Anzac-class frigate

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

HMAS Ballarat in 2016
HMAS Ballarat in 2016.
Class overview
NameAnzac
Builders
AMECON
Operators
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Built1993–2006
In commission
  • 1996–present (RAN)
  • 1997–present (RNZN)
Planned12
Completed10
Cancelled2
Active10
General characteristics as designed
TypeFrigate
Displacement3,600 t (3,500 long tons; 4,000 short tons)
full load displacement
Length
Beam14.8 m (49 ft)
Draught4.35 m (14.3 ft) at full load
Propulsion
  • Combined Diesel or Gas
    (CODOG):
  • 1 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbine, 30,172 hp (22,499 kW)
  • 2 × MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines, 8,840 hp (6,590 kW) each
  • 2 × controllable-pitch propellers
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement22 officers, 141 sailors and 16 government worker or air crew.
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Mark 36 SRBOC launchers
  • SLQ-25A towed torpedo decoy
  • Nulka decoy launchers
  • Rascal Thorn modified Sceptre-A
    electronic support measures
  • Telefunken PST-1720 Telegon 10 radar intercept unit
Armament
Aircraft carried
NotesFor upgrades and current configurations, see the sections on "Australian modifications" and "New Zealand modifications", or the individual ship articles

The Anzac class (also identified as the ANZAC class and the MEKO 200 ANZ type) is a

New Zealand's nuclear-free zone and the ANZUS security treaty prompted New Zealand to seek improved ties with other nations, particularly Australia. As both nations were seeking warships of similar capabilities, the decision was made in 1987 to collaborate on their acquisition. The project name (and later, the class name) is taken from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
of the First World War.

Twelve ship designs were tendered in 1986.

AMECON at Williamstown, Victoria. The modular design of the frigates allowed sections to be constructed at Whangārei, New Zealand and Newcastle, New South Wales
in addition to Williamstown. The RAN ordered eight ships, while the RNZN ordered two and had the option to add two more. The frigate acquisition was controversial and widely opposed in New Zealand, and as a result, the additional ships were not ordered.

In 1992, work started on the frigates; 3,600-tonne (3,500-long-ton) ships capable of a 27-

close-in weapons system
. The last ship of the class entered service in 2006; by this point, the RAN and RNZN had embarked on separate projects to improve the frigates' capabilities by fitting the additional weapons, along with updates to other systems and equipment.

Since entering service, Anzac-class frigates have made multiple deployments outside local waters, including involvement in the INTERFET multi-national deployment to East Timor, and multiple operational periods in the Persian Gulf. As of 2014, all ten ships are in service. The RAN intends to start replacing theirs in 2024,[4] while the RNZN ships will remain active until the mid-2030s.

Planning and development

The Anzac class originated from the RAN's New Surface Combatant (NSC) project, which began in the mid-1980s to find a replacement for the RAN's six River-class destroyer escorts.

Economic Exclusion Zone.[5][8]

HMA Ships Torrens (foreground) and Yarra exercising; two of the River-class destroyer escorts the RAN was looking to replace. The Leander-class frigates the RNZN were retiring were of a similar design, with both classes based on the British Type 12 frigate.

Around the same time, the need to replace the RNZN's Leander-class frigate force with new warships was under consideration.

ties with Australia; one such avenue was to promote military interoperability between the countries by standardising equipment and procedures where possible.[13] The Australian NSC project was seen to have "virtually identical" requirements to the RNZN's proposed Replacement Combat Ship concept, and the need to replace the warships dovetailed with the need to improve relations with Australia.[14][15]

On 6 March 1987, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the two nations and RNZN representatives were invited to collaborate on the project.[7][16] To recognise their involvement, the project was renamed the Anzac Ship Project, taking the name from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps of World War I.[7] The New Zealanders' involvement was structured to allow their involvement in the selection of the design and shipyard and explore options for New Zealand industry involvement. When the time came to commit, they could either continue cooperating into the construction stage of the project, independently order the ships from the designer or abandon the project entirely.[16]

The proposed baseline characteristics called for a vessel capable of reaching speeds of 27

Australian Warship Systems.[7][19]

The Portuguese frigate NRP Corte Real. The MEKO 200 variant designed for the Portuguese was the basis of Blohm + Voss and AMECON's successful proposal.

