From Themarshallwiki

The backbone of the Royal Australian Navy is the Australia class aircraft carriers. These aircraft carriers are based on the French Clemenceau class aircraft carriers, but are altered significantly to fit Australian requirements. The carriers have served for approximately 30 years, and replacement in fifteen years is anticipated.

Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft 2.1 Commissioning 2.2 1981-1986 2.3 1986-1989 2.4 1989-2002 2.5 Present Air Group 3 Ships 4 Specifications 5 Profile

History

Increasing unreliability, and unavailability of parts for HMAS Melbourne led the RAN to initiate plans for a replacement as early as 1970. In 1972, having determined that no British or American design would fit the RAN's requirements, and that it would be uneconomcial to design a carrier inside Australia, the RAN chose the French Clemenceau class, modified for Australian requirements and systems. The most significant modifications were to the aviation fuel system (to allow for segregation of fuels which was considered necessary for operating turbine and piston powered aircraft), and to the flight deck to allow for an aircraft as large as the E-2C Hawkeye. The carrier was started in 1974, and construction proceeded quickly for completion in 1978. The HMAS Melbourne was retired in 1978, and Fleet Air Arm personnel trained on the French aircraft carrier Foch, and in the United States for several months.

The A-4G Skyhawks operated on the Melbourne were to be re-roled as interim attack aircraft. A new attack aircraft was being considered, with the options Vought A-7E Corsair II, and the Dassault Super Etendard. The French believed that the RAN had promised to purchase the Super Etendard, however the RAN felt it could purchase whatever it felt necessary. This led to the first controversy associated with the carriers when the French Government and Dassault sued the Australian Government for breach of contract after the RAN chose the Vought A-7 Corsair. The Australian Government won the case and the Corsair purchase went ahead with the aircraft entering service in 1981. The second ship, HMAS Vengeance, entered service in 1981.

The ships led relatively uneventful lives until 1991, when they participated in the Gulf War. HMAS Australia's new F/A-18C Hornets proved themselves in combat alongside US Navy and US Marine Corps Hornets. The RAN's Hornets flew 300 attack sorties, dropped several hundred conventional and laser guided bombs, and shot down 2 Iraqi MiG-21 Fishbeds, and 1 MiG-23 Flogger.

The RAN's Hornets are essentially the same as RAAF Hornets, with the different landing system (RAN Hornets retain ACLS, RAAF Hornets use ILS/VOR), and the retention of the catapult launch bar. Most Navy Hornet training is done at RAAF Williamtown by 2OCU and 724 Squadron. Carrier training is done on the CATOBAR area at HMAS Albatross.

The ships have been fired on once, in 1991 an Iraqi Silkworm was fired at HMAS Australia, but was (ironically) shot down by HMAS Sydney.

Australia has stated that it will follow the French example, and replace its ships with two CATOBAR aircraft carriers based on the British CVF design. They have already been named HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney.

Aircraft

Commissioning

• 12 Vought F-8E Crusader
• 10 Douglas A-4G Skyhawk
• 6 Grumman S-2G Tracker
• 4 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
• 4 Westland Sea King Mk. 50
• 2 Westland Wessex HAS31B

1981-1986

• 12 Vought F-8E Crusader
• 12 Vought A-7E Corsair
• 6 Grumman S-2G Tracker
• 4 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
• 4 Westland Sea King Mk. 50
• 2 Westland Wessex HAS31B

1986-1989

• 12 Vought F-8E Crusader
• 12 Vought A-7E Corsair
• 6 Lockheed S-3B Viking
• 4 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
• 4 Westland Sea King Mk. 50
• 2 Westland Wessex HAS31B

1989-2002

• 24 Boeing F/A-18C Hornet
• 6 Lockheed S-3B Viking
• 4 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
• 6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk

Present Air Group

• 24 Boeing F/A-18C Hornet
• 6 Lockheed Martin AS-3B Viking
• 4 Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000
• 6 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk

Ships

• HMAS Australia (R22) - Commissioned: 1979
• HMAS Vengeance (R23) - Commissioned: 1981

Specifications

Displacement	22,000 tons (standard) 32,780 tons (loaded)
Length	265 m (869 ft)
Machinery	6 x Indret boilers 4 x steam turbines 126,000 shp
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h)
Armament	4 Phalanx 20mm CIWS
Aviation facilities	Angled flight deck Two steam catapults Four-wire arrested landing system Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System
Aircraft	Up to 40 (more detail in main text) 24 Boeing F/A-18 Hornet 6 Lockheed Martin AS-3B Viking 6 S-70B-2 Seahawk 4 Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000

Profile

HMAS Australia with current aircraft

HMAS Australia with older aircraft