Royal Australian Navy

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Royal Australian Navy
File:RAN badge.png
Active 1911–present
Country  Australia
Type Navy
Size 14,215 Permanent personnel[1]
8,493 Reserve personnel[2]
47 commissioned ships
3 non-commissioned ships
Part of Australian Defence Force
Headquarters Russell Offices, Canberra
Motto Serving Australia with Pride
March "Royal Australian Navy"
Anniversaries 10 July
Engagements
Website www.navy.gov.au
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief General Sir Peter Cosgrove
As Governor-General of Australia
Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin
Vice Chief of the Defence Force Vice Admiral Ray Griggs
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett
Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Michael van Balen
Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer
Insignia
Naval Ensign (1967–present) Naval Ensign of Australia.svg
Naval Ensign (1911–1967) Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Naval Jack Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance Seahawk
Trainer GlobalRanger, Squirrel
Transport MRH90

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces. Originally intended for local defence, the navy was granted the title of 'Royal Australian Navy' in 1911, and became increasingly responsible for defence of the region.

Britain's Royal Navy continued to support the RAN and provided additional blue-water defence capability in the Pacific up to the early years of World War II. Then, rapid wartime expansion saw the acquisition of large surface vessels and the building of many smaller warships. In the decade following the war, the RAN acquired a small number of aircraft carriers, the last of these paying off in 1982.

Today, the RAN consists of 47 commissioned vessels, 3 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. The current Chief of Navy is Vice Admiral Tim Barrett.

History

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Main article: History of the Royal Australian Navy

The Commonwealth Naval Forces were established on 1 March 1901, two months after the federation of Australia, when the naval forces of the separate Australian colonies were amalgamated. A period of uncertainty followed as the policy makers sought to determine the newly established force's requirements and purpose, with the debate focusing upon whether Australia's naval force would be structured mainly for local defence or whether it would be designed to serve as a fleet unit within a larger imperial force, controlled centrally by the British Admiralty.[3] In 1908–09, the decision was made to pursue a compromise solution and Australia agreed to establish a force that would be used for local defence but which would be capable of forming a fleet unit within the imperial naval strategy, 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".[4]

On 10 July 1911, King George V granted the title of "Royal Australian Navy".[5] The first of the RAN's new vessels, the destroyer Yarra, was completed in September 1910 and by the outbreak of World War I, the majority of the RAN's new fleet had been realised.[4] The Australian Squadron was placed under control of the British Admiralty,[6] and initially it was tasked with capturing many of Germany's South Pacific colonies and protecting Australian shipping from the German East Asia Squadron. 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 Turkish Empire.[4]

In 1919, the RAN received a force of six destroyers, three sloops and six submarines from the Royal Navy,[7] 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.[8] In this time the focus of Australia's naval policy shifted from defence against invasion to trade protection,[9] and several fleet units were sunk as targets or scrapped. In 1923, the size of the navy had fallen to eight vessels,[8] and by the end of the decade it had fallen further to five, with just 3,500 personnel.[9] 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.[9]

Early in World War II, 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.[10] Following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the virtual destruction of British naval forces in south-east Asia, the RAN operated more independently, or as part of United States Navy forces. 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.[9] A total of 34 vessels were lost during the war, including three cruisers and four destroyers.[11]

After World War II, the size of the RAN was again reduced, but it gained new capabilities with the delivery of two aircraft carriers.[12] 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.[13] 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 also deployed in support of Australian peacekeeping operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.[14]

RAN today

Command structure

The strategic command structure of the RAN was overhauled during the New Generation Navy changes. The RAN is commanded through Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Canberra. The professional head is the Chief of Navy (CN), who holds the rank of Vice Admiral. 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.[citation needed]

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,[15] but the title was changed in 1988 to the Maritime Commander Australia. On 1 February 2007, the title changed again, becoming Commander Australian Fleet.[16] 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:[17]

Fleet

As of January 2016, the RAN fleet consists of 47 warships, including frigates, submarines, patrol boats and auxiliary ships.[18] Ships commissioned into the RAN are given the prefix HMAS (His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship).[19]

The RAN has two primary bases for its fleet:[20][21]

In addition, three other bases are home to the majority of the RAN's minor war vessels:[22][23][24]

Current ships

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Further information: Current Royal Australian Navy ships

The RAN currently operates 47 commissioned vessels, made up of eight ship classes and three individual ships, plus three non-commissioned vessels.

