The Adelaide-class guided missile frigates are a half-dozen strong class of warships developed and constructed by Australia. The first ship entered service in November 1980, and all of the six ships are active as of 2012. In the 1990s, they were supplemented by the Anzac-class multirole frigates. In the 2000s, the Adelaide-class underwent an extensive modernization to improve their combat capabilities. The Adelaide-class is expected to have the first of its replacements enter service in mid-2016.
Specifications[]
- Type: Guided Missile Frigate
- Service Period: 1980-Present
- Characteristics
- Length: 455 feet (138.68 meters)
- Beam: 45 feet (13.72 meters)
- Draught: 22 feet (6.71 meters)
- Displacement: 4,100 tons
- Crew: 221
- Propulsion: 2 x gas turbines, 2 x shafts
- Range: 4,500 nautical miles (8,334 km) at 20 knots (37.04 km/h)
- Speed: 31.5 knots (58.34 km/h)
- Sensor Suite
- Armament
- 2 x 5"/54-caliber naval guns
- 1 x 32-cell VLS (fires Broadsword, Storm Wind, and Sea Wolf missiles)
- 2 x 12.75" triple fire torpedo tubes
- 2 x 30mm Goalkeeper CIWS
- Aircraft Carried: 1 x Westland Westminster maritime helicopter
Unit Run[]
- HMAS Adelaide (FM 150)
- HMAS Canberra (FM 151)
- HMAS Sydney (FM 152)
- HMAS Darwin (FM 153)
- HMAS Torrens (FM 154)
- HMAS Newcastle (FM 155)