history history traces development ran australia british vessels royal_navy frequent trips new colonies formed separate squadron remained australia federation australian colonies operated colonial naval force formed march commonwealth naval force received royal patronage july time referred ran october new replacement fleet foundation fleet steamed sydney heads time seen action ocean world saw action world war pacific indian atlantic oceans wars ran fortunes shifted financial situation australia experienced great growth 1920s forced reduce fleet operations 1930s consequently entered world war ran smaller start world war course world war ran operated fighting support ships small civilian vessels service auxiliary patrol boats contrary claims ran fifth largest navy world point world war following world war ran saw action korea vietnam smaller conflicts today ran consists small modern force widely regarded powerful forces years following establishment british colony new_south_wales royal_navy ships command station visit australian waters 1820s ship sent annually new_south_wales occasionally new_zealand established british admiralty established independent command command commodore assigned commander chief australia station created british naval ships serving australia station assigned changes partially recognition fact large detached australian waters reflecting growing concern strategic situation western pacific general new_zealand particular commander upgraded rank establishment encompassed australia new_zealand eastern boundary including western edge indian_ocean south india southern edge defined circle boundaries modified largest reached equator greatest north south axis covered extreme east west dimension including new_zealand passed initially command officers australian squadron disbanded station nominal australian command reduced cover australia island north east renamed came australian command royal_navy sydney based depots structures gifted royal_navy continued support ran provided additional blue water defence capability pacific early years world war colonial navies federation self governing colonies australia operated navy exception western_australia naval force colonial navies supported ships royal_navy established victoria received naval vessel deployed assist new_zealand colonial government war victoria returned australia vessel taken minor actions loss crew member deployment victoria new_zealand marked occasion australian warship deployed overseas years leading federation victoria powerful colonial navies victoria small torpedo boats small torpedo boats corvette colonial navies expanded greatly usually consisted torpedo boats coastal defence rivers naval brigades man vessels forts january australia federation states march took defence forces states form australian new_zealand governments agreed imperial government help fund royal_navy admiralty committed maintain squadron constant strength commander upgraded rank vice admiral boundaries modified formation growing number people captain director demanded autonomous australian navy financed controlled australia prime minister attending london sought agreement end system develop australian navy admiralty rejected resented challenge suggested small fleet destroyers submarines sufficient impressed admiralty invited united_states great white fleet visit australia visit prompted public enthusiasm modern navy led order ton river class torpedo boat destroyers purchase angered british surge german naval construction led australian admiralty change position australian navy resulted naval defence act passed created australian navy australian warship destroyer launched scotland wednesday february sister ship launched scotland saturday april ships commissioned royal_navy september sailed australia arriving port december event marred death engineer lieutenant suffered heart attack miles outside port heads whilst onboard drowned passed australian squadron disbanded july king george granted title royal australian navy ran ships carry prefix majesty australian ship station reduced cover australia island north east excluding new_zealand surrounds called navy operate authority functioned march expressed concern japan growing naval power agreed british government consult australia negotiating renewal decided royal_navy continue support ran provide blue water defence capability pacific war ships ran transferred british admiralty control naval defence act power transfer conferred governor general ran royal_navy ships personnel direct control british admiralty ran remained responsible ships training responsibility reduced passed new nominal australian command royal_navy coming end sydney based depots structures gifted commanding officer admiral loan royal_navy saturday october australian fleet consisting battle cruiser australia cruisers melbourne sydney protected cruiser encounter torpedo boat destroyers entered sydney harbour time manpower fleet stood officers men years ships built fledgling navy royal_navy continued support ran provide blue water defence capability pacific early years world war boundaries include world war august prospect war australian government sent following message admiralty event war government prepared place vessels control british admiralty desired united_kingdom declared war germany day august australian government received reply requesting transfer immediately days later august governor general officially transferred control british admiralty retain control august outbreak war ran stood personnel