Royal Australian Navy Fleet Inventory 🇦🇺
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is an integral component of the Australian Defence Force, with its primary mission being the defense of Australia's maritime interests and the projection of force into regional waters. Given Australia's geographic isolation and extensive coastline, the RAN plays a crucial role in the country's security and foreign policy.
The surface fleet of the RAN is diverse and modern, anchored by the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers. Equipped with the Aegis Combat System, these ships offer sophisticated anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine capabilities. Complementing these are the Anzac-class frigates, which have been through an upgrade program to enhance their various warfare capabilities. The RAN is also equipped with Canberra-class landing helicopter docks (LHDs), which provide significant amphibious assault and humanitarian assistance capabilities. These ships can carry helicopters, troops, and landing craft, thereby serving as multi-purpose platforms for a variety of missions.
The RAN's submarine force currently consists of the Collins-class diesel-electric submarines, which are slated for replacement under the ambitious and often politically charged SEA 1000 program. The original plan was to procure 12 Attack-class submarines designed by the French company Naval Group, but in September 2021, Australia entered into a new trilateral security partnership known as AUKUS with the United States and the United Kingdom. One of the partnership's primary outcomes is Australia's shift toward nuclear-powered submarines, a move that has significantly changed the landscape for the RAN's underwater capabilities.
In terms of aviation, the RAN operates a variety of aircraft, including MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. The Romeo Seahawks replaced the older S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters and offer improved sensors, data-link capabilities, and armaments.
Key facts
| Official Name | Royal Australian Navy |
| Country | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| World rank | #31 |
| Ships in service | 41 (as of 2024) |
| Total ships | 41 |
| Naval ensign |
|
Number of active ships by category
| Ship category | Active | |
|---|---|---|
| Patrol boats | 13 | |
| Frigates | 8 | |
| Submarines | 6 | |
| Mine Warfare ships | 4 | |
| Destroyers | 3 | |
| Amphibious ships | 3 | |
| Support ships | 2 | |
| Other ships | 2 | |
Detailed inventory of Australian Navy
Patrol boats
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol boat | Cape | ADV Cape Fourcroy | 310 | Active | 1905 |
| Cape | ADV Cape Inscription | 320 | Active | 1905 | |
| Cape | ADV Cape Otway | 314 | Active | 2022 | |
| Cape | ADV Cape Peron | 315 | Active | 2022 | |
| Cape | ADV Cape Naturaliste | 316 | Active | 2022 | |
| Cape | ADV Cape Capricorn | 317 | Active | 2023 | |
| Cape | ADV Cape Woolamai | 318 | Active | 2023 |
Amphibious ships
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landing helicopter dock | Canberra | Canberra | L02 | Active | 2014 |
| Canberra | Adelaide | L01 | Active | 2015 | |
| Landing ship dock | Choules | Choules | L100 | Active | 2011 |
Destroyers
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air warfare destroyer | Hobart | Hobart | DDG 39 | Active | 2017 |
| Hobart | Brisbane | DDG 41 | Active | 2018 | |
| Hobart | Sydney | DDG 42 | Active | 2020 |
Frigates
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frigate | Anzac | Anzac | FFH 150 | Active | 1996 |
| Anzac | Arunta | FFH 151 | Active | 1998 | |
| Anzac | Warramunga | FFH 152 | Active | 2001 | |
| Anzac | Stuart | FFH 153 | Active | 2002 | |
| Anzac | Parramatta | FFH 154 | Active | 2003 | |
| Anzac | Ballarat | FFH 155 | Active | 2004 | |
| Anzac | Toowoomba | FFH 156 | Active | 2005 | |
| Anzac | Perth | FFH 157 | Active | 2006 |
Mine Warfare ships
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minehunter | Huon | Huon | M 82 | Active | 1999 |
| Huon | Gascoyne | M 85 | Active | 2001 | |
| Huon | Diamantina | M 86 | Active | 2002 | |
| Huon | Yarra | M 87 | Active | 2003 |
Other ships
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrographic survey vessels | Leeuwin | Leeuwin | A 245 | Active | 2000 |
| Leeuwin | Melville | A 246 | Active | 2000 |
Patrol boats
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrol boat | Armidale | Larrakia | ACPB 84 | Active | 2006 |
| Armidale | Bathurst | ACPB 85 | Active | 2006 | |
| Armidale | Albany | ACPB 86 | Active | 2006 | |
| Armidale | Broome | ACPB 90 | Active | 2007 | |
| Armidale | Childers | ACPB 93 | Active | 2007 | |
| Armidale | Maryborough | ACPB 95 | Active | 2007 |
Submarines
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel-electric submarines | Collins | Collins | SSG 73 | Active | 1996 |
| Collins | Farncomb | SSG 74 | Active | 1998 | |
| Collins | Waller | SSG 75 | Active | 1999 | |
| Collins | Dechaineux | SSG 76 | Active | 2001 | |
| Collins | Sheean | SSG 77 | Active | 2001 | |
| Collins | Rankin | SSG 78 | Active | 2003 |
Support ships
| Type | Class | Ship Name | Hull Number | Status | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replenishment ships | Supply | Supply | A195 | Active | 2021 |
| Supply | Stalwart | A304 | Active | 2021 |