View source for HMAS Success (OR 304)

{{Short description|Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler}}
{{other ships|HMAS Success}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2013}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:HMAS Success arriving at Pearl Harbor in June 2018.jpg|300px|HMAS Success in [[Pearl Harbor]] June 2018]]
|Ship caption=HMAS ''Success'' in June 2018
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval}}
|Ship namesake= {{HMAS|Success|H02}}
|Ship builder=[[Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company]]
|Ship laid down=9 August 1980
|Ship launched=3 March 1984
|Ship commissioned=23 April 1986
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=29 June 2019
|Ship homeport= [[Fleet Base East]], [[Sydney]]
|Ship identification=*{{MMSI|503119000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: VLNN
|Ship motto="Strive to Win"
|Ship nickname=Battle Tanker<ref name=navynews-5115-p16-7/>
|Ship honours=*'''Battle honours:'''
*[[Gulf War|Kuwait]] 1991
*[[International Force for East Timor|East Timor]] 1999
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=[[File:HMAS success crest.png|Ship's badge]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship class={{sclass|Durance|tanker|0}} [[replenishment oiler]]
|Ship displacement=18,221 tonnes (full load)
|Ship length={{convert|157.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|21.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|8.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 × SEMT-Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel engines, driving two shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|20|kn}}
|Ship range={{convert|8616|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
|Ship capacity=*8,707 tonnes diesel
*975 tonnes aviation fuel
*250 tonnes munitions
*116 tonnes water
*95 tonnes naval stores
*57 tonnes consumables
|Ship complement=25 officer, 212 sailors
|Ship boats=1 × [[LCVP (Australia)|LCVP]]
|Ship sensors=2 × Kelvin Hughes Type 100G radars
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*7 × [[12.7 mm]] machine guns
*1 × [[Phalanx CIWS|Phalanx Mk 15]] close-in weapon systems ([[fitted for but not with]])
|Ship aircraft=1 × helicopter ([[Westland Sea King MK 50A|Sea King]], [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|Seahawk]], [[Eurocopter AS350|Squirrel]], or [[NHIndustries MRH90 Taipan|MRH90]])
|Ship aircraft facilities=Aft hangar and helipad for single helicopter
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''HMAS ''Success'' (OR 304)''' was a {{sclass|Durance|tanker|0}} multi-product [[replenishment oiler]] that previously served in the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). Built by [[Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company]] in [[Sydney]], Australia, during the 1980s, she is the only ship of the class to be constructed outside France, and the only one to not originally serve in the ''[[Marine Nationale]]'' (French Navy). The ship was part of the [[Australian contribution to the 1991 Gulf War]], and was deployed to East Timor in response to incidents in 1999 and 2006. The ship was fitted with a [[double hull]] during the first half of 2011, to meet [[International Maritime Organization]] standards.

''Success'' was decommissioned at [[Fleet Base East]] on 29 June 2019, after 33 years of service, and towed to [[Port Pirie]] for scrapping in August 2019.

==Construction==
Seeing a need to replace the ageing oiler [[HMAS Supply (AO 195)|HMAS ''Supply'' (AO 195)]], the RAN placed an order in 1971 for a combat support ship-a replenishment vessel capable of supplying ammunition and stores in addition to fuel-to be named HMAS ''Protector''.<ref name=Jones221>Jones, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 221</ref> However, concerns about the cost of construction prompted the order's cancellation in 1974.<ref name=Jones221/> Instead, the [[DCNS (company)|Directions Techniques Des Constructions Navales]] was approached about constructing a ''Durance''-class replenishment oiler for the RAN, and a design contract was awarded to the Government of France in 1977.<ref name=Jones221/> The $68.4 million (in 1978 prices) construction contract was awarded to Vickers Cockatoo Dockyard in October 1979, with ship delivery by 31 July 1983.<ref name="bluewater">{{cite book |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/FADT_CTTE/completed_inquiries/2004-07/shipping/report/c03.htm#c03f34 |chapter=Chapter 3: A brief history of Australia's Naval shipbuilding industry |title=Blue water ships: consolidating past achievements |date=7 December 2006 |author=Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade |isbn=0-642-71736-2 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=23 June 2009}}</ref>

