63-609: The Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Review (or the Surface Fleet Review ) was a 2024 independent review of the surface fleet of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), that was authorised as a result of the larger Defence Strategic Review. It considered and recommended actions the RAN needed to take to solidify Australia's war-fighting capabilities on the maritime front. The review aims to counteract China and 'Chinese coercion' in
126-479: A large number of civilian-crewed vessels under contract to the Australian Defence Force. RAN personnel utilise the following small arms: There are currently several major projects underway that will see upgrades to RAN capabilities. The RAN currently has forces deployed on seven major operations: Henderson Naval Base Henderson Naval Base was a proposed and partially built naval base of
189-728: A commission by the Governor-General as Commander-in-Chief on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III. Naval officers are trained at the Royal Australian Naval College (HMAS Creswell ) in Jervis Bay as well as the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Royal Australian Navy Other Ranks wear "right arm rates" insignia, called "Category Insignia" to indicate specialty training qualifications. This
252-532: A fleet of 335 ships, 55% larger than in 2005. Although Australia has a much smaller navy at 11 surface combatants, the SFR sets out a range of actions that Australia should take to increase the firepower and effectiveness of its naval assets. In 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia would cancel its contract with the French Naval Group for 12 Attack-class conventionally-powered submarines for
315-634: A fleet unit within a larger imperial force, controlled centrally by the British Admiralty . In 1908–09, a compromise solution was pursued, with the Australian government agreeing to establish a force for local defence but that would be capable of forming a fleet unit within the Royal Navy, albeit without central control. As a result, the navy's force structure was set at "one battlecruiser, three light cruisers, six destroyers and three submarines". The first of
378-522: A result of the review their program to acquire six 'Large Optionally-Crewed Surface Vessels (LOCV)'. The intended role of these vessels is to act as crewed missile boats ; they will have 32 vertical-launch cells, but few close-in weapons. The DoD plans to purchase the ships from the United States contractors on their similar program, but to have them built in Australia. The 32 VLS cells on the ship will allow
441-560: A time of radical change in the plans for the Royal Australian Navy. Prior to 1909, the navy's role was a domestic and defensive one, with naval ships no larger than destroyers required for this task. From 1909, the thinking of the Australian naval staff evolved towards a blue-water navy , equipped with larger surface ships. This ambitious plan saw Australia as a major naval power in the Pacific by 1933. The events of World War I prevented
504-765: A troublesome German coastal raider. The SMS Emden and HMAS Sydney met in the Battle of Cocos, the Emden was destroyed in Australia's first naval victory. Following the almost complete destruction of the East Asia Squadron in the Battle of the Falklands by the Royal Navy, the RAN became able to be reassigned to other naval theatres of the war. On 28 February 1915, the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train (RANBT)
567-555: A year later. Leading Australian politicians like Senator Pearce felt that, with the Washington Naval Treaty from 1922, the potential threat of Australia from Japan had been eliminated for at least the following decade. Also never completed, the Perth suburb of Naval Base derives its name from the proposed facility while the suburb immediately north of it, Henderson , is named after the admiral and base. The camp facilities of
630-568: Is a holdover from the Royal Navy. The Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N) is an appointment held by the most senior sailor in the RAN and holds the rank of warrant officer (WO). However, the WO-N does not wear the WO rank insignia; instead, they wear the special insignia of the appointment. The WO-N appointment has similar equivalent appointments in the other services, each holding the rank of warrant officer, each being
693-437: Is formed. The CDTs have two primary roles: As of June 2023, the RAN has 14,745 permanent full-time personnel, 172 gap-year personnel, and 4,607 reserve personnel. The permanent full-time trained force consists of 3,070 commissioned officers, and 9,695 enlisted personnel. While male personnel made up 75.9% of the permanent full-time force, while female personnel made up 24%. The RAN has the second-highest percentage of women in
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#1732847660765756-702: Is located at HMAS Kuttabul , Sydney and the second, Fleet Base West , is located at HMAS Stirling , near Perth. In addition, three other bases are home to the majority of the RAN's minor war vessels: HMAS Cairns , in Cairns, HMAS Coonawarra , in Darwin, and HMAS Waterhen , in Sydney. The Clearance Diving Branch is composed of two Clearance Diving Teams (CDT) that serve as parent units for naval clearance divers: When clearance divers are sent into combat, Clearance Diving Team Three (AUSCDT THREE)
819-608: Is one of the largest and most sophisticated naval forces in the South Pacific region , with a significant presence in the Indian Ocean and worldwide operations in support of military campaigns and peacekeeping missions. The Commonwealth Naval Forces were established on 1 March 1901, with the amalgamation of the six separate colonial naval forces , following the Federation of Australia . The Royal Australian Navy initially consisted of
