NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Sydney 1985

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Adelaide	01		Todd, Seattle, USA	29.7.1977	21.6.1978	6.11.1980	stricken 1.2008
Canberra	02		Todd, Seattle, USA	1.3.1978	1.12.1978	21.3.1981	stricken 11.2005
Sydney	03		Todd, Seattle, USA	16.1.1980	26.9.1980	29.1.1983	stricken 11.2015
Darwin	04		Todd, Seattle, USA	3.7.1981	26.3.1982	21.7.1984	stricken 12.2017
Melbourne	05		AMECON, Williamstown	12.7.1985	5.5.1989	15.2.1992	in service (2019)
Newcastle	06		AMECON, Williamstown	21.7.1989	21.2.1992	11.12.1993	in service (2019)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	01-03: 3073 04-06: 3110
Displacement full, t	01-03: 3962 04-06: 4200
Length, m	01-03: 126.0 wl 135.6 oa 04-06: 126.0 wl 138.8 oa
Breadth, m	13.7
Draught, m	4.52 hull 7.47 max
No of shafts	1
Machinery	2 General Elecric LM-2500 gas turbines
Power, h. p.	41000
Max speed, kts	29
Fuel, t	gas turbine oil 587
Endurance, nm(kts)	5000(18)
Armament	01-03: 1 x 1 Harpoon SSM / Standard SM-1MR SAM (4 RGM-84C + 36 RIM-66), 1 x 1 - 76/62 Mk 75, 1 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 TT (Mk 46 mod. 5), 2 helicopters (AS-350B Écureuil) 04-06: 1 x 1 Harpoon SSM / Standard SM-1MR SAM (4 RGM-84C + 36 RIM-66), 1 x 1 - 76/62 Mk 75, 1 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 TT (Mk 46 mod. 5), 2 helicopters (S70B-2 Seahawk)
Electronic equipment	01, 02: SPS-55, SPS49(v)2, Mk 92 mod. 2, SPG-60 STIR radars, 2x Mk 24 e/o target designators, SQS-56 sonar, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy, NTDS CCS 03, 04: SPS-55, SPS49(v)2, Mk 92 mod. 2, SPG-60 STIR radars, 2x Mk 24 e/o target designators, SQS-56 sonar, SLQ-32(v)2 ECM suite, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy, NTDS CCS 05, 06: SPS-55, SPS49(v)2, Mk 92 mod. 2, SPG-60 STIR radars, 2x Mk 24 e/o target designators, Mulloka sonar, SLQ-32(v)2, EA2118 ECM suites, 4x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy, NTDS CCS
Complement	201

Graphics

Project history

Following the cancellation of the DDL project in 1974, the Department of Defence ordered two of the new Oliver Hazard Perry (PF109, later FFG7) class frigates. Orders were placed in February 1976 for FFG17 and 18 out of the USN's programme, and FFG35 was ordered in November 1977. The growing need of replacement for the Daring class led to an order for FFG48 in April 1980 and in September the same year the Defence Minister announced that the replacement for the six 'River' class DEs (the Yarra and Swan classes) would also be members of this class. Two were ordered from Williamstown DYd (later Amecon) in 1983, but Nos 7-10 were never built. Darwin, Melbourne and Newcastle were modified during construction with a bigger flight deck and extended stern to accommodate the S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter.

Modernizations

1983-1984, Adelaide, Canberra: + SL-32(v)2 ECM suite

1989-1990, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, Darwin: + EA2118 ECM suite

1989, Adelaide, Sydney; 1991, Canberra: were lengthened (3110/4200t, 138.8m oa); - 1 AS-350B Écureuil helicopters; + 1 S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters (normally carried 1 AS-350B and 1 S-70B-2)

1998, all: + Rademac 2500 e/o system

1998-2000, all: - 4x SRBOC decoy RL; + 4x modified SRBOC decoy RL (each with 4 tubes for Nulka decoys and 6 tubes for regular SRBOC decoys)

2006, Sydney; 2008, Darwin: - 1 x 1 Harpoon SSM / Standard SM-1MR SAM, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 TT, SPS-49, Mk 92 mod. 2 radars, SQS-56 sonar, SLQ-32(v)2 ECM suite, 4x modified SRBOC decoy RL, NTDS CCS; + 1 x 1 Harpoon Block II SSM / Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA SAM (4 RGM-84L + 38 RIM-66K), 1 x 8 ESSM SAM (VLS, 32 RIM-162), 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 mod. 5 TT (MU90), SPS-49A(v)1, Mk 92 mod. 12 radars, 2x Toplite e/o directors, TSM 4131 Sphérion, TSM5424 Petrel, Sea Defender sonars, C-PEARL ECM suite, 2x SKWS, 2x Nulka decoy RL, TMS 4350 Albatros LEAD torpedo decoys, ADACS CCS

2007, Melbourne; 2009, Newcastle: - 1 x 1 Harpoon SSM / Standard SM-1MR SAM, 2 x 3 -3 24 Mk 32 TT, SPS-49, Mk 92 mod. 2 radars, 2x Toplite e/o directors, Mulloka sonar, SLQ-32(v)2 ECM suite, 4x modified SRBOC decoy RL, NTDS CCS; + 1 x 1 Harpoon Block II SSM / Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA SAM (4 RGM-84L + 38 RIM-66K), 1 x 8 ESSM SAM (VLS, 32 RIM-162), 2 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 mod. 5 TT (MU90), SPS-49A(v)1, Mk 92 mod. 12 radars, TSM 4131 Sphérion, TSM5424 Petrel, Sea Defender sonars, C-PEARL ECM suite, 2x SKWS, 2x Nulka decoy RL, TMS 4350 Albatros LEAD torpedo decoys, ADACS CCS

Naval service

No significant events.