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HMAS Hobart in December 2017
History
Australia
Namesake	City of Hobart, Tasmania
Ordered	4 October 2007
Builder	Navantia (designer) AWD Alliance (project coordinator) ASC (primary shipbuilder) Forgacs Group (now Forgacs Marine and Defence) and BAE Systems Australia (module builders), Osborne Naval Shipyard
Laid down	6 September 2012
Launched	23 May 2015
Acquired	16 June 2017
Commissioned	23 September 2017
Homeport	Fleet Base East, Sydney
Identification	MMSI number: 503617000
Motto	Grow with Strength
Honours and awards	Nine inherited battle honours
Status	Active as of 2021
General characteristics (as designed)
Class and type	Hobart-class destroyer
Type	Air warfare/Guided missile destroyer
Displacement	7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons) full load
Length	147.2 metres (483 ft)
Beam	18.6 metres (61 ft) maximum
Draught	5.17 metres (17.0 ft)
Propulsion	Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement 2 × General Electric Marine model 7LM2500-SA-MLG38 gas turbines, 17,500 kilowatts (23,500 hp) each 2 × Caterpillar 3616 diesel engines, 5,650 kilowatts (7,580 hp) each 2 × controllable pitch propellers
Speed	Over 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range	Over 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	186 + 16 aircrew Accommodation for 234
Sensors and processing systems	Aegis combat system Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D(V) S-band radar Northrop Grumman AN/SPQ-9B X-band pulse Doppler horizon search radar Raytheon Mark 99 fire-control system with two AN/SPG-62 fire-control radars 2 × L-3 Communications SAM Electronics X-band navigation radars Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems' Integrated Sonar System Ultra Electronics Series 2500 electro-optical director Sagem VAMPIR IR search and track system Rafael Toplite stabilised target acquisition sights
Electronic warfare & decoys	ITT EDO Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems ES-3701 ESM radar SwRI MBS-567A communications ESM system Ultra Electronics Avalon Systems multi-purpose digital receiver Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems low-band receiver 4 × Nulka decoy launchers 4 × 6-tube multi-purpose decoy launchers
Armament	Missiles: 48-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System firing: RIM-66 Standard 2 missile RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile 2 × 4-canister Harpoon missile launchers Torpedoes: 2 × 2-tube Mark 32 Mod 9 torpedo launchers firing MU90 Impact torpedoes Guns: 1 × 5"/64 calibre Mark 45 mod 4 main gun 2 × 25mm M242 Bushmaster Mk 38 mod 2 Typhoon RWS 1 × 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried	1 x MH-60R Seahawk

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. The ship was commissioned on 23 September 2017.

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. 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. Delays and project slippage resulted in the redistribution of block construction across the three shipbuilders, and the bow hull block was constructed by Navantia.

In October 2010, the 20-by-17-metre (66 by 56 ft) central keel block for Hobart was found to be distorted and incompatible with other hull sections. 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. 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.

Hobart's keel was laid down on 6 September 2012. The ship was launched on 23 May 2015, with 76% of construction complete. 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. As of October 2015, construction of Hobart was estimated to be 30 months behind schedule and $870 million over budget. Sea trials were completed in September 2016. 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'.

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.

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. 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.

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. She returned again for the next regatta in 2022. On 9 March 2024 Hobart's crew marched in a Freedom of Entry parade through the Hobart City Centre.

Citations

1. "Defence accepts delivery of first Air Warfare Destroyer Hobart" (Press release). Australian Department of Defence. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
2. "PM to commission new navy destroyer". skynews.com.au. Retrieved 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. ^ Cullen, Work on $8bn destroyer fleet delayed
14. Starick, First look aboard Adelaide-built air warfare destroyer, the Hobart
15. Radio Australia, Air Warfare Destroyer project: HMAS Hobart launched, SA Premier calls on Government to trust workers with next generation submarines
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. Navy, Royal Australian. "Welcome to the fleet - HMAS Hobart III". navy.gov.au. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
20. Martin, Anthony (22 December 2018). "HMAS Hobart returns home, mission achieved, systems ready". Navy Daily. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
21. McLaughlin, Andrew (7 January 2019). "HMAS Hobart returns from weapons system testing in US". ADBR. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
22. Zerbe, Ryan (3 October 2019). "Hobart leads biggest task group of year". Navy News. Department of Defence. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
23. Fitzgerald, Todd (27 August 2020). "Hobart flexes her might". Navy Daily. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
24. "HMAS Hobart visits namesake city for the first time". Defence Media. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
25. Cotton, Lt Nancy (28 February 2022). "HMAS Hobart comes home for regatta". Defence Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
26. "City to host Freedom of Entry march for guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart". Pulse Tasmania. 9 March 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.

References

Journal articles

• Andrew, Gordon (September 2010). "AWD, Hobart, MFU or DDGH – What's in a name?". Semaphore. 2010 (7). Retrieved 22 May 2015.
• Brown, Nick (28 June 2007). "Spanish designs are Australia's choice for warship programmes". International Defence Review.
• Grevatt, Jon (30 June 2009). "NQEA loses block-building deal for Australian destroyers". Jane's Navy International.
• Grevatt, Jon (26 October 2010). "AWD Alliance admits destroyer contract hit by construction 'difficulties'". Jane's Defence Industry.
• Gulber, Abraham (October 2009). "Growth in Strength: The Hobart class AWD". The Navy. 71 (4): 4–8.
• Kerr, Julian (25 September 2008). "Australia seeks to extend AWD options". Jane's Defence Weekly.
• Pengelley, Rupert (26 September 2011). "Aussie rules: air warfare destroyers push boundaries". Jane's Navy International.
• Shackleton, David (February 2007). "Choices and consequences: choosing the AWD design". Australian Defence Magazine: 20–24.
• Thornhill, Roger (July 2009). "Force 2030: The Defence White Paper". The Navy. 71 (3): 8–13.

News articles

• Cullen, Simon (6 September 2012). "Work on $8bn destroyer fleet delayed". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
• Greene, Andrew (9 May 2015). "Companies building multi-billion-dollar warships feared defects would damage their reputations, leaked documents show". Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
• "HMAS Hobart construction costs overrun by $870m, says AWD Alliance". Naval-technology.com. Kable. 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
• McPhedran, Ian (6 March 2014). "Navy warships project heading for cost blowout". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
• "Air Warfare Destroyer project: HMAS Hobart launched, SA Premier calls on Government to trust workers with next generation submarines". Radio Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
• "Changes to Air Warfare Destroyer Construction Program". News and Events. Royal Australian Navy. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
• Sheridan, Greg (22 May 2015). "Warships cost blows out to $9bn". The Australian. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
• Starick, Paul (21 May 2015). "First look aboard Adelaide-built air warfare destroyer, the Hobart". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
• Stewart, Cameron (26 October 2010). "$8bn navy flagship founders after construction bungle". The Australian. News Corp Australia. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
• Stewart, Cameron (27 May 2011). "Overdue and over budget: $8bn destroyer plan in crisis". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
• Stewart, Cameron (31 May 2011). "BAE shipyard to blame for destroyer delays: Defence". The Australian. News Corp Australia. p. 6.

Press releases

• "Preferred designer chosen for AWD contract" (Press release). Department of Defence. 16 August 2005. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2011.

• Hobart-class destroyers
• 2015 ships
• Ships built in South Australia