Armidale-class
Summary
| Origin country | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| Category | Patrol vessel |
| Subtype | Patrol boat |
| Manufacturer | Austal |
| Year commissioned | 2005 |
| Approx. unit cost | $17 million |
| Units | Royal Australian Navy: 14 in commission |
| Current operators | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Description
The Armidale class patrol boats were developed for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) beginning with planning in 1993 to replace the aging Fremantle-class patrol boats. Initially, it was a joint project with the Royal Malaysian Navy but was later scrapped when Malaysia withdrew. The project was revived under the SEA 1444 designation solely for the RAN, and Austal/Defence Maritime Services (DMS) was selected to build twelve vessels based on the Bay-class patrol boat design. Two additional boats were later ordered specifically for patrols on the North West Shelf Venture.
The design of the Armidale class prioritized improved seakeeping abilities and increased range compared to the Fremantle class, enabling the vessels to access Australia's far-off territories. Featuring aluminum alloy construction, the ships boast a semi-displacement vee-type hull. They are propelled by two MTU 4000 16V diesel engines capable of reaching a maximum speed of 25 knots, with a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. The armament includes a 25-millimetre Rafael Typhoon stabilised gun mount with an M242 Bushmaster autocannon and two 12.7-millimetre machine guns. For boarding operations, they carry two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). The ships are equipped with advanced navigation and detection systems, including a Bridgemaster E radar, Toplite electro-optical system, and Warrlock direction finding system.
These vessels have had a problematic operational history, with early issues in their fuel systems leading to operational pauses and system redesigns. Later, they faced hull cracking, mechanical defects, and corrosion due to high operational tempo and design flaws. In 2014, HMAS Bundaberg was decommissioned following extensive damage from an onboard fire. An auxiliary accommodation compartment was banned from use after toxic fumes were detected on several occasions.
The ships were operated by the Australian Patrol Boat Group, based out of Cairns and Darwin, tasked primarily with border protection, fisheries patrols, and intercepting unauthorized maritime arrivals. Crew arrangements allowed for more frequent patrols without overtaxing personnel, with three crews rotating among two vessels.
The Armidale-class patrol boats saw use in operations such as Resolute and Sovereign Borders but experienced a period where several vessels were restricted to port for repairs. Following the termination of DMS's maintenance contract in 2017, the patrol boats underwent refits in Singapore and were temporarily supplemented with Cape-class patrol boats. Plans to replace them with Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels have been brought forward with entry into service expected in the early 2020s.
Globally, the Armidale-class boats are primarily operated by the RAN and have seen deployment alongside the Philippine Navy for counter-terrorism patrols. In popular culture, a fictional Armidale-class vessel featured prominently in the Australian military drama series "Sea Patrol."
The replacement project for these vessels has been ongoing, with Arafura-class ships set to take over their duties from 2022, and a decision was made to procure six evolved Cape class boats rather than extend the life of the Armidales.
Technical specifications
| Armidale | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 270 tons |
| Range | 5000 km |
| Endurance | 42 days maximum |
| Crew | 150 members |
| Width | 9.7 m (31.8 ft) |
| Length | 56.8 m (186.4 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 MTU 4000 16V 6,225 horsepower diesels driving twin propellers |
| Armament | 1 × Rafael Typhoon stabilised gun mount fitted with a Mk 38 25 mm M242 Bushmaster autocannon |
| Maximum speed | 25 knots |