On 14 August 1989, the Australian government announced that AMECON had been awarded the tender for construction of the Anzac class based on modified MEKO 200 design.[7][19] Although both the MEKO 200 and M-class designs met the design requirements, the MEKO design was selected as more ships could be purchased for the budget cost.[7] The A$5 billion contract was, at the time, the largest defence contract awarded in Australia.[8] The decision was made despite ongoing debate in New Zealand over the project.[20] New Zealand committed in principle to the purchase of two frigates plus the option for two more on 7 September, and the contract for the first two ships was signed on 10 November.[21]

In 1992, the Australian Force Structure Review contained plans to replace the three Perth-class guided-missile destroyers and four of the six Adelaide-class guided-missile frigates with air defence vessels.[22] The initial proposal – to build an additional six Anzac-class frigates configured for wide-area anti-aircraft warfare – did not go ahead as the Anzac design was too small to effectively host all the required equipment and weapons.[22] Instead, the RAN began to upgrade the Adelaides in 1999 to fill the anti-aircraft capability that would be lost when the Perths left service between 1999 and 2001, and began work on a long-term replacement of the destroyers with what became the Hobart-class air warfare destroyer.[23]

New Zealand controversy

HMNZS Te Kaha in 2017

From the late 1960s decision of the UK government to withdraw the Royal Navy from East of Suez in the early 1970s considerable doubt existed within the RNZN, the government, and community about the continuing relevance, viability, and usefulness of an RNZN force of three to four frigates. The option of the United States Coast Guard's (USCG) Hamilton-class cutters was seriously considered as an alternative to the order of HMNZS Canterbury in 1968, which was approved under the understanding that New Zealand would hold continued access to the UK market after Britain entered the European Economic Community and was affordable only because it was part of a British deal with the Yarrow shipyard to build seven RN, Chilean and RNZN Leanders at less than the cost to save shipyard jobs in Scotland.[citation needed]

During the late 1970s, proposals for a modified Hamilton-class cutter with less range or the RN

Eithne patrol corvette, a sort of 1,800-ton high endurance corvette with Leander-like helicopter hangar and pad[note 1] or small Meko 100–140 designs[24] rather different from the Espora-class corvette built for Argentina. After the nuclear ships crisis and other events, the acquisition of some Anzac frigates was virtually certain, because the key Labour MP Jim Anderton either accepted the Anzac ships as a necessary increased self-defence capability with the securing of a nuclear-free policy or tacitly agreed not to oppose it like Helen Clark.[citation needed
]

The new most touted off-the-shelf options in 1986–88 (the Castle and Bear-class vessels) were no longer possible as the Scottish shipbuilders had closed and development of the Bear cutter option into a stretched vessel was effectively impossible after the ANZUS impasse. The New Zealand government's planned acquisition of the Anzac-class frigates was a major point of debate and contention: researcher Peter Greener claims that it "was possibly the most strongly debated defence purchase of the century".[19] In New Zealand, at the time, "frigate" was a dirty word and attempts to make the replacement of the old navy ships more palatable to the public included using euphemisms like "ocean combat ship" and "ocean surveillance vessel".[25] The government's official stance was dedication to maintaining a blue-water navy, primarily in order to defend the nation and contribute to regional security.[26] Despite this, the government was slow to respond to opponents of the project which included peace campaigners, politicians (from both within and outside the Labour Party, and from both ends of the political spectrum), and military personnel.[19][27] Most of the concern revolved around the cost of purchasing frigate-type ships, along with the idea that four high-capability warships would be too few and too overspecialised to operate in the roles envisioned for the RNZN.[28]

The Danish patrol frigate HDMS Thetis. The Thetis class was one of the alternates proposed during debates on New Zealand's acquisition of the Anzac class.

