ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

The 'Royal Australian Navy' ('RAN') is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Established in 1901, the RAN was formed out of the 'Commonwealth Naval Forces' to become the small navy of Australia after federation, consisting of the former colonial navies of the new Australian states. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom continued to provide blue-water defence in the Pacific until World War II, when expansion of the RAN saw the acquisition of aircraft carriers, and other large surface vessels.
Today the RAN is one of the largest naval forces in the Pacific region and has a significant presence in the Indian Ocean, and has undertaken operations in support of military campaigns and peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Vice Admiral Russ Shalders is the current Chief of Navy and was appointed to this position in 2005.

Contents

History

RAN Today

The Fleet

Ships of the Royal Australian Navy

Fleet Air Arm

Clearance Diving Teams

Future

Current Operations

Ranks

See also

External links

References

History

Main articles: History of the Royal Australian Navy

The Commonwealth Naval Forces were established on 1 March 1901, two months after the Federation of Australia. On 10 July 1911, King George V granted the title of 'Royal Australian Navy'.^[1]
During World War I the RAN was initially responsible for capturing many of Germany's colonies in the South Pacific and protecting Australian shipping from the German East Asia Squadron. For the remainder of the war most of the RAN's major ships operated as part of Royal Navy forces in the Mediterranean and North Seas.
During the 1920s and early 1930s the Royal Australian Navy was greatly reduced in size. As international tensions increased, however, the RAN was modernised and expanded. During the early years of World War II ships from the RAN again operated as part of the Royal Navy, with RAN ships serving with distinction in the Mediterranean. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the virtual destruction of the Royal Navy force in Asia the RAN increasingly operated independently or as part of United States Navy forces. By the end of the war, the RAN was the fifth largest navy in the world.
While the size of the RAN was greatly reduced after World War II, the Navy gained new capabilities with the delivery of two aircraft carriers. The RAN saw action in many Cold War era conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region and operated alongside the Royal Navy and United States Navy off Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam. Following the end of the Cold War the RAN has participated in Coalition forces in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean and has formed a critical element in Australian-led operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

RAN Today

The Fleet

Today's fleet consists of around 60 vessels including frigates, submarines, patrol boats and auxiliary ships. The RAN today is one of the most modern in the Pacific and is tasked with the ability to defend Australian waters and undertake operations in distant locations. Current deployments of the navy include: contributions to the multinational force in Iraq; support for the United Nations mission in East Timor; and a "regional assistance mission" with New Zealand in the Solomon Islands.
The RAN has two primary bases for its fleet;

★ Fleet Base East, which is located at HMAS ''Kuttabul'' near Sydney.

★ Fleet Base West, located at HMAS ''Stirling'' near Perth.
In addition, there are two other ports which are home to the majority of the RAN's minor war vessels;

★ HMAS ''Coonawarra'', at Darwin.

★ HMAS ''Cairns'', at Cairns.

Ships of the Royal Australian Navy

The RAN currently operates 6 main classes of vessels:

Class	Type	Number	Dates	Details
''Anzac'' class	Frigate	8	1996	Anti-submarine and anti-aircraft, with SH-2 Seasprite helicopters.
''Adelaide'' class[2]	Frigate	5	1985	Anti-submarine and anti-aircraft frigate with 2 S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters
''Armidale'' class[3]	Patrol boat	11	2005	Coastal defence and fishery protection; 14 to be built in total (replacing ''Fremantle'' class)
''Huon'' class	Minehunter	6	1997	Minehunting
''Collins'' class	Submarine	6	2000	Diesel-electric powered patrol submarines for deep ocean patrols

1. The R.A.N. - A Brief History [1] accessed 1 March 2007
2. - Only 4 Adelaide class frigates will be upgraded and returned to service; the other 2 will be withdrawn.
3. - A total of 14 ''Armidale'' class vessels will be built.

Fleet Air Arm

Main articles: Fleet Air Arm (RAN)

The 'Fleet Air Arm' provides the RAN's naval aviation capability. At present, it is an entirely helicopter based force, with a total of four squadrons. Most of the Navy's large ships are capable of operating helicopters, and frigates typically carry Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk and support ships carry Westland Sea King Mk 50 aircraft during operational deployments. The Fleet Air Arm and its associated support are under the direction of the 'Navy Aviation Force'. Both the NAF and Fleet Air Arm are located at HMAS ''Albatross'' in New South Wales.

