The Royal Australian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel (OPV) programme has taken another step forward with a ceremony to mark the keel-laying of the sixth and final warship in the class, the future HMAS Carpentaria.
As per a Defence Australia press statement, Friday’s ceremony in Henderson, Western Australia, was led by the RAN’s Rear Admiral Michael Houghton, Head of Patrol Boats and Specialist Ships.
In time-honoured fashion he placed a coin under the keel of the partially-completed vessel, a naval tradition which is believed to bring good luck for her build and life at sea.
R. Adm. Houghton commented: “The OPV program is a major contributor to continuous naval shipbuilding in Australia, which creates and sustains local jobs and harnesses our national defence industry’s local talent and technology.”
He added: “OPVs help patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border alongside the Evolved Cape Class patrol boats. They also play an important role in the Navy’s commitment to supporting the long-term objectives of the National Defence Strategy.”
The six Arafura-class OPVs will replace the current Armidale Class and work alongside Cape-Class patrol boats.
The first-in-class, HMAS Arafura, was commissioned into service in June this year; the second, the second OPV, the future HMAS Eyre, is expected to be delivered later this year.
Both were built by Lurssen Australia and ASC at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The remaining four – Pilbara, Gippsland, Illawarra and Carpentaria — are currently under construction at the Henderson Maritime Precinct by Lurssen Australia and Civmec.
The 80-metre-long warships have a top speed of 20 knots, a 4,000-nautical-mile range, and a crew of 40. They are armed with a 25mm naval gun and two 50-calibre machine guns.
Each OPV will carry two 8.5 metre Boomeranger rigid inflatable boats and a stern-launched 10.5 metre Boomeranger RHIB. An uncrewed aerial vehicle can be deployed from her rear deck.
- You can read more details on the Australian Government website