HMAS Sydney (DDG 42), named after the city of Sydney, New South Wales, is the third and final ship of the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
 HMAS Sydney in 2021
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Namesake | City of Sydney, Australia |
| Ordered | 4 October 2007 |
| Builder |
|
| Laid down | 19 November 2015 |
| Launched | 19 May 2018 |
| Commissioned | 18 May 2020 |
| Homeport | Fleet Base East, Sydney |
| Identification | MMSI number: 503000127 |
| Motto | Thorough and Ready |
| Status | Active |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics (as designed) | |
| Class and type | Hobart-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons) full load |
| Length | 147.2 m (482 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 18.6 m (61 ft 0 in) maximum |
| Draught | 5.17 m (17 ft 0 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | Over 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Range | Over 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement |
|
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 x MH-60R Seahawk |
Construction
editHMAS Sydney was laid down on 19 November 2015, and launched on 19 May 2018.[1] The ship, based on the Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate designed by Navantia, was built at ASC's shipyard in Osborne, South Australia, from modules fabricated by ASC, BAE Systems Australia in Victoria, and Forgacs Group in New South Wales. The ship was delivered to the Australian Department of Defence on 28 February 2020,[2] after sea trials since September 2019.[3]
Service
editHMAS Sydney was commissioned at sea off the coast of New South Wales on 18 May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. This was the first time since World War II that an Australian warship was commissioned at sea.[4][5][6] In March 2021, the ship's combat systems were tested in advance of any operational deployments.[7]
On 8 May 2021 Sydney struck and killed two endangered fin whales which were discovered after the ship docked at the U.S. Navy base in San Diego, California.[8] The Center for Biological Diversity announced its intent to sue the U.S. Navy and the National Marine Fisheries Service for what it called "violations" of the Endangered Species Act. The incident is under joint review by U.S. and Australian agencies.[9]
In June 2024, Sydney was sent on a regional presence deployment, which included participating in RIMPAC 2024, Exercise Pacific Dragon and deployed on Operation Argos.[10] On 19 July, Sydney participated in the sinking of the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa off the coast of Hawaii by firing a Naval Strike Missile.[11] On 12 September, Sydney was deployed in Operation Argos in monitoring illegal shipment of goods in and out of North Korea.[12]
References
edit
- ^ "HMAS Sydney (V)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Shipbuilding continues in South Australia as final Air Warfare Destroyer delivered to Defence" (Press release). Department of Defence. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "Royal Australian Navy's third air warfare destroyer begins sea trials". Naval Technology. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Zerbe, Ryan (19 May 2020). "Warship Sydney commissions at sea". Navy Daily. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "HMAS Sydney (V)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Warship Commissions at Sea Ships Monthly July 2020 page 17
- ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (12 March 2021). "Australia's third Hobart-class destroyer sets off for combat trials". Janes. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ Lendon, Brad. "Australian destroyer arrived in San Diego with 2 dead endangered whales stuck to its hull". CNN. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Goldenberg, Karli (25 May 2021). "After Australian Ship Hits 2 Whales, US Navy Says It Takes Steps to Protect Marine Life". Military.com. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "HMAS Sydney departs for regional presence deployment". Department of Defence. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ Mahadzir, Dzirhan (23 July 2024). "Royal Australian Navy Destroyer Fires Naval Strike Missile on Former U.S. Amphib During RIMPAC 2024". USNI News. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Hill, Alannah (12 September 2024). "Australian warship sets out on mission to monitor illegal North Korean shipments". NK News. Retrieved 3 October 2024.