HMAS Arunta (FFH 151)

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For other ships of this name, see HMAS Arunta.

Career Australia
HMAS Arunta
Builder:	Tenix Defence Systems
Laid down:	22 July 1995
Launched:	28 June 1996
Commissioned:	12 December 1998
Status:	Active
Homeport:	Fleet Base West
General Characteristics
Displacement:	3,600 tons
Length:	118 m
Beam:	15 m
Draught:	4 m
Propulsion:	1 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbine and 2 × MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines, driving two shafts with controllable pitch propellers in CODOG configuration.
Speed:	27 knots
Range:	6,000 miles at 18 knots
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 and decoys:	ESM: Racal modified Centaur ESM (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, 8 x RGM84A Harpoon SSM, various machine guns and small arms, 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 SH-2G Super Seasprite or SH-60 Seahawk
Motto:	"Conquer Or Die"
Badge:

The second HMAS Arunta (FFH 151) is an Anzac class frigate, laid down by Tenix Defence Systems Propriety Limited at Williamstown in Victoria, Australia on July 22, 1995. She was launched on June 28, 1996 by Mrs Dulce Morrow, wife of the late Commodore J. C. Morrow, RAN CBE DSO DSC, Commanding Officer of the first Arunta on commissioning in 1942. The second Arunta was commissioned on December 12, 1998.

[edit] Operational History

In September 2001 Arunta deployed to northern Australian waters in the wake of the MV Tampa incident. The ship particpated in Operation Gaberdine and Operation Relex in two separate deployments. During the second deployment Arunta was involved in the interception and/or return of Suspected Illegal Entry Vessels (SIEV) 6,7 and 9. Fuller details of Arunta's role in this Operation can be found in the transcript of the inquiry into a Certain Maritime Incident.[1]

In 2002 Arunta saw active service for the first time when she participated as part of the third rotation of RAN ships to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Slipper. The ship was involved in the enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Iraq and at the time operated closer to the Iraqi coast than any other ship of the multi-national force. The ship's boarding parties effected 377 boardings during her four months on station, the most number of boardings conducted by a single ship in the 17 year history of Maritime Interception Operations in the Persian Gulf. [2]