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Coordinates: 23°49′59″S 151°15′10″E / 23.833173°S 151.252769°E / -23.833173; 151.252769
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{{Other ships|HMAS Gladstone}}
{{Other ships|HMAS Gladstone}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:HMAS Gladstone 2010.JPG|300px|The former HMAS Gladstone in 2010]]
| Ship image = [[File:HMAS Gladstone 2010.JPG|300px|The former HMAS Gladstone in 2010]]
|Ship caption=The former HMAS ''Gladstone'' in 2010
| Ship caption = The former HMAS ''Gladstone'' in 2010}}
}}
{{Infobox ship career
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Australia
| Ship country = Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval}}
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Australia|naval}}
|Ship namesake=Port city of [[Gladstone, Queensland]]
| Ship namesake = City of [[Gladstone, Queensland]]
|Ship builder=[[North Queensland Engineers and Agents]]
| Ship builder = [[NQEA]], [[Cairns]]
|Ship laid down=7 March 1983
| Ship laid down = 7 March 1983
|Ship launched=28 July 1984
| Ship launched = 28 July 1984
|Ship commissioned=8 September 1984
| Ship commissioned = 8 September 1984
|Ship decommissioned=13 March 2007
| Ship decommissioned = 13 March 2007
|Ship motto="Defend the right"
| Ship motto = "Defend the right"
| Ship nickname = "Sadrock"
|Ship nickname="Sadrock"<ref name=NavyWeb>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-gladstone-ii |title=HMAS Gladstone (II) |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |accessdate=3 August 2014}}</ref>
|Ship honours=Two [[HMAS Gladstone#Battle honours|inherited battle honours]]
| Ship honours = Two [[HMAS Gladstone#Battle honours|inherited battle honours]]
|Ship status=Marked for preservation as museum ship
| Ship status = Preserved as museum ship in Gladstone
|Ship notes=
| Ship notes =
|Ship badge=[[File:HMAS gladstone crest.png|Ship's badge]]
| Ship badge = [[File:HMAS gladstone crest.png|Ship's badge]]}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship class=[[Fremantle class patrol boat|''Fremantle'' class patrol boat]]
| Ship class = [[Fremantle-class patrol boat|''Fremantle''-class patrol boat]]
|Ship displacement=220&nbsp;tons
| Ship displacement = 220&nbsp;tons
|Ship length={{convert|137.6|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship length = {{convert|137.6|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|25.25|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|25.25|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|5.75|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{convert|5.75|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 MTU series 538 diesel engines, {{convert|3200|shp|abbr=on}}, 2 propellers
| Ship propulsion = 2 [[MTU Friedrichshafen|MTU]] series 538 diesel engines, {{convert|3200|shp|abbr=on}}, 2 propellers
|Ship speed={{convert|30|kn}}
| Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn}}
|Ship range={{convert|5000|nmi}} at {{convert|5|kn}}
| Ship range = {{convert|5000|nmi}} at {{convert|5|kn}}
|Ship complement=22
| Ship complement = 24
|Ship sensors=
| Ship sensors =
|Ship EW=Type 133 Prism [[Electronic warfare support measures|ESM]]<ref name=98Janep28>{{cite book |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1998-99 |editor=Sharpe, Richard |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon, Surrey |date=1998 |edition=101st |isbn=071061795X |oclc=39372676 |page=28}}</ref>
| Ship EW = Type 133 Prism [[Electronic warfare support measures|ESM]]<ref name=98Janep28>{{cite book |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1998-99 |editor=Sharpe, Richard |publisher=[[Janes Information Services]]|location=Coulsdon, Surrey |year=1998 |edition=101st |isbn=071061795X |oclc=39372676 |page=28}}</ref>
|Ship armament=*One general purpose 40/60&nbsp;mm Bofors gun
|Ship armament=*1 [[Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun|Bofors 40&nbsp;mm/60 gun]]
*Two 12.7&nbsp;mm machine guns
*2 12.7&nbsp;mm machine guns
*One 81&nbsp;mm mortar (removed later)<!-- when? -->
*1 81&nbsp;mm mortar (removed later)}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
|}

'''HMAS ''Gladstone'' (FCPB 216)''', named for the city of [[Gladstone, Queensland]], is a [[Fremantle class patrol boat|''Fremantle'' class]] patrol boat, formerly of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN).
'''HMAS ''Gladstone'' (FCPB 216)''', named for the city of [[Gladstone, Queensland]], is a [[Fremantle-class patrol boat|''Fremantle''-class]] patrol boat, formerly of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). Built by [[NQEA]] during the early 1980s, ''Gladstone'' was commissioned into RAN service in 1984.

