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Revision as of 13:56, 25 April 2014 editTrappist the monk (talk | contribs)Administrators479,487 editsm Infobox ship characteristics fixes using AWB← Previous edit Revision as of 15:40, 11 July 2014 edit undoTaylmw (talk | contribs)9 edits Made a number of changes as her commissioning commanding officer.Next edit →
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|Ship homeport=], Cairns |Ship homeport=], Cairns
|Ship motto="Heed The Call" |Ship motto="Heed The Call"
|Ship nickname= "The Wolf"<ref>HMAS Wollongong commissioning speech, LCDR Mark Taylor, 23 Jun 2007.</ref>
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=Six ] |Ship honours=Six ]
|Ship status=Active as of 2014 |Ship status=Active as of 2014
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Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29.<ref name=Wertheim22>Wertheim (ed.), ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World'', p. 22</ref><ref name=JanesKerr/> The ''Armidale''s do not have a permanently assigned ship's company; instead, they are assigned to divisions at a ratio of two vessels to three companies, which rotate through the vessels and allow the ''Armidale''s to spend more time at sea, without compromising sailors' rest time or training requirements.<ref name=JanesKerr/><ref name=theausdefrep>Kerr, ''Patrol boats shake down fuel faults''</ref> A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside.<ref name=Mckenna10>McKenna, ''Gas risk remains for navy boats''</ref> However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard {{HMAS|Maitland|ACPB 88|6}} in August 2006 pumped ] and ] into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class.<ref name=theausdefrep/><ref name=Mckenna10/> Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29.<ref name=Wertheim22>Wertheim (ed.), ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World'', p. 22</ref><ref name=JanesKerr/> The ''Armidale''s do not have a permanently assigned ship's company; instead, they are assigned to divisions at a ratio of two vessels to three companies, which rotate through the vessels and allow the ''Armidale''s to spend more time at sea, without compromising sailors' rest time or training requirements.<ref name=JanesKerr/><ref name=theausdefrep>Kerr, ''Patrol boats shake down fuel faults''</ref> A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside.<ref name=Mckenna10>McKenna, ''Gas risk remains for navy boats''</ref> However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard {{HMAS|Maitland|ACPB 88|6}} in August 2006 pumped ] and ] into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class.<ref name=theausdefrep/><ref name=Mckenna10/>


''Wollongong'' was constructed by ] at their shipyard in ].<ref name=Wertheim22>Wertheim (ed.), ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World'', p. 22</ref> She was named in February 2007 by Mrs Kylie Heron, wife of Commander Wesley Heron, a former Commanding Officer of the ] patrol boat {{HMAS|Wollongong|FCPB 206|6}}.<ref>HMAS Wollongong ACPB-92 Commissioning Brochure</ref> ''Wollongong'' was commissioned into the RAN in ]<ref name=Taylor/> on 23 June 2007;<ref name=IHS33/> a location closer to her namesake city was desirable, but there was no suitable berth at Port Kembla and she was too large for the Wollongong Harbour entrance.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} ''Wollongong'' was constructed by ] at their shipyard in ].<ref name=Wertheim22>Wertheim (ed.), ''The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World'', p. 22</ref> She was named in February 2007 by Mrs Kylie Heron, wife of Commander Wesley Heron, a former Commanding Officer of the ] patrol boat {{HMAS|Wollongong|FCPB 206|6}}.<ref>HMAS Wollongong ACPB-92 Commissioning Brochure</ref> ''Wollongong'' was commissioned into the RAN alongside the Oil Wharf, Garden Island in ]<ref name=Taylor/> on 23 June 2007;<ref name=IHS33/> a location closer to her namesake city was desirable, but there was no suitable berth at Port Kembla and she was too large for the Wollongong Harbour entrance and it was deemed too risky. Hence Sydney was chosen as the commissioning location.<ref>ARDENT TWO CO Report, May 2007 </ref>

"Wollongong" has a close association with her namesake city. Her main passageways are named "Keira St" and "Crown St" after the main streets of the City of Wollongong. All her cabins are named after suburbs of Wollongong. Her two seaboats were named "Wolf" and Hawk" after the city's Soccer and Basketball teams.<ref>HMAS Wollongong commissioning speech, 23 Jun 2007</ref>


