Anzac-class frigate

HMAS Ballarat in 2016
HMAS Ballarat in 2016.
Class overview
NameAnzac
BuildersAMECON
Operators
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Built1993–2006
In commission
  • 1996–present (RAN)
  • 1997–present (RNZN)
Planned12
Completed10
Cancelled2
Active9
Retired1
General characteristics as designed
TypeFrigate
Displacement3,600 t (3,500 long tons; 4,000 short tons) full load displacement
Length
Beam14.8 m (49 ft)
Draught4.35 m (14.3 ft) at full load
Propulsion
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement22 officers, 141 sailors and 16 government worker or air crew.
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Radar:
  • Original fit
    • Raytheon SPS-49(V)8 ANZ aerial search and long-range surveillance
    • Saab 9LV Combat Management System
    • Saab Sea Giraffe Target Indication Radar for air and surface search
    • Krupp Atlas 9600 Navigation RADAR
    • Saab9LV 453 Ceros 200 Fire Control Radar and Continuous Wave Illuminator
  • ASMD fit
    • CEAFAR1-S S-band Active Phased Array Radar
    • Kelvin Hughes Sharp Eye Navigation Radar
    • CEAMOUNT Fire Control Illuminators
    • Saab Systems Ceros 200 Fire Control Director
    • Cossor AIMS Mk XII IFF
  • Combat Data Systems
    • Saab Systems 9LV453 Mk3E
  • Electronic Countermeasures
    • JEDS 3701 electronic support measures
    • Telefunken PST-1720 comms intercept
  • AMCAP fit[1]
    • CEAFAR2-L L-band Active Phased Array Radar
  • NZ Anzac Frigate Systems Upgrade[2]
    • Thales SMART-S Mk2 S-band PESA radar
    • Kelvin Hughes Sharp Eye Navigation Radar
    • Furuno FAR-3320W radar
    • Cossor AIMS Mk XII IFF
  • Combat Data Systems
    • Lockheed Martin Canada CMS330
  • Electronic Countermeasures
    • Elbit/Elisra electronic support measures
    • Rheinmetall MASS Offboard ECM
    • Ultra Electronics Sea Sentor torpedo countermeasures
    • Airborne Systems DLF floating decoy
  • Sonar:
    • ThomsonSintra Spherion B hull-mounted bow sonar
    • Petrel Mine and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar system
    • Fitted for but not with towed-array sonar
  • Other:
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried
NotesFor upgrades and current configurations, see the sections on "Australian modifications" and "New Zealand modifications", or the individual ship articles

The Anzac class (also identified as the ANZAC class and the MEKO 200 ANZ type) is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

During the 1980s, the RAN began plans to replace the River-class destroyer escorts (based on the British Leander-class frigate) with a mid-capability patrol frigate and settled on the idea of modifying a proven German design for Australian conditions. Around the same time, the RNZN was seeking to replace their Leander-class frigates while maintaining blue-water capabilities. A souring of relations between New Zealand and the United States in relation to New Zealand's nuclear-free zone and the ANZUS security treaty prompted New Zealand to seek improved ties with other nations, particularly Australia. As both nations were seeking warships of similar capabilities, the decision was made in 1987 to collaborate on their acquisition.

The project name (and later, the class name) is taken from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps of the First World War.

Twelve ship designs were tendered in 1986.[3] By 1989, the project had selected a proposal by Germany's Blohm + Voss, based on their MEKO 200 design, to be built in Australia by AMECON at Williamstown, Victoria. The modular design of the frigates allowed sections to be constructed at Whangārei, New Zealand and Newcastle, New South Wales in addition to Williamstown. The RAN ordered eight ships, while the RNZN ordered two and had the option to add two more. The frigate acquisition was controversial and widely opposed in New Zealand, and as a result, the additional ships were not ordered.

In 1992, work started on the frigates; 3,600-tonne (3,500-long-ton) ships capable of a 27-knot (50 km/h; 31 mph) top speed, and a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). The armament initially consisted of a single 5-inch gun and a point-defence missile system, supported by a missile-armed helicopter. In addition, the ships were fitted for but not with a torpedo system, anti-ship missiles, and a close-in weapons system. The last ship of the class entered service in 2006; by this point, the RAN and RNZN had embarked on separate projects to improve the frigates' capabilities by fitting the additional weapons, along with updates to other systems and equipment.

Since entering service, Anzac-class frigates have made multiple deployments outside local waters, including involvement in the INTERFET multi-national deployment to East Timor, and multiple operational periods in the Persian Gulf. As of 2024, nine ships are in service following HMAS Anzac's decommissioning in May 2024.[4] The RAN intends to start replacing theirs in 2024,[5] while the RNZN ships will remain active until the mid-2030s.

  1. ^ "Third ANZAC-class Frigate gets her new mast as part of AMCAP upgrade". 27 June 2020.
  2. ^ "New Zealand Frigate Systems Upgrade Project". 11 May 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Greener30 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "HMAS Anzac (III) farewelled after 28 years of service". 18 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Australia To Double Fleet Size With Small Warships". Naval News. Retrieved 20 February 2024.