The patrol boat spent most of its career operating out of the naval base {{HMAS|Cairns|naval base|6}} on fisheries and border protection operations. The [[ship's company]] were granted [[Freedom of the City]] of their ship's namesake city on three occasions.

''Gladstone'' was decommissioned in 2007, and was donated to the Gladstone Maritime History Society for preservation and display as a [[museum ship]] at the [[Gladstone Maritime Museum]]. Work was postponed due to the [[2007–2008 financial crisis]], with preservation work and development of a [[wet dock]] to display the ship completed in 2016. The vessel is now available for tours on weekends and is located in the Gladstone East Shores precinct, adjacent to the Gladstone Marina.


==Design and construction==
==Design and construction==
{{main|Fremantle class patrol boat}}
{{main|Fremantle-class patrol boat}}
Starting in the late 1960s, planning began for a new class of patrol boat to replace the [[Attack class patrol boat|''Attack'' class]], with designs calling for improved [[seakeeping]] capability, and updated weapons and equipment.<ref>Mitchell, ''Farewell to the Fremantle class'', p. 105</ref> The ''Fremantle''s had a full load displacement of {{convert|220|t}}, were {{convert|137.6|ft}} [[length overall|long overall]], had a beam of {{convert|24.25|ft}}, and a maximum draught of {{convert|5.75|ft}}.<ref name=Gillett89>Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 89</ref> Main propulsion machinery consisted of two MTU series 538 diesel engines, which supplied {{convert|3200|shp}} to the two propeller shafts.<ref name=Gillett89/> Exhaust was not expelled through a funnel, like most ships, but through vents below the waterline.<ref name=Gillett88/> The patrol boat could reach a maximum speed of {{convert|30|kn}}, and had a maximum range of {{convert|5000|nmi}} at {{convert|5|kn}}.<ref name=Gillett89/> The ship's company consisted of 22 personnel.<ref name=Gillett89/> Each patrol boat was armed with a single [[40 mm Bofors]] gun as main armament, supplemented by two [[M2 Browning machine gun|.50 cal Browning machineguns]] and an 81-mm mortar,<ref name=Gillett89/> although the mortar was removed from all ships sometime after 1988.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} 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.<ref name=Gillett88>Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 88</ref><ref name=Jones222>Jones, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 222</ref>
Starting in the late 1960s, planning began for a new class of patrol boat to replace the [[Attack-class patrol boat|''Attack'' class]], with designs calling for improved [[seakeeping]] capability, and updated weapons and equipment.<ref>Mitchell, ''Farewell to the Fremantle class'', p. 105</ref> The ''Fremantle''s had a full load displacement of {{convert|220|t}}, were {{convert|137.6|ft}} [[length overall|long overall]], had a beam of {{convert|24.25|ft}}, and a maximum draught of {{convert|5.75|ft}}.<ref name=Gillett89>Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 89</ref> Main propulsion machinery consists of two [[MTU Friedrichshafen|MTU]] series 538 diesel engines, which supplied {{convert|3200|shp}} to the two propeller shafts.<ref name=Gillett89/> Exhaust was not expelled through a funnel, like most ships, but through vents below the waterline.<ref name=Gillett88/> The patrol boat could reach a maximum speed of {{convert|30|kn}}, and had a maximum range of {{convert|5000|nmi}} at {{convert|5|kn}}.<ref name=Gillett89/> The ship's company consisted of 24 personnel.<ref name=Gillett89/> Each patrol boat was armed with a single [[Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun|Bofors 40mm gun]] as main armament, supplemented by two [[M2 Browning machine gun|.50 cal Browning machineguns]] and an 81-mm mortar,<ref name=Gillett89/> although the mortar was removed from all ships sometime after 1988.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} 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.<ref name=Gillett88>Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 88</ref><ref name=Jones222>Jones, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 222</ref>


''Gladstone'' was laid down by [[North Queensland Engineers and Agents]] at [[Cairns, Queensland]] on 7 March 1983, launched on 28 July 1984, and commissioned into the RAN on 8 September 1984.<ref name=jfs85p26>Moore, ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86'', p. 26</ref><ref name=NavyWeb/>
''Gladstone'' was laid down by [[NQEA]] in [[Cairns]], [[Queensland]] on 7 March 1983, launched on 28 July 1984, and commissioned into the RAN on 8 September 1984.<ref name=jfs85p26>Moore, ''Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86'', p. 26</ref><ref name=NavyWeb/> During its career, the patrol boat acquired the nickname "Sadrock".<ref name=NavyWeb>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-gladstone-ii |title=HMAS Gladstone (II) |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |accessdate=24 October 2015}}</ref>


