frigate surface Force (11): The principal striking force of the RAN comes from the eleven frigates of the surface force: eight of them belong to the Anzac class and the rest (three) are units from the Adelaide class.
Submarine Striking Force (6): The RAN operates six Collins-class submarines. Due to technical and manpower problems these submarines might be replaced in the future by Japanese Soryu-class submarines.
Amphibious Force (3): There are a huge variety of amphibious warfare units, which include two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ships and the landing ship HMAS Choules.
Patrol Boat Force (13): There are thirteen Armidale-class patrol boats that perform coastal and economic exclusion zone patrols.
Mine Hunting and Warfare Force (4 + 2 in reserve):
There are four Huon-class vessels that are used for minehunting and clearance (another two are commissioned but in reserve since October 2011).
Replenishment Force (2 + 6 survey duties):
The task for replenishment at sea is provided by two ships, Sirius and Success. In addition, there are two Leeuwin-class and four Paluma-class vessels perform survey and charting duties.
Training Units (1 + 1 support vessel + 2 patrol boats):
The RAN operates the sail training ship Young Endeavour, the support vessel ADV Ocean Shield, and two Cape-class patrol boats. The latter ones are acquired thanks to the Australian Border Force.
Amphibious Force
Canberra-class
HMAS Adelaide L01
HMAS Canberra L02 [Flagship of the RAN]
Frigate Surface Force
Frigates Anzac-class
Anzac FFH 150 (18 May 1996)
Arunta FFH 151 (12 December 1998)
Warramunga FFH 152 (31 March 2001)
Stuart FFH 153 (17 August 2002)
Parramatta FFH 154 (4 October 2003)
Ballarat FFH 155 26 (June 2004)
Toowoomba FFH 156 8 (October 2005)
Perth FFH 157 26 (August 2006)
Frigate Adelaide-class
Darwin FFG 04 (21 July 1984)
Melbourne FFG 05 (15 February 1992)
Newcastle FFG 06 (11 December 1993)
Submarines Force
Collins-class
Collins SSG 73 (27 July 1996)
Farncomb SSG 74 (31 January 1998)
Waller SSG 75 (10 July 1999)
Dechaineux SSG 76 (23 February 2001)
Sheean SSG 77 (23 February 2001)
Rankin SSG 78 (29 March 2003)
Australian Patrol Boat Group
Armidale-class
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
Australian Mine Warfare Force
Huon-class
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 Force
HMAS Sirius (O 266)
HMAS Sucess (OR 304)
Hydrographic survey
Leeuwin-class
Leeuwin A 245, 27 May 2000, HMAS Cairns
Melville A 246, 27 May 2000, HMAS Cairns
Paluma-class
Paluma A 01, 27 February 1989, HMAS Cairns
Mermaid A 02, 4 December 1989, HMAS Cairns
Shepparton A 03, 24 January 1990, HMAS Cairns
Australian Navy Training Ships
Training Ship
Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour
Cape-class patrol boats
