HMAS Huon (M 82)

For other ships of the same name, see HMAS Huon.

HMAS Huon at Darling Harbour in January 2010
Career (Australia)
Name: HMAS Huon
Namesake: Huon River
Builder: Australian Defence Industries
Launched: 25 July 1997
Commissioned: 15 May 1999
Honours and
awards:		 One inherited battle honour
Status: Active as of 2012
General characteristics
Type: Minehunter Coastal
Displacement: 720 tons
Length: 52.5 m (172 ft)
Beam: 9.9 m (32 ft)
Draught: 4.87 m (16.0 ft)
Propulsion: 1 x 1460 kW Fincantieri GMT Diesel – (Single shaft, controllable pitch propellor)
3 x 124 kW Electro-hydraulic auxiliary propulsion units
Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Range: 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) – 30% fuel remaining
2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) – 5% fuel remaining
Complement: 36–40, maximum 6 officers, 7 senior sailors, 27 junior sailors
Sensors and
processing systems:		 GEC Marconi 2093 variable depth Sonar
Armament: 1 x 30 mm DS30B rapid fire cannon
2 x 0.50 calibre machine guns
2 x SUTEC Double Eagle mine disposal vehicles

HMAS Huon (M 82), named for the Huon River, is the lead ship of the Huon-class of minehunters operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Contents

Design and construction

Main article: Huon class minehunter

Huon and her sister ships were built as a joint venture between Australian Defence Industries (ADI) and Intermarine SpA. Intermarine constructed the hull of Huon, which was delived to the ADI shipyard in Newcastle, New South Wales, on 31 August 1995.[1] The ship was launched on 25 July 1997 and commissioned on 15 May 1999.

Operational history

Following the 2003 Defence Capability Review, HMAS Huon and sister ship HMAS Hawkesbury were slated for deactivation. Huon was deactivated on 23 March 2006, with plans to preserve the minehunter for four years should the need to reactivate the vessel become apparent.[2]

Huon was reactivated in the second half of 2006 for use as a patrol boat.[3] As of 2008, Huon and Hawkesbury were taking turns supporting border security operations.[4]

In January 2011, Huon was one of three RAN vessels deployed to survey Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River for submerged debris as part of Operation Queensland Flood Assist, the Australian Defence Force response to the 2010–2011 Queensland floods.[5]

References

  1. ^ Sharpe, Richard (ed.) (March 1996). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1996–97 (99th edition ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. p. 23. ISBN 0710613555. OCLC 34998928. 
  2. ^ Brooke, Michael (23 March 2006). "Huon deactivated". NAVY News (Volume 49, No. 4). http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4904/topstories/story13.htm. Retrieved 23 January 2007. 
  3. ^ Brooke, Michael (1 June 2006). "Huons reactivated". Navy News. http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4909/topstories/story10.htm. Retrieved 3 March 2007. 
  4. ^ Saunders, Stephen (ed.) (2008). Jane's Fighting Ships 2008–2009. Jane's Fighting Ships (111th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. p. 32. ISBN 9780710628459. OCLC 225431774. 
  5. ^ "Minesweeper joins search for river debris". ABC News. 18 January 2011. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/18/3115174.htm. Retrieved 23 January 2011. 

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:HMAS_Huon_(M_82) HMAS Huon (M 82)] at Wikimedia Commons

Huon · Hawkesbury · Norman · Gascoyne · Diamantina · Yarra