HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) was the lead ship of the Anzac-class frigates in use with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Entering Australian service in 1996, the frigate operated as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 1999. In 2003, she was involved in the Battle of Al Faw, and became the first RAN ship to fire in anger since the Vietnam War.

In February 2024 it was announced by the Australian Government that HMAS Anzac would not sail again and be the first ship of her class to be decommissioned in the near future, followed by her sister ship Arunta in 2026. HMAS Anzac was decommissioned on 18 May 2024 after 28 years of service.

Design and construction

The Anzac class originated from RAN plans to replace the six s with a mid-capability patrol frigate. Tenders were requested by the Anzac Ship Project at the end of 1986, with 12 ship designs (including an airship) submitted. By August 1987, the tenders were narrowed down in October to Blohm + Voss's MEKO 200 design, the M class (later ) offered by Royal Schelde, and a scaled-down Type 23 frigate proposed by Yarrow Shipbuilders. In 1989, the Australian government announced that Melbourne-based shipbuilder AMECON (which became Tenix Defence) would build the modified MEKO 200 design.

The Anzacs are based on Blohm + Voss' MEKO 200 PN (or ) frigates, modified to meet Australian and New Zealand specifications and maximise the use of locally built equipment. The ships are long at the waterline, and long overall, with a beam of , and a full load draught of . The standard ship's company of an Anzac consists of 22 officers and 141 sailors. They were also designed for but not with a Mark 15 Phalanx close-in weapons system (two Mini Typhoons fitted when required from 2005 onwards), two quad-canister Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers (which were installed across the RAN vessels from 2005 onwards), and a second 8-cell Mark 41 VLS (which has not been added). The Australian Anzacs used a single Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter; plans to replace them with Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprites were cancelled in 2008 due to ongoing problems. Instead, the S-70B-2 was replaced with the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk by late 2017.

Anzac was laid down at Williamstown Dockyard on 5 November 1993. Anzac was commissioned into the RAN at Station Pier in Melbourne on 18 May 1996. The ship was later awarded the battle honour "East Timor 1999" in recognition of this deployment.

29 October 2000 HMAS Anzac rendezvoused with CSIRO Research Vessel RV Franklin 300 nm west of Fremantle after answering a Mayday call during a port visit to Albany. In treacherous weather including, a six metre swell,40 knot winds and fading light HMAS Anzac launched a RHIB (Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat) and transferred a medical team to RV Franklin to stabilise the patient and transfer back to the Anzac. The patient was transferred by helicopter the next day back to Perth when Anzac reached aircraft range. Anzac had embarked a news crew from GWN at Albany and Anzac crew were able to film some of the rescue. The medical team and Boat crew received a Maritime Commanders Commendation. The Boat crew also received a CN commendation. On 21 March 2003, Anzac provided naval gunfire support during the Battle of Al Faw. The intent of the assault was to capture the Al Faw Peninsula before Iraqi forces could sabotage the two major oil terminals in the area. The frigate was one of the thirteen ships involved in the ceremonial entry through Sydney Heads, and anchored in the harbour for the review.

Anzac was assigned to Rotation 29 of Operation Slipper from July 2012 to January 2013 as part of the International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT), and which included counter-piracy in the Arabian Sea region and elsewhere.

thumb|240px|HMAS Anzac at the Australian Marine Complex in February 2024

During 2014, Anzac was the third ship of the class to undergo the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade.

Between March and October 2015, Anzac sailed on a second Northern Trident deployment. The circumnavigation included port visits to 11 countries and participation in commemorative services for the Gallipoli and Normandy landings. On 18 May 2024, a decommissioning ceremony was held for Anzac at HMAS Stirling.

Citations

References

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;Websites and other sources

  • Royal Australian Navy webpage for HMAS Anzac