HMAS Success (AOR 304)

HMAS "Success" (AOR 304) is a "Durance" class multi-product replenishment oiler serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She is the only ship of the class to be constructed outside of France, and the only one to not serve in the Marine Nationale (French Navy).

Construction

"Success" was laid down by Cockatoo Island Dockyard at Sydney in New South Wales on 9 August 1980. She was launched on 3 May 1984, and commissioned into the RAN on 23 April 1986.cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Success |title=HMAS Success |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |accessdate=2008-09-03]

HMAS "Success" is the largest ship to ever be built in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy and is the largest ship to be built in Port Jackson (the port of Sydney). She was also the final major vessel to be constructed at Cockatoo Island Dockyard. [cite web |url=http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs140.aspx |title=Fact sheet 140 – Cockatoo Island Dockyard |accessdate=2008-01-08 |work=Fact Sheets |publisher=National Archives of Australia]

Operational history

In 1986, "Success" was part of the multi-national fleet that entered Sydney Harbour to mark the 75th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy. Prior to the ceremonial entry, "Success" and two other replenishment ships (one United States Navy, one Royal Navy) were tasked with replenishing the assembled fleet: a competition between the three ships saw "Success" replenish more vessels than the other two.

"Success" formed part of the Australian contribution to the 1991 Gulf War and provided support to the Australian-led forces which deployed to East Timor in 1999 and 2006.Fact|date=September 2008

In 2005, "Success" was one of several Australian warships to participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2005, a series of joint RAN-USN war games.Fact|date=September 2008

In late November 2006, "Success" was one of three Australian warships sent to Fiji during the leadup to the 2006 coup d'état by Fijian military forces against Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. "Success" joined HMAS "Newcastle", and HMAS "Kanimbla"; the other two ships having sailed in the first week of November. The three vessels were to be used in the event of an evacuation of Australian citizens and nationals, but not as a military force. [ [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=52286 Aussie Navy vessels ready for Fiji evacuation] . "Fiji Times", November 24, 2006.] The task group was stood down in late December 2006, with all three ships returning to port.

In February 2007, Success was involved in an immigration operation that caught 42 Sri Lankan Immigrants attempting to enter the mainland.Fact|date=September 2008

In 2008, "Success" was deployed as part of Operation Resolute for three months.cite news |first=Philip |last=Ma |title=3000 Up: 'Battle tanker' reaches a milestone |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/5115/5115.pdf |format=PDF |work=Navy News |publisher=Directorate of Defence Newspapers |location=Australia |id= |pages=pp. 16-17 |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-06] While assigned to Resolute, the vessel was deployed with several other RAN vessels to take part in RIMPAC 08, a multi-national naval exercise. During RIMPAC, on the night of 23 July, "Success" completed her 3,000th Replenishment at Sea (RAS): a dual-replenishment of USS "Chung-Hoon" (port side, 2,999th RAS) and HMAS "Anzac" (starboard side, 3,000th RAS).

The Australian Department of Defence predicts that HMAS "Success" will reach the end of her useful operational lifespan sometime between 2015 and 2017. [cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsp/Maritime_Operations.cfm |title=Defence Materiel Organisation - Sea 1654 Project |accessdate=2007-01-16 |year=2006 |month=November |publisher=Department of Defence - Australian Government]

References

External links

* [http://maritimequest.com/warship_directory/australia/aux_vessels/pages/success_or304_page_1.htm MaritimeQuest HMAS Success Photo Gallery]