882-732: Is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. The Chief of Navy is also jointly responsible to the Minister for Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence , which is a part of the Australian Public Service , administers the ADF, and ergo,
945-744: The Aegis Combat System from Baseline 8 to 9 and possibly upgrading the radar system. The shipbuilders will also alter the missile cells so as to accommodate for more advanced missiles such as the Tomahawk , the Naval Strike Missile , and the SM-6 anti-ballistic missile . As a result of the review, the Department of Defence (DoD) has agreed to make various concessions to the Hunter-class frigate program,
1008-662: The British Admiralty continued to provide blue-water defence capability in the Pacific and Indian Oceans up to the early years of the Second World War. During its history, the Royal Australian Navy has participated in a number of major wars, including the First and Second World Wars, Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation and the Vietnam War. As of 2024, the RAN consists of over 52 commissioned vessels, 11 non-commissioned vessels and over 16,000 personnel. The navy
1071-462: The Department of Defence , yet maintenance would be funded by the appropriate organisation (ABF or Navy). The review emphasised that the government of the day must commit to continuing Australia's domestic shipbuilding industry. As a result of this the government made various concessions to accommodate this with projects divided across Australia's two manufacturing naval bases. These projects are: South Australian Premier , Peter Malinauskas praised
1134-858: The Mediterranean , the Red Sea , the Persian Gulf , the Indian Ocean , and off the West African coast . Following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the virtual destruction of Allied naval forces in Southeast Asia , the RAN operated more independently, defending against Axis naval activity in Australian waters , or participating in United States Navy offensives. As the navy took on an even greater role, it
1197-415: The Royal Australian Navy south of Fremantle , Western Australia in what is now the suburbs of Naval Base and Henderson . Planned in 1911, construction of the base commenced in 1913 but was abandoned during World War I and cancelled in 1920. Temporary naval facilities subsequently existed in the state during World War II but a permanent facility was not established until 1978, when HMAS Stirling
1260-585: The SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered design in collaboration with the UK and US. France described the renegotiation as a 'stab in the back' (" poignarder dans le do s"). In response to the recommendations of the larger military-wide Defence Strategic Review, the Australian Government commissioned an " Independent Analysis into Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet " to consolidate and consider what changes should be made to make
1323-568: The Solomon Islands . The high demand for personnel in the Second World War led to the establishment of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) branch in 1942, where over 3,000 women served in shore-based positions. The WRANS was disbanded in 1947, but then re-established in 1951 during the Cold War. It was given permanent status in 1959, and the RAN was the final branch to integrate women in
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#17328476607651386-477: The 1920s and early 1930s, the RAN was drastically reduced in size due to a variety of factors including political apathy and economic hardship as a result of the Great Depression . In this time the focus of Australia's naval policy shifted from defence against invasion to trade protection, and several fleet units were sunk as targets or scrapped. By 1923, the size of the navy had fallen to eight vessels, and by
1449-574: The ANMEF departed Sydney for training in Townsville before the rendezvous with other RAN vessels in Port Moresby . On 29 August, four cruisers and HMAS Australia assisted New Zealand's Samoa Expeditionary Force in landing at Apia , and committing a bloodless takeover of German Samoa. Additionally, the RAN captured German merchant vessels, disrupting German merchant shipping in the Pacific. On 7 September,
1512-461: The ANMEF, now including HMAS Australia , three destroyers, and two each of cruisers and submarines, departed for Rabaul. A few days later, on 9 September, HMAS Melbourne landed a party to destroy the island's wireless station, though the German administration promptly surrendered. Between 11 and 12 September, landings were put ashore at Kabakaul, Rabaul and Herbertshohe; it was during this period that
1575-532: The Anzac frigates as they come out of service, and the first batch is to be built in an accelerated manner overseas, and later transition to Henderson Naval Base for construction. The DoD has outlined four shortlisted ships to be considered for the program: In November 2024, it was reported that the government had shortlisted the Japanese and German designs, with a finam decision expected in 2025. The DoD has announced as
1638-569: The Asia-Pacific region and operated alongside the Royal Navy and United States Navy off Korea, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Since the end of the Cold War, the RAN has been part of Coalition forces in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, operating in support of Operation Slipper and undertaking counter piracy operations. It was also deployed in support of Australian peacekeeping operations in East Timor and
