Royal Australian Navy
Template:Short description Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox military unit
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. The Chief of Navy is also jointly responsible to the Minister for Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence, which is a part of the Australian Public Service, supports the ADF, and ergo, the Royal Australian Navy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The navy was formed in 1901 as the Commonwealth Naval Forces (CNF) through the amalgamation of the colonial navies of Australia following the federation of Australia. Although it was originally intended for local defence, it became increasingly responsible for regional defence as the British Empire started to diminish its influence in the South Pacific.
The Royal Australian Navy was initially a green-water navy, as the Royal Navy provided a blue-water force to the Australian Squadron, which the Australian and New Zealand governments helped to fund; the squadron was assigned to the Australia Station. This period lasted until 1913, when naval ships purchased from Britain arrived, although the British Admiralty continued to provide blue-water defence capability in the Pacific and Indian Oceans up to the early years of the Second World War.<ref name="Oxcom">Template:Cite book</ref>
During its history, the Royal Australian Navy has participated in a number of major wars, including the First and Second World Wars, Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation and the Vietnam War. As of 2025, the RAN consists of 36 commissioned vessels, 12 non-commissioned vessels and over 16,000 personnel. The navy is one of the largest and most sophisticated naval forces in the South Pacific region, with a significant presence in the Indian Ocean and worldwide operations in support of military campaigns and peacekeeping missions.
History
Formation
The Commonwealth Naval Forces were established on 1 March 1901, with the amalgamation of the six separate colonial naval forces, following the Federation of Australia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Commonwealth Navy initially consisted of the former New South Wales, Victorian, Queensland, Western Australian, South Australian and Tasmanian ships and resources of their disbanded navies.
The Defence Act 1903 established the operation and command structure of the Commonwealth Navy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When policymakers sought to determine the newly established force's requirements and purpose, there were arguments about whether Australia's naval force would be structured mainly for local defence or designed to serve as a fleet unit within a larger imperial force, controlled centrally by the British Admiralty.<ref name="Dennis516">Dennis et al. 1995, p. 516.</ref> In 1908–09, a compromise solution was pursued, with the Australian government agreeing to establish a force for local defence but that would be capable of forming a fleet unit within the Royal Navy, albeit without central control. As a result, the navy's force structure was set at "one battlecruiser, three light cruisers, six destroyers and three submarines". The first of the Navy's new vessels, the destroyer HMAS Yarra, was completed in September 1910, and by the outbreak of the First World War the majority of the planned fleet had been realised.<ref name="Whitley17">Whitley 2000, p. 17.</ref> On 10 July 1911, the Navy was renamed the Royal Australian Navy, with the approval of King George V.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
World War I
Pacific
Following the British Empire's declaration of war on Germany, the British War Office tasked the capture of German New Guinea to the Australian Government. This was to deprive the Imperial German Navy's East Asia Squadron of regional intelligence by removing their access to wireless stations. On 11 August, three destroyers and HMAS Sydney prepared to engage the squadron at German Anchorages in New Guinea, which did not eventuate as the vessels were not present. Landing parties were placed on Rabaul and Herbertshohe to destroy its German wireless station; however, the objective was found to be further inland and an expeditionary force was required. Meanwhile, HMAS Australia was tasked with scouring the Pacific Ocean for the German squadron.
The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) began recruiting on the same day that the taskforce arrived in New Britain, and consisted of two battalions: one of 1,000 men, and the other with 500 serving and former seamen. On 19 August, the ANMEF departed Sydney for training in Townsville before the rendezvous with other RAN vessels in Port Moresby.<ref name=":2" /> On 29 August, four cruisers and HMAS Australia assisted New Zealand's Samoa Expeditionary Force in landing at Apia, and committing a bloodless takeover of German Samoa. Additionally, the RAN captured German merchant vessels, disrupting German merchant shipping in the Pacific. On 7 September, the ANMEF, now including HMAS Australia, three destroyers, and two each of cruisers and submarines, departed for Rabaul.
