Publication:Navy Annual 2005/HMAS Armidale - Stand Firm
BY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JOHN NAVIN, RAN
HMAS Armidale, first of the Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPBs) was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, Northern Territory, on 23 June 2005 to commence a new era of Patrol Boat operations. Over the next three years 14 ACPBs, supported by 18 rotating crews, will replace the ageing Fremantle Class Patrol Boats.
The Armidale Class story began with the signing of a contract between the Prime Contractor, Defence Maritime services (DMs) and the Australian Government in December 2003 for the delivery and in-service support of the replacement patrol boat under Project SEA 1444.
DMS teamed with AUSTAL ships Pty ltd to build the ACPB commencing at AUSTAL'S shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia in May 2004. The first hull, 321, was launched and officially named Armidale on 22 January 2005 at a ceremony in the shipyard.
Armidale was named by Ms Janice stone, the eldest daughter of Ordinary seaman Donald Raymond Lawson, who served in the original HMAS Armidale, a Bathurst Class Corvette, and who survived when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft and sunk by torpedoes on 1 December 1942. It was during this engagement that Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean was seen to strap himself to the Bofor gun and continue to engage the enemy aircraft as the ship sank under him. Ms Stone was also the Commissioning lady and guest of honour at the HMAS Coonawarra ceremony.
During the first quarter of 2005 Armidale, under the command of an AUSTAL master and crew, conducted a series of shipbuilder's sea trials in Cockburn sound whilst DMS provided platform-specific training to the royal Australian Navy ACPB Trials and Transition Crew (TTC). Behind the scenes, DMO Project staff and other Australian Defence Force uniformed and civilian staff worked tirelessly to ensure that Armidale was ready to conduct a 21 day Mission trial and delivery voyage to Darwin in April/May 2005.
Prior to the Mission trial, the ACPB TTC conducted a four-day Mariner Skills Evaluation (MSE) in Cockburn sound under the watchful eyes of Commander Sea training - Minor War Vessels (CSTMWV) and his staff. During the MSE, photos were taken of Armidale and the submarine HMAS Sheean, continuing the enduring namesake relationship between these two Navy units so closely linked to the fate of the Bathurst Class Armidale lost in 1942.
The Mission trial was intended to demonstrate the ACPB could perform to contract specifications. it involved a passage to 44 degrees south latitude prior to heading north to Darwin via Dampier and Broome. Armidale berthed alongside HMAS Coonawarra on 10 May 2005 and commenced a scheduled handover period that culminated in the Australian Government formally accepting the ship from Defence Maritime services. During May and June 2005 the Armidale, under the Command of lieutenant CMDR Andrew Maher, RAN, completed platform training and Commissioning preparations prior to the Commissioning ceremony formally welcoming the first of the Armidale Class Patrol Boats on 23 June 2005.