[[File:US Navy 050614-N-0167B-050 Sailors aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) observe a replenishment at sea with Royal Australian Navy auxiliary oiler replenishment ship HMAS Success (AOR 304) as USS Cowpens (CG 63) sails ahead.jpg|thumb|left|Fuel lines being transferred from ''Success''{{'}}s port replenishment points to the aircraft carrier {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV 63|6}}, during a [[replenishment at sea]] in 2005. The cruiser {{USS|Cowpens|CG 63|6}} has just completed replenishment on the starboard side, and is pulling away.]]
The modified ''Durance''-class oiler is {{convert|157.2|m}} in length, with a beam of {{convert|21.2|m}}, and a draught of {{convert|8.6|m}}, with a [[full load displacement]] of 18,221 tonnes.<ref name=ISHJane35>Saunders (ed.), ''IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013'', p. 35</ref> Propulsion machinery consists of two SEMT-Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel motors, which supply {{convert|20800|hp}} to the ship's two propeller shafts.<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36/> Top speed is {{convert|20|kn}}, and the ship has a range of {{convert|8616|nmi}} at {{convert|15|kn}}.<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36>Saunders & Philpott (eds.), ''IHS Jane's Fighting Ships'' 2015–2016, p. 36</ref> ''Success'' has a total capacity of 10,200 tonnes of cargo: 8,707 tonnes of diesel fuel, 975 tonnes of aviation fuel, 250 tonnes of munitions (including guided missiles and torpedoes), 116 tonnes of water, 95 tonnes of components and naval stores, and 57 tonnes of food and other consumables.<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36/> Fuel and liquid stores can be transferred from four points (two on each side), allowing ''Success'' to [[Replenishment at sea|replenish]] two ships simultaneously, while solid cargo can be moved via [[vertical replenishment]] (with a hangar and helipad for a single [[Westland Sea King MK 50A|Sea King]], [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|Seahawk]], or [[Eurocopter AS350|Squirrel]] helicopter), or by boat (the [[LCVP (Australia)|RAN LCVP]] ''T 7'' is carried on a starboard FWD davit).<ref name=ISHJane35/> The ship is armed with seven 12.7&nbsp;mm machine guns, and is [[fitted for but not with]] a Mark 15 [[Phalanx CIWS]].<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36/> The sensor suite includes two Kelvin Hughes Type 100G navigation radars.<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36/> Ship's company is made up of 25 officers and 212 sailors.<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36/>

''Success'' was laid down by [[Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company]] at the [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard]] in Sydney on 9 August 1980. She was launched on 3 March 1984, and commissioned into the RAN on 23 April 1986.<ref name=ISHJane35/> ''Success'' is the largest ship to ever be built in Australia for the RAN, and is the largest ship to be built in [[Port Jackson]] (the port of Sydney).<ref name=success>Royal Australian Navy, ''HMAS Success (II)''</ref> She was also the last major vessel to be constructed at Cockatoo Island Dockyard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs140.aspx |title=Fact sheet 140 – Cockatoo Island Dockyard |access-date=8 January 2008 |work=Fact Sheets |publisher=National Archives of Australia}}</ref> In June 1983 the contract were renegotiated while construction was underway, with the acceptance date being extended by three years and the project cost increased to $187.3 million. The cost and time overruns were primarily due to protracted dispute between the Commonwealth and the builder over the drawings and specifications received from France, with evidence that the Department of Defence underestimated the extent of the differences between the original Australian building specifications and those supplied.<ref name=bluewater/> Additional factors in the time and cost increases were a lack of tradesmen skilled in naval construction, overly bureaucratic management, and low labour productivity.<ref name=Jones221/> The final project cost was estimated at $197.41 million; the dramatic increase in cost prevented the construction of a planned second ship.<ref name=Jones221/><ref name=bluewater/>

==Operational history==
In 1986, ''Success'' was part of the multi-national fleet that entered [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]] to mark the 75th anniversary of the RAN.<ref name=navynews-5115-p16-7/> Prior to the ceremonial entry, ''Success'' and two other replenishment ships (one [[United States Navy]], one [[Royal Navy]]) were tasked with replenishing the assembled fleet: a competition between the three ships saw ''Success'' replenish more vessels than the other two.<ref name=navynews-5115-p16-7/>

