List of active Royal Australian Navy ships
The Royal Australian Navy fleet is made up of 34 commissioned warships and 12 non-commissioned, with the non-commissioned vessels using the prefix of ADV.
The main strength consists of three destroyers and seven frigates of the surface combatant force: three Hobart class destroyers and seven Anzac class frigates. Six Collins-class boats make up the submarine service. Amphibious warfare assets include two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ships and the Bay-class landing ship. One Arafura-class and ten Cape-class patrol boats perform coastal and economic exclusion zone patrols, and two Huon-class vessels are used for minehunting and clearance. Replenishment at sea is provided by two Supply-class replenishment oilers, while the final remaining Leeuwin-class hydrographic survey vessel, HMAS Melville, perform survey and charting duties.
In addition to the commissioned warships, the RAN operates the sail training ship Young Endeavour, four non-commissioned Cape-class patrol boats and seven individual ships make up the National Support Squadron. Other auxiliaries and small craft are not operated by the RAN, but by DMS Maritime, who are contracted to provide support services.
The majority of the RAN fleet is divided between Fleet Base East and Fleet Base West. Mine warfare assets are located at, while in Cairns and in Darwin host the navy's patrol and survey vessels.
For over 30 years, the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia has been the main supplier of 'Tier 1 surface combatant' vessels to the RAN, having constructed the entire Collins-class submarine fleet and Hobart-class destroyer fleet. Osborne will further supply the navy with the currently under-construction Hunter-class frigates, as well as SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarines and Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer replacements. The Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia will supply the RAN with smaller 'Tier 2 surface combatant' vessels. These include Australian general purpose frigates, Large Optionally-Crewed Surface Vessels (LOSV), and Evolved Cape-class and Arafura-class patrol boats.
Submarines
''Collins'' class
Australia operates a single class of diesel-electric submarines, the six Collins-class boats which began entering service in 1993. The Collins was designed by the Swedish submarine builder Kockums as the Type 471 specifically to meet Australian requirements, many of which were derived from Australia's need for great range without utilizing a nuclear propulsion system. The boats themselves were built in Australia by the Australian Submarine Corporation in Adelaide. The submarines are classified by the RAN as guided missile submarines, but are often referred to as hunter-killer submarines in the international press. While these vessels represented a major increase in capability for the RAN, they have found themselves mired in numerous technical and operational problems. Meanwhile, the RAN has struggled to sufficiently crew their submarine fleet, with at times no more than two qualified crews available.The Collins was to be replaced by twelve Shortfin Barracudas a conventionally-powered design of the Barracuda-class nuclear submarine by French shipbuilder Naval Group that had been selected in 2016 and named the Attack-class. In September 2021, in a joint announcement, it was announced that the Attack-class contract had been cancelled, and that Australia would acquire up to eight nuclear-powered submarines with US and UK support through a new trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US named AUKUS. In March 2023, AUKUS announced that Australia will buy three submarines from the US, with the option to buy two more, with the first boat planned to be delivered to Australia in the early 2030s. AUKUS also announced that Australia and the UK will commence construction of a new nuclear-powered submarine class known as the SSN-AUKUS with the first Australian built SSN-AUKUS boat to be delivered by the early 2040s. Australia will reportedly build five SSN-AUKUS boats. The entire Collins-class fleet will now receive a Life-of-Type Extension.
| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 3051 t surfaced 3353 t submerged Length: Complement: 58 | Submerged speed: Surfaced speed: Surfaced range: Submerged range: | 6 × 21-inch torpedo tubes, firing: Mark 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedoes, UGM-84C Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles, or RWM Italia smart sea mines | Sonars: Scylla, SHORT-TAS Radar: Type 1007 Periscope: CK043, CH093 |
Amphibious warfare
''Canberra'' class
The Canberra class are landing helicopter dock ships based on the design of. The hull of each ship was built by the designer, Navantia, then was transported to Australia by heavy lift ship for internal fitout and installation of the superstructure by BAE Systems Australia. Designed to transport and land an amphibious force of up to 1,600 soldiers by landing craft and helicopter, the Canberras are the largest ships ever operated by the RAN. Lead ship was commissioned into the RAN in late 2014. The second ship of the class,, was commissioned at the end of 2015.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 27,500 t full load Length: Complement: 358 personnel 1,046–1,600 troops | Maximum speed: Over Range: | 4 × Rafael Typhoon 25 mm 6 × 12.7 mm machine guns | Aviation: 6-spot helicopter deck 8 × helicopters Boats carried: 4 × LLC in well deck Vehicle deck: Up to 110 vehicles |
''Choules''
The Bay-class landing ship dock was acquired by the RAN in 2011. The ship was originally built by Swan Hunter for the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and entered British service in 2006 as RFA Largs Bay. She was made redundant in the 2011 Strategic Defence and Security Review and sold to Australia. Choules represents a major increase in sealift capability for the RAN, particularly after mechanical issues in 2010 and 2011 forced the early retirement of the navy's two Kanimbla-class vessels, and put in dock for an extensive refit.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 16,190 t full load Length: Complement: 158 personnel 356–700 troops | Maximum speed: Range: | 1 × Phalanx CIWS | Aviation: Helicopter deck, no permanent hangar; temporary hangar can be fitted Boats carried: 1 × LCU, 1 × LCM-8, or 2 × LCVP in well deck 2 × Mexeflotes on flanks Vehicle deck: 32 tanks or 150 trucks |
Surface combatants
''Hobart'' class
Australia operates a single class of air warfare destroyers (AWD). The Hobart-class AWD are based on the Spanish Navantia F100 frigate and incorporate an Aegis Combat System with an AN/SPY-1Dphased array radar. These combined with the SM-2 missile provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 7,000 t full load Length: Complement: 186 + 16 aircrew | Maximum speed: Range: | 48-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System 2 × 4-canister Harpoon missile launchers 1 × Mark 45 Mod 4 5-inch gun 2 × Mark 32 Mod 9 two-tube torpedo launchers 1 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × 25mm M242 Bushmaster autocannons in Typhoon mounts | Aviation: 1 × MH-60R Seahawk Radar: Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D S-band radar Sonar: Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems' Integrated Sonar System |
''Anzac'' class
There are seven Frigates of the Anzac class. These were commissioned from 1996 to 2006 as part of a joint program with New Zealand, whose navy operates an additional two examples. Derived from Blohm + Voss' MEKO modular ship family and designated the MEKO 200 ANZ by that company, the ships were built in Australia by Tenix in Williamstown, Victoria. They are designated as helicopter frigates by the RAN, and are designed to be capable of both mid-level patrol and blue water operations. In 2010, these vessels began to receive upgrades to their anti-ship missile defence capabilities.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 3600 t full load Length: Complement: 22 officers + 141 sailors | Maximum speed: Range: | 5-inch/54 Mk 45 DP gun 8-cell Mk 41 VLS 8 × Harpoon Block II 2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes | Aviation: 1 × MH-60R Seahawk Radar: CEAFAR radar system incorporating CEAFAR-S S-band multi-function radar, CEAFAR-L L-band long range search radar and CEAMOUNT X-band target illuminator Sonar: Spherion B |
Patrol and defence
''Arafura'' class
The Arafura-class is a new fleet of offshore patrol vessels being built for the Royal Australian Navy. Originally, the plan was to replace 26 older ships from four different classes with 20 versatile vessels under the SEA 1180 project, each designed to take on a range of tasks like border patrol, mine clearance, and hydrographic surveys using modular mission systems. However, in 2013, the government decided to fast-track the replacement of the aging Armidale-class patrol boats using an existing ship design, while extending the service life of the other vessels. This led to the current Offshore Patrol Vessel program, which initially aimed 12 ships and a later proposal of expanded to it 14 with the addition of 2 mine countermeasure variants under a separate project, SEA 1905. This number was then reduced to just 6 of the original design as part of the 2024 Defence Strategic Review.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 1,640 t Length: Complement: 40 | Maximum speed: Range: | 1 × 25 mm M242 Bushmaster 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns | 2 × Boomeranger FRB 850 RHIBs 1 x Boomeranger C1100 |
''Cape'' class
Eight Cape-class patrol boats were built for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service by Austal between 2012 and 2015, as replacements for the. Following the loss of and hull issues with the Armidale-class requiring an intense remedial maintenance program, two Cape-class patrol boats were leased to the RAN from late 2015 until the end of 2016. The patrol boats operate from and in Darwin. These vessels are identified with the Australian Defence Vessel prefix; ADV Cape Fourcroy and ADV Cape Inscription retain the blue-and-red customs colour scheme whilst the Evolved Cape-class ships have a grey naval colour scheme.Two new boats were ordered in 2017, and the two leased vessels were returned to the ABF.
| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Length: Complement: 18 | Maximum speed: Range: at | 2 ×.50 calibre machine guns | 2 × Gemini RHIBs |
''Huon'' class
Mine countermeasures at sea are handled by the Huon-class minehunters, which began to enter RAN service from 1999. The class was based on the Italian Navy's minehunter developed by Intermarine. Development was undertaken in partnership between Intermarine and Australian Defence Industries. The first hull was built in Italy, with fitting out the first and construction of the remaining five vessels of the class done by ADI in Newcastle, replacing the problematic minehunters. In addition to the mine warfare role, they have been deployed on multiple occasions to support Northern Australian patrol and border protection operations. Two vessels operate out of, in Sydney. The others has been decommissioned and either sold or awaiting further options.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 720 t full load Length: Complement: 6 officers + 33 sailors | Maximum speed: Range: | 1 × 30 mm DS30B autocannon 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns | 2 × Double Eagle mine disposal vehicles Type 1007 navigational radar Type 2093M minehunting sonar Type 133 PRISM radar warning 2 × Wallop Super Barricade decoy launchers |
Replenishment
''Supply'' class
Two Supply-class replenishment ships were ordered in 2016, the ships are based on Spanish Navantia's design AOR Cantabria, these ships replaced the RAN's ageing replenishment vessels HMAS Success and HMAS Sirius. The ships are designed to provide fuel, food, ammunition, and other stores to RAN vessels operating well beyond friendly ports. The two vessels were built at Navantia's shipyard in Ferrol.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 19,500 t full load Length: Complement: 122 | Maximum speed: Range: | 1 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × 25mm M242 Bushmaster autocannons in Typhoon mounts | 1,450 cubic metres of JP5 jet fuel 8,200 cubic metres of marine diesel fuel 1,400 cubic metres of fresh water 270 tonnes of ammunition 470 tonnes of provisions Aviation: 1 MRH-90 helicopter |
Hydrographic survey
''Leeuwin'' class
Only one of the two Leeuwin-class survey ships is still active as of 3 November 2024. They were built for the RAN by NQEA of Cairns. Ordered in 1996, the ships were commissioned in a joint ceremony in 2000. They are capable of charting waters up to deep, and carry three Fantome-class survey boats for shallow-water work. In addition to hydrographic surveying duties, since 2001 both vessels have also operated in support of the RAN patrol force.| Size | Performance | Armament | Other features |
| Displacement: 2,170 t Length: Complement: 10 officers + 46 sailors | Maximum speed: Range: at | 2 × × 12.7 mm machine guns | Sonars: C-Tech CMAS 36/39 hull mounted high frequency active sonar Atlas Fansweep-20 multibeam echo sounder Atlas Hydrographic Deso single-beam echo sounder Klein 2000 towed sidescan sonar array Radar STN Atlas 9600 ARPA navigation radar Aviation: Helicopter deck, no hangar |
Non-commissioned vessels
''Young Endeavour''
The sail training ship was built as a gift from the United Kingdom to Australia for the latter's 1988 bicentenary of colonisation. Built by British shipbuilder Brooke Marine, the brigantine rig vessel is operated by the RAN, but is used to facilitate the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme; a sail training program for Australian youth aged between 16 and 23. A 10-strong RAN crew is supplemented by 24–30 youth on ten-day voyages, with 500 applicants selected every year through two ballots.| Name | Pennant number | In service | Homeport | Notes |
| – | 25 January 1988 | To be replaced by STS Young Endeavour II |