A few days later, on 9 September, HMAS Melbourne landed a party to destroy the island's wireless station, though the German administration promptly surrendered. Between 11 and 12 September, landings were put ashore at Kabakaul, Rabaul and Herbertshohe; it was during this period that the first Australian casualties and deaths of the war occurred. On 14 September, HMAS Encounter barraged an enemy position at Toma with shells; it was the first time the RAN had fired upon an enemy and had shelled an inland location. On 17 September, German New Guinea surrendered to the encroaching ANMEF, with the overall campaign a success and exceeded the objectives set by the War Office. However, the RAN submarine HMAS AE1 became the first ever vessel of the new navy to be sunk.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> The Australian Squadron was placed under control of the British Admiralty,<ref>Dennis et al. 1995, p. 517.</ref> and was moreover tasked with protecting Australian shipping.<ref name=":2" />
On 1 November, the RAN escorted the First Australian Imperial Force convoy from Albany, WA and set for the Khedivate of Egypt, which was soon to become the Sultanate of Egypt. On 9 November, HMAS Sydney began hunting for SMS Emden, a troublesome German coastal raider. The SMS Emden and HMAS Sydney met in the Battle of Cocos, the Emden was destroyed in Australia's first naval victory. Following the almost complete destruction of the East Asia Squadron in the Battle of the Falklands by the Royal Navy, the RAN became able to be reassigned to other naval theatres of the war.<ref name=":2" />
Atlantic and Mediterranean
On 28 February 1915, the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train (RANBT) was formed with members of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve who could not find billets in the RAN.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the entrance of the Ottoman Empire in alliance with the Central Powers, HMAS AE2 was committed to the initial naval operation of the Gallipoli campaign. After the failure of the naval strategy, an amphibious assault was planned to enable the Allies' warships to pass through the Dardanelles and capture Constantinople. The RANBT was sent ashore, along with the invasion, for engineering duties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Later in the war, most of the RAN's major ships operated as part of Royal Navy forces in the Mediterranean and North Seas, and then later in the Adriatic, and then the Black Sea following the surrender of the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="Whitley17" />
Interwar years
In 1919, the RAN received a force of six destroyers, three sloops and six submarines from the Royal Navy,<ref>Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 193.</ref> but throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, the RAN was drastically reduced in size due to a variety of factors including political apathy and economic hardship as a result of the Great Depression.<ref name=Gillett61>Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 61.</ref> In this time the focus of Australia's naval policy shifted from defence against invasion to trade protection,<ref name=Dennis518>Dennis et al. 1995 p. 518.</ref> and several fleet units were sunk as targets or scrapped. By 1923, the size of the navy had fallen to eight vessels,<ref name=Gillett61/> and by the end of the decade it had fallen further to five, with just 3,500 personnel.<ref name=Dennis518/> In the late 1930s, as international tensions increased, the RAN was modernised and expanded, with the service receiving primacy of funding over the Army and Air Force during this time as Australia began to prepare for war.<ref name=Dennis518/>
World War II
Early in the Second World War, RAN ships again operated as part of Royal Navy formations, many serving with distinction in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and off the West African coast.<ref>Gillett & Graham 1977, pp. 69–76.</ref> Following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the virtual destruction of Allied naval forces in Southeast Asia, the RAN operated more independently, defending against Axis naval activity in Australian waters, or participating in United States Navy offensives. As the navy took on an even greater role, it was expanded significantly and at its height the RAN was the fourth-largest navy in the world, with 39,650 personnel operating 337 warships, but no active submarines.<ref name=Dennis518/> A total of 34 vessels were lost during the war, including three cruisers and four destroyers.<ref>Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 93.</ref>
Post war to present
After the Second World War, the size of the RAN was again reduced, but it gained new capabilities with the acquisition of two aircraft carriers, Sydney and Melbourne.<ref>Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 94.</ref> The RAN saw action in many Cold War–era conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region and operated alongside the Royal Navy and United States Navy off Korea, Malaysia, and Vietnam.<ref>Dennis et al. 1995, pp. 519–520.</ref> Since the end of the Cold War, the RAN has been part of Coalition forces in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, operating in support of Operation Slipper and undertaking counter piracy operations. It was also deployed in support of Australian peacekeeping operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.<ref name=workingpaper>Template:Cite web</ref>
