HMAS Maryborough (ACPB 95)

For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Maryborough.

HMAS Maryborough (ACPB 95), named after the city of Maryborough, Queensland,^[1] is one of fourteen Armidale-class patrol boats operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

HMAS Maryborough arriving at Jakarta in 2017
History
Australia
Namesake	City of Maryborough, Queensland
Commissioned	8 December 2008
Decommissioned	23 September 2023
Homeport	HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin
Motto	"Strength and Courage"
Honours & awards	Three inherited battle honours
Status	Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class & type	Armidale-class patrol boat
Displacement	300 tons standard load
Length	56.8 m (186 ft)
Beam	9.7 m (32 ft)
Draught	2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Propulsion	2 × MTU 4000 16V 6,225 horsepower (4,642 kW) diesels driving twin propellers
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance	21 days standard, 42 days maximum
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs
Complement	21 standard, 29 maximum
Sensors & processing systems	Bridgemaster E surface search/navigation radar
Electronic warfare & decoys	Prism III radar warning system Toplite electro-optical detection system Warrlock direction finding system
Armament	1 × Rafael Typhoon stabilised gun mount fitted with a 25 mm (1 in) M242 Bushmaster autocannon 2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns

Design and construction

Main article: Armidale-class patrol boat

The Armidale-class patrol boats are 56.8 metres (186 ft) long, with a beam of 9.7 metres (32 ft), a draught of 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in), and a standard displacement of 270 tons.^[2] The semi-displacement vee hull is fabricated from aluminium alloy, and each vessel is built to a combination of Det Norske Veritas standards for high-speed light craft and RAN requirements.^[3] The Armidales can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and are driven by two propeller shafts, each connected to an MTU 16V M70 diesel.^[4] The ships have a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), allowing them to patrol the waters around the distant territories of Australia, and are designed for standard patrols of 21 days, with a maximum endurance of 42 days.^[4][3]

The main armament of the Armidale class is a Rafael Typhoon stabilised 25-millimetre (0.98 in) gun mount fitted with an M242 Bushmaster autocannon.^[4] Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried.^[5] Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs).^[3] Each RHIB is stored in a dedicated cradle and davit, and is capable of operating independently from the patrol boat as it carries its own communications, navigation, and safety equipment.^[3][6]

Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29.^[4][3] The Armidales do not have a permanently assigned ship's company; instead, they are assigned to divisions at a ratio of two vessels to three companies, which rotate through the vessels and allow the Armidales to spend more time at sea, without compromising sailors' rest time or training requirements.^[3][7] A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside.^[8] However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard HMAS Maitland in August 2006 pumped hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class.^[7][8]

Maryborough was one of two patrol boats ordered in 2005, following a 2004 federal election promise that the Coalition would provide a dedicated patrol force for the oil and gas producing facilities located off the north-west coast of Australia.^[4][3][9] Maryborough was constructed by Austal at their shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.^[2] She was commissioned into the RAN in Brisbane^{[citation needed]} on 8 December 2007.^[2]

Operational history

In December 2019 the Maryborough left Darwin, for Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, accompanied by the newly commissioned Solomon Islands patrol vessel RSIPV Gizo.^[10] The vessels engaged in joint training exercises. Now it is decommissioned as of 23 September 2023. It was given a farewell to its crew in Maryborough with a 'Freedom of Entry Parade'.

Fire

On 26 May 2017 Maryborough suffered from an Engine Room fire while at sea operating North-West of Darwin. No crew members were injured and the ship returned to Darwin for an assessment of the damage.^[11]