==Operational history==
==Operational history==
''Gladstone'' spent her entire life based at {{HMAS|Cairns|naval base|6}} in Cairns, Queensland.<ref name=NavyWeb/>
''Gladstone'' spent its entire life based at {{HMAS|Cairns|naval base|6}} in Cairns, Queensland.<ref name=NavyWeb/> The ''Fremantle''-class patrol boats operated primarily in northern Australian waters, and were tasked with fisheries protection, border protection, immigration and customs duties, law enforcement operations, and maritime surveillance.<ref name=NavyWeb/>


The [[ship's company]] of ''Gladstone'' were granted [[Freedom of the City]] of Gladstone for the first time in 1988.<ref name=GMM/>
⚫
In April 1990, ''Gladstone'' apprehended the Taiwanese fishing vessel ''Hai Chang 11'', which had been detected fishing inside the Australian [[Economic Exclusion Zone]], but failed to stop when approached by the patrol boat. ''Hai Chang 11'' was taken to Darwin, where the fishing vessel's captain was prosecuted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.territorystories.nt.gov.au/handle/10070/204983 |title=Dramatic navy boat chase evidence caught on video |date=15 April 1990 |work=Sunday Territorian}}</ref>{{verification needed|date=July 2014|reason=Cited source is a database entry for the article and not the article itself}}

⚫
In April 1990, ''Gladstone'' apprehended the Taiwanese fishing vessel ''Hai Chang 11'', which had been detected fishing inside the Australian [[Economic Exclusion Zone]], but failed to stop when approached by the patrol boat. ''Hai Chang 11'' was taken to Darwin, where the fishing vessel's captain was prosecuted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.territorystories.nt.gov.au/handle/10070/204983 |title=Dramatic navy boat chase evidence caught on video |date=15 April 1990 |work=[[Northern Territory News|Sunday Territorian]]|hdl=10070/204983 }}</ref>{{verification needed|date=July 2014|reason=Cited source is a database entry for the article and not the article itself}}

During 2006, ''Gladstone'' intercepted ten illegal fishing boats.<ref name=GMM/> One of the vessels had a cargo of {{convert|750|kg}} of [[reef fish]].<ref name=GMM/>

Freedom of Entry to the patrol boat's namesake city was granted for the second time in July 2000.<ref name=GMM/>

The ship's company were granted Freedom of the city for the third and final time on Australia Day (26 January) 2007, in the leadup to the ship's decommissioning.<ref name=GMM/> ''Gladstone'' was originally planned to decommission on 16 February 2007, but was deployed at the start of the month as part of [[Operation Resolute]], to replace several [[Armidale-class patrol boat|''Armidale''-class patrol boats]] pulled from duty over safety concerns and water contamination of fuel systems.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/apn-retirement-plans-on-hold-for-our-hmas/106331/ |title=Retirement plans on hold for our HMAS Gladstone |date=6 February 2007 |work=The Observer |publisher=[[Here, There & Everywhere (company)|APN News & Media]] |accessdate=24 October 2015}}</ref>


