HMAS Albany (ACPB 86)
 HMAS Albany in 2010 |
|
| Career (Australia) |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | City of Albany, Western Australia |
| Builder: | Austal Ships, Henderson, Western Australia |
| Commissioned: | 15 July 2006 |
| Homeport: | Darwin |
| Motto: | "Stand Tall" |
| Status: | Active as of 2012 |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Armidale class patrol boat |
| Displacement: | 270 tons |
| Length: | 56.8 m (186 ft) |
| Beam: | 9.5 m (31 ft) |
| Draught: | 2.7 m (8.9 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x MTU 16V M70 2,320 kW diesels driving twin screws through ZF transmissions |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Range: | 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Boats and landing craft carried: |
2 x Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs |
| Complement: | 21 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Low light optical equipment, communication direction finding and radar |
| Armament: | 1 x Rafael Typhoon 25 mm naval stabilised deck gun 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns |
HMAS Albany (ACPB 86), named for the city of Albany, Western Australia, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
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[edit] Design and construction
The Armidale class patrol boats are 56.8 metres (186 ft) long, with a beam of 9.5 metres (31 ft), a maximum draft of 2.25 metres (7.4 ft), and a displacement of 270 tons.[1][2] The semi-displacement vee hull is fabricated from aluminium alloy, and each vessel is built to a combination of Det Norske Veritas standards for high-speed light craft and RAN requirements.[2] The Armidales can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and are drien by two propeller shafts, each connected to an MTU 16V M70 diesel.[1] The ships have a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), allowing them to patrol the waters around the distant territories of Australia, and are designed for standard patrols of 21 days, with a maximum endurance of 42 days.[1][2]
The main armament of the Armidale class is a Rafael Typhoon stabilised 25-millimetre (0.98 in) gun mount fitted with an M242 Bushmaster cannon.[1] Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried.[3] Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs).[2] Each RHIB is stored in a dedicated cradle and davit, and is capable of operating independanly from the patrol boat as it carries its own communications, navigation, and safety equipment.[2][4]
Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29.[1][2] The Armidales do not have a permanently assigned ship's company; instead, they are assigned to divisions at a ratio of two vessels to three companies, which rotate through the vessels and allow the Armidales to spend more time at sea, without compromising sailors' rest time or training requirements.[2][5] A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside.[6] However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard HMAS Maitland in August 2006 pumped hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class.[5][6]
Albany was constructed by Austal at their shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.[1] She was commissioned into the RAN in her namesake city on 15 July 2006.
[edit] Operational history
Albany is assigned to Attack Division, is based in Darwin and performs border protection and fisheries protection patrols.
[edit] Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 22
- ^ a b c d e f g Kerr, Plain sailing
- ^ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 132
- ^ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 131
- ^ a b Kerr, Patrol boats shake down fuel faults
- ^ a b McKenna, Gas risk remains for navy boats
[edit] References
- Books
- Heron, Wesley; Powell, Anthony (2007). "Welcome to the Armidale Class". In Forbes, Andrew and Lovi, Michelle. Australian Maritime Issues 2006. Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs. Sea Power Centre - Australia. pp. 129–134. ISBN 0642296448. ISSN 1327-5658. http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/PIAMA19.pdf. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781591149552. OCLC 140283156. http://books.google.com/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C.
- Journal and news articles
- Kerr, Julian (1 January 2008). "Plain sailing: Australia's Armidales prove fit for task". Jane's Navy International (Jane's Information Group).
- Kerr, Julian (8 December 2007). "Patrol boats shake down fuel faults". The Australian: Defence Special Report (News Corporation): p. 8.
- McKenna, Michael (2 January 2010). "Gas risk remains for navy boats". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/gas-risk-remains-for-navy-boats/story-e6frg6nf-1225815368349. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
[edit] External links
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