1701-578: The Australian military in 1985. The strategic command structure of the RAN was overhauled during the New Generation Navy changes. The RAN is commanded through Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Canberra . NHQ is responsible for implementing policy decisions handed down from the Department of Defence and for overseeing tactical and operational issues that are the purview of the subordinate commands. Beneath NHQ are two subordinate commands: Fleet Command
1764-711: The British Empire started to diminish its influence in the South Pacific. The Royal Australian Navy was initially a green-water navy , as the Royal Navy provided a blue-water force to the Australian Squadron , which the Australian and New Zealand governments helped to fund; the squadron was assigned to the Australia Station . This period lasted until 1913, when naval ships purchased from Britain arrived, although
1827-720: The Henderson base were used for training during World War II and as public housing in the post war years. The camp was located east of the Naval Base to Rockingham road, now Cockburn Road , on the high ground south of the fence of the Woodman Point Quarantine Station. The area is now part of the Woodman Point Waste Water Treatment Plant. Fremantle was extensively used by the Australian and allied navies during World War II but no permanent base
1890-456: The Henderson base, which was envisaged to cost £5.5 million over a period of ten years to construct. The project was officially abandoned in 1920 in favour of a British naval base in Singapore . By 1923, the blue-water navy strategy for the Royal Australian Navy had been abandoned, the navy drastically reduced, suffering from coal shortages, and its only capital ship, HMAS Australia , scuttled
1953-838: The RAN at the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell. From July 2020, Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officers (MSWOs) were introduced to the Navy Chaplaincy Branch, designed to give Navy people and their families with professional, non-religious pastoral care and spiritual support. In the Royal Australian Navy, Chaplains and MSWOs are commissioned officers without rank. For reasons of protocol, ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes, they are, where appropriate, normally grouped with Commanders (O-5). . The more senior Division 4 Senior Chaplains are grouped with Captains (O-6) and Division 5 Principal Chaplains are grouped with Commodores (O-7), but their rank slide remains
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2016-651: The RAN submarine HMAS AE1 became the first ever vessel of the new navy to be sunk. The Australian Squadron was placed under control of the British Admiralty , and was moreover tasked with protecting Australian shipping. On 1 November, the RAN escorted the First Australian Imperial Force convoy from Albany, WA and set for the Khedivate of Egypt , which was soon to become the Sultanate of Egypt . On 9 November, HMAS Sydney began hunting for SMS Emden ,
2079-640: The RAN's new vessels, the destroyer HMAS Yarra , was completed in September 1910, and by the outbreak of the First World War the majority of the planned fleet had been realised. On 10 July 1911, the CNF was granted "Royal" status by King George V . Following the British Empire's declaration of war on Germany , the British War Office tasked the capture of German New Guinea to the Australian Government . This
2142-471: The Royal Australian Navy. In 2023, the Surface Fleet Review was introduced to outline the future of the Navy. The navy was formed in 1901 as the Commonwealth Naval Forces ( CNF ) through the amalgamation of the colonial navies of Australia following the federation of Australia . Although it was originally intended for local defence, it became increasingly responsible for regional defence as
2205-481: The current Anzac-class frigates of the RAN and in accordance with the recommendations of the review, the DoD has announced their intent to procure 11 ' General Purpose Frigates (GPFs) '. They are intended to form part of a 'tier 2' fleet: less expensive than their 'tier 1' counterparts whilst still retaining adequate firepower, especially when it comes to Vertical launching system (VLS) cells. The GPFs will gradually replace
2268-659: The current Royal Australian Navy structure is O-10, an admiral who serves as the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) when the position is held by a Naval Officer. The navy has a O-11 position Admiral of the Fleet that is honorary and is currently held by Charles III , King of Australia . O-8 (rear admiral) to O-11 (admiral of the fleet) are referred to as flag officers , O-5 (commander) and above are referred to as senior officers , while S-1 (midshipman) to O-4 (lieutenant commander) are referred to as junior officers . All RAN Officers are issued
2331-539: The end of the decade it had fallen further to five, with just 3,500 personnel. In the late 1930s, as international tensions increased, the RAN was modernised and expanded, with the service receiving primacy of funding over the Army and Air Force during this time as Australia began to prepare for war. Early in the Second World War , RAN ships again operated as part of Royal Navy formations, many serving with distinction in
2394-413: The execution of such plans and the financial constraints and a return to Britain as a source of naval protection for Australia put an end to plans of a large Australian naval force altogether. The new Henderson Naval Base was envisioned to be home to 7,500 men, 17 armoured ships and nine submarines and to be Britain's main base in the Indian-Pacific region. The Commonwealth of Australia acquired much of
2457-406: The first Australian casualties and deaths of the war occurred. On 14 September, HMAS Encounter barraged an enemy position at Toma with shells; it was the first time the RAN had fired upon an enemy and had shelled an inland location. On 17 September, German New Guinea surrendered to the encroaching ANMEF, with the overall campaign a success and exceeded the objectives set by the War Office. However,
