HMAS Rankin (SSG 78)
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 HMAS Rankin in 2004. |
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| Career (Australia) |  |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | ? |
| Laid down: | 12 May 1995 |
| Launched: | 7 November 2001 |
| Commissioned: | 29 March 2003 |
| Homeport: | Fleet Base West |
| Motto: | Defend the Weak |
| Nickname: | The Black Knight |
| Fate: | Active in service |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | Surfaced: 3,051 tonnes Submerged: 3,353 tonnes |
| Length: | 77.8 metres |
| Beam: | 7.8 metres |
| Draught: | 6.8 metres |
| Propulsion: |
1 × Jeumont Schneider main motor |
| Speed: | Surfaced: 10+ knots (18.5 km/h) Submerged: 20+ knots (37 km/h) |
| Range: | 11,500 nautical miles (21,300 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 9000 nautical miles (17,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) snorting 400 nautical miles (700 km) at 4 knots (7 km/h) dived |
| Complement: | 45 (8 Officers) |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Thales underwater systems scylla bow sonar Thales Underwater Systems GEC-Marconi Kariwara, Thomson Marconi Narama towed array or Allied Signal TB 23 Kelvin Hughes I-band navigation radar Thales optronics CK043 search and CH093 attack periscopes Anechoic tiles fitted |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
Edo ES-5600 ESM, Argo AR-740 Strachan and Henshaw SSDE |
| Armament: | Boeing/Rockwell integrated system McDonnell Douglas UGM-84 Harpoon 6 × 21 in (533 mm) tubes for sub harpoon and Gould Mark 48 torpedo - total of 22 carried 44 mines in lieu of torpedoes Fitted for but not with Land Attack Cruise missiles with combat system AN/BYG 1 US Mk 48 ADCAP Combat System AN/BYG 1 based on Raytheon's CCS Mk 2 |
HMAS Rankin (SSG 78), is a Collins-class submarine laid down by the Australian Submarine Corporation at Osborne in South Australia on 12 May 1995, launched on 7 November 2001 and commissioned on 29 March 2003. HMAS Rankin is based at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.
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[edit] Name
The submarine is named after Lieutenant-Commander Robert William “Oscar” Rankin who distinguished himself in action in World War II. He commanded the sloop HMAS Yarra and was conducting convoy escort duties in the Northern Indian Ocean when attacked by a Japanese force in February 1942.
Facing a far superior force of three heavy cruisers and two destroyers, Rankin gallantly positioned his ship between the Japanese and the scattering convoy vessels. Rankin fought his ship to the very last in an intense exchange. He was killed when an eight inch salvo hit the bridge shortly after he had passed the order to abandon ship.
The submarine's motto "Defend the Weak" is testimony to Robert Rankin and Yarra's determination to defend the unarmed convoy ships.
[edit] Operational History
[edit] Submariners documentary
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HMAS Rankin featured in the 6 part documentary 'Submariners' on the Australian television channel SBS, and was later released in DVD format.
The documentary follows the 6 month deployment of HMAS Rankin, starting with a Unit Readyness Evaluation (URE) off Fleet Base West. This evaluation was to satisfy the RAN that HMAS Rankin was competent in operating procedures and allowing it to be deployed would not endanger any crew or the submarine itself.
Shortly after the URE, Rankin headed North East towards South Korea where it took part in Deep Sea Rescue exercises with the South Korean Navy, Japanese Navy and the United States Navy, before leaving to Japan for a short shore leave.
After Japan, Rankin headed East towards Hawaii where it took part in Exercise Silent Fury, which consisted of 2 × USN Destroyers, 2 × USN Frigates, 1 × USN Los Angeles-class submarine and 1 × USN ASW helicopter. Rankin's mission was to elude detection by the USN forces and pass through a choke point between two islands to become within range of USN destroyer USS O'Kane. Rankin was successful in its mission.
Immediately after Exercise Silent Fury, Rankin proceeded to Pearl Harbour, and the crew went on shore leave before returning to the submarine to take part in RIMPAC.
[edit] External links
[edit] Photos
.jpg/86px-HMAS_Rankin_(SSG-78).jpg) HMAS Rankin (SSG 78) |
 Rankin cruising at periscope depth in the Pacific |
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