| HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) | |
|---|---|
 HMAS Anzac arriving at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, prior to participating in RIMPAC 2008. | |
| Career (Australia) |  |
| Namesake: | The Australia and New Zealand Army Corps |
| Builder: | Tenix Defence Systems |
| Laid down: | 5 November 1993 |
| Launched: | 16 September 1994 |
| Commissioned: | 13 May 1996 |
| Homeport: | Fleet Base East |
| Motto: | "United We Stand" |
| Honours and awards: |
Battle honours: East Timor 1999 Persian Gulf 2001–03 Iraq 2003 Two inherited battle honours Awards: Meritorious Unit Citation |
| Status: | Active as of 2013 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Anzac class frigate |
| Displacement: | 3,600 tonnes full load |
| Length: | 118 m (387 ft) |
| Beam: | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Draught: | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
1 x General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine providing 30,000 hp (22.5 mW) 2 x MTU 12v 1163 TB83 diesels providing 8,840 hp (6.5 mW) |
| Speed: | 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) |
| Range: | 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement: | approximately 170 sailors |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Sonars: Thomson Sintra Spherion B Mod 5; hull-mounted; active search and attack; medium frequency. Provision for towed array Air search radar: Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)8 ANZ (C/D-band) Surface search radar: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 TIR (Ericsson Tx/Rx) (G-band) Navigation: Atlas Elektronik 9600 ARPA (I-band) |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
ESM: Racal modified Sceptre A (radar intercept), Telefunken PST-1720 Telegon 10 (comms intercept) Countermeasures: Decoys: G & D Aircraft SRBOC Mk 36 Mod 1 decoy launchers for SRBOC |
| Armament: |
Guns and missiles: 1 × 5 in/54 (127 mm) Mk 45 Mod 2 gun, various machine guns and small arms, 2 x 4 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Mk 41 Mod 5 VLS for Sea Sparrow and Evolved Sea Sparrow Torpedoes: 2 × triple 324 mm Mk 32 Mod 5 tubes Fire control: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 (J-band) Combat data systems: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 Mk 3.Link 11 Weapons control: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 optronic director with Raytheon CW Mk 73 Mod 1 |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 x SH-60 Seahawk |
HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) is the lead ship of the Anzac class frigates in use with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Entering Australian service in 1996, the frigate operated as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 1999. In 2003, she was involved in the Battle of Al Faw, and became the first RAN ship to fire in anger since the Vietnam War. The ship is operational as of 2013.
Design and construction[]
The Anzac class originated from RAN plans to replace the six River class destroyer escorts with a mid-capability patrol frigate.[1][2][3] Australian shipbuilding was thought to be incapable of warship design, so the RAN decided to take a proven foreign design and modify it.[1][3] Around the same time, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) was looking to replace four Leander class frigates; a deterioration in New Zealand-United States relations, the need to improve alliances with nearby nations, and the commonalities between the RAN and RNZN ships' requirements led the two nations to begin collaborating on the acquisition in 1987.[4][5] Tenders were requested by the Anzac Ship Project at the end of 1986, with 12 ship designs (including an airship) submitted.[1][6] By August 1987, the tenders were narrowed down in October to Blohm + Voss's MEKO 200 design, the M class (later Karel Doorman class) offered by Royal Schelde, and a scaled-down Type 23 frigate proposed by Yarrow Shipbuilders.[5][7] In 1989, the Australian government announced that Melbourne-based shipbuilder AMECON (which became Tenix Defense) would build the modified MEKO 200 design.[3][5][7] The Australians ordered eight ships, while New Zealand ordered two, with an unexercised option for two more.[8][9]
The Anzacs are based on Blohm + Voss' MEKO 200 PN (or Vasco da Gama class) frigates, modified to meet Australian and New Zealand specifications and maximise the use of locally built equipment.[3][10] Each frigate has a 3,600-tonne (3,500-long-ton; 4,000-short-ton) full load displacement.[11] The ships are 109 metres (358 ft) long at the waterline, and 118 metres (387 ft) long overall, with a beam of 14.8 metres (49 ft), and a full load draught of 4.35 metres (14.3 ft).[11] A Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion machinery layout is used, with a single, 30,172-horsepower (22,499 kW) General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbine and two 8,840-horsepower (6,590 kW) MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines driving the ship's two controllable-pitch propellers.[3][11] Maximum speed is 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph), and maximum range is over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph); about 50% greater than other MEKO 200 designs.[3][11][12] The standard ship's company of an Anzac consists of 22 officers and 141 sailors.[11]
As designed, the main armament for the frigate is a 5-inch 54 calibre Mark 45 gun, supplemented by an eight-cell Mark 41 vertical launch system (for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow or RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles), two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns, and two Mark 32 triple torpedo tube sets (initially firing Mark 46 torpedoes, but later upgraded to use the MU90 Impact torpedo).[3][11][13] They were also designed for but not with a close-in weapons system (two Mini Typhoons fitted when required from 2005 onwards), two quad-canister Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers (which were installed across the RAN vessels from 2005 onwards), and a second Mark 41 launcher (which has not been added).[3][14][15] The Australian Anzacs use a Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter; plans to replace them with Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprites were cancelled in 2008 due to ongoing problems.[3][16][17]
Anzac was laid down at Williamstown, Victoria on 5 November 1993.[8] The ship was assembled from six hull modules and six superstructure modules, but unlike the other ships in the class, which had modules fabricated at three sites, Anzac was built entirely at Williamstown.[3] The frigate was launched on 16 September 1994 and commissioned on 13 May 1996.[8]
Operational history[]
1996–2003[]
Anzac was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 19 to 29 September 1999.[18] The ship was later awarded the battle honour "East Timor 1999" in recognition of this deployment.[19][20]
Iraq War[]
Anzac was deployed to the Persian Gulf from February until May 2003, as part of Operation Falconer.[21]
On 21 March 2003, Anzac provided naval gunfire support during the Battle of Al Faw.[22] The intent of the assault was to capture the Al Faw Peninsula before Iraqi forces could sabotage the two major oil terminals in the area.[22] The frigate began her first fire support mission at 06:04 on 21 March (the first time a RAN ship had fired in anger in 31 years) and completed seven fire missions over a three-day period.[22]
The frigate received the Meritorious Unit Citation on 27 November 2003 for her service during this deployment.[21] In March 2010, Anzac was awarded the battle honours "Persian Gulf 2001–03" and "Iraq 2003".[19][20]
2003–2009[]
During 2005, Anzac was involved in ceremonies for the 90th anniversary of Anzac Day (25 April, at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli), and the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar (28 June).[citation needed]
On the morning of 13 March 2009, Anzac was one of seventeen warships involved in a ceremonial fleet entry and fleet review in Sydney Harbour, the largest collection of RAN ships since the Australian Bicentenary in 1988.[23] The frigate was one of the thirteen ships involved in the ceremonial entry through Sydney Heads, and anchored in the harbour for the review.