consisted sixteen ships including battlecruiser australia light cruisers sydney melbourne destroyers submarines light cruiser brisbane destroyers construction small fleet auxiliary ships maintained consequence start war small formidable force australian ships saw action asian pacific theatre assisting attack german new_guinea germany northeastern new_guinea nearby island groups colony currently wireless radio base britain required wireless installations destroyed threatened merchant shipping region objectives force german stations august left sydney protection australia melbourne port force met queensland contingent aboard transport force sailed german new_guinea september leaving refused work sydney escorting destroyers met eastern tip new_guinea melbourne detached destroy wireless station september encounter bombarded ridge near half battalion advanced town major loss campaign disappearance submarine patrol september november german light cruiser attacked allied radio telegraph station direction island islands inhabitants island managed transmit distress signal received sydney miles away sydney arrived hours engaged sydney larger faster better armed eventually captain running ship aground refused strike colours surrender sydney fired stationary eventually struck colours battle ran participated february light cruiser joined east african campaign july engaged german cruiser sms german shore batteries pioneer remained took german including june pioneer returned australia decommissioned october naval operations australian submarine allied warship breach turkish defences dardanelles spent days area unsuccessfully attacked times unable find large enemy troop transports april damaged attack turkish torpedo boat scuttled crew wreck remained june ships assisted royal_navy blockade german high seas fleet february joined flagship 2nd australia involved battle jutland april battlecruiser damaged collision sister ship return service june ran ships present surrender german high seas fleet australia sydney melbourne australia leading port division grand_fleet sailed meet germans decorated australian naval unit world war ship land based unit composed landed bay responsible receiving storing distributing supplies including water british troops position working piers landings australian unit depart gallipoli train sent middle_east second amphibious landing battle returning australia disbanded series expansion war limited ran growing include thirty seven ships personnel ran losses modest losing submarines whilst casualties included fatalities australians officers men loan royal_navy result enemy action april spanish flu killed approximately million people worldwide far killed years war rigorous policy implemented australia reduced immediate impact flu nation death toll surpassed struck ships dispersed world speed flu spread coupled cramped mess decks poorly living spaces early 20th century warships created favourable environment disease swept australian cruisers assigned fleet suffered high casualties casualties ship mediterranean fleets severe atlantic recorded casualties november december casualties men died pneumonia ran lost total men disease loss prevented primarily ready availability professional medical treatment aid mission disease arrived cargo vessel sailed october whilst carrying sick passengers stopped fiji locations occurred days ships visits local authorities generally unprepared size outbreak allowing infection spread german territory worst affected small islands new_zealand administration carried efforts outbreak rejected offers assistance nearby new_zealand government officially apologised reaction outbreak november military governor requested assistance wellington request turned doctors needed new_zealand australia offered alternate source aid aware situation region sloop reported case november stationed fiji half complement eventually affected november began forming joint relief expedition available military medical personnel commanding officer ordered embark expedition sydney sail soon possible encounter departed sydney november minutes completing loading precaution members encounter crew ship suffered cases earlier year captain want repeat encounter arrived november took half available coal tonnes water spanish flu rampant captain implemented strict placed guards wharf ordered carried crew instead native labour encounter departed evening day arrived december hours medical landing party assigned stores ashore encounter departed capital arriving december medical staff supplies encounter sailed december coal arriving encounter received orders return sydney reached december immediately placed aid mission regarded australia overseas relief expedition set precedent future relief missions conducted ran wars following end world war believed immediate evaluation ran necessary australia based naval policy developed sir government sent invitation admiral arrived australia remained australia months returning england new_zealand canada submitted findings august titled report naval mission commonwealth report outlined policies designed strengthen british naval strength pacific_ocean report heavily stressed close relationship ran royal_navy achieved strict adherence procedures administration methods royal_navy report suggested constant officer exchange forces called creation large based singapore include capital ships aircraft carriers creation cost fleet divided great_britain australia new_zealand contributing respectively suggested makeup ran include aircraft carrier