HMAS Leeuwin

Career

Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:	June 1997
Commissioned:	27 May 2000
Decommissioned:
Fate:	Active
Struck:
General Characteristics
Displacement:	2,550 tonnes
Length:	71.2 m
Beam:	15.2 m
Draught:	4.3m (full load)
Propulsion:	4 x Ruston diesel generators, 2 x electric propulsion motors
Speed:	12-14 knots
Range:
Complement:	46
Equipment: 1 multi-beam medium / shallow echo-sounder 1 dual frequency single beam echo-sounder Digital hydrographic data logging and data processing system HF medium range differential GPS Hull mounted forward looking sonar Towed dual frequency side scan sonar 3 10 metre Survey Motor Boats equipped with shallow water multi-beam echo-sounders and short range UHF differential GPS.
Aircraft:	Fitted with helicopter flight deck and hangar
Motto:	"I shall maintain"

The hydrographic survey ship HMAS Leeuwin [1] is the first ship of the Royal Australian Navy to carry this name. Leeuwin is named after Cape Leeuwin, in the South West tip of Western Australia. Leeuwin was launched midway through 1997. The ships were built by NQEA in Cairns.

HMAS Leeuwin is based at the naval base HMAS Cairns along with all other hydrographic fleet units.

Leeuwin has the ability to carry three fully equipped 9 metre Survey Motor Boats for surveys in waters not suitable for the Leeuwin itself.

HMAS Leeuwin currently has a Squirrel helicopter from 723 Squadron embarked.