 HMASMelbourne in June 2018 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name | Melbourne |
| Namesake | City of Melbourne |
| Ordered | 1980 |
| Builder | Australian Marine Engineering Consolidated |
| Laid down | 12 July 1985 |
| Launched | 5 May 1989 |
| Commissioned | 15 February 1992 |
| Decommissioned | 26 October 2019 |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | "Vires Acquirit Eundo" (She gathers strength as she goes) |
| Honours and awards |
|
| Fate | Sold to Chile |
| History | |
 Chile | |
| Name | Almirante Latorre |
| Namesake | Juan José Latorre |
| Commissioned | 15 April 2020 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Adelaide-class guided missile frigate |
| Displacement | 4,100 tons |
| Length | 138.1 m (453 ft) overall |
| Beam | 13.7 m (45 ft) |
| Draught | 7.5 m (25 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) |
| Range | 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 184 (including 15 officers, not including aircrew) |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 ×S-70B Seahawk or 1 × Seahawk and 1 ×AS350B Squirrel |
HMASMelbourne (FFG 05) was anAdelaide-class guided-missile frigate of theRoyal Australian Navy, which entered service in 1992.Melbourne has been deployed to thePersian Gulf on several occasions, and served as part of theINTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 2000. On 26 October 2019,Melbourne was decommissioned from the RAN, subsequently being transferred toChile. The ship was commissioned into theChilean Navy asAlmirante Latorre on 15 April 2020.
Following the cancellation of theAustralian light destroyer project in 1973, the BritishType 42 destroyer and the AmericanOliver Hazard Perry-class frigate were identified as alternatives to replace the cancelled light destroyers and theDaring-class destroyers.[1] Although theOliver Hazard Perry class was still at the design stage, the difficulty of fitting the Type 42 with theSM-1 missile, and the success of thePerth-class acquisition (a derivative of the AmericanCharles F. Adams-class destroyer) compared to equivalent British designs led the Australian government to approve the purchase of two US-builtOliver Hazard Perry-class frigates in 1976.[1][2] A third was ordered in 1977, followed by a fourth, with all four ships integrated into the USN's shipbuilding program.[3][4][5] A further two ships (includingMelbourne) were ordered in 1980, and were constructed in Australia.[4][5]
As designed, the ship had afull load displacement of 4,100 tons, alength overall of 138.1 metres (453 ft), abeam of 13.7 metres (45 ft),[6][circular reference] and adraught of 6.7 metres (22 ft).[7][8] Propulsion machinery consists of twoGeneral Electric LM2500 gas turbines, which provide a combined 41,000 horsepower (31,000 kW) to the single propeller shaft.[8] Top speed is 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph), with a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[8] Two 650-horsepower (480 kW) electric auxiliary propulsors are used for close manoeuvring, with a top speed of 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[8] Standardship's company is 184, including 15 officers, but excluding the flight crew for the embarked helicopters.[8]
Original armament for the ship consisted of aMark 13 missile launcher configured to fireRIM-66 Standard andRGM-84 Harpoon missiles, supplemented by anOTO Melara 76-millimetre (3.0 in) gun and aVulcan Phalanx point-defence system.[7][8] As part of the mid-2000sFFG Upgrade Project, an eight-cellMark 41 Vertical Launch System was fitted, with a payload ofRIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles.[9] For anti-submarine warfare, twoMark 32 torpedo tube sets are fitted; originally firing theMark 44 torpedo, theAdelaides later carried theMark 46, then theMU90 Impact following the FFG Upgrade.[8][10] Up to six 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns can be carried for close-in defence, and since 2005, twoM2HB .50 calibre machine guns inMini Typhoon mounts have been installed when needed for Persian Gulf deployments.[8][11] The sensor suite includes anAN/SPS-49 air search radar,AN/SPS-55 surface search and navigation radar,SPG-60 fire control radar connected to aMark 92 fire control system, and a Mulloka hull-mounted sonar.[8] Two helicopters can be embarked: either twoS-70B Seahawk or one Seahawk and oneAS350B Squirrel.[8]
The ship was laid down byAMECON atWilliamstown, Victoria on 12 July 1985.[12] She was launched on 5 May 1989.[12]Melbourne was commissioned into the RAN on 15 February 1992.[12]
In 1996, the frigate was deployed to thePersian Gulf.
Melbourne was deployed toEast Timor as part of the Australian-ledINTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 20 January to 23 February 2000.[13]
In 2002,Melbourne participated in the third rotation of RAN ships to the Persian Gulf as part ofOperation Slipper, where she enforced United Nations sanctions against Iraq.[12] In 2003, the ship returned to Iraqi waters in support ofOperation Catalyst, protecting Iraqi territorial waters followingOperation Iraqi Freedom.[citation needed]
Following an overhaul of the RANbattle honours system, completed in March 2010,Melbourne was awarded the honours "East Timor 2000" and "Persian Gulf 2002".[14][15]
On 16 August 2010,Melbourne was deployed to the Middle East for the third time, again as part of Operation Slipper.[16] During the six-month deployment, the frigate participated inanti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea and responded to 14 distress calls from merchant vessels, including the British chemical tanker MVCPO China on 3 January 2011.[16][17] Although it took six hours forMelbourne to close withCPO China, the merchant ship's crew secured themselves in thecitadel, and the pirates retreated when the frigate and her Seahawk helicopter arrived.[17][18]Melbourne returned to Sydney on 18 February 2011.[16]
Between 5 and 7 February 2014, while deployed off Tanzania,Melbourne seized and destroyed 575 kilograms (1,268 lb) ofheroin from smuggling vessels.[19] On 18 February, while operating off Oman'sMasirah Island,Melbourne and the Pakistani frigatePNSAlamgir intercepted and boarded adhow found to be carrying 1,951 kilograms (4,301 lb) ofcannabis resin.[20] In September 2018Melbourne operated off the Korean Peninsula to enforce sanctions against North Korea as part ofOperation Argos.[21]
Melbourne returned toFleet Base East from her final deployment on 27 September 2019.[22][23] She was decommissioned on 26 October 2019.[24]
On 27 December 2019, it was announced that she andNewcastle had been sold toChile.[25]
Melbourne was commissioned into the Chilean navy on 15 April 2020 as Chilean shipAlmirante Latorre, pennant number FFG-14.[citation needed]
Media related toHMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) at Wikimedia Commons
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