Royal Australian Navy’s second Supply class auxiliary oiler replenishment, NUSHIP Stalwart, departed Navantia’s Ferrol facilities to sail to Australia and already covered more than half of her journey to home and sailing across the vast & hostile Southern Ocean towards its eventual base at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, Navanita announced today (09 June) on Twitter.
During 1st part of the southbound trip, NUSHIP Stalwart passed Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde. On the 9th day, as is traditional, a crossing of the equator line ceremony was held whereby King Neptune inspected & accepted the first-time crew members to cross latitude 0º north/south.
NUSHIP Stalwart is scheduled to arrive in its new home base of Garden Island near Fremantle in late June.
NUSHIP Stalwart will replace HMAS Sirius in service when it’s commissioned for the Royal Australian Navy in 2022.
Upon arriving, she will be fitted tih Phalanx close-in weapons system (CIWS), a communications suite, Typhoon remote weapons stations, and Saab 9LV combat system at Henderson near Fremantle.
“Whilst the departure of NUSHIP Stalwart today might represent the conclusion of the SEA 1654 (Phase) 3 program, this does not mean the end of our relationship with Australia,” Navantia’s Global President, Mr Ricardo Domínguez said in a release.
“Australia has relied on Navantia to provide a decisive capacity to achieve its strategic objectives in the maritime field,” he added. “Navantia, through Navantia Australia, will continue to be Australia’s partner now and in the future.”
About NUSHIP or Supply-class replenishment oiler:
The Supply class is a class of replenishment oilers of the Royal Australian Navy, a role that combines the missions of a tanker and stores supply ship. As such they are designated auxiliary oiler replenisher (AOR). They will be tasked with providing ammunition, fuel, food and other supplies to Royal Australian Navy vessels around the world.
Specifications:
- Displacement:19,500 tonnes
- Length:173.9 m (570 ft 6 in)
- Beam:23.0 m (75 ft 6 in)
- Draught:8.0 m (26 ft 3 in)
- Propulsion:2 × MAN 18V 32/40 main engines, 4 × MAN 7L21/31 generator sets
- Speed:20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
- Range:6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
- Complement:122
- Armament:1 × Phalanx CIWS, 2 × 25 mm Typhoon Weapon Stations, 4 × 12.7 mm heavy machine guns
- Aircraft carried:1 helicopter
Check out Naval Library App to find out the specifications of Supply-class oilers.
