HMAS Ipswich (FCPB 209)

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Career (Australia) RAN Ensign
Builder: North Queensland Engineers and Agents
Laid down: 29 October 1980
Launched: 25 September 1982
Commissioned: 13 November 1982
Decommissioned: 11 May 2007
Homeport: HMAS Cairns
Motto: "Dare to Defy"
Fate: Decommissioned
Badge: Image:HMAS ipswich crest.gif
General characteristics
Displacement: 220 tons
Length: 42 m
Beam: 7.15 m
Propulsion: Two MTU 16 cylinder diesel main propulsion engines. One Dorman 12 cylinder auxiliary propulsion engine
Speed: 30 knots
Complement: 24
Armament: 1 x general purpose 40/60 mm Bofors gun, 2 x 50 cal Browning machine gun

The second Australian naval ship to be named after the city of Ipswich, HMAS Ipswich was a Fremantle class patrol boat in the Royal Australian Navy.

Ispwich became one of three Fremantle class patrol boats used for the filming of the 13-episode television series Sea Patrol, which begins airing in 2007. HMAS Wollongong and HMAS Townsville (PTF-205) are the other vessels. Both HMAS Ipswich and HMAS Wollongong will be intended to represent a single ship, HMAS Hammersley (PTF-202).[1] HMAS Townsville will be used to portray HMAS Kingston.

Ipswich was decommissioned on 11 May 2007, in a joint ceremony with HMAS Townsville. [2] The two patrol boats were the last of the class in active service.[2] Ipswich is to be delivered to Birdon Marine for disposal.[2]

The boat has been rebadged as the "HMAS Hammersley" for the Channel 9 TV show "Sea Patrol".

[edit] References

  1. ^ Barry, Rollings. "Ipswitch switches over", Navy News, 2006-11-02. Retrieved on 2007-05-30. 
  2. ^ a b c "Last of the Fremantles bow out", The Navy (Vol. 69, No. 3), Navy League of Australia, September 2007, p. 28. Retrieved on 2007-08-27.