History | |
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Name | HMAS Bendigo |
Namesake | City of Bendigo |
Builder | NQEA, Cairns |
Laid down | 21 September 1981 |
Launched | 9 April 1983 |
Commissioned | 28 May 1983 |
Decommissioned | 9 September 2006 |
Homeport | HMAS Cairns |
Motto | "Advance with Purpose" |
Honours and awards | Three inherited battle honours |
Fate | Scrapped |
Badge | ![]() |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Fremantle-class patrol boat |
Displacement | 220 tons |
Length | 137.6 ft (41.9 m) |
Beam | 25.25 ft (7.70 m) |
Draught | 5.75 ft (1.75 m) |
Propulsion | 2 MTU series 538 diesel engines, 3,200 shp (2,400 kW), 2 propellers |
Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) |
Complement | 22 |
Armament |
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HMAS Bendigo (FCPB 211) was a Fremantle-class patrol boat in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Main article: Fremantle-class patrol boat |
Starting in the late 1960s, planning began for a new class of patrol boat to replace the Attack class, with designs calling for improved seakeeping capability, and updated weapons and equipment.[1] The Fremantles had a full load displacement of 220 tonnes (220 long tons; 240 short tons), were 137.6 feet (41.9 m) long overall, had a beam of 24.25 feet (7.39 m), and a maximum draught of 5.75 feet (1.75 m).[2] Main propulsion machinery consisted of two MTU series 538TB91 V16 diesel engines, which supplied 3,200 shaft horsepower (2,400 kW) to the two propeller shafts.[2] Exhaust was not expelled through a funnel, like most ships, but through vents below the waterline.[3]
The patrol boat could reach a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph), and had a maximum range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).[2] The ship's company consisted of 22 personnel.[2] Each patrol boat was armed with a single Bofors 40mm gun as main armament, supplemented by two .50-calibre Browning machineguns and an 81 mm mortar,[2] although the mortar was removed from all ships sometime after 1988.[citation needed] The main weapon was originally to be two 30-mm guns on a twin-mount, but the reconditioned Bofors were selected to keep costs down; provision was made to install an updated weapon later in the class' service life, but this did not eventuate.[3][4]
Bendigo was laid down by NQEA in Cairns, Queensland on 21 September 1981, launched on 9 April 1983, and commissioned on 28 May 1983.[5]
Bendigo operated out of HMAS Cairns, and spent the majority of her career protecting Australia's northern borders.[6]
On 12 November 1998, Bendigo grounded on submerged rocks near Michaelmas Cay, 20 miles north of Cairns, while carrying 45 passengers for a Family Day cruise.[7] There were no casualties and only minor damage to the patrol boat, which was refloated 35 minutes after the grounding, with the help of an Australian Volunteer Coast Guard boat.[7]
On 16 July 1985, Bendigo became the first patrol boat to circumnavigate Australia.[8]
Bendigo was decommissioned on 9 September 2006.[6] The patrol boat was broken up for scrap in Darwin during 2006 and 2007, at a cost of $450,000 to the Australian government.[9]