battlecruisers light cruisers flotilla leader destroyers destroyer depot ship submarines submarine depot ship small number additional auxiliary ships annual cost fleet estimated implementing closer tier royal_navy major recommendations carried end world war began worry threat japan posed australia japan extended empire kilometres south bringing right australia japan continued build naval force reached point royal_navy pacific ran government believed possibility japanese invasion highly likely report admiral believed threat japanese invasion australia remain long remained place perceived threat support australia australian government vocal supporter australia joined support alliance new_zealand heavily opposed canada believed alliance hindered british_empire relationship china united_states decision alliance agreed discussion shelved pending outcome results treaty allowed british retain naval supremacy pacific_ocean created sense security australia australians saw powers pact replacing sense security known year rule led defence australia following international trend reduction expenditure opening parliament june quoted saying view result attained washington treaty advisors believe guarantee peace pacific time come proposed reduce establishment navy army postpone expansion air force world war world war underwent severe reduction ships manpower result flagship scrapped main armaments sunk outside sydney heads year ran began year program obtaining new ships britain heavy cruisers australia canberra seaplane carrier purchase partly paid scrapping brisbane melbourne sydney destroyers great depression led reduction manpower reduced size available posts easily filled men unemployed offered pay greater jobs ran personnel strength fell personnel plus members strength reserves stood early 1930s lack funds forced transfer victoria ordered light cruisers ships perth sydney selling seaplane carrier fund time ran purchased destroyers destroyer classes ships known scrap iron flotilla increasing threat germany japan late 1930s ran position outbreak world war world war australia declared war nazi_germany hour united_kingdom declaration war september unlike arrangements british admiralty start world war world war ran ships remained australian command onset war ran relatively modest arguably combat ready services major units included county class heavy cruisers australia canberra carried inch guns entered service 1920s modern modified class light cruisers perth sydney mounted inch guns older town class cruiser adelaide swan swan commission class destroyers variety support craft following reserves permanent forces grew war men vessels ran served theatre operations tropical pacific russian convoys grew table illustrates growth ran outbreak war september june operations italy france germany ships ran request admiralty began deploy mediterranean_sea nazi germany september admiralty agreed deploy ran destroyer flotilla outside australia station ships known scrap iron flotilla arrived malta mid december deployed later joined italy declared war june australian warships allied destroyers modern light cruisers station mediterranean ran offered services australia admiralty accepted australia arrived mediterranean ran sent nearly entire combat fleet leaving australian open possible attack entry italy war lead far active role remaining ran vessels australian station june prolonged chase armed merchant cruiser forced italian merchant ship tons south west june admiral commander mediterranean_fleet ordered 7th included rendezvous egypt bound convoy near cruiser squadron sighted italian destroyers june immediately engaged hour sydney signalled sink sydney approached launched torpedoes failed hit targets sydney fired scoring direct hits sydney remained scene hours picking survivors june scuttled south crete depth charged british destroyers defender june italian submarine sunk west crete ships july ship fleet departed alexandria intending meet convoy east malta day submarine sighted italian fleet miles away allied fleet altered course intercept fleets sighted july battle known began vessels ran took battle ships sydney stuart vampire voyager sydney ran vessel engage enemy opened fire italian cruiser italian fleet began withdraw allied destroyer squadron ordered forward stuart leading destroyer force open fire opening direct hit range yards fleets retired italians withdrawing smoke italian aircraft continued attack allied ships sydney came heavy air attack believed sunk fleet arrived alexandria july july destroyer ordered support royal_navy destroyer squadron sweep north island crete july italian cruisers opened fire seven minutes later british destroyers retreated north east sydney miles away began close sydney sighted cruisers fired shots range metres minutes sydney successfully damaged italians withdrew south allied ships pursued hiding smoke screen sydney shifted fire disabled australian cruiser left pursue broke italian warship range sydney dangerously low ammunition damage sydney battle caused shell knocked hole forward funnel wounded sailor splinter damage september destroyed italian class submarine killing crew survivors subsequently rescued stuart nineteen picked vessels march allied fleet admiral ambushed italian naval force greece vessels ran took battle ships perth stuart vampire victory allowed evacuation thousands allied troops crete torpedoed sunk november whilst escorting transports allied garrison survivors men including officers lost lives australians experienced success december