The Royal Australian Navy has decommissioned Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Glenelg at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin following 14 years of service. Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley, CSC, RAN attended the ceremony and recognised the service of the Ship’s Firm. Since commissioning in 2008, HMAS Glenelg has labored alongside Border Pressure, Australian Fisheries and the Australian Federal Police as a part of border safety operations.

“HMAS Glenelg and the women and men who’ve served within the vessel have made a big contribution to our nationwide curiosity. The skilled and devoted crews have protected our nation’s borders and offshore maritime pursuits. Immediately we mirror on the contribution whereas trying to our future and the continued renewal of our fleet. Navy is transitioning to 12 new Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels. These boats have higher vary and endurance than our current boats,” Rear Admiral Earley stated.

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Commanding Officer, HMAS Glenelg Lieutenant Commander Alexander Finnis RAN stands at consideration as Main Seaman Communication Info Techniques Kiani Hughes (left) and Ready Seaman Maritime Logistics Chef Eliza McGuigan strike the Australian White Ensign for the ultimate time throughout the decommissioning ceremony held at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin within the Northern Territory.(Picture by LSIS Shane Cameron/Australian Authorities Division of Defence)

It has served in Operations AUGURY (Philippines,) SOLANIA (South West Pacific) and APEC ASSIST (PNG). Glenelg’s crews have additionally exercised with regional companions together with Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. HMAS Glenelg is called after the Adelaide suburb of Glenelg in South Australia and is the fourth Armidale Class Patrol Boat to be decommissioned. The Armidale class is a category of patrol boats constructed for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning for a category of vessels to exchange the fifteen Fremantle-class patrol boats started in 1993.

All fourteen boats had been constructed by Austal at its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Lead ship HMAS Armidale was commissioned into the RAN in June 2005. Two different patrol boats had been delivered to the RAN in 2005, six in 2006, and 5 in 2007, with the ultimate ship within the class, HMAS Glenelg, delivered in October 2007 and commissioned in February 2008. Every patrol boat has a size of 56.8 metres (186 ft), a beam of 9.7 metres (32 ft), a draught of two.7 metres (8.9 ft), and an ordinary displacement of 300 tons.

Royal Australian Navy Royal Australian Navy HMAS Glenelg Decommissions in Darwin
Ship’s firm of HMAS Glenelg stand at consideration on the higher decks throughout a decommissioning ceremony held at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin within the Northern Territory. (Picture by LSIS Shane Cameron/Australian Authorities Division of Defence)