[[File:US Navy 040711-N-5055W-015 The amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) pulls alongside the Australian auxiliary oiler replenishment ship HMAS Success (AOR 304).jpg|thumb|left|Port quarter view of ''Success'', showing the ship's helicopter hangar and an embarked [[Westland Sea King MK 50A|Sea King]] helicopter]]
''Success'' formed part of the [[Australian contribution to the 1991 Gulf War]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/gulf.asp |title=Gulf War 1990 – 1991 |publisher=awm.gov.au |work=Australians at War: Australian War Memorial |access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref> The ship was deployed to [[East Timor]] as part of the Australian-led [[INTERFET]] peacekeeping taskforce from 19 September to 28 October 1999.<ref>{{cite book |last=Stevens |first=David |title=Strength Through Diversity: The combined naval role in Operation Stabilise |series=Working Papers |volume=20 |year=2007 |publisher=Sea Power Centre – Australia |location=Canberra |isbn=978-0-642-29676-4 |issn=1834-7231 |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_20.pdf |access-date=6 September 2010 |page=15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312180452/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_20.pdf |archive-date=12 March 2011}}</ref> Although not recognised at the time, an overhaul of the RAN [[battle honour]]s system, completed in March 2010, saw ''Success'' granted the honours "Kuwait 1991" and "East Timor 1999" for these deployments.<ref name="newhonours">{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="honourslist">{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref>

In 2005, ''Success'' was one of several Australian warships to participate in [[Operation Talisman Sabre|Exercise Talisman Sabre 2005]], a series of joint RAN-USN war games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/print.asp?story_id=18591&VIRIN=&imagetype=0&page=1 |title=Blue Ridge Refueled by HMAS Success |publisher=news.navy.mil |date=2 June 2005 |work=United States Navy |access-date=11 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127003026/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/print.asp?story_id=18591&VIRIN=&imagetype=0&page=1 |archive-date=27 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Navy_Annual_2005/Talisman_Sabre |title=Navy Annual 2005 / Talisman Sabre |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=11 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614061207/http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication%3ANavy_Annual_2005/Talisman_Sabre |archive-date=14 June 2011}}</ref>

During 2006, ''Success'' was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian response to the [[2006 East Timorese crisis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalcollab.org/Nautilus/australia/australia-in-east-timor/royal-australian-navy |title=Royal Australian Navy: Timor-Leste |author=Nautilus Institute at RMIT |publisher=globalcollab.org |access-date=11 December 2009 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In late November 2006, ''Success'' was one of three Australian warships sent to Fiji during the leadup to the [[2006 Fijian coup d'état|2006 coup d'état]] by Fijian military forces against [[Prime Minister of Fiji|Prime Minister]] [[Laisenia Qarase]]. ''Success'' joined HMA Ships {{HMAS|Newcastle|FFG 06|2}} and {{HMAS|Kanimbla|L 51|2}}; the other two ships having sailed in the first week of November. The three vessels were to be used in the event of an evacuation of Australian citizens and nationals, but not as a military force.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=52286 |title=Aussie Navy vessels ready for Fiji evacuation |work=Fiji Times |date=24 November 2006 |access-date=11 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165549/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=52286 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The task group was stood down in late December 2006, with all three ships returning to port.

On 20 February 2007, ''Success'' intercepted a boat carrying 85 Sri Lankan asylum seekers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21269423-5001028,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911161748/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21269423-5001028,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |title=Asylum seeker boat intercepted |work=The Daily Telegraph |author=Australian Associated Press |date=22 February 2007 |access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref> These were the last asylum seekers to be processed under the [[Pacific Solution]] policy before its cancellation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/an-agonising-wait-20091023-hdbs.html |title=An agonising wait |last=Marr |first=David |date=23 October 2009 |work=Brisbane Times|access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref>
[[File:HMAS Tobruk Success 2008.jpg|thumb|left|HMAS ''Success'' sailing alongside HMAS ''Tobruk'' during RIMPAC 08]]

''Success'' was deployed as part of [[Operation Resolute]] for three months in 2008.<ref name="navynews-5115-p16-7">{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Ma |title=3000 Up: 'Battle tanker' reaches a milestone |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/5115/5115.pdf|work=Navy News |publisher=Directorate of Defence Newspapers |pages=16–17 |date=21 August 2008 |access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref> While assigned to Resolute, the vessel was deployed with several other RAN vessels to take part in [[RIMPAC]] 08, a multi-national naval exercise.<ref name=navynews-5115-p16-7/> During RIMPAC, on the night of 23 July, ''Success'' completed her 3,000th [[replenishment at sea]] (RAS) during a dual-replenishment of {{USS|Chung-Hoon|DDG-93|6}} (port side, 2,999th RAS) and {{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|2}} (starboard side, 3,000th RAS).<ref name=navynews-5115-p16-7/>

On the morning of 13 March 2009, ''Success'' was one of seventeen warships involved in a ceremonial fleet entry and fleet review in Sydney Harbour, the largest collection of RAN ships since the [[Australian Bicentenary]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_navy.xml&iid=23701 |title=Marching into History |last=Brooke |first=Michael |date=2 April 2009 |work=Navy News |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref> The replenishment ship was one of the thirteen vessels involved in the ceremonial entry through Sydney Heads, and anchored in the harbour for the review.

