Fremantle class patrol boat

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HMAS Townsville accompanying USS Robert E. Peary in 1989
Class overview
Name: Fremantle class patrol boat
Preceded by: Attack class patrol boat
Succeeded by: Armidale class patrol boat
In commission: 1979-2007
General characteristics
Type: Patrol boat
Displacement: 220 tons
Length: 42 metres (138 ft)
Beam: 7.4 metres (24 ft)
Draught: 1.8 metres (6 ft)
Propulsion: Two V16 cylinder series 538 MTU diesels, 6,000 hp
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)
Range: 2,360 nautical miles (4,370 km)
Complement: 24 crew
Armament: One general purpose 40/60 mm Bofors gun, Two 12.7 mm machine guns. Previously also fitted with one 81 mm mortar

The Fremantle class patrol boats were the Royal Australian Navy's coastal patrol vessels from 1979 to 2007. Their retirement was announced in 2001 and a decommissioning schedule published in 2004. From May 2005 they were replaced by the Armidale class patrol boats with the last two Fremantles decommissioning in May 2007. The Fremantle class has also appeared in works of fiction, primarily two drama television series based on the Royal Australian Navy.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Planning and development

The concept for the Fremantle class began somewhere between 1967 and 1969, as the Attack class patrol boats entered service, and areas for improvement were observed.[1] In September 1970, the RAN announced the intention to construct ten new patrol boats, which would operate in tandem with the Attack class and replace two general purpose vessels.[1] These new vessels were intended to enter service between 1976 and 1980.[1] The number of vessels to be built fluctuated, peaking at thirty vessels (16 RAN, 4 Royal Australian Naval Reserve, and 10 for the military of Papua New Guinea),[1] and settling at fifteen.[2]

Plans of acquisition were announced in April 1975, with eleven shipbuilders submitting tenders, of which two were shortlisted in 1976; Brooke Maine of the United Kingdom and Lürssen Werft of Germany.[2] Brooke Maine won the contract to design and produce the lead ship, with North Queensland Engineers and Agents contracted to build the other fourteen vessels.[2] There were plans for an additional five vessels, but they were placed on indefinite hold in 1982.[2]

[edit] Design and construction

The design of the Fremantle class called for ships with improved seakeeping, and newer equipment and weapons than those fitted to the Attack class.[1] Propelled by two V16 diesel engines capable of producing 6,000 horsepower, the patrol boats could reach a maximum speed of 30 knots[3] Weapons included a bow-mounted 40 mm L/60 Bofors gun and two 50 cal Browning machineguns.[3]

At 42 metres and 220 tons, the Fremantles were 28% longer and 50% heavier than their predecessors.[4] During sea trials, NUSHIP Fremantle was revealed to be 20 tons over the contracted limit.[5] Early on in the construction program, it was realised that the two main patrol boat bases, HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, Northern Territory and HMAS Cairns in Cairns, Queensland, were not capable of supporting ships of this size on a permanent basis.[4] This resulted in an infastructure upgrade for the two bases, including modern maintenance, logistic, and administrative facilities.[4]

Construction of Fremantle began in October 1977.[5] She was launched on 16 February 1979, and commissioned on 17 March 1980.[5] During sea trials, Fremantle received distinction for locating and rescuing a British sailor thrown from a fishing trawler following its collision with an oil tender.[5] Construction of the first Australian-built vessel, HMAS Warrnambool, began in September 1978, with Warrnambool launched on 25 October 1980 and commissioned on 14 March 1981.[6] The final ship of the class, HMAS Bunbury, was commissioned on 15 December 1984.[6]

[edit] Entry into service

The first ship of the class, HMAS Fremantle, arrived in Australia on 27 August 1980, after an 82 day voyage covering 14,509 nautical miles (26,871 km).[7] North Queensland Engineers and Agents completed 3 patrol boats in both 1981 and 1982, and 4 in both 1983 and 1984.[6] By the end of 1984, four Fremantles were located at HMAS Coonawarra, HMAS Cairns, and Fleet Base East, two at HMAS Stirling, and one at HMAS Cerberus.[8] Also by 1984, all of the Attack class had left service, with many transferring to the RAN Reserve or the Indonesian Navy.[8]

[edit] Fremantle class in fiction

HMAS Hammersley alongside at HMAS Waterhen. Portraying vessel unknown.
HMAS Hammersley alongside at HMAS Waterhen. Portraying vessel unknown.

The fictional HMAS Defiance, portrayed by HMA Ships Launceston, Townsville, Warrnambool, Whyalla, and Wollongong featured in the second season of the ABC TV series Patrol Boat.[9]

The fictional HMAS Hammersley (P 202) is the setting of Channel Nine's 2007 Sea Patrol. This vessel was portrayed by HMA Ships Wollongong and Ipswich.[10] A second patrol boat, HMAS Kingston (P 205), also appears in the series.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 2
  2. ^ a b c d Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 3
  3. ^ a b Patrol Boats (Royal Australian Navy)
  4. ^ a b c Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 4
  5. ^ a b c d Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 5
  6. ^ a b c Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 7
  7. ^ Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 6
  8. ^ a b Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 8
  9. ^ Semaphore 17, 2005, para. 13
  10. ^ Rollings, 2006

[edit] External links

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Fremantle class patrol boat
Royal Australian Navy
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Australian Patrol Boat Group