==Fate==
==Fate==
[[File:HMAS Gladstone in 2020.jpg|thumb|HMAS Gladstone in 2020]]
''Gladstone'' was decommissioned in Cairns on 13 March 2007, and was gifted on the same day to the Gladstone Maritime History Society.<ref name=NLAdispatch>{{cite journal |title=HMAS GLADSTONE decommissions to become museum |journal=The Navy |publisher=[[Navy League of Australia]] |page=28 |volume=69 |issue=3 |date=July–September 2007 |url=http://navyleague.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/The-Navy-Vol_69_No_3-Jul-2007.pdf}}</ref> ''Gladstone'' was to be preserved as a [[museum ship]] and attached to the [[Gladstone Maritime Museum]] during the latter's redevelopment.<ref name=NLAdispatch/> The [[Financial crisis of 2007–2010]] resulted in postponement of plans to preserve the vessel, and she was stored at the Gladstone Marina.<ref name=Lanzon>{{cite news |url=http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2009/11/03/she-is-on-her-way/ |title=HMAS Gladstone on her way |last=Lanzon |first=Ren |date=3 November 2009 |work=The Observer |publisher=[[APN News & Media]] |accessdate=6 November 2009}}</ref> In late 2009, plans were announced to move ''Gladstone'' to a more prominent location, before mounting the vessel out of the water on a plinth when the museum upgrade is complete.<ref name=Lanzon/>
''Gladstone'' was decommissioned in Cairns on 13 March 2007.<ref name=NLAdispatch>{{cite journal |title=HMAS GLADSTONE decommissions to become museum |journal=The Navy |publisher=[[Navy League of Australia]] |page=28 |volume=69 |issue=3 |date=July–September 2007 |url=http://navyleague.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/The-Navy-Vol_69_No_3-Jul-2007.pdf}}</ref> During the ship's career, it sailed over {{convert|610000|nmi}}.<ref name=GMM>{{cite web |url=http://gladstonemaritimemuseum.org.au/fcpb-216-hmas-gladstone.html |title=FCPB 216 HMAS Gladstone |publisher=Gladstone Maritime Museum |accessdate=24 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071210/http://gladstonemaritimemuseum.org.au/fcpb-216-hmas-gladstone.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Gladstone'' was to be preserved as a [[museum ship]] and attached to the [[Gladstone Maritime Museum]] during the latter's redevelopment, and was gifted on the same day to the Gladstone Maritime History Society.<ref name=NLAdispatch/> After sailing from Cairns to Gladstone, the patrol boat was formally presented to the city mayor, who then handed the ship over to the Society.<ref name=GMM/>


The patrol boat was relocated to a [[wet dock]] at East Shores in November 2014.<ref name=Annett>{{cite news|url=http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/hmas-gladstone-makes-new-home-east-shores/2462710/ |title=HMAS Gladstone makes new home at East Shores |last=Annett |first=Tegan |date=24 November 2014 |work=The Observer |publisher=[[APN News & Media]] |accessdate=22 January 2015}}</ref> ''Gladstone'' is to be mounted on support cradles, and will undergo refurbishment and repainting before being opened to the public.<ref name=Annett/> Opening is predicted for around Easter 2015.<ref name=Annett/>
The [[2007–2008 financial crisis]] resulted in postponement of plans to preserve the vessel, and it was stored at the Gladstone Marina.<ref name=Lanzon>{{cite news |url=http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2009/11/03/she-is-on-her-way/ |title=HMAS Gladstone on her way |last=Lanzon |first=Ren |date=3 November 2009 |work=The Observer |publisher=[[Here, There & Everywhere (company)|APN News & Media]] |accessdate=6 November 2009}}</ref> In late 2009, plans were announced to move ''Gladstone'' to a more prominent location, before mounting the vessel out of the water on a plinth when the museum upgrade is complete.<ref name=Lanzon/> The patrol boat was relocated to a [[wet dock]] at East Shores in November 2014.<ref name=Annett>{{cite news|url=http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/hmas-gladstone-makes-new-home-east-shores/2462710/ |title=HMAS Gladstone makes new home at East Shores |last=Annett |first=Tegan |date=24 November 2014 |work=The Observer |publisher=[[Here, There & Everywhere (company)|APN News & Media]] |accessdate=22 January 2015}}</ref> ''Gladstone'' is mounted on support cradles, and has undergone refurbishment and repainting before it was opened to the public.<ref name=Annett/> At the start of 2015, opening to the public was predicted for around Easter 2015, although as of October, further work in making the ship safe and accessible was required.<ref name=Annett/><ref name=Richards>{{cite news|url=http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/funding-hmas-gladstone-become-tourist-attraction/2807998/ |title=Funding for HMAS Gladstone to become tourist attraction |last=Richards |first=Therese |date=15 October 2015 |work=The Observer |publisher=[[Here, There & Everywhere (company)|APN News & Media]] |accessdate=22 October 2015}}</ref> In October 2015, $116,000 was allocated to the project by the Queensland state government from federal tourism funding.<ref name=Richards/>


==Citations==
==Citations==
Line 61: Line 73:


