Royal Australian Navy
Active	1911–present
Country	Australia
Allegiance	HM The Queen
Type	Navy
Size	14,215 permanent personnel 2,150 Active Reserve personnel 51 commissioned ships 1 non-commissioned ship
Part of	Australian Defence Force
Headquarters	Russell Offices, Canberra
March	"Royal Australian Navy"
Anniversaries	10 July
Engagements	First World War Second World War Korean War Malayan Emergency Indonesian Confrontation Vietnam War Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Website	www.navy.gov.au
Commanders
Chief of the Defence Force	General David Hurley AC, DSC
Chief of Navy	Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO, CSC
Deputy Chief of Navy	Rear Admiral Trevor Jones AM, CSC
Commander Australian Fleet	Rear Admiral Michael van Balen
Notable commanders	VADM Sir William Creswell VADM Sir John Collins ADML Sir Victor Smith VADM Sir Richard Peek ADML Chris Barrie VADM Russ Crane
Insignia
Naval Ensign (1967–Present)
Naval Jack
Naval Ensign (1911–1967)
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance	Seahawk
Trainer	Bell, Squirrel
Transport	MRH 90

HMA Ships Success (front) and Tobruk in 2008

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 provide 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 51 commissioned vessels and over 16,000 personnel. The navy is one of the largest and most sophisticated naval forces in the 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 Ray Griggs.^[1]

History [edit]

The Commonwealth Naval Forces were established on 1 March 1901, two months after the federation of Australia. On 10 July 1911, King George V granted the title of "Royal Australian Navy".^[2]

During World War I, the RAN was initially responsible for 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.

During the 1920s and early 1930s, the RAN was drastically reduced in size. As international tensions increased, however, the RAN was modernised and expanded. Early in World War II, RAN ships again operated as part of the Royal Navy, many serving with distinction in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the West African coast, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the virtual destruction of the Royal Navy force in Asia, the RAN operated more independently, or as part of United States Navy forces. By war's end, the RAN was the fifth-largest navy in the world.

After World War II, the size of the RAN was again reduced, but it gained new capabilities with the delivery of two aircraft carriers. 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. Since the end of the Cold War, the RAN has been part of Coalition forces in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean and has become a critical element in Australian operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

RAN today [edit]

Command structure [edit]

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.

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,^[3] but the title was changed in 1988 to the Maritime Commander Australia. On 1 February 2007, the title changed again, becoming Commander Australian Fleet.^[4] 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:^[5]

• Surface Force, covering the RAN's surface combatants (generally ships of frigate size or larger)
• Submarine Force, operating the Collins class submarines
• Mine Warfare, Hydrographic and Patrol Boat Force, 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"
• Fleet Air Arm, responsible for the navy's aviation assets

Fleet [edit]

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As of December 2011, the RAN fleet consisted of 54 vessels, including frigates, submarines, patrol boats and auxiliary ships. Ships commissioned into the RAN are given the prefix HMAS (His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship).

The RAN has two primary bases for its fleet:

• Fleet Base East, located at HMAS Kuttabul, Sydney; and
• Fleet Base West, located at HMAS Stirling, near Perth.

In addition, three other bases are home to the majority of the RAN's minor war vessels:

• HMAS Coonawarra, at Darwin;
• HMAS Cairns, at Cairns; and
• HMAS Waterhen, at Sydney.

Current ships [edit]

The RAN currently operates 54 commissioned vessels, made up of eight ship classes, and four individual ships.

Image	Class/Name	Type	Number	Entered service	Details
	Anzac class	Frigate	8	1996	Anti-submarine and anti-aircraft frigate with 1 S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter. Two more were built for the Royal New Zealand Navy.
	Adelaide class	Frigate	4	1985	General Purpose guided missile frigate with 2 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters. Two more ships were decommissioned in 2005 and 2008.
	Armidale class	Patrol boat	14	2005	Coastal defence, maritime border, and fishery protection
	Huon class	Minehunter	6	1997	Minehunting
	Collins class	Submarine	6	2000	Anti-shipping, intelligence collection. Diesel-electric powered.
	Balikpapan class	Landing Craft Heavy	3	1971	Light lift amphibious transport. Two more were transferred to the fledgling Papua New Guinea Defence Force in 1975.
	Leeuwin class	Survey ship	2	2000	Hydrographic survey
	Paluma class	Survey launch	4	1989	Hydrographic survey
	HMAS Tobruk	Landing Ship Heavy	–	1981	Heavy sealift and transport. Modified Round Table class.
	(Bay class landing ship) HMAS Choules	Landing Ship Dock	–	2011	Heavy sealift and transport. Former Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay class landing ship RFA Largs Bay
	(Durance class tanker) HMAS Success	Replenishment ship	–	1986	Replenishment at sea and afloat support. Modified Durance class.
	HMAS Sirius	Replenishment ship	–	2006	Replenishment at sea and afloat support. Modified commercial tanker.

In addition to the commissioned vessels, the RAN operates several non-commissioned ships, including the sail training ship Young Endeavour and the civilian-crewed ADV Ocean Shield.

Fleet Air Arm [edit]

The Australian Navy Aviation Group (known informally as the Fleet Air Arm) provides the RAN's aviation capability. As of 2011, the FAA consists of three active squadrons, operating four helicopter types in the anti-submarine warfare and maritime support roles.^[6] 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.

