HMAS Ararat (ACPB 89)

HMAS Ararat (ACPB 89), named for the town of Ararat, Victoria, is an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Ararat.
HMAS Albany, a sister ship to HMAS Ararat, in the Timor Sea in 2012
History
Australia
Namesake: Town of Ararat, Victoria
Builder: Austal, Henderson, Western Australia
Launched: 6 May 2006
Commissioned: 10 November 2006
Homeport: HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin
Identification:
Motto: "Strength Through Effort"
Honours and
awards:		 Two inherited battle honours
Status: Active as of 2016
General characteristics
Class and type: Armidale-class patrol boat
Displacement: 300 tons standard load
Length: 56.8 m (186 ft)
Beam: 9.7 m (32 ft)
Draught: 2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Propulsion: 2 × MTU 4000 16V 6,225 horsepower (4,642 kW) diesels driving twin propellers
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance: 21 days standard, 42 days maximum
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2 × Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs
Complement: 21 standard, 29 maximum
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Bridgemaster E surface search/navigation radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • Prism III radar warning system
  • Toplite electro-optical detection system
  • Warrlock direction finding system
Armament:
  • 1 × Rafael Typhoon stabilised gun mount fitted with a 25 mm (1 in) M242 Bushmaster autocannon
  • 2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns

Design and construction
Main article: Armidale-class patrol boat

The Armidale-class patrol boats are 56.8 metres (186 ft) long, with a beam of 9.7 metres (32 ft), a draught of 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in), and a standard displacement of 270 tons.[1] The semi-displacement vee hull is fabricated from aluminium alloy, and each vessel is built to a combination of Det Norske Veritas standards for high-speed light craft and RAN requirements.[2] The Armidales can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and are driven by two propeller shafts, each connected to an MTU 16V M70 diesel.[3] The ships have a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), allowing them to patrol the waters around the distant territories of Australia, and are designed for standard patrols of 21 days, with a maximum endurance of 42 days.[3][2]

The main armament of the Armidale class is a Rafael Typhoon stabilised 25-millimetre (0.98 in) gun mount fitted with an M242 Bushmaster autocannon.[3] Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried.[4] Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs).[2] Each RHIB is stored in a dedicated cradle and davit, and is capable of operating independently from the patrol boat as it carries its own communications, navigation, and safety equipment.[2][5]

Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29.[3][2][2][6] A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside.[7] However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard HMAS Maitland in August 2006 pumped hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class.[6][7]

Ararat was constructed by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia.[1] She was commissioned into the RAN in Melbourne on 10 November 2006.[1]

Operational history

Ararat is assigned to Assail Division, is based in Darwin, and performs border protection and fisheries protection patrols.

This vessel participated in Exercises Triton Thunder and Cassowary during May 2012. Ararat operated off Dundee Beach in Darwin in concert with units from the Indonesian Navy and the RAN Fleet Air Arm.[8][9]

Citations
  1. Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013, p. 33
  2. Kerr, Plain sailing
  3. Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 22
  4. Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 132
  5. Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 131
  6. Kerr, Patrol boats shake down fuel faults
  7. McKenna, Gas risk remains for navy boats
  8. "Minor war vessels exercise off Darwin". Royal Australian Navy. 22 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  9. "Indonesia and Australia complete patrol boat exercise". 16 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
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References
Books
Journal and news articles
  • Kerr, Julian (1 January 2008). "Plain sailing: Australia's Armidales prove fit for task". Jane's Navy International. Jane's Information Group.
  • Kerr, Julian (8 December 2007). "Patrol boats shake down fuel faults". The Australian: Defence Special Report. News Corporation. p. 8.
  • McKenna, Michael (2 January 2010). "Gas risk remains for navy boats". The Australian. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
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