==References==
==References==
*{{cite book |last=Gillett |first=Ross |title=Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946 |year=1988 |publisher=Child & Associates |location=Brookvale, NSW |isbn=0-86777-219-0 |oclc=23470364}}
*{{cite book |last=Gillett |first=Ross |title=Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946 |year=1988 |publisher=Child & Associates |location=Brookvale|isbn=0-86777-219-0 |oclc=23470364}}
*{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III) |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=South Melbourne, VIC |isbn=0-19-555542-2 |oclc=50418095 |chapter=Towards Self Reliance}}
*{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III) |year=2001 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=South Melbourne|isbn=0-19-555542-2 |oclc=50418095 |chapter=Towards Self Reliance}}
*{{cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Brett |editor=Forbes, Andrew & Lovi, Michelle |title=Australian Maritime Issues 2006 |publisher=Sea Power Centre - Australia |year=2007 |series=Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs |issue=19 |issn=1327-5658 |chapter=Farewell to the Fremantle Class |isbn=0-642-29644-8 |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/enwiki/w/images/PIAMA19.pdf |accessdate=12 May 2010}}
*{{cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Brett |editor=Forbes, Andrew |editor2=Lovi, Michelle |title=Australian Maritime Issues 2006 |publisher=[[Sea Power Centre]]|year=2007 |series=Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs |issue=19 |issn=1327-5658 |chapter=Farewell to the Fremantle Class |isbn=978-0-642-29644-3 |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/enwiki/w/images/PIAMA19.pdf |accessdate=12 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613185344/http://www.navy.gov.au/enwiki/w/images/PIAMA19.pdf |archivedate=13 June 2011}}
** The chapter is available separately as ''Semaphore'', Issue 17, 2005 in [http://www.navy.gov.au/enwiki/w/images/Semaphore_2005_17.pdf PDF] and [http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_17%2C_2005 HTML] formats.
** The chapter is available separately as ''Semaphore'', Issue 17, 2005 in [https://web.archive.org/web/20090514185457/http://www.navy.gov.au/enwiki/w/images/Semaphore_2005_17.pdf PDF] and [http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_17%2C_2005 HTML] formats.
*{{cite book|editor-last=Moore|editor-first=John|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86|year=1985|publisher=Jane's Yearbooks|location=London|isbn=0-7106-0814-4}}
*{{cite book|editor-last=Moore|editor-first=John|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86|year=1985|publisher=[[Janes Information Services]]|location=London|isbn=0-7106-0814-4}}


{{Fremantle class patrol boat}}
{{Fremantle class patrol boat}}
{{coord|-23.833173|151.252769|display=title}}


⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gladstone (FCPB 216), HMAS}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}}

⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gladstone (FCPB 212), HMAS}}
[[Category:Fremantle-class patrol boats]]
[[Category:Fremantle-class patrol boats]]
[[Category:Museum ships in Australia]]
[[Category:Ships built in Queensland]]
[[Category:Ships built in Queensland]]
[[Category:1984 ships]]
[[Category:1984 ships]]

Latest revision as of 07:44, 31 July 2024

For other ships with the same name, see HMAS Gladstone.

The former HMAS Gladstone in 2010
The former HMAS Gladstone in 2010
History
Australia
NamesakeCity of Gladstone, Queensland
BuilderNQEA, Cairns
Laid down7 March 1983
Launched28 July 1984
Commissioned8 September 1984
Decommissioned13 March 2007
Motto"Defend the right"
Nickname(s)"Sadrock"
Honours and
awards		Two inherited battle honours
StatusPreserved as museum ship in Gladstone
BadgeShip's badge
General characteristics
Class and typeFremantle-class patrol boat
Displacement220 tons
Length137.6 ft (41.9 m)
Beam25.25 ft (7.70 m)
Draught5.75 ft (1.75 m)
Propulsion2 MTU series 538 diesel engines, 3,200 shp (2,400 kW), 2 propellers
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph)
Complement24
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Type 133 Prism ESM[1]
Armament

HMAS Gladstone (FCPB 216), named for the city of Gladstone, Queensland, is a Fremantle-class patrol boat, formerly of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Built by NQEA during the early 1980s, Gladstone was commissioned into RAN service in 1984.

The patrol boat spent most of its career operating out of the naval base HMAS Cairns on fisheries and border protection operations. The ship's company were granted Freedom of the City of their ship's namesake city on three occasions.

Gladstone was decommissioned in 2007, and was donated to the Gladstone Maritime History Society for preservation and display as a museum ship at the Gladstone Maritime Museum. Work was postponed due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis, with preservation work and development of a wet dock to display the ship completed in 2016. The vessel is now available for tours on weekends and is located in the Gladstone East Shores precinct, adjacent to the Gladstone Marina.