The primary role foreseen for the RNZN was fisheries protection, particularly following the introduction of a 200-

Thetis-class frigate) for the RNZN.[33] In response to these proposals, the government indicated that it was committing to purchasing Australian ships, and that interoperability with the RAN (which the alternate ship designs were incapable of) was a major element in the decision.[20]

At the time of the August 1989 decision for AMECON to build the MEKO-based frigate, the controversy was still ongoing in New Zealand.

relations with Australia and regional defence, particularly after the problems between New Zealand and the United States.[15][35]

Despite the government signing contracts for the purchase of two Anzacs in November 1989, the project continued to be a bone of contention in New Zealand politics, particularly after the Fourth Labour Government lost the

New Zealand First party, which opposed the purchase of additional frigates.[38] Other options for replacing the two remaining Leanders were explored, but these were generally more expensive than purchasing the Anzacs.[39] The US Clinton Administration partly discredited the option of a third Anzac by formally offering the RNZN two FFG-7s shorthulls of 15–17 years age, purportedly armed with SM1 Standard missiles and later 28 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft which it had refused to transfer to Pakistan. These offers were made partly because of US concern that Australia needed more regional defence support to conduct a more robust foreign and economic policy in SE Asia. However the F-16 offer, offered the NZ cabinet an option and out and they took it, rather than be immensely unpopular in both Canberra and Washington by rejecting both.[40] In the view of NZ PM Jenny Shipley the Australians had made a good offer, but it was not good enough and there were many alternative ship designs. Internal political opposition, particularly from New Zealand First, prevented the exercising of the contract option for two more ships before it lapsed on 10 November 1997, at which point the government was considering the purchase of a single frigate outside the terms of the original contract.[41][42] A year later, the idea was still being debated internally although the proposal had been downgraded to buying one of the active Australian Anzacs second-hand which the RAN could then replace by building an additional ship.[43] At this point, the National-New Zealand First coalition had collapsed, and the National Party was only holding on to power by the support of minority parties and independents; support that was likely to be withdrawn if a third frigate was approved.[44] Cabinet rejected the plan, and the issue of replacing the Leander-class frigate Canterbury was deferred.[45]

Design at launch

The Anzac design is derived from Blohm + Voss' MEKO 200 PN (or Vasco da Gama-class) frigate, and is identified by the company as the MEKO 200 ANZ.[46] In addition to capability modifications to meet RAN and RNZN requirements, the ships were redesigned during the development phase to maximise the involvement of Australian and New Zealand industries through the use of locally sourced components: 80% of the materials (by value) was locally sourced, and within this, 20% must come from New Zealand.[8] The Anzacs were designed to German Navy standards, except where Australian or United States standards were specifically requested.[8]

Each frigate has a 3,600-tonne (3,500-long-ton; 4,000-short-ton)

draught at full load of 4.35 metres (14.3 ft).[47] The hull and superstructure are of all-steel construction, and the ships are fitted with fin stabilisers.[47][48]

The LM2500-30 gas turbine aboard Te Kaha

The frigates use a

Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion machinery layout, with a single, 30,172-horsepower (22,499 kW) General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbine and two 8,840-horsepower (6,590 kW) MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines driving the ship's two controllable-pitch propellers.[8][47] Maximum speed is 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph), and maximum range is over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[47] The frigates' range is about 50% greater than other MEKO-type frigates, due to an enhanced fuel supply.[8][48] Originally, two gas turbines were to be fitted; this layout would have provided a top speed of 31.75 knots (58.80 km/h; 36.54 mph).[48] The starboard turbine was cancelled to save costs.[48]

The standard ship's company of an Anzac consists of 22 officers and 141 sailors.[47] Onboard electricity requirements are met by four MTU diesel generators.[8] Each ship can carry up to 29 cubic metres (1,000 cu ft) of dry provisions, 29 cubic metres (1,000 cu ft) of refrigerated provisions, and 54 tonnes (53 long tons; 60 short tons) of fresh water.[48]

Armament

Mark 45 5-inch 54-caliber main gun aboard HMAS Arunta (FFH 151)
, with side inspection panel open