In May 2009, while ''Success'' was on exercise in South-East Asia, the ship's commanding officer was alerted to an alleged sex gambling game aboard, which challenged male sailors to record their sexual activities with female sailors in a 'ledger', and awarded them prize money based on with whom or where they had sex.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8134596.stm |title=Australia probes navy 'sex game' |date=4 July 2009 |publisher=BBC News: Asia Pacific |access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref><ref name="Dodd2010">{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/navy-sex-claims-inquiry-biased/story-e6frg6nf-1225829348475 |title=Navy sex claims inquiry 'biased' |last=Dodd |first=Mark |date=12 February 2010 |work=The Australian |access-date=12 February 2010}}</ref> This was one of several incidents during the three-month deployment; two bars in [[Manila]] were damaged during shore leave, while at another bar in [[Qingdao]], several sailors were involved in a public sex act.<ref name=BlenkinAAP/> Three male sailors were removed from ''Success'' when the ship docked in Singapore, and were sent back to Australia to participate in a formal inquiry; this inquiry was found to be flawed because of bias and the denial of support to the three accused, and a second, independent inquiry was set up under former judge [[Roger Gyles]] in February 2010.<ref name=Dodd2010/><ref name="BlenkinAAP">{{cite web |last=Blenkin |first=Max |author2=Australian Associated Press |title=Report details HMAS Success misconduct |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/report-details-hmas-success-misconduct-20110222-1b30d.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=22 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/senate-finds-denial-of-justice-on-success-20110512-1ekfm.html |title=Senate finds denial of justice on Success |last=Australian Associated Press |date=12 May 2011 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) |access-date=13 May 2011}}</ref> The first part of Gyles' inquiry report was released in February 2011, which stated that there was an entrenched culture of sexual harassment, bullying, and predatory sexual behaviour towards female sailors, coupled with alcohol-fuelled misconduct, particularly amongst the male sailors of the ship's marine engineering department.<ref name=BlenkinAAP/> Gyles found that although the harassment and misconduct had been occurring as early as 2004, failures to respond to earlier complaints led to a breakdown in discipline aboard ''Success''.<ref name=BlenkinAAP/> The former judge was unable to prove the existence of the claimed ledger, but found many of the other claims to be correct, including evidence that male sailors had placed bets around having sex with a particular female sailor.<ref name=BlenkinAAP/>

[[File:2009 SH Fleet Entry 028.jpg|thumb|left|''Success'' entering [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]] during the 2009 ceremonial fleet entry]]
At the end of 2009, the [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]] released a [[request for tender]] for modification of ''Success'' into a [[double hull]] vessel, allowing her to meet [[International Maritime Organization]] standards for oil tankers.<ref name="DOD-PR09">{{cite press release |title=Conversion of HMAS Success to International Maritime Organisation compliance |publisher=Department of Defence |date=8 December 2009 |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=9814 |access-date=11 December 2009}}</ref> The tender was awarded to Singapore-based [[ST Marine]] (a subsidiary of [[ST Engineering]]), with the conversion to be made during 2011.<ref name=DOD-PR09/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/singapore-company-to-renovate-success-20101008-16bj3.html |title=Singapore company to renovate Success |last=Australian Associated Press |date=8 October 2010 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=15 October 2010}}</ref> The ship sailed to Singapore in November for a naval exercise, after which she was to enter dock for the 14-week conversion, but problems in the contract delayed the dockyard start date, and ''Success'' was ordered back to Sydney, via {{HMAS|Stirling}} in Western Australia, so the ship's company could take leave with family while the contract was finalised.<ref name="McPhedran11210">{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/shameful-ship-fiasco-as-navy-repair-of-hmas-success-botched/story-e6frfkvr-1225963629682 |title=Shameful ship fiasco as navy repair of HMAS Success botched |last=McPhedran |first=Ian |author-link=Ian McPhedran |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 December 2010 |access-date=3 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195037/http://www.news.com.au/national/shameful-ship-fiasco-as-navy-repair-of-hmas-success-botched/story-e6frfkvr-1225963629682|archive-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> Work on the ship started in late December 2010, with the main conversion work completed by the end of April 2011.<ref name="SuccessHome">{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Success_Returns_Home |title=Success Returns Home |work=News and Events |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |date=30 May 2011 |access-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601174723/http://www.navy.gov.au/Success_Returns_Home |archive-date=1 June 2011}}</ref> In May 2011, a civilian contractor working on the ship died after falling overboard.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/singaporean-falls-of-navy-ship-and-dies/story-e6frf7jx-1226051680933 |title=Singaporean civilian falls of Navy ship HMAS Success and dies |last=Australian Associated Press |date=7 May 2011 |work=Herald Sun |access-date=13 May 2011}}</ref> ''Success'' left Singapore in late May, and returned to Sydney.<ref name=SuccessHome/>