Commissioned vessels
Image Class/name Type Number Entered service Details
HMAS Collins, Collins class
 Collins class Submarine 6 2000 Anti-shipping, intelligence collection. Diesel-electric powered.
HMAS Canberra, Canberra class
 Canberra class Landing helicopter dock 2 2014 Amphibious warfare ships.
HMAS Stuart, Anzac class
 Anzac class Frigate 8 1996 Anti-submarine and anti-aircraft frigate with 1 helicopter. Two more were built for the Royal New Zealand Navy.
HMAS Newcastle, Adelaide class
 Adelaide class Frigate 3 1985 General-purpose guided-missile frigate with 2 helicopters. Three more ships have been decommissioned.
HMAS Broome, Armidale class
 Armidale class Patrol boat 13 2005 Coastal defence, maritime border, and fishery protection
HMAS Yarra, Huon class
 Huon class Minehunter 6 1997 Minehunting
HMAS Leeuwin, Leeuwin class
 Leeuwin class Survey ship 2 2000 Hydrographic survey
HMAS Benalla, Paluma class
 Paluma class Survey launch 4 1989 Hydrographic survey
HMAS Choules
 HMAS Choules
(Bay class)		 Landing Ship Dock 1 2011 Heavy sealift and transport
HMAS Success
 HMAS Success
(Durance class)		 Replenishment ship 1 1986 Replenishment at sea and afloat support
HMAS Sirius
 HMAS Sirius Replenishment ship 1 2006 Replenishment at sea and afloat support. Modified commercial tanker.
Non-commissioned vessels
ABFC Cape St George, Cape class
 Cape class Patrol boat 2 2015 Leased from the Australian Border Force to supplement Armidales during classwide remediation maintenance. ADV (Australian Defence Vessel) ship prefix.
STS Young Endeavour
 STS Young Endeavour Tall Ship 1 1988 Sail training ship

Aviation

Fleet Air Arm

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Main article: Fleet Air Arm (RAN)

The Fleet Air Arm (previously known as the Australian Navy Aviation Group) provides the RAN's aviation capability. As of 2013, the FAA consists of three active squadrons plus a fourth being activated, operating five helicopter types in the anti-submarine warfare and maritime support roles.[25] The Fleet Air Arm is based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales, and operates from the RAN's frigates, large amphibious warfare vessels, and large support ships.

LADS Flight

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Main article: Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Flight RAN

In addition to the helicopter squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, the RAN operates an additional flying unit that comes under the operational responsibility of the Australian Hydrographic Service. The Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Flight contains the sole remaining fixed-wing aircraft operated by the RAN, and is based at HMAS Cairns in Cairns, Queensland.[26]

Gallery

Clearance Diving Branch

Clearance Divers during a ship boarding exercise in 2006 as a part of RIMPAC exercises.

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Main article: Clearance Diving Branch (RAN)

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.

Future

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HMAS Canberra, a Canberra-class landing helicopter dock, being fitted out in 2013

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Main article: Procurement programme of the Royal Australian Navy
Hobart, the lead ship of the RAN's new class of air-warfare destroyers, under construction in 2015

There are currently several major projects underway that will see upgrades to RAN capabilities:

  • Project AIR 9000 Phase 8 is a project to replace the RAN's Seahawk (and cancelled Kaman SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite) helicopters with 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
  • Project JP 2048 Phase 3 will provide six Heavy Landing Craft to replace the RAN's Balikpapan-class vessels. The project is planned to deliver capability in 2014–2016.
  • Project SEA 1429 will upgrade the Collins-class submarines with state-of-the-art heavyweight torpedoes.
  • Project SEA 1439 Phase 4A will equip the Collins-class submarines with a new tactical combat system.
  • Project SEA 1654 Phase 3 is a project to acquire a Sea Logistic Support and Replenishment Support vessel to replace the supply ship HMAS Success.
  • Project SEA 4000, under which the RAN will acquire three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, built around the United States Navy Aegis air and surface combat management system. The vessels are to be based on the Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate.[27][28]

To boost the RAN's amphibious capability during the construction of the Canberra-class LHDs, the RAN acquired HMAS Choules (a former Bay-class landing ship of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary) in December 2011, and the support vessel ADV Ocean Shield in June 2012.[29][30]

Future procurement plans include:

  • twelve Future Submarines, under Project SEA 1000, to replace the Collins-class (up to 4,000 tons, potentially equipped with cruise missiles and minisubs); and
  • nine Future Frigates to replace the Anzac-class frigates (possibly up to 7,000 tons and equipped with cruise missiles).[31]

Current operations

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Main article: Current Australian Defence Force deployments

The RAN currently has forces deployed on four major operations:[32]

  • Operation Slipper: Australia's commitment to the International Coalition forces in Afghanistan;
  • Operation Resolute: border protection;
  • Operation Manitou: counter-piracy, counter-terrorism and maritime stability in the Middle East; and
  • Operation Accordion: support operation to provide sustainment to forces deployed on Operations Slipper and Manitou.

Personnel

A female RAN officer in 2014. Women serve in the RAN in combat roles and at sea.