The high demand for personnel in the Second World War led to the establishment of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) branch in 1942, where over 3,000 women served in shore-based positions. The WRANS was disbanded in 1947, but then re-established in 1951 during the Cold War. It was given permanent status in 1959, and the RAN was the final branch to integrate women in the Australian military in 1985.<ref name=Dennis607>Dennis et al. 1995, pp. 607–608.</ref>
In April 2023, following the release of the Defence Strategic Review, the government sought an Independent analysis into Navy's surface fleet combatant fleet.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2024, the government released its response to the independent analysis.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
Structure
Command structure
The strategic command structure of the RAN was overhauled during the New Generation Navy changes.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The RAN is commanded through Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Canberra.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NHQ is responsible for implementing policy decisions handed down from the Department of Defence and for overseeing tactical and operational issues that are the purview of the subordinate commands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Beneath NHQ are two subordinate commands:
- Fleet Command: fleet command is led by Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSFLT). COMAUSFLT holds the rank of rear admiral; previously, this post was Flag Officer Commanding HM's Australian Fleet (FOCAF), created in 1911,<ref>C L Cumberlege Template:Webarchive</ref> but the title was changed in 1988 to the Maritime Commander Australia. On 1 February 2007, the title changed again, becoming Commander Australian Fleet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The nominated at-sea commander is Commodore Warfare (COMWAR), a one-star deployable task group commander. Fleet command has responsibility to CN for the full command of assigned assets, and to Joint Operations command for the provision of operationally ready forces.
- Navy Strategic Command: the administrative element overseeing the RAN's training, engineering and logistical support needs. Instituted in 2000, the Systems Commander was appointed at the rank of commodore; in June 2008, the position was upgraded to the rank of rear admiral.
Fleet Command was previously made up of seven Force Element Groups, but after the New Generation Navy changes, this was restructured into four Force Commands:<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Fleet Air Arm (previously known as the Australian Navy Aviation Group), responsible for the navy's aviation assets and capability. As of 2018, the FAA consists of two front line helicopter squadrons (one focused on anti-submarine and anti-shipping warfare and the other a transport unit), two training squadrons and a trials squadron.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mine Warfare, Clearance Diving, Hydrographic, Meteorological and Patrol Forces, an amalgamation of the previous Patrol Boat, Hydrographic, and Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Forces, operating what are collectively termed the RAN's "minor war vessels"
- Submarine Force, (Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service) operating the Template:Sclasss
- Surface Force, covering the RAN's surface combatants (generally ships of frigate size or larger)
Fleet
The Royal Australian Navy consists of over 50 commissioned vessels and over 16,000 personnel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Ships commissioned into the RAN are given the prefix HMAS (His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship).<ref>Frame 2004, p. 96.</ref>
The RAN has two primary bases for its fleet: the first, Fleet Base East, is located at Template:HMAS, Sydney and the second, Fleet Base West, is located at Template:HMAS, near Perth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, three other bases are home to the majority of the RAN's minor war vessels: Template:HMAS, in Cairns, Template:HMAS, in Darwin, and Template:HMAS, in Sydney.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Clearance Diving Branch
Template:Main The Clearance Diving Branch is composed of two Clearance Diving Teams (CDT) that serve as parent units for naval clearance divers:
- Clearance Diving Team 1 (AUSCDT ONE), based at HMAS Waterhen in New South Wales; and
- Clearance Diving Team 4 (AUSCDT FOUR), based at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
When clearance divers are sent into combat, Clearance Diving Team Three (AUSCDT THREE) is formed.
The CDTs have two primary roles:
- Mine counter-measures (MCM) and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD); and
- Maritime tactical operations.
