03 September 2019

Update: Navantia launches Australia's second, final Supply-class AOR ship

by Gabriel Dominguez

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has launched the second and final Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ship on order for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Navantia launched Stalwart, the second and final Supply-class AOR ship on order for the RAN, on 30 August. (Navantia)

Named Stalwart (III) (with pennant number A304), the 173.9 m-long ship entered the water in a ceremony held on 30 August at the company’s facilities in the northwestern Spanish coastal city of Ferrol.

The vessel, which like first-of-class Supply (II) is based on the Spanish Navy’s Cantabria-class AORs, is expected to enter service in 2022, while Supply is set to join the force in 2020, according to the RAN.

The two 19,500-tonne AOR ships were ordered as part of an AUD642 million (USD432 million) contract signed in May 2016 under Australia’s Project Sea 1654 Phase 3 Maritime Operational Support Capability programme. They are to replace AOR ship HMAS Success (II), which was decommissioned on 29 June after 33 years of service, and supply ship HMAS Sirius .

The two new AOR ships for the RAN 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 on the high seas for longer periods.

More specifically, the Supply-class ships, each of which can embark one helicopter on the flight deck, can carry 1,450 m³ of JP5 jet fuel, 8,200 m³ of marine diesel fuel, 1,400 m³ of fresh water, 270 tonnes of ammunition, and 470 tonnes of provisions, according to the RAN. Each of the vessels can accommodate up to 122 personnel, including crew.

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has launched the second and final Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenis...

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