Frigate HMAS Adelaide to be sunk off new south wales coast

April 12th, 2007 by admin in Military and NEWS and Wrecks

From the Australian minister of defense: “I am pleased to announce I have selected New South Wales to be gifted the Royal Australian Navy Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Adelaide for sinking as a dive wreck.

The New South Wales Government has indicated that the preferred location for HMAS Adelaide is off the New South Wales Central Coast, near Terrigal.

I thank my colleagues, Mr Jim Lloyd MP and Mr Ken Ticehurst MP, who have been strong and persistent advocates for the Central Coast community. Their continued support has undoubtedly assisted the NSW Government in its efforts to secure the ship, such that I am now able to gift HMAS Adelaide to NSW.

HMAS Adelaide will decommission late in 2007 at her home port in Rockingham, Western Australia with handover to the New South Wales Government expected in early to mid 2008.

In addition to the warship, the Howard Government will contribute up to $3 million in funding toward the costs of preparing the ship for sinking.

HMAS Adelaide was built in the United States and commissioned in the Royal Australian Navy on 15 November 1980 and is the second ship to carry this name. The first was a light cruiser that served from 1922 to 1945. HMAS Adelaide was the first guided missile frigate to be home ported in Western Australia.

HMAS Adelaide participated in the 1990/91 Gulf War as part of Operation DAMASK, Australia’s participation in the international coalition against Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. More recently, the ship was deployed for peacekeeping operations in East Timor in 1999 and to the Persian Gulf as part of the International Coalition against Terrorism in 2001 and 2004. HMAS Adelaide is 138 metres long, displaces 4100 tonnes and has a crew of 184 as well as helicopter aircrew and maintainers.

Tourism projects which have previously used former RAN warships to establish dive wrecks have reportedly accrued annual revenues ranging from $2.4 million to $23 million to the significant benefit of local communities.”

Source: www.minister.defence.gov.au

History

HMAS ADELAIDE (FFG-01) is a long-range escort frigate with roles including area air defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance, and interdiction. The Ship can simultaneously counter threats from the air, surface and sub-surface.

Built in the United States , ADELAIDE was commissioned on 15 November 1980 and was the first of six ADELAIDE class guided-missile frigates to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. ADELAIDE is the second ship in the RAN to carry this name. The first was a light cruiser that served from 1922 to 1945.

Along with her five sister ships, CANBERRA , SYDNEY , DARWIN , MELBOURNE and NEWCASTLE , ADELAIDE is powered by gas turbines for it’s main propulsion. Guided-missile frigates can be underway from a cold start in less than 30 minutes. In addition, two forward mounted auxiliary propulsion units provide a secondary means of propulsion and excellent manoeuvrability in confined waters.

ADELAIDE is equipped with a number of sensors that include long range radars for air and surface surveillance, electronic warfare and optical surveillance systems, a medium range sonar and a command and control system, that can incorporate target data received by data link from other ships and aircraft.

The principal weapons installed in ADELAIDE are the Standard medium-range anti-aircraft missile and the Harpoon anti-shipping missile. Both missiles are launched from the Mk 13 launcher on the forecastle. A 76mm gun to counter both air and surface threats is fitted forward of the funnel. A 20mm Phalanx close-in-weapons-system, Nulka decoy and chaff systems are fitted for anti-missile defence. ADELAIDE has a capacity for two S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters and is fitted with two sets of Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes to provide a counter to submarines.

ADELAIDE was the first guided-missile frigate to be home-ported in Western Australia . The ship has participated in the 1990/91 Gulf War,Send to editor peacekeeping operations in East Timor in 1999 and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf as part of the International Coalition against Terrorism in 2001 and 2004.
Laid Down:
Launched: 21 June 1978
Commissioned: 15 November 1980
Displacement: 4,100 tonnes
Length: 138.1 metres
Beam: 14.3 metres
Armament: 76mm rapid fire gun,
Harpoon anti-ship missiles,
Standard surface to air missiles,
Phalanx Mk15 close-in weapon system,
2 triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedoes
Main Machinery: Two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines geared to one controllable pitch propeller
Speed: More than 30 knots
Ship’s Company: Approximately 210

Source:www.navy.gov.au