The new Supply-class will provide logistics support to sustain Australian and allied naval combat units at sea.
HMAS Supply is the first of two new Supply-class AOR ships. The AORs will enhance Fleet capability by extending the time a Task Group can spend at sea and the distance travelled.
Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton said the AORs are a critical support element to contemporary maritime operations across our region:
“With regional security challenges on the rise, it is more important than ever to have robust operational support capabilities for Australia’s maritime assets. Supply will help sustain our lethal naval capability and will play a critical role in enabling our Joint Force to maintain the security, sovereignty and prosperity of Australia and our regional partners.”
HMAS Supply replaces the retired HMAS Success and bridges the RAN’s current capability gap. NUSHIP Stalwart, Supply’s sister ship, is expected to enter service in late 2021.
To efficiently support The RAN’s Fleet, Supply will be based at Fleet Base East, Sydney while Stalwart will be based at Fleet Base West at HMAS Stirling in WA.
About Supply-class AORs
The Australian Government signed contracts with Navantia S.A to build Australia’s two replacement auxiliary oiler replenishment ships in May 2016.
NUSHIP Supply was laid down on 18 November 2017, launched in Ferrol, Spain, in November 2018. The vessel arrived at HMAS Stirling, Garden Island Fleet Base West, Western Australia, on 2 October 2020 for final fit out and testing activities.
The ships are intended to carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support for the deployed naval or combat forces operating far from the port on the high seas for longer periods. In addition to replenishment, the vessels can be used to combat against environmental pollution at sea, provide logistics support for the armed forces, and to support humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations following a natural disaster.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 19,500 tonnes |
| Length | 173.9 metres |
| Beam | 23 metres |
| Draught | 8 metres |
| Performance | |
| Speed | 20 knots (maximum) |
| Range | 11,000 kilometres at 13 knots |
| Capacity | 8200 cubic metres of marine diesel fuel, 1400 cubic metres of fresh water, 270 tonnes of ammunition, 470 tonnes of provisions, 1450 cubic metres of JP5 jet fuel |
| Propulsion | |
| Machinery | 2 x MAN 18V 32/40 main engines4 x MAN 7L21/31 generator sets |
| Armament | |
| Helicopters | 1 x helicopter |
