# HMAS Glenelg (ACPB 96)

HMAS Glenelg (ACPB 96), named for the city of Glenelg, South Australia was an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

## Design and construction

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. 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. 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. 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.
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. Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried. Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). 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.
Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29. 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. 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. 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.
Glenelg 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. Glenelg was constructed by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia. She was the last ship of the class to be commissioned, on 22 February 2008.

## Operational history

She was based at HMAS Coonawarra, assigned to the Aware Division, and performs border protection duties.

## Citations

* 1 2 3 Saunders (ed.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013, p. 33
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kerr, Plain sailing
* 1 2 3 4 5 Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 22
* ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 132
* ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 131
* 1 2 Kerr, Patrol boats shake down fuel faults
* 1 2 McKenna, Gas risk remains for navy boats
* ↑ Heron & Powell, in Australian Maritime Issues 2006, p. 130