HMAS Arunta (FFH 151)

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HMAS Arunta in 2002
HMAS Arunta in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
Career (Royal Australian Navy) RAN ensign
Namesake: The Arrernte people
Builder: Tenix Defence Systems
Laid down: 22 July 1995
Launched: 28 June 1996
Commissioned: 12 December 1998
Homeport: Fleet Base West
Motto: "Conquer Or Die"
Fate: Active
Badge: Image:HMAS arunta crest.gif
General characteristics
Class and type: Anzac class frigate
Displacement: 3,600 tonnes full load
Length: 118 metres
Beam: 15  metres
Draught: 4 metres
Propulsion: 1 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbine providing 30,000 hp (22.5 mW)
2x MTU 12v 1163 TB83 diesels providing 8,840 hp (6.5 mW)
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h)
Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
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 Sceptre A (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, various machine guns and small arms, 2 x 4 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, 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-60 Seahawk

HMAS Arunta (FFH 151) is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy.

[edit] Construction

Arunta was laid down by Tenix Defence Systems Proprietary Limited at Williamstown, Victoria 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 ship was commissioned on December 12, 1998.

Prior to the official naming of the ship, various spellings of the name were considered, as the spelling used by the Arrernte people, after whom the previous ship was named, did not match that used by the ship. Sailor's cap tallys were prepared for several of the proposed spellings, before the RAN decided to continue the spelling used by the previous ship.

[edit] Operational history

In September 2001 Arunta deployed to northern Australian waters in the wake of the MV Tampa incident. The ship participated 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. Details of Arunta's role in this Operation can be found in the transcript of the "Senate Select 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]

In November 2007 Arunta deployed for her second tour of active service in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst. The ship's role is to contribute to the protection of Iraqi oil platforms, security boardings of all vessels proceeding to the platforms and training of the Iraqi Navy.[3]. The ship returned from this deployment in May 2008 [4].

[edit] References

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