HMAS Gladstone
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 | |
| Pennant | FCPB 216 |
|---|---|
| Type | Fremantle Class Patrol Boat |
| Builder | North Queensland Engineers and Agents, Cairns, Queensland |
| Commissioned | 8 September 1984 |
| Decommissioned | 13 March 2006 |
| Displacement | 220 tonnes220,000 kg 220,000,000 g 485,016.84 lb 7,760,271.64 oz |
| Length | 42 metres4,200 cm 0.042 km 0.0261 mi 137.795 ft 1,653.543 in |
| Beam | 7.15 metres715 cm 0.00715 km 0.00444 mi 23.458 ft 281.496 in |
| Draught | 1.8 metres180 cm 0.0018 km 0.00112 mi 5.906 ft 70.866 in |
| Armament |
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| Main Machinery |
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| Horsepower | 6,140 |
| Speed | 30 knots15.433 m/s 55.56 km/h 0.0154 km/s 3,038.059 ft/min 50.634 ft/s |
| Complement | 24 |
| Range | 2,360 nautical miles at 12 knots |
Commissioned in Sep 1984, and based at Cairns for her entire life, Gladstone (affectionately known by many as "Sadrock") contributed to border protection and regional engagement for 22 and a half years, and over 618,000 miles. She continued her mission with alacrity right to the end.
Gladstone and her 14 sister FCPBs were the Navy's principal contribution to the nation's fisheries protection, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations.
The vessels worked hand-in-hand with other Government agencies and each year they provided up to 1800 patrol days as part of the Coastwatch-managed national surveillance effort. In the event of war they would have been tasked to control the waters close to the Australian mainland. They were well prepared for their patrol duties and other operational requirements.
In addition were central to Australia's engagement with countries in the South West Pacific region and deployed throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific in support of Australia's strategic interests. The Fremantle Class Patrol Boats (and now the Armidale Class Patrol Boats) also supported Special Forces operations and provided a useful transport capability, particularly in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations.
Gladstone was equipped with high definition navigational radar, high and ultra high frequency communications equipment, gyro compasses and echo sounder. She was also fitted with a satellite navigation system that enabled the ship's position to be determined with great accuracy.
Gladstone was the second ship of this name within the RAN. HMAS Gladstone (I) was a Bathurst class corvette.
