Arafura class
Posted: 28 Sep 2022 18:02
The project, after a slow (and late) start, is starting to get rolling with the keel laying of the 5th Arafura class, Illawarra.
This is the third of the class to be built in WA, after Australian Submarine Corporation built the first two, Arafura and Eyre. The transfer of OPV construction to CIVMEC in WA was supposed to allow the ASC workforce in Osborne to seamlessly transition to the Hunter class, but...well.
CIVMEC have three OPVs under construction, Gippsland, Pilbara and now Illawarra, with Carpentaria to follow. They are supposed to build 10 in total but the remaining six boats don't have names yet.
I kind of hope sanity prevails and they name the remaining OPVs after ports, to preserve long standing navy traditions (Bathurst, Fremantle and Armidale class names).
Wollongong, Geelong, Launceston, Pirie, Fremantle and Townsville would be good.
Mike
This is the third of the class to be built in WA, after Australian Submarine Corporation built the first two, Arafura and Eyre. The transfer of OPV construction to CIVMEC in WA was supposed to allow the ASC workforce in Osborne to seamlessly transition to the Hunter class, but...well.
CIVMEC have three OPVs under construction, Gippsland, Pilbara and now Illawarra, with Carpentaria to follow. They are supposed to build 10 in total but the remaining six boats don't have names yet.
I kind of hope sanity prevails and they name the remaining OPVs after ports, to preserve long standing navy traditions (Bathurst, Fremantle and Armidale class names).
Wollongong, Geelong, Launceston, Pirie, Fremantle and Townsville would be good.
Mike