HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05)

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For other ships of this name, see HMAS Melbourne.

Career (Royal Australian Navy)
HMAS Melbourne docked at Fleet Base East
Namesake:	City of Melbourne
Builder:	AMECON
Laid down:	12 July 1985
Launched:	5 May 1989
Commissioned:	15 February 1992
Homeport:	Fleet Base East
Motto:	"Vires Acquirit Eundo" (She gathers strength as she goes)
Status:	Active
General characteristics
Class and type:	Adelaide class guided missile frigate
Displacement:	4,100 tons
Length:	138 metres (453 ft)
Beam:	14.3 metres (47 ft)
Draught:	7.5 metres (25 ft)
Propulsion:	2 × General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines providing 41,000 hp (490 kW)
Speed:	29 knots (54 km/h)
Range:	4,500 nautical miles (8,330 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement:	184 + aircrew
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-49 radar, Mk 92 fire control system, AN/SPS-55 radar, AN/SQS-56 sonar
Armament:	MK41 VLS for Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile; Mk 13 launcher for Harpoon and SM-1MR missiles; 1×76 mm OTO Melara; 1×20 mm Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS; 2 x triple 324 mm Mk 32 torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	2 x S-70B Seahawk

HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) is an Adelaide class guided missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy.

[edit] Construction

Melbourne was laid down by AMECON at Williamstown in Victoria on 12 July 1985, launched on 5 May 1989 and commissioned on 15 February 1992. Unlike the first four Adeliade class ships, Melbourne was not constructed in the United States of America, and did not receive a US Navy hull number during construction.

[edit] Operational history

Melbourne has seen active service on four occasions since commissioning. Her first tour was to the Persian Gulf in 1996, followed by a deployment to East Timor in 1998 operating in support of INTERFET and United Nations forces. In 2002, Melbourne participated in the third rotation of RAN ships to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Slipper, where she enforced United Nations sanctions against Iraq. In 2003, the ship returned to Iraqi waters in support of Operation Catalyst, protecting Iraqi territorial waters following Operation Iraqi Freedom.