HMAS Benalla (A 04)
_at_IFR.jpg) HMAS Benalla during the International Fleet Review 2013
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Namesake | City of Benalla, Victoria |
| Builder | Eglo Engineering, Adelaide |
| Laid down | 25 November 1988 |
| Launched | 31 January 1990 |
| Commissioned | 20 March 1990 |
| Decommissioned | 16 June 2023 |
| Homeport | HMAS Cairns |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | "We Lead Others Follow" |
| Honours and awards | One inherited battle honour |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Paluma-class survey motor launch |
| Displacement | 320 tonnes |
| Length | 36.6 m (120 ft) length overall |
| Beam | 13.7 m (45 ft) |
| Draught | 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 Detroit V12 diesel engines |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Range | 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Endurance | 14 days |
| Complement | 3 officers, 11 sailors (plus accommodation for 4 additional) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament | None fitted |
HMAS Benalla (A 04) is a Paluma-class survey motor launch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Design and construction[edit]
The Paluma-class vessels have a full load displacement of 320 tonnes.[1] They are 36.6 metres (120 ft) long overall and 36 metres (118 ft) long between perpendiculars, have a beam of 13.7 metres (45 ft), and a draught of 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in).[1] Propulsion machinery consists of two General Motors Detroit Diesel 12V-92T engines, which supply 1,290 brake horsepower (960 kW) to the two propeller shafts.[1] Each vessel has a top speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), a maximum sustainable speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) (which gives a maximum range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi)), and an endurance of 14 days.[1]
The sensor suite of a Paluma-class launch consists of a JRC JMA-3710-6 navigational radar, an ELAC LAZ 72 side-scan mapping sonar, and a Skipper 113 hull-mounted scanning sonar.[1] The vessels are unarmed.[1] The standard ship's company consists of three officers and eleven sailors, although another four personnel can be accommodated.[1] The catamarans were originally painted white, but were repainted naval grey in 2002.[1]
Benalla was laid down by Eglo Engineering, on 25 November 1988, was launched on 31 January 1990, and commissioned into the RAN on 20 March 1990.[1] The ship was named for the city of Benalla, Victoria.
Operational history[edit]
In October 2013, Benalla participated in the International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney.[2]
HMAS Benalla, along with HMAS Shepparton were decommissioned at HMAS Cairns on 16 June 2023, with the acceleration of the Defence Strategic Review released in May 2023.[3]
Citations[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 28
- ^ "Participating Warships". International Fleet Review 2013 website. Royal Australian Navy. 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ^ "End of an era for inseparable friends" (Press release). Ministry for Defence of Australia. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
References[edit]
- 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 978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156.
External links[edit]
Media related to HMAS Benalla (A 04) at Wikimedia Commons- "HMAS Benalla (II)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