Personnel
As of June 2023, the RAN has 14,745 permanent full-time personnel, 172 gap-year personnel, and 4,607 reserve personnel.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> The permanent full-time trained force consists of 3,070 commissioned officers, and 9,695 enlisted personnel.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref> Male personnel made up 75.9% of the permanent full-time force, while female personnel made up 24%. The RAN has the second-highest percentage of women in the permanent forces, compared to the RAAF's 26.6% and the Army's 15.3%.<ref name=":3" /> Throughout the 2022-23 financial year 1,141 enlisted in the RAN on a permanent basis while 1,354 left, representing a net loss of 213 personnel.<ref name=":0" />
The following are some of the current senior Royal Australian Navy officers:
- Admiral David Johnston – Chief of the Defence Force
- Vice Admiral Mark Hammond – Chief of Navy
- Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead – Chief Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce
- Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley – Deputy Chief of Navy
- Rear Admiral Christopher Smith – Commander Australian Fleet
- Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley – Head Nuclear-Powered Submarine Capability
- Rear Admiral Stephen Hughes – Head Navy Capability
- Rear Admiral Rachel Durbin – Head Navy Engineering
- Rear Admiral David Greaves – Director-General Australian Navy Cadets
- Warrant Officer Andrew Bertoncin – Warrant Officer of the Navy
Ranks and uniforms
Commissioned Officers
Commissioned officers of the Australian Navy have pay grades ranging from S-1 to O-10.<ref name="Ranks">Template:Cite web</ref> The highest rank achievable in the current Royal Australian Navy structure is O-10, an admiral who serves as the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) when the position is held by a Naval Officer. The navy has a O-11 position Admiral of the Fleet that is honorary and is currently held by Charles III, King of Australia.<ref name="Ranks"/><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
O-8 (rear admiral) to O-11 (admiral of the fleet) are referred to as flag officers, O-5 (commander) and above are referred to as senior officers, while S-1 (midshipman) to O-4 (lieutenant commander) are referred to as junior officers. All RAN Officers are issued a commission by the Governor-General as Commander-in-Chief on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III.
Naval officers are trained at the Royal Australian Naval College (HMAS Creswell) in Jervis Bay as well as the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Clear
| NATO Code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aus/US Code | O-11 | O-10 | O-9 | O-8 | O-7 |
| Template:Flagdeco Australia Flag Officer Template:Avoid wrap<ref name="badges-insignia">Template:Cite web</ref> | File:Australia-Navy-OF-10-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-9-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-8-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-7-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-6-collected.svg |
| Rank title: | Admiral of the Fleet | Admiral | Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | Commodore |
| Abbreviation: | AF | ADML | VADM | RADM | CDRE |
| NATO Code | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | OF(D) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aus/US Code | O-6 | O-5 | O-4 | O-3 | O-2 | O-1 | O-0 | ||||
| Template:Flagdeco Australia Officer rank insignia<ref name="badges-insignia" /> | File:Australia-Navy-OF-5-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-4-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-3-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-2-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-1-collected.svg | File:Australia-Navy-OF-D-collected.svg | |||||
| Rank title | Captain | Commander | Lieutenant Commander | Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Acting Sub Lieutenant | Midshipman | ||||
| Abbreviation | CAPT | CMDR | LCDR | LEUT | SBLT | ASLT | MIDN | ||||
Sailors
| NATO Code | OR-9* | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aus/US Code | E-9 | E-9 | E-8 | E-6 | E-5 | E-3 | E-2 | E-1 | |||
| Template:Flagdeco Australia Other Ranks Insignia | File:Royal Australian Navy OR-9b.svg | File:Royal Australian Navy OR-9a.svg | File:Royal Australian Navy OR-8.svg | Petty Officer | Leading Seaman | Able Seaman | Seaman | No insigniaTemplate:Hr | |||
| Rank Title: | Warrant Officer of the Navy | Warrant Officer | Chief Petty Officer | Petty Officer | Leading Seaman | Able Seaman | Seaman | Recruit | |||
| Abbreviation: | WO-N | WO | CPO | PO | LS | AB | SMN/SMN* | RCT | |||
Rate Insignia
Royal Australian Navy Other Ranks wear "right arm rates" insignia, called "Category Insignia" to indicate specialty training qualifications.<ref name="RAN Website">Template:Cite web</ref> This is a holdover from the Royal Navy.