At the time of construction, the main weapon for the Anzacs was a United Defense

5-inch 54 calibre Mark 45 Mod 2 dual purpose gun.[8][47] The forward-mounted gun is capable of firing 32-kilogram (71 lb) shells at a rate of 20 rounds per minute, to a distance of 23 kilometres (14 mi).[47] The barrel can elevate to 65 degrees.[47] This was supplemented by an eight-cell Lockheed Martin Mark 41 Mod 5 vertical launch system for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles as a point-defence system.[8][47] The Sea Sparrow is a semi-active radar homing missile, with a 39-kilogram (86 lb) warhead, a range of 14.6 kilometres (9.1 mi), and a top speed of Mach 2.5.[47] Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns were fitted for close defence.[47]

A missile-armed helicopter was a key component of the frigates' armament.[8] When construction started, both navies were planning for, but had yet to identify, new helicopters to be operated by the frigates; as an interim measure, the RAN used Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawks, while the RNZN embarked Westland Wasps.[8]

Ships were fitted for but not with a

close-in weapons system, two quad-canister Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, and a second Mark 41 launcher.[8] After the ships were completed, both navies fitted Mark 32 three-tube torpedo launchers to their frigates.[47] These were taken from older ships where possible; for example, Te Kaha's launchers came from Southland.[47][49] The launchers were configured to fire the Mark 46 Mod 5 torpedo, an active/passive homing torpedo with a range of 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) at 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph), and a 44-kilogram (97 lb) warhead.[47]

Sensors and systems

The radar suite includes a Raytheon SPS-49(V)8 ANZ radar for aerial search and long-range surveillance, a

Saab 9LV 453 unit for fire control.[8][47] All ships were initially fitted with a ThomsonSintra Spherion B hull-mounted bow sonar, for active search and attack operations.[8] From Warramunga onwards, ships were launched with a Petrel Mine and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar system.[47][50] this was later retrofitted to Anzac. All ships were fitted for but not with a towed-array sonar, with the RAN and RNZN following separate acquisition programs for these.[8] The frigates were also fitted for but not with SATCOM and a Helo datalink.[47]

Countermeasures and electronic warfare equipment fitted at launch included

Thales UK (which previously acquired Racal Thorn) was contracted in 2001 to replace the units with the Centaur ESM.[51]

A

Cossor AIMS Mark XII identification-friend-or-foe system is also installed.[47]

The core of the Anzacs' combat system was built around CelsiusTech's (now Saab) 9LV 453 Mark 3 distributed command and fire-control system.[8]

Construction

On 14 August 1989, AMECON was awarded the tender to build the Blohm + Voss designed frigate.

Whangarei, New Zealand, and hull modules were built at both Williamstown and Newcastle, New South Wales.[8] Unlike previous shipbuilding contracts, AMECON was contractually obliged to meet only the navy's set commissioning dates for the ships; all other construction deadlines were to be determined at the shipbuilder's discretion.[8]

The second and fourth ships to be built were allocated to the New Zealanders.[47] The third and fifth ships to be produced were earmarked for the RNZN in the event that approval to order two more frigates was given, with two more ships for the RAN to be added at the end of the production run.[52] Project offsets meant that construction costs for the New Zealand ships were about 20% less than the Australian vessels.[34]

Steel cutting for the first ship, Anzac, commenced on 27 March 1992.[47] Work on the first New Zealand ship, HMNZS Te Kaha, began in February 1993.[49] Anzac commissioned into the RAN in May 1996, and Te Kaha into the RNZN in July 1997.[53] In early 2002, the first four ships found to have microscopic cracks in the bilge keel and hull plating.[48][49] The ships' hulls were repaired and reinforced.[48] Construction of the final vessel, HMAS Perth, began in July 2003, with the vessel commissioning into the RAN in August 2006.[54][55]

Modifications and improvements

The Anzac-class ships were designed with a minimum standard of offensive and defensive weapons, with other equipment fitted "for but not with".[49][50] The RAN and RNZN began to plan for upgrades to their frigates before all of the ships entered service; these upgrades were planned and executed on a national basis.[49][50]