''Success'' underwent a major refit for most of 2013.<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36/><ref name="Ing">{{cite journal |last=Ing |first=David |date=4 July 2012 |title=Australia and Spain agree to share fleet tanker |journal=Jane's Defence Weekly |publisher=Jane's Information Group }}</ref> During this time, the Spanish oiler {{ship|Spanish oiler|Cantabria|A15|2}} was deployed to Australian waters to operate in support of RAN assets, while providing the opportunity to train Australian personnel on systems similar to those in the Spanish-designed [[Hobart-class destroyer|''Hobart''-]] and [[Canberra-class landing helicopter dock|''Canberra'']]-class ships being acquired.<ref name=Ing/> In October 2013, ''Success'' participated in the [[International Fleet Review 2013]] in Sydney.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/ifr/participants/warships |title=Participating Warships |date=2013 |work=International Fleet Review 2013 website |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210092404/http://www.navy.gov.au/ifr/participants/warships |archive-date=10 December 2013 |access-date=14 December 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In late 2013, the ship was the testbed for flight trials of the [[NHIndustries NH90|MRH 90]] helicopter.<ref name=SaundersPhilpott36/>

In March 2014, ''Success'' was deployed to assist in efforts to locate and retrieve possible wreckage from [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 370]] that had been detected on satellite images of the southern Indian Ocean.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/20/mh370-objects-indian-ocean-australia |title=MH370 search: six questions about the objects in the Indian Ocean |last=Hurst |first=Daniel |date=20 March 2014 |work=The Guardian|access-date=20 March 2014}}</ref> In late November 2014, ''Success'' deployed to the Middle East for a six-month period to provide logistic support to coalition naval units as part of Operation Manitou, replacing the Australian frigate usually deployed in the region.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://news.defence.gov.au/2014/11/23/hmas-success-deploys-to-middle-east/
|title=HMAS Success deploys to Middle East|date=23 November 2014|publisher=Australian Government|author=Department of Defence|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329085054/http://news.defence.gov.au/2014/11/23/hmas-success-deploys-to-middle-east/|archive-date=29 March 2016}}</ref>

In February 2015, ''Success'' was awarded the [[Gloucester Cup]] for 2014, marking the ship as the most proficient in the RAN for that year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooke |first=Michael |url=http://navynews.realviewdigital.com/?iid=113693#folio=4 |title=Annual awards reward success |date=26 February 2015 |access-date=23 February 2015 |work=Navy News |page=4}}</ref>

==Fate==
[[File:Former HMAS Success with hull number painted over July 2019.jpg|thumb|''Success'' in Sydney during July 2019 after being decommissioned and having her hull number painted over]]
The Australian Department of Defence predicted in 2006 that ''Success'' would reach the end of her useful operational lifespan sometime between 2015 and 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsp/Maritime_Operations.cfm |title=Defence Materiel Organisation – Sea 1654 Project |access-date=16 January 2007 |date=November 2006 |publisher=Department of Defence – Australian Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123221210/http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsp/Maritime_Operations.cfm |archive-date=2007-11-23}}</ref> Following her double-hull refit, this was extended to the early 2020s, with the decision on the replacement vessel (acquisition project SEA 1654 Phase 3) to be made between 2016 and 2018, and the new ship in service by 2023.<ref name=Gillett53>Gillett, ''Australia's Navy'', Part 2, p. 53</ref> The 2013 Defence White Paper stated that the replacement of ''Success'' and {{HMAS|Sirius|O 266|6}} would be brought forward.<ref name=2013DWP>{{cite book|author=Department of Defence |title=Defence White Paper 2013 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=3 May 2013 |isbn=978-0-9874958-0-8 |pages=123}}</ref> As well as building replacement vessels (either in Australia, overseas, or a combination), leasing existing vessels was also to be considered.<ref name=2013DWP/>

