HMAS Townsville
| |
 | |
| Pennant | FCPB 205 |
|---|---|
| Type | Fremantle Class Patrol Boat |
| Laid down | 5 March 1979 |
| Launched | 16 May 1981 by Lady Ramsay, wife of the Governor of Queensland |
| Builder | North Queensland Engineers and Agents, Cairns, Queensland |
| Commissioned | 18 July 1981 |
| Decommissioned | 11 May 2007 |
| 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 | 2.5 metres250 cm 0.0025 km 0.00155 mi 8.202 ft 98.425 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 |
HMAS Townsville and her 14 sister were 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.
Fremantle Class Patrol Boats were highly capable and versatile warships which were able to conduct a wide variety of missions and tasks. One of the primary duties was the contribution to the Civil Surveillance Program'. Surveillance and Boarding operations conducted by the Royal Australian Navy safeguard Australia 's sovereignty and significantly contribute to the security of our nation. Our operations protected against unauthorized entry, breaches of customs, immigration and drugs legislation, other illegal activity and in support of law enforcement, preserved the integrity of our national fish-stocks, our marine environment and other natural resources.
HMAS Townsville had a range of 2360 nautical miles at 12 knots and a maximum speed of almost 30 knots. It was equipped with high-definition navigational radar, high and ultra high frequency communications equipment, gyro compasses and echo sounder. Townsville was also fitted with a satellite navigation system that enabled the ship's position to be determined with great accuracy.
Townsville was the second ship in the RAN to carry the name. HMAS Townsville (I) was a Bathurst class corvette that served during World War II.
