HMAS Benalla (A 04)

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

HMAS Benalla during the International Fleet Review 2013
History
Australia
Namesake	City of Benalla, Victoria
Builder	Eglo Engineering, Adelaide
Laid down	25 November 1988
Launched	31 January 1990
Commissioned	20 March 1990
Decommissioned	16 June 2023
Homeport	HMAS Cairns
Identification	MMSI number: 503154000 Callsign: VLRW
Motto	"We Lead Others Follow"
Honours and awards	One inherited battle honour
General characteristics
Class and type	Paluma-class survey motor launch
Displacement	320 tonnes
Length	36.6 m (120 ft) length overall
Beam	13.7 m (45 ft)
Draught	1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	2 Detroit V12 diesel engines
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range	1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Endurance	14 days
Complement	3 officers, 11 sailors (plus accommodation for 4 additional)
Sensors and processing systems	Radar: JRC JMA-3710-6 navigational radar Sonars: ELAC LAZ 72 side-scan mapping sonar Skipper 113 hull-mounted scanning sonar
Armament	None fitted

HMAS Benalla (A 04) is a Paluma-class survey motor launch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Design and construction

Main article: Paluma-class survey motor launch

The Paluma-class vessels have a full load displacement of 320 tonnes.[1] They are 36.6 metres (120 ft) long overall and 36 metres (118 ft) long between perpendiculars, have a beam of 13.7 metres (45 ft), and a draught of 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in).[1] Propulsion machinery consists of two General Motors Detroit Diesel 12V-92T engines, which supply 1,290 brake horsepower (960 kW) to the two propeller shafts.[1] Each vessel has a top speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), a maximum sustainable speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) (which gives a maximum range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi)), and an endurance of 14 days.[1]

The sensor suite of a Paluma-class launch consists of a JRC JMA-3710-6 navigational radar, an ELAC LAZ 72 side-scan mapping sonar, and a Skipper 113 hull-mounted scanning sonar.[1] The vessels are unarmed.[1] The standard ship's company consists of three officers and eleven sailors, although another four personnel can be accommodated.[1] The catamarans were originally painted white, but were repainted naval grey in 2002.[1]

Benalla was laid down by Eglo Engineering, on 25 November 1988, was launched on 31 January 1990, and commissioned into the RAN on 20 March 1990.[1] The ship was named for the city of Benalla, Victoria.

Operational history

In October 2013, Benalla participated in the International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney.[2]

HMAS Benalla, along with HMAS Shepparton were decommissioned at HMAS Cairns on 16 June 2023, with the acceleration of the Defence Strategic Review released in May 2023.[3]

Citations

1. Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 28
2. "Participating Warships". International Fleet Review 2013 website. Royal Australian Navy. 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
3. "End of an era for inseparable friends" (Press release). Ministry for Defence of Australia. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.

References

• Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156.

External links

• Media related to HMAS Benalla (A 04) at Wikimedia Commons
• "HMAS Benalla (II)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 1 January 2013.