Australian modifications

The CEAFAR active electronically scanned array radars fitted to HMAS Perth as part of the ASMD upgrade

The RAN commenced plans to improve their frigates' combat capability in 1996, with the Warfighting Improvement Program (WIP).

operations room layout was improved.[56] Additional ballast was required to maintain stability, and the combined weight increase brought the ship's full load displacement to 3,810 tons.[57][58] After completion in October 2010, Perth was used to test the modifications, with trials completed in July 2011.[59] Approval to upgrade the other seven RAN Anzacs was granted in November 2011, with work on the A$650 million refits to begin in 2012.[60] As of March 2017, all eight ships of the RAN had completed the upgrade.[61]

From Warramunga onwards, the frigates were launched with the ability to carry and fire the

continuous wave illuminator was also fitted as part of the ESSM system.[51]

From 2005 onwards, the RAN began fitting the Anzacs and the Adelaides with

Mini Typhoon mounts, installed on the aft corners of the hangar roof.[63] Two TopLite EO directors are used with the guns.[63]

The Mark 32 torpedo tubes aboard the Australian frigates were originally fitted with American Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedoes, but these were replaced with the French-Italian MU90 Impact torpedo prior to 2008.[64] Toowoomba was the first Australian ship to fire an MU90 torpedo, during a test firing in June 2008, and Stuart performed the first 'warshot' firing of an armed MU90.[64][65]

The RAN commenced tendering for a helicopter design to replace the Seahawks aboard the Australian Anzacs in 1996, with a contract for 11

SH-2F Seasprite airframes decommissioned by the United States Navy, and fit modern flight systems to the reconditioned airframes.[68] This approach led to major delays, and the helicopters were found to be inoperable in low-visibility conditions.[66][68] By 2006, ten of the helicopters had been delivered, but none were permitted to fly.[66] The Super Seasprite acquisition was cancelled outright in March 2008.[66] Following the acquisition of the Romeo Seahawk helicopter variant, modifications to the Anzacs began to embark the helicopter.[70]

As part of the ANZAC Mid-life Capability Assurance Programme (AMCAP) upgrade under SEA 1448, Phase 4B, the SPS-49(V)8 was replaced with CEAFAR2-L L band

phased array radar, along with replacements of the Cossar Mk XII IFF, Exelis ES-3701 ESM and upgrades to the LESCUT, AN/SLR-25C torpedo self-defence system, and the Nulka active missile decoy capability.[71]

Australia is planning to replace the Harpoon Anti-ship missiles with the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) by 2024. The Naval strike missile can be used against both land and sea targets and provides a significant increase in range.[72]

New Zealand modifications

As soon as the New Zealand Anzacs entered service, a Phalanx CIWS weapons system, recycled from decommissioning various Leander frigates, was fitted to each new frigate in addition to the Mark 32 torpedo tube sets.[49]

An SH-2G Super Seasprite taking off from Te Mana in 2008

In 1997, the RNZN began steps to acquire five Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters for the two frigates.

Kaman Aerospace loaned four SH-2F Seasprites to the RNZN while the new helicopters were constructed: the SH-2Fs operated from February 1998 to August 2001, when the first two SH-2Gs were accepted into service.[74]

In 2006, the RNZN fitted two Mini Typhoons for each of its Anzac-class frigates.[63]

In 2007, Te Kaha began undergoing a series of major upgrades as part of the four-stage Platform Systems Upgrade (PSU), planning for which started in 2004.

onboard environmental control.[75] The stability upgrades were to accommodate predicted increases in displacement as updated equipment was installed on the ships.[75] As part of the modification, the ships' quarterdecks were partially enclosed, creating space for a gymnasium and improved laundry facilities.[75] Propulsion changes are primarily focused on replacing the TB83 diesel engines with the TB93, providing an additional 1.4 megawatts (1,900 hp) and higher speeds during diesel-only sailing.[75] The IPMS replacement is prompted by the perceived obsolescence of the current system by 2013; as of 2009, tendering for the new system was underway.[75] The environmental control upgrade is intended to improve personnel comfort during deployments to South East Asia, the Middle East, or similar climates, and will use more environmentally friendly products.[75] Each stage of the upgrade is organised to occur simultaneously with ship maintenance dockings, with the first two upgrades being installed during each ship's major maintenance docking in 2009 and 2010 respectively, then the other two upgrades during the next docking in the 2011–2012 period.[75]