Clearance Diving Teams

Main articles: Clearance Diving Team (RAN)

The RAN has two 'Clearance Diving Teams' which serve as parent units for the navy's clearance divers, Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE), based at HMAS ''Waterhen'' in New South Wales and Clearance Diving Team Four (AUSCDT FOUR) based at HMAS ''Stirling'' in Western Australia. When personnel are sent into combat, Clearance Diving Team Three (AUSCDT THREE) is formed. The CDTs have two primary roles:

1. Mine Counter Measures (MCM) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)

2. Maritime Tactical Operations

Future

Main articles: Royal Australian Navy in the 21st century

There are several major projects in process that will see upgrades to the capabilities of the RAN:

★ The Sea 1390 Project will see the upgrading of four ''Adelaide'' class guided missile frigates with enhanced weapons and electronics.

★ The Sea 1654 Project has been initiated to upgrade the RAN's replenishment and support vessels.

★ The RAN has initiated the Sea 4000 Project, under which it has agreed to acquire three vessels based upon the U.S. Navy Aegis air and surface combat management system. It was announced in June 2007 that these vessels will be based on the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán class frigate, an Aegis-equipped class.

★ The RAN also has a project to build two (25000+ tonne Displacement) ''Canberra'' class large amphibious ship that would have amphibious assault, transport, command centre, and possibly naval fixed-wing aviation roles.

★ There is also currently a project being undertaken within the RAN to equip the ''Collins'' Class submarines with a new tactical combat system, and upgraded state of the art heavyweight torpedoes.

★ The navy needs 2,000 recruits, including 700 apprentices, to crew the next generation of warships such as air warfare destroyers which enter service next decade.

Current Operations

Main articles: Current Australian Defence Force deployments

The RAN currently has forces deployed on two major operations:

★ 'Operation Catalyst' - Australia's commitment to the Coalition forces in Iraq. The RAN's contribution is normally one ship in the Persian Gulf.

★ 'Operation Resolute' - the ADF's contribution to patrolling Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone

Ranks

Main articles: Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia

Like chaplains in the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) chaplains are commissioned officers and wear the uniform of a RAN officer, but like chaplains in the British Royal Navy (RN) they do not wear a rank. Rather they wear the same cross and anchor emblem worn by RN chaplains on their shoulder rank slides and do not have gold braided rings or executive loops on their winter coat sleeve or summer shoulder boards. Like other chaplains in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Navy chaplains have five divisions of seniority. Whilst Australian Navy chaplains do not wear rank, they are accorded a certain rank for protocol and ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes. Division 1, 2 and 3 Australian Navy chaplains are accorded the rank and status as Commander (or Lieutenant Colonel equivalent in the Australian Army). Division 4 Australian Navy chaplains are accorded the rank and status of Captain (equiv. of Colonel). Division 5 Australian Navy chaplains are "Principal Chaplains," and these three chaplains, representing the three major Christian denominations: Catholic, Anglican and Protestant, are accorded the rank and status of Commodore. The title "Padre" for chaplains is less common and not officially encouraged in the Royal Australian Navy, although it is known to be used by some sailors and Navy chaplains in preference to the more formal title of "Chaplain" or form of address towards an officer such as "Sir."

See also

★ Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia

★ List of Australian military memorials

External links

★ Royal Australian Navy home page

★
★ Historical listing of RAN ships and badges

★ 'Virtual Fleet' - on-line computer based 'tour' of ships and aircraft

★ Maritimequest Royal Australian Navy photo gallery

★ Official Biographies:

★
★ Chief of Navy

★
★ Maritime Commander

★
★ Commander Australian Navy Systems Command

★ Royal and Dominion Navies in World War II, Campaigns, Battles, Warship losses

★ Royal and Dominion Navies, Victoria Cross at Sea, 1940-45

References

1. The R.A.N. - A Brief History [1] accessed 1 March 2007
2. - Only 4 Adelaide class frigates will be upgraded and returned to service; the other 2 will be withdrawn.
3. - A total of 14 ''Armidale'' class vessels will be built.