In June 2014, the Minister for Defence announced that two companies had been invited to a restricted tender competition.<ref name=transcript>{{cite web |url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2014/06/06/minister-for-defence-transcript-naval-shipbuilding-announcement/ |title=Minister for Defence – Transcript – Naval shipbuilding announcement, CEA Technologies, Canberra |date=6 June 2014 |type=Transcript |publisher=Department of Defence Ministers |access-date=1 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222114231/http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2014/06/06/minister-for-defence-transcript-naval-shipbuilding-announcement/ |archive-date=22 February 2015}}</ref> [[Navantia]] from Spain offered the {{ship|Spanish oiler|Cantabria|A15|2}} design, while [[Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering]] from Korea proposed a downsized Aegir variant of the [[Tide-class tanker|''Tide''-class tanker]].<ref name=transcript/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/australian-ships-australian-jobs-20150426-1mtd6x |title=Australian ships, Australian jobs|last=Hewett |first=Jennifer |date=26 April 2015 |work=[[Australian Financial Review]]|access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref> The 20,000+ tonne ships will be built overseas, as they will be too large to build in Australian shipyards.<ref name=transcript/> In March 2016, the Navantia design was selected.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grevatt|first=Jon|url=http://www.janes.com/article/58705/australia-selects-navantia-for-new-replenishment-ship|title=Australia selects Navantia for new replenishment ship|work=IHS Jane's 360|date=10 March 2016|access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref>

''Success'' completed her final voyage into Sydney Harbour on 16 June 2019. She was decommissioned at [[Fleet Base East]] on 29 June 2019.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Jul2019/Fleet/5305/Battle-Tanker-farewelled-after-33-years-of-service.htm|title=Battle Tanker farewelled after 33 years of service|publisher=Royal Australian Navy|date=1 July 2019|access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref> Her replacement is {{HMAS|Supply|A 195|6}}, a [[Supply-class replenishment oiler|''Supply''-class replenishment oiler]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navantia.com.au/capabilities/replenishment-vessels/|title=Supply Class Replenishment Vessels (AORs)|website=Navantia Australia|language=en|access-date=2019-07-01}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This ship was commissioned in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=NUSHIP Supply (II) |url=https://www.navy.gov.au/nuship-supply-ii |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=2 August 2020}}</ref>

''Success'' arrived in [[Port Pirie]] in early August 2019. The ship was stripped to the hull by [[McMahon Services]] and the hull then moved to [[Whyalla]], to a slipway that was once part of the [[Whyalla Steelworks#Steelworks and shipyards|former shipyards]], where it was broken up for scrap.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20241009021640/https://mcmservices.com.au/projects/ex-hmas-success-dismantling-disposal/ Ex HMAS Success Dismantling and Disposal] [[McMahon Services]]</ref>

==Citations==
{{Reflist}}

==References==

*{{cite book|last=Gillett |first=Ross |title=Australia's Navy: Today and Tomorrow |publisher=Topmill |year=2012 |volume=Part 2 }}
*{{cite book |title=IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013 |editor=Saunders, Stephen |publisher=IHS Jane's |location=Coulsdon |date=2012 |series=[[Jane's Fighting Ships]] |isbn=9780710630087 |oclc=793688752}}
*{{cite book |editor1=Saunders, Stephen |editor2=Philpott, Tom |title=IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016 |publisher=IHS Jane's |location=Coulsdon |date=7 August 2015 |edition=116th Revised |series=[[Jane's Fighting Ships]] |isbn=9780710631435 |oclc=919022075}}
*{{cite book |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III) |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=South Melbourne, VIC |isbn=0-19-555542-2 |oclc=50418095}}
**{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=The Royal Australian Navy |chapter=Towards Self Reliance}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-success-ii |title=HMAS Success (II) |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=6 April 2014}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMAS Success (OR 304)|HMAS Success}}

{{Durance-class tankers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Success (OR 304)}}
[[Category:Durance-class tankers of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:1984 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in New South Wales]]