As of June 2011, the RAN has 14,215 permanent full-time personnel, 161 gap year personnel, and 2,150 reserve personnel.[33] The permanent full-time force consisted of 3,357 commissioned officers, and 10,697 enlisted personnel.[33] In June 2010, male personnel made up 82% of the permanent full-time force, while female personnel made up 18%.[34] The RAN has the highest percentage of women in the ADF, compared to the RAAF's 17.8% and the Army's 9.7%.[34]

The following are the current senior Royal Australian Navy officers:

The RAN needs 2,000 recruits, including 700 apprentices,[36] to crew the next generation of warships, such as air warfare destroyers, which enter service next decade. To overcome a lack of Australian recruits, the RAN began to recruit sailors who have been laid off from other western navies.[37]

Ranks and uniforms

Royal Australian Navy sailors in 2010

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See also: Australian Defence Force ranks

The uniforms of the Royal Australian Navy are very similar in cut, colour and insignia to their British Royal Navy forerunners. However, beginning with the Second World War all RAN personnel began wearing shoulder flashes reading Australia, a practice continuing today. These are cloth arcs at shoulder height on uniforms, metallic gold on officers' shoulder boards, and embroidered on shoulder slip-ons.

Commissioned officers

Commissioned officers of the Australian Navy have pay grades ranging from S-1 to O-11. The only O-11 position in the navy is honorary and has only ever been held by royalty, currently being held by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The highest position occupied in the current Royal Australian Navy structure is O-9, a vice admiral who serves as the Chief of the Navy. 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 officers of the Navy receive a commission from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Commissioning Scroll issued in recognition of the commission is signed by the Governor General of Australia as Commander-in-Chief and the serving Minister for Defence.[citation needed]

Naval officers are trained at the Royal Australian Naval College (HMAS Creswell) in Jervis Bay, New South Wales and the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.[38]

Commissioned officer rank structure of the Royal Australian Navy
Admiral of the Fleet Admiral Vice Admiral Rear Admiral Commodore Captain
O-11 O-10 O-9 O-8 O-7 O-6
Aus-Navy-OF10-shoulder.svg Generic-Navy-O12.svg Aus-Navy-OF9-shoulder.svg Generic-Navy-O11.svg Aus-Navy-OF8-shoulder.svg Generic-Navy-O10.svg Aus-Navy-OF7-shoulder.svg Generic-Navy-O9.svg Aus-Navy-OF6-shoulder.svg UK-Navy-OF6.svg Generic-Navy-O7.svg
AF ADML VADM RADM CDRE CAPT
Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant Acting Sub Lieutenant Midshipman
O-5 O-4 O-3 O-2 O-1 S-1
Generic-Navy-O5.svg Generic-Navy-O4.svg Generic-Navy-O3.svg Generic-Navy-O1.svg Generic-Navy-O1.svg UK-Navy-OFD.svg
CMDR LCDR LEUT SBLT ASLT MIDN

Other ranks

Other ranks
Warrant Officer of the Navy Warrant Officer Chief Petty Officer Petty Officer Leading Seaman Able Seaman Seaman
E-9 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2
(No rank) (No rank) 60px
WO-N WO CPO PO LS AB SMN
Royal Australian Navy sailors from HMAS Sydney during Operation Northern Trident 2009

Royal Australian Navy Other Ranks wear "right arm rates" insignia, called "Category Insignia" to indicate speciality training qualifications.[39][better source needed] The use pattern mirrors that of the Royal Navy, and has since formation.[citation needed] Stars or a Crown are added to these to indicate higher qualifications.[citation needed]

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.[40] 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)[41] and the Royal Australian Air Force equivalent is the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF).[42]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Dennis et al 1995, p. 516.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Whitley 2000, p. 17.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Dennis et al 1995, p. 517.
  7. ↑ Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 193.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 61.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Dennis et al 1995 p. 518.
  10. ↑ Gillett & Graham 1977, pp. 69–76.
  11. ↑ Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 93.
  12. ↑ Gillett & Graham 1977, p. 94.
  13. ↑ Dennis et al 1995, pp. 519–520.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ C L Cumberlege
  16. ↑ Top Stories
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Frame 2004, p. 96.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Defence Annual Report 2009-2010, Appendix 7, Table A7.3
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 A new Hydrographer of Australia | Royal Australian Navy
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Bibliography
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

  • [[User:Richard Arthur Norton (1958- )/{{{1}}}]] (0 bytes) → [[:]] (move - copyvios)
Commissioned officer ranks of the Australian Defence Force
Australia-United States Rank Code Officer Cadet O-1 O-2 O-3 O-4 O-5 O-6 O-7
*		 O-8
**		 O-9
***		 O-10
****		 O-11
*****
Royal Australian Navy MIDN ASLT SBLT LEUT LCDR CMDR CAPT CDRE RADM VADM ADML AF
Australian Army OCDT 2LT LT CAPT MAJ LTCOL COL BRIG MAJGEN LTGEN GEN FM
Royal Australian Air Force OFFCDT PLTOFF FLGOFF FLTLT SQNLDR WGCDR GPCAPT AIRCDRE AVM AIRSMHL ACM MRAAF
Other ranks of the Australian Defence Force
Australia-United States Rank Code E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4 E-5 E-6 E-7 E-8 E-9 Special
Royal Australian Navy RCT SMN AB - LS PO - CPO WO WO-N
Australian Army REC PTE - LCPL CPL SGT SSGT WO2 WO1 WO RSM-A
Royal Australian Air Force RCT AC/ACW LAC/LACW - CPL SGT - FSGT WOFF WOFF-AF

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