attacked sank german submarine portugal west_africa september ordered sail join invasion french controlled french west_africa september australia cruiser sighted cruisers heading south french cruiser developed engine trouble australia escorted returned fleet days later september australia came heavy fire shore batteries drove destroyers port australia engaged sunk destroyer sixteen minutes days french allied forces exchanged fire australia struck twice lost australia rest fleet retired september battle known battle scrap iron flotilla scrap iron flotilla australian destroyer group operated mediterranean pacific world war bestowed group nazi propaganda minister described fleet australia flotilla consisted vessels scott class destroyer acted flotilla leader class destroyers vampire voyager ships built fight world war slow poorly armed compared newer ships destroyers entirety ran destroyer force departed australia november destined singapore carried anti submarine exercises royal_navy submarine hms november flotilla left singapore mediterranean_sea following request admiralty assistance australian destroyer flotilla took multiple actions mediterranean including allied evacuation following battle greece april flotilla came fame mission resupply besieged city resupply routes alexandria known bomb alley subject constant axis air attacks flotilla time poor condition managed supply runs carrying ammunition stores taking wounded soldiers vampire flotilla leave mediterranean leave sailed october destroyers lost war sunk mediterranean june vampire sunk japanese aircraft indian ocean raid voyager ran aground campaign abandoned red_sea serving mediterranean_sea ships ran served red_sea august italian forces invaded fighting withdrawal small british garrison evacuated assisting destruction port facilities aid delaying action sent pounder gun ashore operated volunteers crew seamen captured italians later liberated ran joined red_sea force july september october engaged drove italian destroyers attempting raid convoy vessels ran served red_sea war larger ran ships deployed australian waters response threat japan loss november australian light cruiser german auxiliary cruiser engaged indian_ocean western_australia ships sank sydney lost hands majority crew rescued prisoners war location remained mystery subject controversy march ships found north_africa ran units continued serve mediterranean campaign taking invasion north_africa november assisted sinking italian submarine days later took destruction ship convoy destroyer sicily early australian designed built class transferred egypt indian_ocean preparation allied invasion sicily ship allied force arrived mediterranean formed 21st 22nd ships survived campaign damage casualties sustained action experienced near miss german bomber captain damage sustained response read damage war japan imperial_japanese_navy attacks allies december ran larger ships home waters protect australian mainland japanese attack smaller ships remained mediterranean onwards considerable axis naval activity australian waters german commerce raiders submarines later imperial_japanese_navy initially ran ships served british australian component american british dutch australian command naval forces wound following fall succeeded command united_states seventh fleet formed brisbane march service ran ships pacific generally served seventh fleet february ran played critical role australian dutch voyager loss campaign december attacked thirteen japanese aircraft attempting land dutch soldiers sank loss crew dutch personnel engagement ordinary operated anti aircraft gun wounded japanese planes went ship gun shooting attacking aircraft february joint naval force met japanese invasion force class cruiser american heavy cruiser uss houston fought survived battle java sea march perth houston attempted found path blocked main japanese invasion fleet western java allied ships engaged cruisers destroyers ferocious night action known perth houston torpedoed sunk casualties aboard perth included crew civilians killed survived sinking taken prisoner japanese later died captivity loss perth soon sinking sister sydney major psychological effect australian people japanese losses included troop transport sunk friendly fire whilst transports damaged beached ships ran allied force ships australia task force ships came intense air attack force guarding approaches defence australian shipping late early june group imperial_japanese_navy submarines series attacks sydney nearby port newcastle night june submarines launched class submarines allied shipping sydney harbour torpedo intended cruiser uss chicago exploded depot ship killing june submarines shelled sydney newcastle little effect response ran instituted convoys ships tons speeds knots mph required sail convoy travelling cities east coast attack sydney newcastle marked start sustained japanese submarine campaign australia japanese submarines sank ships australian waters ships sailing convoy ships sunk australian waters japanese ended campaign july ships sunk sailing escorted convoys australian naval authorities gradually dismantled coastal convoy system december march end war raaf ran escorted convoys australian coastline scale japanese naval offensive directed australia small compared naval campaigns war attacks comprehensive widespread series offensive operations conducted enemy australia ran sank single sized japanese submarine australian waters january convoy escorts successfully reduced threat shipping australian waters