==Operational history== ==Operational history==

Revision as of 15:40, 11 July 2014

For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Wollongong.
History
Australia
NamesakeCity of Wollongong, New South Wales
BuilderAustal Ships, Henderson, Western Australia
Commissioned23 June 2007
HomeportHMAS Cairns, Cairns
Motto"Heed The Call"
Nickname(s)"The Wolf"
Honours and
awards
Six inherited battle honours
StatusActive as of 2014
BadgeShip's badge
General characteristics
Class and typeArmidale class patrol boat
Displacement300 tons standard load
Length56.8 m (186 ft)
Beam9.7 m (32 ft)
Draught2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Propulsion2 × MTU 4000 16V 6,225 horsepower (4,642 kW) diesels driving twin propellers
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance21 days standard, 42 days maximum
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 × Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs
Complement21 standard, 29 maximum
Sensors and
processing systems
Bridgemaster E surface search/navigation radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
list error: <br /> list (help)
Prism III radar warning system
Toplite electro-optical detection system
Warrlock direction finding system
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
1 × Rafael Typhoon stabilised gun mount fitted with a 25 mm (1 in) M242 Bushmaster autocannon
2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns

HMAS Wollongong (ACPB 92), named for the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Design and construction

Main article: Armidale-class patrol boat

The Armidale class patrol boats are 56.8 metres (186 ft) long, with a beam of 9.7 metres (32 ft), a draught of 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in), and a standard displacement of 270 tons. The semi-displacement vee hull is fabricated from aluminium alloy, and each vessel is built to a combination of Det Norske Veritas standards for high-speed light craft and RAN requirements. The Armidales can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and are driven by two propeller shafts, each connected to an MTU 16V M70 diesel. The ships have a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), allowing them to patrol the waters around the distant territories of Australia, and are designed for standard patrols of 21 days, with a maximum endurance of 42 days.

The main armament of the Armidale class is a Rafael Typhoon stabilised 25-millimetre (0.98 in) gun mount fitted with an M242 Bushmaster cannon. Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried. Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). Each RHIB is stored in a dedicated cradle and davit, and is capable of operating independently from the patrol boat as it carries its own communications, navigation, and safety equipment.

Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29. The Armidales do not have a permanently assigned ship's company; instead, they are assigned to divisions at a ratio of two vessels to three companies, which rotate through the vessels and allow the Armidales to spend more time at sea, without compromising sailors' rest time or training requirements. A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside. However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard HMAS Maitland in August 2006 pumped hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class.

Wollongong was constructed by Austal at their shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. She was named in February 2007 by Mrs Kylie Heron, wife of Commander Wesley Heron, a former Commanding Officer of the Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS Wollongong. Wollongong was commissioned into the RAN alongside the Oil Wharf, Garden Island in Sydney, New South Wales on 23 June 2007; a location closer to her namesake city was desirable, but there was no suitable berth at Port Kembla and she was too large for the Wollongong Harbour entrance and it was deemed too risky. Hence Sydney was chosen as the commissioning location.

"Wollongong" has a close association with her namesake city. Her main passageways are named "Keira St" and "Crown St" after the main streets of the City of Wollongong. All her cabins are named after suburbs of Wollongong. Her two seaboats were named "Wolf" and Hawk" after the city's Soccer and Basketball teams.

Operational history

Operationally, Wollongong has spent the majority of her career on border patrol to Australia's north and north-west. The ship is assigned to Ardent Division of the Australian Patrol Boat Group, is based in Cairns, and performs border protection and fisheries protection patrols.

In July 2007, the ship became the first vessel of her class to visit the port of Brisbane, Queensland.

In June 2012, Wollongong was one of several ships to respond to a Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel which sank with 206 passengers while en route to Australia. The patrol boat transported the 109 survivors found during the initial rescue operation to immigrant processing facilities at Christmas Island.

Citations

  1. HMAS Wollongong commissioning speech, LCDR Mark Taylor, 23 Jun 2007.
  2. ^ Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012-2013, p. 33
  3. ^ Kerr, Plain sailing
  4. ^ Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 22
  5. Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 132
  6. Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 131
  7. ^ Kerr, Patrol boats shake down fuel faults
  8. ^ McKenna, Gas risk remains for navy boats
  9. HMAS Wollongong ACPB-92 Commissioning Brochure
  10. ^ Taylor, Mark (22 August 2007). "HMAS Wollongong handed over". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012.
  11. ARDENT TWO CO Report, May 2007
  12. HMAS Wollongong commissioning speech, 23 Jun 2007
  13. ^ Kwek, Glenda; Coorey, Phillip (22 June 2012). "Dozens feared dead as packed asylum boat capsizes off Christmas Island". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 June 2012.

References

Books
Journal and news articles
  • Kerr, Julian (1 January 2008). "Plain sailing: Australia's Armidales prove fit for task". Jane's Navy International. Jane's Information Group.
  • Kerr, Julian (8 December 2007). "Patrol boats shake down fuel faults". The Australian: Defence Special Report. News Corporation. p. 8.
  • McKenna, Michael (2 January 2010). "Gas risk remains for navy boats". The Australian. Retrieved 7 January 2010.

External links

Armidale-class patrol boats
Categories: