Leslie Massey
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has operated a large number of vessels since its foundation in 1913. As of March 2022, the RAN consists of 43 commissioned vessels and 3 non-commissioned vessels. The RAN fleet was made up of 51 commissioned warships as of January 2013. The RAN has struggled to sufficiently crew their submarine fleet, and there are plans to replace the Collins with a twelve-submarine program. The RAN also operates the sail-training ship Young Endeavour, the support vessel ADV Ocean Shield, and two Bandicoot-class minesweeper tugboats. As of 2025, the RAN has a total of 35 units in its active naval inventory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of commissioned vessels | 43 |
| Number of non-commissioned vessels | 3 |
| Total number of vessels | 46 |
| Number of commissioned warships | 51 (as of January 2013) |
| Number of frigates | 8 Anzac class, 4 Adelaide class |
| Number of submarines | 6 Collins class |
| Number of amphibious warfare vessels | 1 Bay class landing ship dock, 1 heavy landing ship, 3 Balikpapan class heavy landing craft |
| Number of patrol boats | 14 Armidale class |
| Number of minehunting and clearance vessels | 4 Huon class |
| Number of replenishment ships | 2 (Sirius and Success) |
| Number of survey and charting vessels | 2 Leeuwin class, 4 Paluma class |
| Number of active naval inventory units | 35 (excluding smaller patrol vessels, auxiliary/survey ships, replenishment, and historical ceremonial types) |
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What You'll Learn
- The Royal Australian Navy has 43 commissioned vessels and 3 non-commissioned vessels as of March 2022
- The RAN fleet includes 51 warships, 12 frigates, and 6 submarines as of January 2013
- The RAN has struggled to crew its submarine fleet, considering replacing the Collins with 12 new vessels
- The RAN operates Fleet Base East and Fleet Base West, with most vessels in Sydney or Perth
- The Australian fleet's 8 Anzac-class frigates are its most modern and capable vessels
The Royal Australian Navy has 43 commissioned vessels and 3 non-commissioned vessels as of March 2022
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has a long history of operating a large number of vessels since its foundation in 1913. As of March 2022, the RAN has 43 commissioned vessels and 3 non-commissioned vessels. This number represents the strength of the RAN and includes a variety of warships, support ships, and supply ships.
The RAN's fleet composition includes a mix of different types of vessels to carry out various missions. One of the main strengths of the RAN is its surface combatant force, which consists of twelve frigates: eight Anzac-class and four Adelaide-class frigates. These frigates are among the most modern and capable vessels in the Australian fleet, providing a robust presence in the region.
The submarine service is another critical component of the RAN. The fleet includes six Collins-class submarines. However, due to technical and manpower issues, not all submarines are active simultaneously. The RAN has faced challenges in sufficiently crewing its submarine fleet, and there have been plans to replace the Collins-class submarines with a more ambitious twelve-submarine program.
In addition to its frontline warships, the RAN operates several other types of vessels to support its operations. For amphibious warfare, the RAN utilises the dock landing ship HMAS Choules, acquired from the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2011, and the heavy landing ship HMAS Tobruk. The RAN also operates patrol vessels, such as the fourteen Armidale-class patrol boats, which are responsible for patrolling Australia's vast coastline, territorial waters, and offshore territories.
The RAN's capabilities extend beyond its commissioned warships. They operate the sail-training ship Young Endeavour, the support vessel ADV Ocean Shield, and two Bandicoot-class minesweeper tugboats. Additionally, the RAN has mine warfare assets and survey and charting vessels, such as the two Leeuwin-class and four Paluma-class ships.
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The RAN fleet includes 51 warships, 12 frigates, and 6 submarines as of January 2013
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has operated a large number of vessels since its foundation in 1913. As of January 2013, the RAN fleet included 51 warships, 12 frigates, and 6 submarines.
The RAN's surface combatant force consisted of twelve frigates: eight Anzac-class and four Adelaide-class. The Anzac-class frigates were commissioned jointly with New Zealand from 1996 to 2006 and are among the most modern and capable vessels in the Australian fleet. The Adelaide-class frigates, on the other hand, are older vessels that have been in service since the 1980s.
The submarine service of the RAN was made up of six Collins-class boats. However, due to technical and manpower issues, not all of these submarines were active at any given time. The RAN has struggled to crew its submarine fleet adequately, sometimes having no more than two qualified crews available. Despite these challenges, there were plans to replace the Collins-class submarines with an ambitious program to acquire twelve new submarines.
In addition to the warships and submarines, the RAN fleet included various support vessels. For amphibious warfare, the RAN operated the dock landing ship HMAS Choules, acquired from the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 2011, and the heavy landing ship HMAS Tobruk. The RAN also had three Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft, which could be used for troop and vehicle transport. These landing craft were later decommissioned, with the last three in service until 2014.
The RAN's patrol capabilities included fourteen Armidale-class patrol boats, which were responsible for patrolling Australia's vast coastline, territorial waters, and offshore territories. Additionally, the RAN operated four Huon-class vessels for minehunting and clearance, with another two in reserve since October 2011. The fleet was supported by replenishment ships, survey and charting vessels, and minesweepers, showcasing the diverse capabilities of the RAN.
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The RAN has struggled to crew its submarine fleet, considering replacing the Collins with 12 new vessels
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has a long and distinguished history dating back to its foundation in 1913. Over the years, the RAN has operated a vast array of vessels, including various types of warships, support, and supply ships. As of May 2025, the RAN's fleet consists of 33 commissioned warships and 12 non-commissioned vessels, for a total of 45 ships. This includes destroyers, frigates, submarines, landing helicopter dock ships, patrol boats, and more.