making harder japanese submarines carry attacks whilst escorting convoys australia new_guinea attacked sank japanese type submarine port august killing men aboard loss canberra loss battle island august largest single ship loss ran experienced world war early hours morning august canberra severely damaged surprise attack powerful japanese naval force canberra hit shells minutes crew killed including captain following order abandon ship canberra sunk day torpedo destroyer prevent captured loss canberra following losses sydney perth attracted unprecedented international attention sympathy ran president wished commemorate loss canberra requested heavy cruiser construction named canberra launched april approved transfer ran replacement ship commissioned april october ran warships ships australia took battle largest naval battles history lead october australia allied ship hit aircraft near gunners australia fired reportedly hit unidentified japanese aircraft plane flew away ships turning flying australia striking ship superstructure bridge burning fuel debris large area falling sea kilogram bomb carried plane failed explode ship effectively destroyed crew members died result attack including commanding officer captain wounded australian force commander australia remained duty october hit forced retire new repairs remained united_states seventh battle october action ships contributed sinking japanese battleship firing thirty gun battleship inch guns period minutes returned combat battle gulf january battle australia repeatedly attacked january suffering significant damage forced retire ships british fleets class class built commissioned ran service ships norman ships predominantly ran personnel commanded british officers remained property british government following japanese raid ceylon march april transferred base kenya fleet undertook local patrols escorted convoys occasionally ships operations mediterranean operation vigorous convoy malta june damaged air raid slowly sank february ships conjunction indian sloop sank japanese submarine later torpedoed ship calcutta bound convoy late norman transferred ships new operations took late following end hostilities ran acquired class destroyers quadrant end war end world war ran combat strength numbered ships additional auxiliary craft service reaching peak june ranks personnel years war ran lost cruisers destroyers corvette auxiliary enemy action casualties included personnel ships sunk personnel killed aboard ships posts measures losses heavy small service representing half pre war strength ships fifth men ran destroyed cruiser armed merchant destroyers torpedo boats light craft seven submarines destroyed captured tons axis merchant shipping shot aircraft difficult ran played role numerous successes surrender occupation japan ran vessels present signing japanese surrender tokyo bay september ships following surrender ceremony majority ran vessels left japanese waters duties surrender agreement japan agreed allied occupation august australian government agreed provide cruisers destroyers service total ran ships served ships performed variety tasks mainly employed patrol preventing korean nationals illegally entering japan ran played role japan assisting imperial_japanese_navy ships instance took sinking seven submarines operation indian new_zealand contingents began withdraw operation predominantly australian operation naval base turned australia known commonwealth north_korea invaded south_korea june ran ship station australian government immediately offered united_nations service eventually ran ships area transferred command clearing mines australian new waters focus ran years war began december conducted class smaller craft base work dangerous sunk loss men killed wounded struck september ran completed task august sweeping mines cold war following world war ran reduced surface fleet continued expand ways acquiring class aircraft carriers construction build fleet air arm 1960s ran began away british designed ships major british design type frigate formed basis river class frigates decided ran commission destroyer armed guided missiles obvious british design county class ran reservations gas turbine propulsion missile system ability adapt design australian needs instead australian government chose united_states built steam turbine powered destroyer armed missile basis perth class major warship design chosen ran mid late 1960s ran operational capabilities capable carrier battle group support major operations having service aircraft carrier large area defence destroyers perth class modern river class frigates class submarines retreat british forces west suez_canal 1960s ran began defensive role operation united_states allied treaty ran saw service world post war conflicts including korea vietnam korea june called member nations aid south_korea june prime minister announced frigate stationed japan destroyer hong_kong placed command korea july day president committed american ground forces korea australian operation korea took place escorted american ammunition ship japan destroyer deployed july provided gunfire support landing october december assisted mass evacuation troops refugees aircraft carrier sydney deployed korea september january carrier owned commonwealth dominion wartime service time sorties flown sydney aircraft lost pilots killed course korean war ships ran participated naval blockade north_korea malaya emergency declared june prompted rise communist malaya later malaysia australia member deployed raaf squadrons