 HMAS Darwin, the fourth ship in the Adelaide class
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Adelaide class |
| Builders | |
| Operators |
|
| Preceded by | Daring-class destroyer |
| Succeeded by | Hobart-class destroyer |
| Built | 21 June 1978 – 21 February 1992 |
| In service | 15 November 1980 – 27 September 2019 |
| In commission | 15 November 1980 – 26 October 2019 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Retired | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Modified Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate |
| Displacement | 4,100 tons full load |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Draught | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, each providing 20,500 hp (15,287 kW). Total 41,000 hp (30,574 kW) |
| Speed | Over 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) |
| Range | 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 176–221 |
| Sensors and processing systems | AN/SPS-49 radar, Mk 92 fire control system, AN/SPS-55 radar, AN/SQS-56 sonar |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 × S-70B Seahawk or 1 × Seahawk and 1 × AS350B Squirrel |
| Notes | Mk 41 VLS and ESSM capability installed during the FFG Upgrade project |
The Adelaide class of six guided missile frigates was constructed in Australia and the United States for service in the Royal Australian Navy.[1] Two were later sold to the Chilean Navy. The Adelaide class was based on the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, but modified for Australian requirements. The first four vessels were built in the United States, and the final two were constructed in Australia. The first ship entered service in November 1980.
Canberra and Adelaide were paid off in 2005 and 2008, respectively, and later sunk as dive wrecks. Their decommissioning offset the cost of a A$1 billion weapons and equipment upgrade to the remaining four ships.[2] As the Hobart-class air-warfare destroyers entered service beginning in 2016, the remaining Adelaide-class ships were progressively decommissioned beginning with Sydney in 2015. Darwin followed in 2017, and Newcastle and Melbourne went last in 2019. The final two were sold to Chile in 2020.
- ^ McLaughlin, Andrew. "Contract signed and work begins in Adelaide on first of navy's Hunter-class frigates". PS News. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Adelaide Class Frigate Models". SD Model Makers. Retrieved 4 October 2024.