– Navy Capabilities

Department outputs 2014-15: $4,797 million

The Navy’s organisational structure comprises Navy Strategic Command and the subordinate Fleet Command. To a good approximation, Strategic Command is responsible for capability plans, personnel, administration and technical regulation, while Fleet Command is

responsible for the day-to-day operation of the fleet and ‘cradle to grave’ training for all RAN personnel.

Structure and performance

The structure and performance of the Navy is set out below and overleaf. Because of the reduction in disclosure, it has not been possible to provide as detailed information as in the past. Plan and Engagement

*

Head Navy Engineering

** Head Navy People and

Reputation

**

Chief of Staff to Navy Strategic Command

*

85 Major combatants

Surface combatants

Four 1980s Adelaide class (US Oliver Hazard Perry class) Guided missile frigates (FFG) plus eight newer German-designed and Australian-built Anzac class frigates (FFH). Both vessels carry Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes and Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles. Only the FFG are equipped with the more capable Standard SM-2 surface-to-air missile.

The Anzac class have a 5” gun useful for shore bombardment (as seen in the Gulf in 2003) while the FFG has a less capable 3” gun. Both classes of vessel can embark a Seahawk anti-submarine helicopter, although the recent availability and current capability of these aircraft is less than desired.

Upgrades are underway on both fleets. The FFG have effectively completed the long-delayed

$1.4 billion FFG-upgrade project and the FFH are progressively being fitted with a range of new systems including an anti-ship missile defence (ASMD) suite. In addition, three new Air Warfare Destroyers are presently under construction. Two FFG will be withdrawn from service in December 2014 and March 2017 respectively.

Submarines

The RAN has six Collins Class submarines. Their primary roles are to attack enemy shipping and to counter the threat of adversary submarines. In addition, they can collect intelligence and insert and extract Special Forces. The Collins Class is equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles and the US Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo.

The delay in the introduction of the Collins Class into service as the Oberon Class left service disrupted both submariner training and the retention of skilled personnel. The resulting shortage of submariners reduced the delivery of capability. Longer than expected maintenance periods coupled with mechanical problems further compromised the availability of boats. Following the Coles review of Collins sustainment, steps have been taken to improve vessel availability with encouraging early success. Moreover, Navy has been successful in growing the numbers of trained submariners.

1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500

5,000 Unit Ready Days: Major Combatants

Target Actual

86 Minor combatants

Patrol boats

All of Navy’s fleet of fifteen 1980s vintage Australian-built, UK-designed, Fremantle Class Patrol Boats (FCPB) have now been replaced by fourteen Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPB).

These vessels are mainly tasked in support of the civil surveillance program through Border Protection Command. They can also be used for the insertion and extraction of army patrols on the coast, including Special Forces.

Through an innovative program, the Navy multi-crews the Armidale Class vessels, thereby reducing the burden on sailors and their families while maintaining a high utilisation of the assets. At present there are 21 crews spread across 14 vessels. In recent times maintenance issues have challenged the fleet.

Mine warfare vessels

6 Huon Class Coastal Mine Hunters (MHC) – 720 tonnes displacement, glass-reinforced plastic hulled, Italian-designed and built in Australia in the late 1990’s. The ships employ sonar to search for mines, which can then be destroyed using a remote controlled mine disposal vehicle or otherwise. There are also two auxiliary minesweepers, but according to the 2010-11 DAR, they were ‘placed on short-term reactive notice for sea from October 2010 until procurement of a replacement capability is undertaken.’ There are also two Clearance Diving Teams, one on each coast at Sydney and Perth, capable of clearing mines and other ordinance, clandestine survey and obstacle clearance, and battle damage repairs.

The health of the RAN minesweeping capability is under question. Training has been interrupted by the use of two of the Huon class vessels for border patrol duties, and since 2009 two of the Huon class have been placed in extended readiness. It’s been estimated that it will take five years to get the full fleet operational again.

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000

Unit Ready Days: Minor Combatants

Target Actual

87 Amphibious and afloat support

Amphibious lift

Until 2012, the fleet included two Kanimbla Class Landing Platforms Amphibious (LPA), HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla, refurbished in the mid-to-late 1990’s from two second-hand 1970’s US Newport Class Landing Ship Tank vessels, and one Heavy Landing Ship (HLS), HMAS Tobruk, a 1980’s UK-designed and Australian-built vessel. In February 2011 the amphibious fleet suffered a critical and unexpected failure of availability and HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla were subsequently decommissioned. Amphibious heavy lift capability will be maintained through the recently acquired second-hand vessel from the United Kingdom, HMAS Choules. Tobruk is planned to be withdrawn from service in December 2014.

Two new large amphibious (Landing Helicopter Dock) vessels are under construction and are due to enter service in the first half of the decade. These vessels will each displace around 27,000 tonnes and carry 1,000 troops plus helicopters and vehicles. Navy also has three Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) due for decommissioning in late 2014.

Afloat support

The afloat support force refuels and re-supplies Navy vessels and embarked helicopters at sea and provides logistics support to land operations. The fleet comprises two vessels: HMAS Sirius: a South Korean-built 46,017 tonne full displacement commercial vessel which was refitted to Navy specifications as an Auxiliary Tanker (AO) and HMAS Success: a 1980s French-designed, Australian-built 17,900 tonnes full displacement Auxiliary Replenishment Tanker (AOR). Amada Ship Cantabria commenced a year-long deployment with the RAN in 2013.

Although HMAS Sirius has been touted as an example of how commercial-off-the-shelf equipment can meet ADF requirements quickly and at reduced cost, the ship does not have the full range of capabilities and operational flexibility of a purpose build ship.

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000

Unit Ready Days: Amphibious and afloat support

Target Actual

88 Naval aviation

The RAN has sixteen 1980s US-designed Seahawk helicopters that can be embarked on the FFH and FFG class frigates. They are configured for anti-submarine and surface

search/targeting. A project to deliver eleven Super-Seasprite helicopters for the Anzac frigates was cancelled in early 2008. New Seahawk MH-60R aircraft are replacing both the Seahawk and the capability sought from the Super-Seasprite from 2014. Six MRH-90 aircraft began transitioning into service in late 2011 as a replacement for the now-retired UK-built Sea King helicopters (reported under Army outputs). Thirteen Squirrel light helicopters are used for training and short-term operations at sea.

Over the past decade, the performance of both the Sea King and Seahawk fleets was compromised by personnel shortages, maintenance issues and ongoing aircraft upgrades and modifications. A fleet of new MH-60R Seahawks will start to enter service beginning in 2014. Scheduled flying hours for the new MH-60R Seahawks are 600 hours in 2013-14 and 2,400 hours in 2014-15.

Hydrographic, meteorological & oceanographic fleet

The Navy produces maritime military geospatial information for the ADF and undertakes hydrographic surveying and charting for civil use. The hydrographic component is supported by the Australian Hydrographic Office in Wollongong, NSW, and also comprises the

Hydrographic Office deployable survey unit. The fleet includes:

2 Leeuwin Class Hydrographic Ships (AGHS): 2,250 tonne Australian-built hydrographic ships.

4 Paluma Class Survey Motor Launches (SML): 320 tonne Australian-built survey launches.

1 Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS) aircraft: an airborne depth sounder capability used in shallow water.

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

7,000 Seahawk Flying Hours

Target

Actual MH-60R enters service

89