region created concentration commonwealth military forces primarily british new_zealand australian malaya protection nation communist threats australia commitment included destroyers frigates station time plus annual visit aircraft carrier additional ships needed training war main occurrence ships deployed ran personnel gaining experience working larger naval organisation ships ran arrive area tribal class destroyers june ships ran operated strategic reserve melbourne quadrant vampire voyager indonesia response indonesian invasion australia increased presence region outbreak hostilities ran frigates duty area tension mounted australia increased presence sending sydney vampire area 16th squadron comprising ton class deployed december fired automatic weapons vessel whilst operating singapore patrol vessel arrested following small arms engagement resulted deaths indonesian crew members february involved engagement detected vessel suspicious vessel closed illuminated revealed armed men uniform surrendered immediately challenge march second vessel 16th squadron action fired indonesian shore battery patrolling high explosive rounds fired ship landing yards vessel hawk withdrew area speed following morning hawk intercepted board promptly arrested indonesian forces crossed border june called carry disrupting withdrawal carried border area july runs fired total rounds enemy august agreement indonesia malaysia brought end conflict collision night february worst peacetime disaster ran history occurred destroyer cut bow aircraft carrier killing men board voyager melbourne conducting air group exercises voyager acting plane guard destroyer series manoeuvres reverse course ships voyager ended starboard melbourne ordered resume position carrier port instead turning away melbourne voyager unexpectedly turned carrier alter course late melbourne bow hit destroyer bridge cut half bow sinking quickly search survivors went night aboard officers sailors civilian dockyard worker killed including captain following collision prime minister ordered investigate event commissioner concluded collision primarily fault voyager bridge crew maintaining effective placed blame melbourne captain resigned shortly officers failing alert voyager effective measures avoid collision handing seen poor combination public pressure claims stevens drinking problem second announced time commissions held incident found stevens likely medically unfit command commission conclusions incorrect melbourne officers fault commissions caused great hierarchy ran accustomed tight scrutiny led eventual isolation civilian world vietnam war ships stationed continuous operational service vietnam total ships served vietnam waters war period navy performed wide variety operational tasks sea ashore air ran primary contribution consisted destroyers personnel attached united_states_army helicopter company squadron raaf logistical support force consisting transport escort ships ran personnel served ashore medical teams performed staff duties australian embassy 1st ran deploy operationally goodwill visits followed year later similar visits ran destroyer operationally deployed vietnam served tours vietnam march september operations fired rounds shore targets came fire times including occasion united_states phantom awarded united_states navy unit recognition service vietnam sister ship perth received united_states navy unit unit clearance diving team awarded unit non unit receive awards years service vietnam destroyers steamed miles fired rounds aircraft carrier converted duties early 1960s began voyage vietnam transporting sydney southern vietnam sydney known ferry vietnam carrying troops tons cargo vehicles aircraft carrier rammed sank destroyer night june escorting carrier multinational ordered plane guard station evans crosses carrier bows cut killing united_states personnel joint ran established found melbourne captain officers evans fault despite cleared ran court martial resigned receiving similar treatment collision believed warship sink friendly vessels peacetime april prime minister announced australian forces vietnam reduced led withdrawal clearance divers june final ran destroyer brisbane returned sydney october government withdrew australian forces stopped military aid returned sydney march followed day years ran involved war officers sailors killed wounded suffered injuries cyclone tracy morning december tropical cyclone tracy struck city darwin killing people causing billion damage response cyclone ran embarked operation navy help darwin largest peacetime disaster relief operation history involving ships aircraft personnel tracy struck darwin ran total personnel based city attack class patrol boat small number men limited capability ran render immediate assistance citizens darwin patrol boats damaged way advance able weather cyclone minor damage attack forced aground arrow sank killing personnel land based naval installations heavily damaged cyclone destroyed large sections patrol boat base married quarters oil fuel supply installation naval communications station damaged initial ran relief limited search rescue area hindered lack reliable communications severity disaster realised naval task force established render aid people darwin operation navy help darwin general recall issued personnel volunteers shore bases ships unable sail replace return ships time ran assets arrived darwin december aircraft carrying blood equipment red_cross workers followed shortly carrying ships began departing darwin december departed