A series of austere upgrades were approved on 14 April 2014, at an original contract cost of NZ 446m under the ANZAC Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) programme.[76] These include the replacement of the existing combat management system, with a system modelled on that of the RCN Halifax frigates awarded to Lockheed Martin,[77] The British Sea Ceptor anti-air missile replaced the Sea Sparrow on 27 May 2014.[78] Other changes included the Norwegian Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 for the Seasprite helicopters and the fitting of a Sea Sentor Surface Ship Torpedo Defence, or SSTD system, as well as MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System).[79] A new inertial navigation positioning system (Northrop Grumman) and navigation radar and SharpEye™ surveillance radars with an Agile Tracker has been fitted.[80] The main radar will be the Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D radar.[81] Other sensors and upgrades include Link 16, laser warning, and IFF. The Lockheed Martin Combat Management System 330 is also installed on the RNZN frigates,[82] as it increases the eyes on each screen, covering lesser sensors and crew.

Operational history

Anzac operating near the Iraqi Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal in 2007
Te Kaha (centre), berthed with the offshore patrol vessel Otago (left) and inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Taupo (right) in Wellington in 2010. The latter two ships were introduced under Project Protector to update the RNZN patrol force, and reduce the requirement for the Anzacs to undertake local patrol duties.

In 1999, Te Kaha pursued

flag-showing deployment in Asian waters.[74] The frigate was replaced in the Gulf by Te Mana in early 2003.[74]

In March 2003, Anzac provided fire support for

2003 Invasion of Iraq.[51]

A 2002 review of the RNZN's abilities found that the navy was not meeting its patrol capability requirements; one of the contributing factors was that the New Zealand Anzacs were both too few and overcapable for EEZ patrols, and deploying them in this manner prevented them from more effective use elsewhere.[84] Remedying this was one of the aims of Project Protector, a multi-ship acquisition project which saw three new classes of ship enter RNZN service.[84]

From left to right: Warramunga, Anzac and Perth at the Australian Marine Complex hardstand, September 2019

From 2018, the Anzac-class frigates were undergoing their Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade at the Australian Marine Complex, Henderson, Western Australia, a process scheduled to be completed by 2023. Arunta was the first ship to undergo the upgrade, followed by Anzac and Warramunga.[85][86]

Planned replacement

The RAN plans to begin removing their Anzacs from service from 2024 onwards.[87] To replace them, the Hunter class of new frigates will be built under the SEA 5000 acquisition project.[87] The frigates are predicted to have a displacement of up to 7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons), and although they will be primarily oriented towards anti-submarine warfare, they are expected to be capable of also operating against air, sea-surface, and land targets.[87][88] Originally eight vessels were planned, but by August 2015, the number of planned ships had increased to nine, with an estimated cost of $20 billion.[87][89] Construction is predicted to commence in 2020[needs update].[88] The Abbott government promised that the two-decade construction project will be headquartered in South Australia, with shipbuilding divided between ASC Pty Ltd in South Australia and BAE Systems' Williamstown Dockyard in Victoria.[89] On 18 April 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (Abbott's successor) confirmed that BAE Systems' Type 26 frigate, Fincantieri's FREMM frigate and a re-designed F-100-class frigate designed by Navantia had been shortlisted to replace the ANZAC-class in Australia. The Prime Minister confirmed that any frigate will be built in Adelaide and incorporate an Australian CEA phased array radar The program is estimated to be worth $35 billion. In June 2018 it was confirmed that BAE Systems's Type 26 had won the SEA5000 competition, with the in-service date for the new vessels being set for 2027.[90]