Design and construction

[edit]
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.[2] 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).[3] Main propulsion machinery consists of two MTU series 538 diesel engines, which supplied 3,200 shaft horsepower (2,400 kW) to the two propeller shafts.[3] Exhaust was not expelled through a funnel, like most ships, but through vents below the waterline.[4] 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).[3] The ship's company consisted of 24 personnel.[3] Each patrol boat was armed with a single Bofors 40mm gun as main armament, supplemented by two .50 cal Browning machineguns and an 81-mm mortar,[3] 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.[4][5]

Gladstone was laid down by NQEA in Cairns, Queensland on 7 March 1983, launched on 28 July 1984, and commissioned into the RAN on 8 September 1984.[6][7] During its career, the patrol boat acquired the nickname "Sadrock".[7]

Operational history

[edit]

Gladstone spent its entire life based at HMAS Cairns in Cairns, Queensland.[7] The Fremantle-class patrol boats operated primarily in northern Australian waters, and were tasked with fisheries protection, border protection, immigration and customs duties, law enforcement operations, and maritime surveillance.[7]

The ship's company of Gladstone were granted Freedom of the City of Gladstone for the first time in 1988.[8]

In April 1990, Gladstone apprehended the Taiwanese fishing vessel Hai Chang 11, which had been detected fishing inside the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone, but failed to stop when approached by the patrol boat. Hai Chang 11 was taken to Darwin, where the fishing vessel's captain was prosecuted.[9][verification needed]

During 2006, Gladstone intercepted ten illegal fishing boats.[8] One of the vessels had a cargo of 750 kilograms (1,650 lb) of reef fish.[8]

Freedom of Entry to the patrol boat's namesake city was granted for the second time in July 2000.[8]

The ship's company were granted Freedom of the city for the third and final time on Australia Day (26 January) 2007, in the leadup to the ship's decommissioning.[8] Gladstone was originally planned to decommission on 16 February 2007, but was deployed at the start of the month as part of Operation Resolute, to replace several Armidale-class patrol boats pulled from duty over safety concerns and water contamination of fuel systems.[10]

Fate

[edit]
HMAS Gladstone in 2020

Gladstone was decommissioned in Cairns on 13 March 2007.[11] During the ship's career, it sailed over 610,000 nautical miles (1,130,000 km; 700,000 mi).[8] Gladstone was to be preserved as a museum ship and attached to the Gladstone Maritime Museum during the latter's redevelopment, and was gifted on the same day to the Gladstone Maritime History Society.[11] After sailing from Cairns to Gladstone, the patrol boat was formally presented to the city mayor, who then handed the ship over to the Society.[8]

The 2007–2008 financial crisis resulted in postponement of plans to preserve the vessel, and it was stored at the Gladstone Marina.[12] In late 2009, plans were announced to move Gladstone to a more prominent location, before mounting the vessel out of the water on a plinth when the museum upgrade is complete.[12] The patrol boat was relocated to a wet dock at East Shores in November 2014.[13] Gladstone is mounted on support cradles, and has undergone refurbishment and repainting before it was opened to the public.[13] At the start of 2015, opening to the public was predicted for around Easter 2015, although as of October, further work in making the ship safe and accessible was required.[13][14] In October 2015, $116,000 was allocated to the project by the Queensland state government from federal tourism funding.[14]

Citations

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  1. ^ Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1998). Jane's Fighting Ships 1998-99 (101st ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey: Janes Information Services. p. 28. ISBN 071061795X. OCLC 39372676.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Farewell to the Fremantle class, p. 105
  3. ^ a b c d e Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 89
  4. ^ a b Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 88
  5. ^ Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 222
  6. ^ Moore, Jane's Fighting Ships 1985–86, p. 26
  7. ^ a b c d "HMAS Gladstone (II)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "FCPB 216 HMAS Gladstone". Gladstone Maritime Museum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Dramatic navy boat chase evidence caught on video". Sunday Territorian. 15 April 1990. hdl:10070/204983.
  10. ^ "Retirement plans on hold for our HMAS Gladstone". The Observer. APN News & Media. 6 February 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  11. ^ a b "HMAS GLADSTONE decommissions to become museum" (PDF). The Navy. 69 (3). Navy League of Australia: 28. July–September 2007.
  12. ^ a b Lanzon, Ren (3 November 2009). "HMAS Gladstone on her way". The Observer. APN News & Media. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  13. ^ a b c Annett, Tegan (24 November 2014). "HMAS Gladstone makes new home at East Shores". The Observer. APN News & Media. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  14. ^ a b Richards, Therese (15 October 2015). "Funding for HMAS Gladstone to become tourist attraction". The Observer. APN News & Media. Retrieved 22 October 2015.

References

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23°49′59″S 151°15′10″E / 23.833173°S 151.252769°E / -23.833173; 151.252769

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