HMAS Sirius (O 266)
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 HMAS Sirius in November 2006 |
|
| Career (Royal Australian Navy) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMAS Sirius |
| Namesake: | HMS Sirius of the First Fleet |
| Builder: | Hyundai Mipo Dockyard |
| Launched: | 12 April 2004 |
| Acquired: | 16 June 2004 |
| Commissioned: | 16 September 2006 |
| Renamed: | MT Delos (during construction) |
| Homeport: | HMAS Stirling, Rockingham, Western Australia |
| Motto: | To Serve and Provide |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Fleet Replenishment Vessel |
| Displacement: | 25,016.53 tonnes |
| Length: | 191.3 metres |
| Beam: | 32 metres |
| Draught: | 11 metres |
| Propulsion: | 1 x Hyundai B&W6S50MC (11,640 BHP x 127RPM), 1 x direct drive shaft |
| Speed: | 16 knots |
| Capacity: | 34,806 cz fuel |
| Complement: | 60 |
| Armament: | Small arms |
| Aviation facilities: | Helicopter deck, no hangar facilities |
HMAS Sirius (O 266) (formerly MT Delos) is a commercial tanker that was purchased by the Royal Australian Navy and converted into a fleet replenishment vessel to replace HMAS Westralia.
[edit] Construction and acquisition
Delos was built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea. She was launched on 12 April 2004, and was purchased by the Australian Government on 16 June 2004, following completion. Delos was converted to her new role at Fremantle and was commissioned into the RAN on 16 September 2006. Sirius is expected to remain in service for approximately 15 years.
Originally, the RAN planned to have a ship specially constructed for the role.[1] The decision to instead purchase an under-construction civilian tanker and modify her for military service allowed Sirius to enter service three years before originally planned, at a saving of half the acquisition project's cost.[1]
While HMAS Sirius is the first ship of this name to serve as part of the RAN, she is named in honour of HMS Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet of British convicts sent to Australia in 1788. HMS Sirius was wrecked off Norfolk Island on 14 April 1790.[2]
[edit] Operational history
In October 2006 Sirius successfully undertook her first Replenishment at Sea transferring fuel and water supplies to HMAS Toowoomba. The ship completed working up and passed her first Unit Readiness Evaluation on 12 December 2006. In June 2007 she participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2007.
[edit] References
- Defence Materiel Organisation Maritime Operations Support Capability
- Australian National Audit Office Purchase, Chartering and Modification of the New Fleet Oiler