Special insignia
The Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N) is an appointment held by the most senior sailor in the RAN and holds the rank of warrant officer (WO). However, the WO-N does not wear the WO rank insignia; instead, they wear the special insignia of the appointment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The WO-N appointment has similar equivalent appointments in the other services, each holding the rank of warrant officer, each being the most senior sailor/soldier/airman in that service, and each wearing their own special insignia rather than their rank insignia. The Australian Army equivalent is the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Royal Australian Air Force equivalent is the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Chaplains and Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officers
Chaplains in the Royal Australian Navy are commissioned officers who complete the same training as other officers in the RAN at the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell. From July 2020, Maritime Spiritual Wellbeing Officers (MSWOs) were introduced to the Navy Chaplaincy Branch, designed to give Navy people and their families with professional, non-religious pastoral care and spiritual support.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the Royal Australian Navy, Chaplains and MSWOs are commissioned officers without rank. For reasons of protocol, ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes, they are, where appropriate, normally grouped with Commanders (O-5).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The more senior Division 4 Senior Chaplains are grouped with Captains (O-6) and Division 5 Principal Chaplains are grouped with Commodores (O-7), but their rank slide remains the same. Principal Chaplains and MSWOs, however, have gold braid on the peak of their white service cap.Template:Citation needed
From January 2021, MSWOs and all chaplains wear the branch's new non-faith-specific rank insignia of a fouled anchor overlaying a compass rose, which represents a united team front, encompassing all faiths and purpose. Chaplains and MSWOs have insignia that reflect their religion on collar mounted patches (Cross for Christian, Crescent for Muslim etc, Compass rose for MSWOs.)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Ships and equipment
Current ships
Template:Further The RAN currently operates 36 commissioned vessels, made up of 11 ship classes, plus 12 non-commissioned vessels. In addition, DMS Maritime operates a large number of civilian-crewed vessels under contract to the Australian Defence Force.
| Image | Class/name | Type | Number | Entered service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioned vessels | |||||
| Template:Sclass | Landing helicopter dock | 2 | 2014 | Amphibious warfare ships with aircraft carrier capacity. | |
| Template:Sclass | Destroyer | 3 | 2017 | Air warfare destroyer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Template:Sclass | Frigate | 7 | 1996 | Anti-submarine and anti-aircraft frigate with one helicopter. Two more were built for the Royal New Zealand Navy. Will be replaced by the Australian general purpose frigate program.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Template:Sclass | Submarine | 6 | 1996 | Anti-shipping, intelligence collection. Diesel-electric powered. | |
| File:HMASArafura.jpg | Template:Sclass | Offshore patrol vessel | 1 | 2025 | Offshore patrol vessel for conducting maritime constabulary roles. |
| Template:Sclass | Patrol boat | 8 | 2017 | Eight Cape-class vessels commissioned as of May 2025 with the remaining four operating un-commissioned. | |
| Template:Sclass | Patrol boat | 3 | 2005 | Coastal defence, maritime border, and fishery protection. | |
| Template:Sclass | Minehunter | 2 | 1997 | Minehunting. | |
| Template:Sclass | Survey ship | 1 | 2000 | Hydrographic survey. | |
| Template:Sclass | Landing ship dock | 1 | 2011 | Heavy sealift and transport. | |
| Template:Sclass | Replenishment oiler | 2 | 2021 | Replenishment at sea and afloat support. | |
| Non-commissioned vessels | |||||
| Template:Sclass | Patrol boat | 4 | 2017 | Maritime border and fishery protection, augmenting the Armidale class. Two more under construction.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Template:Ship | Auxiliary | 1 | 2016 | Auxiliary vessel, manned and managed by Teekay. Part of the National Support Squadron | |
| Template:Ship | Auxiliary | 1 | 2023 | Auxiliary vessel / undersea support vessel, manned and managed by Teekay. Part of the National Support Squadron | |
| Template:Ship | Auxiliary | 1 | 2022 | Pacific support vessel, manned and managed by Teekay. Part of the National Support Squadron | |
| MV Stoker | 1 | 2016 | Submarine rescue ship. Carries the LR5 submarine rescue vehicle. Part of the National Support Squadron | ||