2520-476: The former New South Wales, Victorian, Queensland, Western Australian, South Australian and Tasmanian ships and resources of their disbanded navies. The Defence Act 1903 established the operation and command structure of the Royal Australian Navy. When policymakers sought to determine the newly established force's requirements and purpose, there were arguments about whether Australia's naval force would be structured mainly for local defence or designed to serve as
2583-447: The government's allocation of shipbuilding programs to South Australia. In May 2024, it was proven that the newest destroyer of the RAN, HMAS Sydney , was fitted with Naval Strike Missile launchers. According to the SIPRI arms transfers database, Australia placed an order for an unknown quantity of the Block-1A NSMs with delivery to begin in 2024. In July 2024, during Exercise RIMPAC , HMAS Sydney successfully fired its first NSM in
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2646-406: The land on the coastal strip from Woodman Point in the north to Cape Peron in the south following the announcement of the future base and the land remained under federal government ownership even after the naval base plans were abandoned. Consequently, development of the area stalled and settlers moved to other areas. The official opening of the Henderson Naval Base took place on 7 May 1913, in
2709-410: The largest of which perhaps being the reduction of the total order of vessels, of which the DoD has announced their intent to slash the program to six vessels instead of the original nine that were planned. The DoD also followed the recommendation of the review to assess the feasibility of adapting the frigate to allow for the launching of the Tomahawk cruise missile. In response to the aging nature of
2772-437: The most senior sailor/soldier/airman in that service, and each wearing their own special insignia rather than their rank insignia. The Australian Army equivalent is the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A) and the Royal Australian Air Force equivalent is the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF). Chaplains in the Royal Australian Navy are commissioned officers who complete the same training as other officers in
2835-442: The naval fleet more lethal and efficient. The review was announced on 20 February 2024 by Defence Minister and Prime Minister, Richard Marles, alongside Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy. Marles stated that the plans of the review would enable Australia to 'deter Chinese coercion' and maintain 'Australia['s] way of life'. The government plans to upgrade the Tier 1 Hobart-class destroyers . The major upgrades include increasing
2898-467: The number of workmen having been scaled back, something that was registered with indignation in Western Australia. In 1914, Irish engineer Maurice Fitzmaurice was involved with the selection and design of the harbour, with Jervoise Bay, just south of Woodman Point, selected over Mangles Bay . The cost of construction, on top of the financial cost of the war effort, proved to be a heavy burden on Australia's economy. By 1917, £1.5 million had been spend on
2961-442: The objective was found to be further inland and an expeditionary force was required. Meanwhile, HMAS Australia was tasked with scouring the Pacific Ocean for the German squadron. The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) began recruiting on the same day that the taskforce arrived in New Britain , and consisted of two battalions: one of 1,000 men, and the other with 500 serving and former seamen. On 19 August,
3024-476: The permanent forces, compared to the RAAF's 26.6% and the Army's 15.3%. Throughout the 2022-23 financial year 1,141 enlisted in the RAN on a permanent basis while 1,354 left, representing a net loss of 213 personnel. The following are some of the current senior Royal Australian Navy officers: Commissioned officers of the Australian Navy have pay grades ranging from S-1 to O-10. The highest rank achievable in
3087-402: The presence of Senator George Pearce , with speeches from Admiral Creswell and the Premier of Western Australia of the time, John Scaddan . The project suffered from unfortunate timing, starting just a year before the outbreak of World War I, and domestic issues like labour shortages and delays in the harbour dredging. By late 1913, only about 30 men worked on the Henderson Naval Base,
3150-399: The procurement of missiles. The Surface Fleet Review, as well as the Defence Strategic Review, aim to counteract the increasing military power of a belligerent China . This coupled with the major focus and prioritisation of the Australian Army over other branches has created a ground for focus on the neglected Royal Australian Navy . In 2019, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy had
3213-558: The region. It was announced by Deputy-Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy on 20 February 2024. Upon governmental approval, the review established several programs, including a General Purpose Frigate Program, an optionally-crewed missile boat program, as well as various programs to improve the capability of existing ship classes. These programs were divided into three tiers, each corresponding to different levels of ship capability. The review also focused on shipbuilding programs and infrastructure, and on
