Australia decommissions lead Anzac-class frigate

HMAS Anzac seen here in the Sydney Harbour. The ship was decommissioned on 18 May 2024. (Janes/Russell Smith)

Australia has decommissioned its lead Anzac (MEKO 200)-class guided-missile frigate.

The vessel, which saw service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as HMAS Anzac, was formally retired in a decommissioning ceremony on 18 May at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.

Prior to its decommissioning, Anzac was the longest-serving commissioned vessel in service with the RAN, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) noted in an 18 May statement to mark the retirement.

“Decommissioning HMAS Anzac will pave the way for the long-term investment in enlarging and enhancing [the] navy's fleet, in response to the recommendations made by the independent analysis of [the] navy's surface combatant fleet,” the statement added.

Anzac was commissioned by the RAN in May 1996 and is one of seven frigates in the class operated by the service.

The frigate displaces about 3,800 tonnes at full load and it has an overall length of 118 m, an overall beam of 14.8 m, and a hull draught of 4.5 m.

Powered by two MTU diesel engines and an LM2500 gas turbine engine in a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) configuration, Anzac can attain a top speed of 27 kt and a standard range of about 6,000 n miles at 18 kt.

Weapons onboard the warship include eight launchers for the RGM-84J/L Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, an eight-cell Mk 41 vertical launching system (VLS) for anti-air missiles, six 324 mm torpedo tubes, and an Mk 45 127 mm naval gun as its primary weapon.

As part of efforts to increase the class's operational life, Anzac