Anzac-class Frigate

The Anzac-class Frigates are a class of thirteen frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and five operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). During the 1980s, the RAN began plans to replace the River class destroyer escorts with a mid-capability patrol frigate, and settled on the idea of modifying a proven foreign 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 of America 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 (including an airship) were tendered in 1986. 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 Whangarei, 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 2012, all ten ships are in service. The RAN intends to start replacing theirs in 2024, while the RNZN ships will remain active until around 2030.

Specifications

• Type: Frigate (Hull designation symbol FFH)
• Service Period: 1996- (RAN); 1997- (RNZN)
• Characteristics
  • Length (Overall): 387 feet (117.96 meters)
  • Length (Waterline): 360 feet (109.73 meters)
  • Beam: 50 feet (15.24 meters)
  • Draught: 15 feet (4.36 meters)
  • Displacement: 3,795 tons (Full Load)
• Crew: 163 (22 officers and 141 sailors
• Propulsion:
  • 2 x GE LM2500-30 gas turbines, 60,344 shp (45,258 kW)
  • 2 x MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines, 17,680 hp (13,180 kW)
  • 2 x controllable pitch propellors
• Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33.34 km/h; 21 mph)
• Speed: 31.75 knots (58.8 km/h)
• Sensor Suite:
  • Raytheon SPS-49(V)8 ANZ aerial search and long-range surveillance Radar
  • CelsiusTech 9LV 453 Target Indication Radar for air and surface search Radar
  • Atlas Elektronik 9600 ARPA navigational Radar
  • CelsiusTech 9LV 453 unit for fire control Radar
  • ThomsonSintra Spherion B hull-mounted bow Sonar
  • Petrel Mine and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar system
  • Thales Type 2087 Towed Array Sonar
  • Cossor AIMS Mark XII IFF System
• Countermeasures
  • Mk.36 SRBOC launchers
  • SLQ-25A towed torpedo decoy
  • Nulka decoy launchers
  • Rascal Thorn modified Sceptre-A electronic support measures
  • Telefunken PST-1720 Telegon 10 radar intercept unit
• Armament
  • 1 x Mk.45 Mod 2 5"/54-caliber lightweight naval gun
  • 2 x 16-cell Mark 41 Mod 5 VLS (fires RGM-109 Tomahawk, RUM-139 VL-ASROC, and RIM-162 ESSM)
  • 2 x Mk.141 SSM Launchers (fires RGM-84 Harpoon AShMs)
  • 2 x 12.7-millimeter (0.50-inch) machine guns
  • 2 x Mk.32 triple tube torpedo launchers, firing Mk.46 Mod 5 lightweight torpedoes
  • 1 x 20mm Vulcan Phalanx CIWS
• Aircraft Carried: 1 x Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk (RAN) or 1 x Westland Wasp (RNZN)

Unit Run

Royal Australian Navy

• HMAS Anzac (FFH-150) - sunk by Bramhos AshMs
• HMAS Arunta (FFH-151)
• HMAS Warramunga (FFH-152)
• HMAS Stuart (FFH-153)
• HMAS Parramatta (FFH-154)
• HMAS Ballarat (FFH-155)
• HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156)
• HMAS Perth (FFH-157)

Royal New Zealand

• HMNZS Te Kaha (F77)
• HMNZS Te Mana (F111)
• HMNZS Te Hauoraora (F112)
• HMNZS Te Maia (F113)
• HMNZS Te Wehikore (F114)