Collins Class

The characteristics and range of Collins Class submarines have been tailored specifically for its defence and two-ocean surveillance role in the Royal Australian Navy. Designed to be as quiet as advanced technology can achieve, Collins Class submarines have been developed from five generations of submarines designed and built by the Swedish Navy.

One of the first submarines to be totally designed by computers, these submarines boast a vast range of features. They include a high performance hull form, highly automated controls, low indiscretion rates, high shock resistance, efficient weapons handling, and an optional air-independent propulsion system.

The submarine will move silently on electric power supplied by banks of new-technology batteries. The batteries are charged by three on-board diesel generator sets.

The sophisticated combat system, which gathers its intelligence from its sensors, computes the input and then launches and directs weapons, is an advance on any system currently available.

Each boat has been named after a distinguished former member of the RAN, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Based at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, they are a formidable element in Australia's defence capability.

Vessels

Boat	Pennant	Type	Classification	Commissioned	Decommissioned
HMAS Collins	SSG 73	Submarine	Guided Missile Submarine, Diesel-Electric (SSG)	2450291.527 July 1996
HMAS Dechaineux	SSG 76	Submarine	Guided Missile Submarine, Diesel-Electric (SSG)	2451963.523 February 2001
HMAS Farncomb	SSG 74	Submarine	Guided Missile Submarine, Diesel-Electric (SSG)	2450844.531 January 1998
HMAS Rankin	SSG 78	Submarine	Guided Missile Submarine, Diesel-Electric (SSG)	2452727.529 March 2003
HMAS Sheean	SSG 77	Submarine	Guided Missile Submarine, Diesel-Electric (SSG)	2451963.523 February 2001
HMAS Waller	SSG 75	Submarine	Guided Missile Submarine, Diesel-Electric (SSG)	2451369.510 July 1999