Clearance Diving Teams [edit]

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

The RAN has two Clearance Diving Teams 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 RAN personnel 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 [edit]

Álvaro de Bazán–class frigate, basis for the Hobart class air-warfare destroyer

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 Phases 4A and 4B is a project to build two Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious ships (based on the Spanish Buque de Proyección Estratégica). These will be the largest RAN warships ever commissioned and will replace HMAS Tobruk and a Kanimbla-class vessel. The project is on schedule for the vessels to be accepted in January 2014 (HMAS Canberra) and August 2015 (HMAS Adelaide).^[7]
• 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 1390 Phase 2.1 will see the upgrading of four Adelaide-class guided missile frigates with enhanced weapons and electronics.
• 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.^[8][9] The project is on schedule to deliver the first ship, HMAS Hobart, in December 2014. HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Sydney are due to be delivered in March 2016 and June 2017 respectively.^[10]

To boost the RAN's amphibious capability until the arrival 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.^[11][12]

Future procurement plans include:

• twelve Future Submarines, under Project SEA 1000, to replace the Collins-class (up to 4,000 tons, equipped with cruise missiles and minisubs);
• eight Future Frigates to replace the Anzac-class frigates (possibly up to 7,000 tons and equipped with cruise missiles);
• twenty Offshore Combatant Vessels, under Project SEA 1180, to replace the Armidale, Huon, Leeuwin, and Paluma classes (up to 2000 tons); and
• one Strategic Sealift Vessel to replace the second Kanimbla-class ship (~15,000 tons, similar to the Spanish Galicia-class landing platform dock).^[13]

Current operations [edit]

The RAN currently has forces deployed on three major operations:^[14]

• Operation Anode: Australia's contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands.
• Operation Slipper: Australia's commitment to the International Coalition forces in Afghanistan and against Terrorism (ICAT). The RAN's contribution is normally one ship in the Persian Gulf.
• Operation Resolute: the ADF's contribution to patrolling Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone. The RAN's contribution to Resolute is at least seven Armidale class patrol boats, plus a large surface combatant on standby.^[15]

In late 2010, as part of cost-saving measures, the RAN has ordered ships to reduce operating speeds and cut time at sea.^[16]

Personnel [edit]

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.^[17] The permanent full-time force consisted of 3,357 commissioned officers, and 10,697 enlisted personnel.^[17] As of June 2010 male personnel make up 82% of the permanent full-time force, while female personnel make up 18%.^[18] The RAN has the highest percentage of women in the ADF, compared to the RAAF's 17.8% and the Army's 9.7%.^[18]

The following are the current senior Royal Australian Navy Officers:

• Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN — Chief of Navy
• Rear Admiral Michael van Balen, RAN — Deputy Chief of Navy
• Rear Admiral Tim Barrett, AM, CSC, RAN — Commander Australian Fleet
• Rear Admiral Mark Campbell, CSC, RAN — Head Navy Capability
• Rear Admiral Michael Uzzell, AM, RAN — Head Navy Engineering
• Commodore Brett Brace, RAN — Hydrographer of Australia^[19]
• Warrant Officer Martin Holzberger, CSC — Warrant Officer of the Navy

The RAN needs 2,000 recruits, including 700 apprentices,^[20] to crew the next generation of warships, such as air warfare destroyers, which enter service next decade. In order to overcome a lack of skilled Australians, the RAN has begun to recruit sailors who have been laid off from other western navies.^[21]

Ranks and uniforms [edit]

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.

Royal Australian Navy sailors in 1998

Commissioned officers [edit]

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-7 (Commodore) 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 the Second, 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.

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.

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
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
CMDR	LCDR	LEUT	SBLT	ASLT	MIDN

Other ranks [edit]

Royal Australian Navy sailors from HMAS Sydney during Operation Northern Trident 2009

Chaplains [edit]

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Royal Australian Navy (RAN) chaplains are commissioned officers and wear the uniform of a RAN officer. Like chaplains in the Royal Navy (RN), they do not wear rank insignia, but instead wear epaulettes with a cross-and-anchor insignia. Like other chaplains in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Navy chaplains have five divisions of seniority. Australian Navy chaplains are accorded a certain rank for protocol and ceremonial occasions and for saluting purposes. Division 1, 2 and 3 Australian Navy chaplains are accorded the rank and status as Commander (equivalent of Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army). Division 4 Australian Navy chaplains are accorded the rank and status of Captain (equivalent of Colonel). Division 5 Australian Navy chaplains are "Principal Chaplains," and these three chaplains, representing the three major Christian denominations: Catholic, Anglican and Protestant, are accorded the rank and status of Commodore (equivalent of Brigadier). Principal Chaplains' uniforms do not differ from other Navy chaplains however they do wear gold braid on the peak of their caps. The title "Padre" for chaplains is less common in the Royal Australian Navy, than in the Australian Army, although it is known to be used by many sailors and some Navy chaplains in preference to the more formal title of "Chaplain", or other formal forms of address towards an officer such as "Sir."^{[citation needed]}

Special insignia [edit]

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, he^[22] does not wear the WO rank insignia; instead, he wears the special insignia of the appointment.^[23] The WO-N appointment has similar equivalent appointments in the other services, each holding the rank of Warrant Office, 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)^[24] and the Royal Australian Air Force equivalent is the Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOFF-AF).^[25]

See also [edit]

Military of Australia portal

• Australian Navy Cadets
• Australian White Ensign
• Royal Australian Navy School of Underwater Medicine

Notes [edit]

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Royal Australian Navy

• Royal Australian Navy home page
  • Historical listing of RAN ships
• 'Virtual Fleet'—on-line computer based 'tour' of ships and aircraft
• Maritimequest Royal Australian Navy photo gallery
• Official Biographies:
  • Chief of Navy
  • Deputy Chief of Navy
  • Commander Australian Fleet
  • Head of Navy Capability
  • Head Navy Engineering
  • Warrant Officer of the Navy
• Royal and Dominion Navies in World War II, Campaigns, Battles, Warship losses

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