Anzac-class frigate

HMAS Anzac operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Based on a modified German MEKO 200 design, the eleven Anzac class frigates are the major surface units of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

Built by Tenix Defence Systems using modular construction techniques, hull and superstrucuture modules were built in both New Zealand and Australia. Final fitout was in Williamstown, Australia. 8 ships serve in the RAN and are numbered FFH150 - FFH 157. The 2 RNZN ships are F77 and F111.

Specifications

• Displacement: 3,600 tonnes full load
• Dimensions: 118 m overall × 14.8 m × 4 m
• Guns: 1 × 5in/54 Mk 45 Mod 2 gun,various machine guns and small arms
• Missiles:1 × 8-cell Mk 41 VLS
• Torpedoes: 6 x 324 mm (2 triple) Mk 32 Mod 5 tubes
• Countermeasures: Decoys: G & D Aircraft SRBOC Mk 36 Mod 1 decoy launchers for SRBOC
• ESM: Racal modified Sceptre A; radar intercept. Telefunken PST-1720 Telegon 10; comms intercept
• Combat data systems: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 Mk 3. Link 11
• Weapons control: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 optronic director with Raytheon CW Mk 73 Mod 1
• Radars: Air search: Raytheon SPS-49(V)8 ANZ ; C/D-band
• Air/surface search: CelsiusTech 9LV 453 TIR (Ericsson Tx/Rx); G-band
• Navigation: Atlas Elektronik 9600 ARPA; I-band
• Fire control: CelsiusTech 9LV 453; J-band
• IFF: Cossor AIMS Mk XII
• Sonars: Thomson Sintra Spherion B Mod 5; hull-mounted; active search and attack; medium frequency. Provision for towed array
• Helicopter:Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite or SH-60 aft
• Propulsion: 1 × General Electric LM2500+ gas turbine and 2 × MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines, driving two shafts with controllable pitch propellers in CODOG configuration, over 27 kt (50 km/h)
• Complement: ~170

Te Mana's VLS

SH2G(NZ) inside the hangar

Australian improvements

• CEA SSCWI fitted for control of the ESSM missile in upgraded RAN units.

• Upward creep in ship manning led the RAN to undertake a habitability upgrade study. Additionally, restructuring the Marine Engineering Department has resulted in a change in the rank / billet structure, creating a need to re-work some habitation areas. Habitability upgrades are intended to provide added flexibility for additional training bunks, force protection personnel, special operations personnel and mixed genders onboard the ships, by increasing the ships berthing by +11 from 174 to 185 berths. The additional +11 berths have a ranking mix of +2 Officers, +2 CPO's, +2 PO's & +5 JR's. Arunta has completed her upgrade and remaining units will follow.

• The Harpoon anti-ship missile is being fitted to Australian units. Work was complete on the first upgraded ship, HMAS Warramunga,in 2004. For a number of reasons related to operational considerations and the electronic environment, the Harpoon installation was relocated from its reserved space and weight position on 02 Deck to a position on 01 Deck forward of the bridge. Remaining units will be upgraded in due course.

section still to be re-worked

The Australian Defence Department decided to upgrade their Anzacs even before all ships were completed, the upgraded configuration includes, RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-ship missiles fitted in two Quad Launchers, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles Quad Packed in VLS enabling 32 missiles to be carried, 4 Nulka active missile decoys and the Petrel Mine and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar system. All upgrades and new builds are scheduled for completion by 2006.

Subsequent upgrades will focus on anti-ship missile defence, and are slated to include, an additional fire control channel, IRST (Infra-red search and track) system and two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile close in weapons systems. Trials are also currently being conducted with the CEA-FAR modular active phased array radar which may provide not only much greater ability to detect airborne threats, but act as a weapons director at the same time. The shape of the project will ultimately be determined by the outcome of this trial.

New Zealand improvements

• Phalanx CIWS fitted to RNZN units
• ESSM to be fitted from 2008

New Zealand frigate controversy

The purchase of the frigates was opposed in New Zealand, by a coalition of those in the minority Green Party basically opposed to any defence spending. It did not help that the purchase was supported by the New Zealand National Party and became a political issue. However the majority of New Zealanders objected to buying these particular frigates. The reasons were complex, but included perceptions the ANZAC frigates offered poor capability for the cost, the frigates were a make work scheme for uncompetitive Australian dock yards and any purchase as surrender to Australian political pressure.

The Australian government undoubtedly did place pressure on the New Zealand government to make the purchase, but their public reasons were that New Zealand firms would receive much of the work and that it was important to ensure compatibility between the ships of both nations.

While the decision was still being made, the Australian manufacturer placed advertisements in New Zealand promising engineering work to Kiwi firms, and did eventually subcontract a significant amount of work to New Zealand.

Plans to buy an additional two frigates were eventually dropped, largely as a result of public and treasury pressure.

This has left the New Zealand Navy with only two frigates, while some believe four vessels of similar capability could have been purchased for the original price. New Zealand frigates HMNZS Te Kaha and Te Mana have not received the same standard of equipment as their Australian counterparts, (with the exception of their new build Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helicopters, which have in service not experienced the reliability problems of Australia's second hand purchase).

Te Kaha and Te Mana have seen service in East Timor, the Persian Gulf and pursuing poachers around Antarctica.

Units

Name	Pennant	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Service	Home port
HMAS Anzac (FFH 150)	FFH 150	November 5, 1993	September 16, 1994	May 18, 1996	RAN	Fleet Base West
HMNZS Te Kaha (F77)	F77	September 19, 1994	July 22, 1995	July 26, 1997	RNZN	Devonport
HMAS Arunta (FFH 151)	FFH 151	July 22, 1995	June 28, 1996	December 12, 1998	RAN	Fleet Base West
HMNZS Te Mana (F111)	F111	June 28, 1996	May 10, 1997	December 10, 1999	RNZN	Devonport
HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152)	FFH 152	July 26, 1997	May 23, 1998	March 28, 2001	RAN	Fleet Base West
HMAS Stuart (FFH 153)	FFH 153	July 25, 1998	April 17, 1999	August 17, 2002	RAN	Fleet Base East
HMAS Parramatta (FFH 154)	FFH 154	June 4, 1999	June 17, 2000	October 4, 2003	RAN	Fleet Base East
HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155)	FFH 155	August 4, 2000	May 25, 2002	June 26, 2004	RAN	Fleet Base East
HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156)	FFH 156	July 26, 2002	May 16, 2003	October 8, 2005	RAN	Fleet Base West
HMAS Perth (FFH 157)	FFH 157	July 24, 2003	March 20 2004	Due late 2006	RAN	Fleet Base West