| MV Besant | 1 | 2015 | Submarine rescue ship. Part of the National Support Squadron | ||
| MV Sycamore | 1 | 2017 | Aviation training ship. Part of the National Support Squadron | ||
| MV Mercator | 1 | Navigation training ship. Part of the National Support Squadron | |||
| Template:Ship | Sail training ship | 1 | 1988 | Tall ship, operated under the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme. | |
| MV Admiral's Barge | Ceremonial and VIP transport | 1 | 1993 | The main Admiral's Barge belonging to the VIP Boat Squadron and based at HMAS Waterhen. | |
| MV Admiral Hudson | Ceremonial and VIP transport | 1 | 1995 | A Kingfisher 54 cruiser used as an admiral's barge belonging to the VIP Boat Squadron and based at HMAS Waterhen. | |
.jpg){kind=link}
_participating_in_the_International_Fleet_Review_2022.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Fleet Air Arm
| Image | Squadron | Equipment | Number | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operational Squadrons | |||||
| File:N48-005 at the 2016 ADFA Open Day.jpg | 816 Squadron | MH-60R | 8 | Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue | The RAN operates 23 MH-60Rs, 8 of which are usually deployed at sea at any one time with the rest in maintenance and training.<ref name="MH-60R">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="MH-60RDitch">Template:Cite press release</ref> One was ditched in the Philippine Sea in October 2021 while embarked on HMAS Brisbane.<ref name="MH-60RDitch"/> |
| File:N48-005 at the 2016 ADFA Open Day.jpg | 808 Squadron | MH-60R | Transport and resupply | In April 2022, the RAN ceased flying the MRH-90 Taipan and the fleet was placed into storage.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In May 2022, the Australian government announced that the MRH-90 would be replaced by additional MH-60R Seahawks.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In September 2022, the government ordered 12 MH-60Rs.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> | |
| Training Squadrons | |||||
| File:N48-005 at the 2016 ADFA Open Day.jpg | 725 Squadron | MH-60R | 15 | Conversion training and maintenance | |
| File:Joint Helicopter Aircrew Training School (N52-014) Airbus Helicopter EC135T2+ at Wagga Wagga Airport.jpg | 723 Squadron | EC-135T2+ | 15 | Helicopter aircrew training | |
| Experimental Squadron | |||||
| File:161213-M-EO036-119 (31564063602).jpg | 822X Squadron | Intergrator | Unmanned aerial vehicle trials | ||
_Airbus_Helicopter_EC135T2%2B_at_Wagga_Wagga_Airport.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Armament
Small arms
RAN personnel utilise the following small arms:<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
Future
Template:Main There are currently several major projects underway that will see upgrades to RAN capabilities.
- Project SEA 1180 Phase 1 is building six Template:Sclasss based on the Lürssen OPV80 design, to replace Armidale-class patrol boats. Construction started in November 2018, with the first vessel HMAS Arafura entering service in 2025.<ref name="OPV">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
- Project SEA 1905 is the acquisition of a further two Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels in a mine counter-measures configuration.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Project SEA 1445 Phase 1 is the acquisition of ten Evolved Template:Sclass patrol boats to be built by Austal in Henderson.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The RAN decided to acquire the Evolved Template:Sclass boats instead of extending the life of six Template:Sclass patrol boats as it transitions to the new Template:Sclass offshore patrol vessel.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Project SEA 3000 is the General Purpose Frigate program to replace the Anzac-class frigates in the Tier 2 role.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was announced in August 2025 that Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had won the contract to construct three New FFM ships to enter service between 2029 to 2032. The remaining eight ships are to be built by Austal at Henderson from 2030.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Project SEA 4000 Phase 6 will upgrade the existing three Hobart-class destroyers with Aegis Baseline 9 combat system.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Project SEA 5000 Phase 1 is acquiring six Template:Sclasss based on the British Type 26 Global Combat Ship, to replace the Anzac-class frigates in the Tier 1 ASW role from 2034. The vessels are presently under construction in Adelaide by BAE Systems, with the first three to be named HMA Ships Hunter, Flinders and Tasman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Surface Fleet Review announced the acquisition of six Large Optionally-Crewed Surface Vessels (LOSVs) which will be constructed in partnership with the United States Navy.