One of the key components of the RAN's fleet is its submarine service, which is comprised of six Collins-class submarines. These submarines are Australian-built diesel-electric boats that entered service in 1993. The Collins class is named after Australian Vice Admiral John Augustine Collins, and each submarine bears the name of distinguished RAN personnel from World War II. While the Collins-class submarines represented a significant enhancement in capabilities for the RAN, they have also faced numerous technical and operational challenges.
One of the primary issues with the Collins-class submarines has been crewing. The RAN has struggled to crew its submarine fleet adequately, with a shortage of qualified personnel. In 2008 and 2009, personnel shortages reduced the number of deployable submarines to three, and at times, only one submarine was operational due to maintenance issues and defects. This highlighted the need for additional resources and attention to the submarine service.
To address these challenges and enhance its submarine capabilities, the RAN has considered replacing the Collins-class submarines. In 2019, the Australian government awarded a contract to France's Naval Group to build 12 new Attack-class submarines. The first submarine, the HMAS Attack, is expected to be delivered in 2032. These new submarines will be French-designed and are intended to replace the aging Collins-class boats, extending their service life until the mid-2030s. Additionally, the RAN has explored options to upgrade the existing Collins-class submarines to ensure their continued viability until the new vessels arrive.
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The RAN operates Fleet Base East and Fleet Base West, with most vessels in Sydney or Perth
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) operates a total of 46 vessels as of March 2022, including 43 commissioned vessels and 3 non-commissioned vessels. The RAN operates Fleet Base East and Fleet Base West, with the majority of vessels stationed in Sydney or Perth.
Fleet Base East, also known as HMAS Kuttabul, is located in Sydney and serves as the main base for the RAN's fleet on the east coast of Australia. It is responsible for a variety of naval activities, including support, training, and operational tasks. The base is equipped with modern infrastructure and facilities to accommodate the naval personnel and their families.
Fleet Base West, or HMAS Stirling, is situated near Perth and serves as the primary naval base for the RAN's operations in Western Australia. It is the largest base in the RAN and plays a crucial role in supporting the fleet's operational readiness and capabilities. HMAS Stirling is also known for its strategic importance, providing a strategic advantage to the RAN's presence in the Indian Ocean region.
Most of the RAN's vessels are distributed between these two main fleet bases. Fleet Base East, in Sydney, is home to a significant number of the RAN's warships, including frigates, patrol boats, and support vessels. It also houses the mine warfare assets at HMAS Waterhen, ensuring the security and defence of the region's maritime borders. Additionally, Fleet Base East may serve as a hub for naval training and support services, providing the necessary infrastructure and resources for effective naval operations.
On the other hand, Fleet Base West in Perth holds a substantial portion of the fleet, including both commissioned and non-commissioned vessels. The base may provide a strategic location for the RAN's operations in the western region, offering easy access to critical trade routes and contributing to the security of Australia's western maritime borders. Fleet Base West is likely equipped with maintenance facilities, logistical support, and berthing spaces to accommodate the vessels and their crews.
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The Australian fleet's 8 Anzac-class frigates are its most modern and capable vessels
The Royal Australian Navy is a formidable force, with 43 commissioned vessels and 3 non-commissioned vessels as of March 2022. Among these, the Anzac-class frigates stand out as the most modern and capable ships in the Australian fleet. With a total of 8 Anzac-class frigates, these vessels were commissioned between 1996 and 2006 and are expected to be withdrawn from service between 2024-2025 and 2032-2033.
The Anzac-class frigates are highly versatile and form a critical part of the Navy's core surface warship capability. They are designed to conduct surveillance and patrols, protect shipping and strategic areas, provide naval gunfire support for the Army, and undertake disaster relief and search and rescue operations. These frigates are well-equipped for their diverse roles, boasting a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion machinery layout, with a powerful gas turbine and diesel engines that drive the ship's two controllable-pitch propellers. Their maximum speed reaches 27 knots (50 km/h), and their maximum range exceeds 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) at 18 knots.
The Anzac design is based on the Blohm + Voss MEKO 200 PN (or Vasco da Gama-class) frigate, but it has been modified to meet the specific requirements of the Royal Australian Navy. During the development phase, the ships were redesigned to maximise the involvement of Australian and New Zealand industries, with 80% of the materials being locally sourced. Each frigate has a full load displacement of 3,600 tonnes and measures 109 metres at the waterline and 118 metres overall.
The Anzac-class frigates are well-armed and have undergone upgrades to maintain their combat effectiveness. They are equipped with Mark 32 three-tube torpedo launchers, capable of firing the Mark 46 Mod 5 torpedo with an impressive range of 11 kilometres. For aerial search and surveillance, they utilise a Raytheon SPS-49(V)8 ANZ radar, and they also feature a Saab 9LV 453 Target Indication Radar for air and surface search. The frigates' defence capabilities have been enhanced with the addition of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), which more than doubles their strike range compared to the previous Harpoon missile system.
In summary, the Australian fleets' 8 Anzac-class frigates represent the pinnacle of modern naval warfare within the Royal Australian Navy. With their advanced capabilities, versatile design, and operational track record, these vessels proudly serve Australia and contribute to regional stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Frequently asked questions
As of March 2022, the Royal Australian Navy has 43 commissioned vessels and 3 non-commissioned vessels, totalling 46 ships.
The Australian Navy has a range of ships, including warships, support and supply vessels, patrol boats, submarines, and landing craft.
Some specific ships in the Australian Navy include the HMAS Choules, a dock landing ship, the HMAS Tobruk, a heavy landing ship, and the Young Endeavour, a sail training ship.
The number of ships in the Australian Navy is relatively small compared to other countries. For example, the U.S. Navy has over 290 ships, and the Royal Navy in Britain has around 70 ships.
