Fremantle class patrol boat

The "Fremantle" class patrol boats were the Royal Australian Navy's coastal patrol vessels from 1979 to 2007. Their retirement was announced in 2001 and a decommissioning schedule published in 2004. From May 2005 they were replaced by the "Armidale" class patrol boats with the last two "Fremantle"s decommissioning in May 2007. The "Fremantle" class has also appeared in works of fiction, primarily two drama television series based on the Royal Australian Navy.

History

Planning and development

The concept for the "Fremantle" class began somewhere between 1967 and 1969, as the "Attack" class patrol boats entered service, and areas for improvement were observed."Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 2] In September 1970, the RAN announced the intention to construct ten new patrol boats, which would operate in tandem with the "Attack" class and replace two general purpose vessels. These new vessels were intended to enter service between 1976 and 1980. The number of vessels to be built fluctuated, peaking at thirty vessels (16 RAN, 4 Royal Australian Naval Reserve, and 10 for the military of Papua New Guinea), and settling at fifteen."Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 3]

Plans of acquisition were announced in April 1975, with eleven shipbuilders submitting tenders, of which two were shortlisted in 1976; Brooke Marine of the United Kingdom and Lürssen Werft of Germany. Brooke Marine won the contract to design and produce the lead ship, with North Queensland Engineers and Agents contracted to build the other fourteen vessels. There were plans for an additional five vessels, but they were placed on indefinite hold in 1982.

Design and construction

The design of the "Fremantle" class called for ships with improved seakeeping, and newer equipment and weapons than those fitted to the "Attack" class. Propelled by two V16 diesel engines capable of producing 6,000 horsepower, the patrol boats could reach a maximum speed of convert|30|kn|km/h."Patrol Boats (Royal Australian Navy)"] Weapons included a bow-mounted 40 mm L/60 Bofors gun and two 50 cal Browning machineguns.

At convert|42|m|ft and 220 tons, the "Fremantles" were 28% longer and 50% heavier than their predecessors."Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 4] During sea trials, NUSHIP "Fremantle" was revealed to be 20 tons over the contracted limit."Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 5] Early on in the construction program, it was realised that the two main patrol boat bases, HMAS "Coonawarra" in Darwin, Northern Territory and HMAS "Cairns" in Cairns, Queensland, were not capable of supporting ships of this size on a permanent basis. This resulted in an infastructure upgrade for the two bases, including modern maintenance, logistic, and administrative facilities.

Construction of "Fremantle" began in October 1977. She was launched on 16 February 1979, and commissioned on 17 March 1980. During sea trials, "Fremantle" received distinction for locating and rescuing a British sailor thrown from a commercial trawler following its collision with an oil tender. Construction of the first Australian-built vessel, HMAS "Warrnambool", began in September 1978, with "Warrnambool" launched on 25 October 1980 and commissioned on 14 March 1981."Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 7] The final ship of the class, HMAS "Bunbury", was commissioned on 15 December 1984.

Entry into service

The first ship of the class, HMAS "Fremantle", arrived in Australia on 27 August 1980, after an 82 day voyage covering convert|14509|nmi|km|0. ["Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 6] North Queensland Engineers and Agents completed three patrol boats in both 1981 and 1982, and four in both 1983 and 1984. By the end of 1984, four "Fremantles" were located at HMAS "Coonawarra", HMAS "Cairns", and Fleet Base East, two at HMAS "Stirling", and one at HMAS "Cerberus"."Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 8] Also by 1984, all of the "Attack" class had left active service, with many transferring to the RAN Reserve or the Indonesian Navy.

"Fremantle" class in fiction

The fictional HMAS "Defiance", portrayed by HMA Ships "Launceston", "Townsville", "Warrnambool", "Whyalla", and "Wollongong" featured in the second season of the ABC TV series "Patrol Boat". ["Semaphore 17", 2005, para. 13]

The fictional HMAS "Hammersley" (P 202) is the setting of the first season of Channel Nine's 2007 "Sea Patrol". This vessel was portrayed by HMA Ships "Wollongong" and "Ipswich". [Rollings, 2006] A second patrol boat, HMAS "Kingston" (P 205), also appears in the series. From the second season onwards, an "Armidale" class boat is used.

References

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