HMAS

Newcastle

HMAS Newcastle was the last commissioned Adelaide Class guided missile frigate (FFG) in the Royal Australian Navy's fleet. The Adelaide Class was based on the US Navy - Oliver Hazard Perry Design. Newcastle was the youngest of the six frigates and was constructed in Williamstown, Victoria with all previous class modifications incorporated.

Newcastle was a long range escort vessel, capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The ship was built to counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

HMAS Newcastle prepares to berth alongside in Diego Suarez in Madagascar.

HMAS Newcastle and her five sister ships were the first RAN ships to be powered by gas turbines. This combined with a modern repair by replacement policy, allowed both a reduced complement and a high availability for sea duty. Additionally, two forward mounted retractable auxiliary propulsion units provide a secondary means of propulsion plus excellent manoeuvrability in confined waters.

Having completed the FFG Upgrade Program, Newcastle emerged with a new and highly sophisticated combat system and a greatly improved sensors suite and weapons package. The Australian Distributed Architecture Combat System (ADACS), along with an upgraded Air Search Radar and the newly installed Vertical Launch System (VLS), vastly improved Newcastle's capability of fulfilling Navy's mission to fight and win at sea.

In recent years Newcastle has deployed in support of peacekeeping operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands and Operation CATALYST in the Persian Gulf.

Newcastle was named after the City of Newcastle and was the first RAN ship to carry this name. The ship maintained close links with her namesake city, particularly through active support of her adopted charity organisation, the Hunter Orthopaedic School.

After more than 25 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Newcastle decommissioned at Garden Island, Fleet Base East, Sydney on Sunday, 30 June 2019.

HMAS Newcastle on Operation MANITOU in the Middle East region.

HMA Ships Newcastle and Warramunga pull up to station's 1 and 2 for a replenishment at sea from HMAS Sirius, HMNZS Te Kaha takes up lifeguard station to the rear of the evolution.

HMAS Newcastle fires an Standard Missile (SM-2) as part of the Surface to Air Missile Exercise (SAMEX) during RIMPAC 2010.

HMAS Newcastle departs Newcastle Harbour for the last time before decommissioning.