HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05)

HMAS MELBOURNE is one of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) six guided missile frigates. She is a long-range escort capable of area air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The ship can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

MELBOURNE and her five sister ships were the first RAN ships to be powered by gas turbines. This, combined with a modern repair by replacement policy, has allowed both a reduced complement and a high availability for sea duty. In addition, two forward mounted retractable auxiliary propulsion units provide a secondary means of propulsion plus excellent maneuverability in confined waters.

The ship is also equipped with a sophisticated computer-based command and control system and a comprehensive sensor package including the Mulloka medium range sonar for submarine detection. MELBOURNE is the lead ship for the Nulka Active Missile Decoy System, designed and manufactured in Australia in collaboration with the United States. Aboriginal for 'Be Quick', Nulka is an expendable decoy which uses a unique hovering rocket to protect RAN ships against advanced anti-ship missiles.

MELBOURNE has seen active service on four occasions since commissioning. Her first tour was to the Persian Gulf in 1996 followed by a deployment to East Timor in 1998. In 2002, MELBOURNE participated in the third rotation of RAN ships to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Slipper where she enforced United Nations sanctions against Iraq. In 2003, the ship returned to Iraqi waters in support of Operation Catalyst protecting Iraqi territorial waters following Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The name Melbourne has been carried by two former RAN warships: a light cruiser 1913-1928, and an aircraft carrier 1955-1982. The ship's motto, ' VIRES ACQUIRIT EUNDO ', translates as 'She Gathers Strength As She Goes'.

Launched: 5 May 1989
Type: Guided Missile Frigate
Commissioned: 15 February 1992
Displacement: 4100 tonnes
Length: 138.1 metres
Beam: 14.3 metres
Armament: 76mm rapid fire gun. Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Standard surface to air missiles, Mk 92 Fire Control System, Vulcan Phalanx close in weapons system, Two triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes for Mk 32 torpedoes
Main Machinery: Two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving a single controllable pitch propeller
Speed: 30+ knots
Ship's Company: 221
Aircraft: Up to two SeaHawk helicopters

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