HMAS Ipswich (FCPB 209)

HMAS "Ipswich" (FCPB 209, named for the city of Ipswich, Queensland, was a Fremantle class patrol boat in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

"Ipswich" was laid down by the North Queensland Engineers and Agents in Cairns, Queensland on 29 October 1980. She was commissioned into the RAN on 13 November 1982.

During October and November 2006, "Ispwich" was the primary ship used for filming the 13-episode Australian television drama series "Sea Patrol".cite news |first=Barry |last=Rollings |title=Ipswitch switches over |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS/editions/4920/topstories/story07.htm |work=Navy News |date=2006-11-02 |accessdate=2007-05-30] "Ipswich" was rebadged as the fictional HMAS "Hammersley" (pennant number 202), and spent six weeks operating off Dunk Island with both the show's cast and her normal crew aboard. Footage of "Ipswich" was with scenes shot on and around sister ship HMAS "Wollongong" while the latter was docked in Sydney.

"Ipswich" was decommissioned on 11 May 2007, in a joint ceremony with HMAS "Townsville". cite news |title=Last of the Fremantles bow out |work=The Navy (Vol. 69, No. 3) |publisher=Navy League of Australia |page=28 |date=September 2007 |accessdate=2007-08-27] The two patrol boats were the last of the class in active service. "Ipswich" is to be delivered to Birdon Marine for disposal.

References

*cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Ipswich |title=HMAS Ipswich |accessdate=2008-09-11 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy