Leeuwin-class survey vessel

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HMAS Leeuwin in 2013
HMAS Leeuwin in 2013
Class overview
NameLeeuwin class
Builders
NQEA Australia, Cairns
Built1996–2000
In commission2000–present
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
TypeHydrographic
survey ship
Displacement2,170 tons
Length71.2 m (233 ft 7 in)
Beam15.2 m (49 ft 10 in)
Draught4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • 4 × GEC Alsthom 6RK 215 generators, 2 x Alsthom electric motors, 2 shafts
  • 1 × Schottel bow thruster
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Range18,000 nautical miles (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Complement10 officers, 46 sailors, up to 5 trainees
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar:
  • Sperry Vision-Master FT navigation radars x 2; X-band and S-band.
  • Sonar:
  • Nautel C-Tech CMAS 30D; hull mounted omni-directional active sonar
  • Teledyne Seabat T50 Muti-Beam Echo Sounder
  • Ship specific hydrographic / navigation Single-Beam Echo Sounder(s)
  • EdgeTech Towed Side-Scan Sonar
Armament2 x 12.7 mm machine guns
Aircraft carriedNot permanently embarked

The Leeuwin class is a two-ship class of

AS 350B Squirrel helicopter. In addition to surveying duties, since 2001 both vessels have been used to supplement the RAN patrol force. Leeuwin and Melville are based at HMAS Cairns
, and are active as of 2023.

Design and construction

Stern view of HMAS Melville, showing the ship's helicopter deck

The ships have a displacement of 2,170 tons at full load.[1] They are 71.2 metres (234 ft) long, with a beam of 15.2 metres (50 ft), and a draught of 4.3 metres (14 ft).[1] Main propulsion machinery consists of four GEC Alsthom 6RK 215 diesel generators, which supply two Alsthom electric motors, each driving a propeller shaft.[1] A Schottel bow thruster is fitted for additional manoeuvrability.[1] Maximum speed is 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph), with a range of 18,000 nautical miles (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph).[1]

Each ship was originally fitted with a STN Atlas 9600 APRA I-band navigational radar,

AS 350B Squirrel helicopter, although lack long-term hosting facilities.[1] They are armed with two single 12.7 mm machine guns.[2]

The ship's company consists of 10 officers and 46 sailors.[1] In addition, up to 5 trainees can be accommodated.[1] The Leeuwins were the first RAN ships to use a multi-crewing concept,[citation needed] with three complements used to operate the two vessels.[2] Both vessels currently operate with a permanent single complement each.

The two ships were ordered from

Cairns, Queensland.[1] Construction of Leeuwin commenced in August 1996, and she was launched in July 1997, while Melville was laid down in May 1997 and launched in June 1998.[2] The vessels underwent a joint commissioning ceremony on 27 May 2000.[1] The ships initially bore the pennant numbers "HS 01" and "HS 02" respectively, but these were changed in 2004 to "A 245" and "A 246".[2]

Operational history

Both Leeuwin and Melville are based at

Australian Hydrographic Office.[2]

In late 2001, both ships began operations to supplement patrol forces and counter illegal immigration as part of Operation Relex, in addition to normal surveying duties.[2][3] The survey ships were selected as they had greater range and seakeeping capabilities that the Fremantle-class patrol boats.[3] In January 2002, Leeuwin and Melville were repainted from white to grey.[2][3]

Ships

Name[2] Laid down[2] Launched[2] Commissioned[2] Status
Leeuwin 30 August 1996 19 July 1997 27 May 2000 Active
Melville 9 May 1997 23 June 1998 27 May 2000 Active

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Saunders (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships 2008–2009, p. 33
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 26
  3. ^ a b c Bateman et al., in Rothwell & VanderZwaag (eds.), Towards principled ocean governance, p. 130

References

  • Bateman, Sam; Bergin, Anthony; Tsamenyi, Martin; Woolner, Derek (2006). "Integrated maritime enforcement and compliance in Australia". In Rothwell, Donald R.; VanderZwaag, David L. (eds.). Towards principled oceans governance: Australian and Canadian approaches and challenges. Oxon: Routledge.
    ISBN 978-0-415-38378-3
    .
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2008). Jane's Fighting Ships 2008–2009. Jane's Fighting Ships (111th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group.
    OCLC 225431774
    .
  • 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.
    OCLC 140283156
    .

External links
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