Australia's new minor war vessels

摘要

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is now in the process of reinvigorating its surface fleet of warships and auxiliaries. Already the three new Hobart-class guided missile destroyers are fully operational, eight existing Anzac-class helicopter frigates are being upgraded and the two new Supply-class support ships are in service or about to be delivered. Furthermore, contracts have been signed for nine new Hunter-class guided missile frigates to begin building by mid-decade. Supporting these major units will be four new classes of minor war vessels.This includes the construction of an 18-strong patrol boat force comprising twelve of the new 1761 -tonnes Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and six of the smaller Evolved Cape-class patrol boats (E-Capes).The first two OPVs are currently being built in South Australia, with the remaining 16 vessels to be delivered from two shipyards in Western Australia.