HMAS Westralia
| |
| |
| Pennant | O 195 |
|---|---|
| Class | Replenishment |
| Launched | 24 July 1975 |
| Commissioned | 9 October 1989 |
| Decommissioned | 16 September 2006 |
| Displacement | 40 870 tonnes |
| Length | 171 metres17,100 cm 0.171 km 0.106 mi 561.024 ft 6,732.283 in |
| Beam | 26 metres2,600 cm 0.026 km 0.0162 mi 85.302 ft 1,023.622 in |
| Speed | 16 knots8.231 m/s 29.632 km/h 0.00823 km/s 1,620.298 ft/min 27.005 ft/s |
| Complement | 84 |
Westralia was decommissioned 16 September 2006 and replaced by HMAS Sirius.
Westralia was built as a Stat 32 class petroleum tanker and modified for underway replenishment in 1979 for service with the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary as RFA APPLELEAF. Originally leased by the RAN in 1989, Westralia was purchased outright in 1994 and underwent further modification including the fitting of a flight deck for helicopter operations.
The ship could carry over 25,000 tonnes of fuel including several thousand tonnes of aviation fuel for use by RAN helicopters. Westralia could replenish ships at sea day or night, and was capable of replenishing two ships at a time. She had transfer points for fuel, water and stores.
Westralia saw active service in the Gulf War as part of the Multi-National Naval Force conducting operations in support of Kuwait.
Westralia was the second RAN ship to carry this name. Westralia (II) was a passenger liner requisitioned for naval service during World War II . She was awarded the Battle Honours: Pacific 1941-45, New Guinea 1943-44, Leyte Gulf 1944 and Lingayen Gulf 1945.