The New Zealand Defence Capability Plan 2019 states that the RNZN's Anzacs will be replaced in the mid-2030s by "modern surface combatants relevant to New Zealand's prevailing strategic environment".[91]

In February 2024 it was announced that HMAS Anzac was due to decommission in 2024, the first of her class, to free up funding for a future enlargement of the RAN. Her sister ship, Arunta, is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026 while the remainder of the class would not receive any major upgrades anymore.[92][93]

Ships

Name[54] Pennant number Builder Laid down[54] Launched[54] Commissioned[54] Decommissioned Notes[94][95][96]
Royal Australian Navy
Anzac FFH 150 Tenix Defence, Williamstown 5 November 1993 16 September 1994 18 May 1996 Scheduled for 2024[92] AMCAP
Arunta FFH 151 22 July 1995 28 June 1996 12 December 1998 Scheduled for 2026[92] AMCAP
Warramunga FFH 152 26 July 1997 23 May 1998 31 March 2001 AMCAP
Stuart FFH 153 25 July 1998 17 April 1999 17 August 2002 AMCAP
Parramatta FFH 154 24 April 1999 17 June 2000 4 October 2003 AMCAP
Ballarat FFH 155 4 August 2000 25 May 2002 26 June 2004 AMCAP
Toowoomba FFH 156 26 July 2002 16 May 2003 8 October 2005 AMCAP
Perth FFH 157 24 July 2003 20 March 2004 26 August 2006[55] AMCAP
Royal New Zealand Navy
Te Kaha F77 Tenix Defence, Williamstown 19 September 1994 22 July 1995 22 July 1997 NZ FSU completed 2020
Te Mana F111 18 May 1996 10 May 1997 10 December 1999 Completed FSU 2022[97]

Notes

  1. ^ The Irish corvettes were mentioned by a number of commentators like Hager and Miles and were one alternative option actually thought ideal in a background interview with Cmdr I. Bradley by Miles in 1983 and some of these ideas were developed in NBR articles by R.Miles in 1983 and in particular 1985[citation needed]

See also

Citations

  1. ^ "Third ANZAC-class Frigate gets her new mast as part of AMCAP upgrade". 27 June 2020.
  2. ^ "New Zealand Frigate Systems Upgrade Project". 11 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b Greener, Timing is everything, p. 30
  4. ^ "Australia To Double Fleet Size With Small Warships". Naval News. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 244
  6. ^ Fairall-Lee, Miller, & Murphy, in Forbes, Sea Power, p. 336
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 245
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Grazebrook, Anzac frigates sail diverging courses
  9. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 23–5
  10. ^ A.Preston.' Type 21 A/S frigate' in the World's Worst Warship. Conway Maritime (2002)pp 171–75 & A. Briggs. DDL the Australian Light Destroyer Project in Warship 2017.Conway. London, p 54-8 ,
  11. ^ a b Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 25–6
  12. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 26
  13. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 26–7
  14. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 27–9
  15. ^ a b c d Hensley, Final Approaches, p. 304
  16. ^ a b Greener, Timing is everything, p. 29
  17. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 159
  18. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 159–60
  19. ^ a b c d e f Greener, Timing is everything, p. 31
  20. ^ a b c d Greener, Timing is everything, p. 42
  21. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 43–4
  22. ^ a b Gulber, Growth in Strength, p. 4
  23. ^ Gulber, Growth in Strength, p. 5
  24. ^ J.Moore. ed Janes Fighting Ships in Janes Naval Review 1983.
  25. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 26–8, 37
  26. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 31, 35
  27. ^ a b Bassett, Working with David, pp. 400, 407, 461, 470, 518[page needed]
  28. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 31–2
  29. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 32
  30. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 32-4
  31. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 33–4
  32. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 40
  33. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 40–1
  34. ^ a b Greener, Timing is everything, p. 43
  35. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 26–7, 34–5
  36. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 44
  37. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 77
  38. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 79
  39. ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 79–80
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References

Books
Journal articles
News articles
Press releases
Websites
  • "HMAS Perth". Current Ships. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 17 September 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anzac class frigates.
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