Submarines
- Project SEA 1450: In September 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the Collins-class submarines will receive a Life of Type Extension (LOTE) from 2026 that will cost up to A$6.4 billion.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- SSN-AUKUS: In March 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will build nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS class submarines.<ref name="AUKUSMar23"/> The UK Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement (SSNR) design was renamed SSN-AUKUS in March 2023, under the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, when Australia joined the project and additional US technology was incorporated into the design.<ref>Template:OGL-attribution</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The construction of the first boat is to begin by the end of the 2030s with the boat delivered in the early 2040s.Template:Sfn Five boats are planned to be built.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Sclass: In March 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia intends to purchase three nuclear-powered Virginia class submarines from the US, subject to congressional approval, to ensure there is no capability gap as the RAN transitions to the SSN-AUKUS.<ref name="AUKUSMar23">Template:Cite press releaseFile:CC-BY icon.svg This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.</ref>Template:Sfn The first boat is planned to be delivered in 2033.<ref name="Aust14March23">Template:Cite news</ref> If there are delays with the SSN-AUKUS class program, Australia has the option of purchasing up to two additional Virginia class boats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Aust14March23" />
- East coast base: In March 2022, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that a "new submarine base will be built on the east coast of Australia" and "three preferred locations on the east coast have been identified, being Brisbane, Newcastle, and Port Kembla".<ref>Template:Cite press releaseFile:CC-BY icon.svg This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.</ref>
Autonomous underwater and surface vehicles
- Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs): the long-range Anduril Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (XL-AUV), the jointly developed Cellula Robotics / Trusted Autonomous Systems SeaWolf Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> and the C2 Robotics Speartooth Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> are active programs. The RAN is acquiring a fleet of 'dozens' of Ghost Shark XL-AUVs in a A$1.7 billion investment, entering service from early 2026.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV): the autonomous Ocius Bluebottle surveillance platform, designed for conducting long-endurance surveillance missions. The Bluebottle can also act as a communications gateway for underwater vehicles.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Current operations
Template:Main The RAN currently has forces deployed on seven major operations:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Operation Resolute: border protection and fisheries patrol.
- Operation Manitou: counter-piracy, counterterrorism and maritime stability in the Middle East and
- Operation Accordion: support operation to provide sustainment to forces deployed on Operation Manitou.
- Operation Solania: contribute to maritime surveillance in the Pacific.
- Operation Gateway: operate maritime patrols in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, alongside Malaysia.
- Operation Render Safe: safely dispose of remnant explosives of World War II on Pacific nations.
- Operation Dyurra: integrate space capabilities into other operations.
See also
- Australian Navy Cadets
- Australian White Ensign
- Battle and theatre honours of the Royal Australian Navy
- Royal Australian Navy Band
- Royal Australian Navy School of Underwater Medicine
- List of ships of the Royal Australian Navy
- National Support Squadron (Royal Australian Navy)
- Navy News (Australia)
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Template:Cite journal
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
External links
- Template:Official website
- Historical listing of RAN ships
- Maritimequest Royal Australian Navy photo gallery
- Biographies of senior RAN officers
- Royal and Dominion Navies in World War II, Campaigns, Battles, Warship losses
- ADF Pay & Conditions Manual – Equivalent ranks and classifications
Template:Royal Australian Navy Template:Australian Defence Force Template:Authority control