brisbane sailed melbourne rear admiral wells aboard brisbane stuart left sydney day supply left sydney sailed brisbane ship left brisbane january vessels arrived darwin december surveyed approaches darwin ensuring safety brisbane landed working parties established communications entire ship task force arrived darwin january bringing personnel ran personnel primarily assigned clear suburbs aircraft helicopters supplies inspected ships harbour damage cleared vessels task force began depart darwin early january ships brisbane depart january command relief operation turned 7th military district pacific patrol boat program following introduction united nations convention law sea exclusive economic zone coastal nations increased nmi sudden expansion responsibility dramatically increased area ocean requiring surveillance monitoring nations increasing strain existing maritime patrol resources highlighting need countries maritime patrol force obtain especially area australian request nations sent defence representatives south west pacific region assess surveillance maritime patrol requirements governments number pacific nations expressed concern need suitable naval patrol force meet new surveillance requirements australian government responded creating provide suitable patrol vessels training infrastructure island nations region created minor war ran organisation tender vessels released august awarded september vessels delivered early vessel officially handed course project number participating countries increased end construction phase project total boats delivered countries compared original order boats countries total project cost vessels associated support million ran operated pacific class patrol boat project given ran number advantages pacific region introduction self reliant patrol forces region eased strain australia maritime patrol force cooperation australia pacific neighbours allowed greater allocation ran patrol boats protecting australia maritime resources patrolling conducting border protection operations recently undergone mid life refit potentially operating region main role decades following end australia involvement vietnam war supporting australian diplomatic initiatives line goal ran exercised navies australia allies provided support civil authorities australia ran main military concern 1970s activities indian_ocean concerns lead increased operation united_states_navy development ran main base western_australia late 1970s ran replaced ships modern planned purchase british aircraft carrier hms invincible replace melbourne britain offer carrier withdrawn war result melbourne decommissioned replacement fleet air arm retired fixed wing aircraft june defence white paper called ran self reliant ocean navy major fleet bases new_south_wales western_australia plan called expansion garden island accommodate expanded ran combat surface submarine fleets plan originally called major combat units submarines split fleet bases providing similar capabilities sides continent proposed bay naval base reality fleet base east built sydney home half surface fleet entire submarine fleet rationale policy included possibility savings fuel maintenance result indian_ocean deployments beginning journey western_australia new_south_wales report classed indian_ocean area arise new facilities increase australia worth united_states particularly maintenance submarines expansion bay allow intensified east coast visits nuclear warship visits run opposition sydney melbourne seen attempt strengthen australia relationship united_states damaged new_zealand stance nuclear weapons ports line policy ran structured self reliant activities late 1980s focused operating australia local region ocean policy remains place today supported current opposition success policy especially evident base thriving location global local context gives advantage fleet base east suggested class ships relocated create easier training environment sailors lead significant cost savings post cold war gulf wars australia contribution gulf war centred initially formed multi national fleet addition medical teams deployed aboard hospital ship naval clearance diving team took mining kuwait port facilities end war period september september ran deployed total ships area ships adelaide brisbane darwin success sydney operated theatre january involved clearing operations kuwait march april end gulf war periodically deployed ship gulf red_sea assist maintaining sanctions iraq outbreak second gulf war australian naval force continued enforce sanctions iraq operations conducted boarding parties ran warships outbreak war ran focus shifted supporting coalition land forces clearing approaches iraqi ports provided gunfire support fighting peninsula took clearing approaches boarding operations continued war march boarding parties seized iraqi ship carrying naval mines end war ran continuously maintained frigate protect iraq oil infrastructure participate counter smuggling operations australian sailors deployed iraq january october join multi national training team working ran assumed command coalition forces occasions combined task force combined task force fire fire broke onboard western_australia coast fire caused flexible fuel line number replace rigid cylinder number starboard engine sprayed diesel fuel hot indicator ignited spray fire resulting deaths crew following fire ran began major investigation known found ran contractor critically examine course action key personnel ran contractor trained qualified inquiry found properly