International Coalition Against Terrorism 2012–2013[]
Anzac was assigned to Rotation 29 of Operation Slipper July 2012 to January 2013 as part of the International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT), and which included counter-piracy in the Arabian Sea region and elsewhere.
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 244
- ↑ Fairall-Lee, Miller, & Murphy, in Forbes, Sea Power, p. 336
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Grazebrook, Anzac frigates sail diverging courses
- ↑ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 23–9
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 245
- ↑ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 30
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Greener, Timing is everything, p. 31
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 20
- ↑ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 43–4
- ↑ Wertheim, The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, pp. 20–1
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Sharpe (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships 1998–99, pgs. 25, 470
- ↑ Wertheim, The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, pp. 21
- ↑ Fish & Grevatt, Australia's HMAS Toowoomba test fires MU90 torpedo
- ↑ Scott, Updating ANZACs to meet changed strategic posture
- ↑ Scott, Enhanced small-calibre systems offer shipborne stopping power
- ↑ Grevatt, Australia cancels troubled Super Seasprite programme
- ↑ Forbes, How a helicopter deal flew into trouble
- ↑ Stevens, Strength Through Diversity, p. 15
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Royal Australian Navy, Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Operation Falconer (Iraq), HMAS Anzac, in It's an Honour
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Wheeler, Five Inch Friday
- ↑ Brooke, Marching ito History
References[]
- Books
- Fairall-Lee, Sam; Miller, Kate, & Murphy, David (2007). "The Royal Australian Navy in 2030". In Andrew Forbes. Sea Power: Challenges Old and New. Ultimo, NSW: Halstead Press. ISBN 978-1-920831-44-8.
- Greener, Peter (2009). Timing is everything: the politics and processes of New Zealand defence acquisition decision making. Canberra Papers on Strategy and Defence. No. 173. Canberra, ACT: ANU E Press. ISBN 978-1-921536-65-6. http://epress.anu.edu.au/timing_citation.html. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- Jones, Peter (2001). "A Period of Change and Uncertainty". In Stevens, David. The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-555542-2. OCLC 50418095.
- Sharpe, Richard, ed (1998). Jane's Fighting Ships 1998–99 (101st ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-1795-X. OCLC 39372676.
- Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The combined naval role in Operation Stabilise. Working Papers. 20. Canberra: Sea Power Centre – Australia. ISBN 978-0-642-29676-4. ISSN 1834-7231. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090514170718/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_20.pdf. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- Wertheim, Eric, ed (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156. http://books.google.com/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C.
- Journal articles
- Fish, Tim; Grevatt, Jon (24 June 2008). "Australia's HMAS Toowoomba test fires MU90 torpedo". Jane's Information Group.
- Grazebrook, A.W. (1 November 1996). "Anzac frigates sail diverging courses". Jane's Information Group.
- Jon, Grevatt (5 March 2008). "Australia cancels troubled Super Seasprite programme". Jane's Information Group.
- Scott, Richard (16 December 2005). "Updating ANZACs to meet changed strategic posture". Jane's Information Group.
- Scott, Richard (12 December 2007). "Enhanced small-calibre systems offer shipborne stopping power". Jane's Information Group.
- News articles
- Brooke, Michael (2 April 2009). "Marching into History". Navy News. Department of Defence. http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_navy.xml&iid=23701.
- Forbes, Mark (17 June 2002). "How a helicopter deal flew into trouble". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/06/16/1023864378971.html. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- Royal Australian Navy (1 March 2010). "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 3 March 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100303210137/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- Wheeler, Stu (10 April 2003). "Five Inch Friday: Defining moment for Anzac". Navy News. http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4605/topstories/story06.htm. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- Websites and other sources
- "Operation Falconer (Iraq), HMAS Anzac". It's an Honour. Australian Government. http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1055898&search_type=simple&showInd=true. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours". Royal Australian Navy. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMAS Anzac (FFH 150). |
The original article can be found at HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) and the edit history here.