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#17328476607653276-677: The same. Principal Chaplains and MSWOs, however, have gold braid on the peak of their white service cap. From January 2021, MSWOs and all chaplains wear the branch's new non-faith-specific rank insignia of a fouled anchor overlaying a compass rose, which represents a united team front, encompassing all faiths and purpose. Chaplains and MSWOs have insignia that reflect their religion on collar mounted patches (Cross for Christian, Crescent for Muslim etc, Compass rose for MSWOs.) The RAN currently operates nearly 50 commissioned vessels, made up of nine ship classes and three individual ships, plus 11 non-commissioned vessels. In addition, DMS Maritime operates
3339-413: The sandbanks through dredged channels to allow access to the sound. Following a visit to Australia, British Admiral Reginald Henderson suggested Cockburn Sound as the location of a naval base once more in 1910, as part of a report compiled by him. At the time, the Royal Australian Navy in Western Australia consisted of fourteen men and four sail boats, based in a boats shed. Henderson's report came at
3402-469: The system to act as a launch arena for anti-ballistic missiles such as SM-3 and RIM-174 Standard ERAM as well as land-strike missiles and anti-air munitions. The review emphasised the belief that the Arafura-class is under-gunned and does not possess significant offensive or defensive capability, and as such, the DoD has agreed to reduce the amount of Arafura vessels from the planned twelve down to six vessels. They also agreed to investigate whether
3465-419: The vessels could be used in a specialised role, such as mine countermeasure. The DoD has agreed to use the Cape-class primarily as an Australian Border Force vessel, as well as manufacture capability on a number of the vessels that would prove useful to the Navy. The government has also agreed to put in place a framework that would allow for all Cape-class vessels to be under the overall responsibility of
3528-752: The waters surrounding Hawaii . Sydney contributed to the SINKEX of the USS Tarawa with an NSM during RIMPAC 2024. The first ship of the Hunter-class frigate program , HMAS Hunter , had its steel cut on 21 June 2024 and is expected to be launched in 2029-30, and commissioned in 2034. On 4 September 2024, Australia and Japan signed a deal to further collaborate on long-range missiles, especially for ship use. Australia agreed to allow Japan to use Australian missile testing ranges for Japanese experiments. In November 2024, Australia announced its intention to purchase $ 7 billion dollars worth of SM-2 and SM-6 missiles, both manufactured by Raytheon . Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy ( RAN )
3591-493: Was commissioned. Studies into the establishment of a naval base in Western Australia date back to 1887, when John Coode , the head of the firm of Coode and Matthews and a respected English civil engineer, visited Australia to select a location for a naval base. He provided a report on his activities four years later, in which he suggested Cockburn Sound as a location. His recommendation was, to drill into Success and Parmelia Banks to establish whether ships could pass through
3654-402: Was established in Western Australia in the decades after the war. A feasibility study for Cockburn Sound was carried out in 1966 and, three years later, the Australian Government announced the construction of a naval base on Garden Island . From 1975, the new facility came in use but was officially commissioned in July 1978 as HMAS Stirling , the Fleet Base West. Henderson, today, is home to
3717-495: Was expanded significantly and at its height the RAN was the fourth-largest navy in the world, with 39,650 personnel operating 337 warships, but no active submarines. A total of 34 vessels were lost during the war, including three cruisers and four destroyers. After the Second World War, the size of the RAN was again reduced, but it gained new capabilities with the acquisition of two aircraft carriers, Sydney and Melbourne . The RAN saw action in many Cold War –era conflicts in
3780-452: Was formed with members of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve who could not find billets in the RAN. Following the entrance of the Ottoman Empire in alliance with the Central Powers, HMAS AE2 was committed to the initial naval operation of the Gallipoli campaign . After the failure of the naval strategy, an amphibious assault was planned to enable the Allies' warships to pass through the Dardanelles and capture Constantinople . The RANBT
3843-419: Was previously made up of seven Force Element Groups , but after the New Generation Navy changes, this was restructured into four Force Commands: The Royal Australian Navy consists of over 50 commissioned vessels and over 16,000 personnel. Ships commissioned into the RAN are given the prefix HMAS ( His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship ). The RAN has two primary bases for its fleet: the first, Fleet Base East ,
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#17328476607653906-422: Was sent ashore, along with the invasion, for engineering duties. Later in the war, most of the RAN's major ships operated as part of Royal Navy forces in the Mediterranean and North Seas, and then later in the Adriatic, and then the Black Sea following the surrender of the Ottoman Empire . In 1919, the RAN received a force of six destroyers, three sloops and six submarines from the Royal Navy, but throughout
3969-420: Was to deprive the Imperial German Navy 's East Asia Squadron of regional intelligence by removing their access to wireless stations. On 11 August, three destroyers and HMAS Sydney prepared to engage the squadron at German Anchorages in New Guinea, which did not eventuate as the vessels were not present. Landing parties were placed on Rabaul and Herbertshohe to destroy its German wireless station; however,
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