designed unfit intended purpose fined failing provide safe workplace seven sailors apparently severely fire sued august decided accept liability reached settlement seven sailors stand receive compensation totalling million australian led united_nations mission known ran deployed total ships mission ships adelaide darwin success sydney newcastle melbourne ran played vital role transporting troops providing protection transports vital success ran returned operation united_nations authorised australian led military deployment quell unrest return stability east crisis deployed including ships approximately june success ran deployed adelaide class frigate fleet air arm contributed helicopter squadron ran helicopters squadron ran force committed apparently largest amphibious task force navy history solomon islands july arrived marking beginning australia contribution deployment strong multinational force followed years unrest soon joined ships following initial deployment vessels generally kept station area time ran deployment ended australian warships taken ship leave sailed home october operation time units ran deployed unique navy primary role support facilitate work time ran supported police led mission fiji november response military threats overthrow australian government began operation deploying military resources support australian citizens fiji event coup état contribution ran deployment vessels ships newcastle success international waters south fiji vessels deployed fiji evacuate estimated australian citizens present fiji need arose vessels detachment helicopters evacuation team deployed november australian_army helicopter operating carrying army personnel board crashed whilst attempting land ship deck killing person injuring leaving missing later confirmed dead arrived task morning december equipped supplied united_states_navy set locating downed detected beacon pass crash site exact location subsequent passes helicopter sitting metres water coup took place december completely violence evacuation australians deemed unnecessary vessels task force began arriving australia december docking newcastle success returning sydney returned australia late december ran decided attempt recover downed identified united_states navy supervisor salvage preferred organisation recovered remains march helicopter march assistance specialist equipment provided team soldier body repatriated march escorted members arrived australia aircraft wreckage end march wreckage evidence crash battle honours prior battle honour system ran linked royal_navy admiralty responsible approving assigning battle honours advice names uniquely australian battle honour time vietnam smaller date units thereof deployments vietnam war ships ran inherited honours british ships addition australian predecessors ran chief naval staff admiral approved decision australian warships carry battle honours earned previous australian vessels creation awarding battle honours came completely ran control complete overhaul ran battle honours system march celebrate navy anniversary creation new honours created operations 1990s 2000s approved honour prior kuwait gulf war service service history previous vessels updated include recognition previous actions women ran women forbidden serving ran demands world war placed personnel resources led change policy april sent letter entry women ran commodore charge sydney letter led formation separate women services existed incorporated permanent force today female members ran wide variety roles open women serve submarines command ships shore expected play increasingly important role future ran current navy today medium sized modern navy world terms strongest navies today combat fleet ran class frigates adelaide class frigates fourteen patrol boats class collins class submarines ran comprises amphibious supply force transport australian_army resupply combat arm navy ran divided seven force element groups naval aviation submarine force warfare clearance diving formed manage operations separate sections ran efficient way modern ran began form late 1970s announced purchase perry class frigates built america announced additional vessels built australia australian built vessels class australia patrol boat replaced fourteen class patrol boats collins class newest class australian submarines built australia constructed replace class submarines australian fleet vessel laid commissioned vessels class service based western australia class current main fleet unit class vessels lead vessel class commissioned final vessel commissioned august australian vessels constructed class jointly constructed new_zealand australia final victoria amphibious supply arm ran class landing platform heavy landing ship class landing craft survey vessels class motor launches fleet dual stores vessel success ran class maintains bases australia ran fleet base west fleet base east primary bases major fleet unit ran majority patrol boat amphibious forces located fleet air arm squadrons based future ran major white paper produced set program defence spending significant improvements ran fleet capabilities significant current project sea destroyers replace adelaide class ships fitted combat system based spanish design class planned service date units named sydney august passed approval acquisition canberra class landing helicopter dock ships displace tonnes carry troops potentially able operate fixed wing aircraft project expected cost billion completed new ships named canberra adelaide
History of the Royal Australian Navy