HMAS

Anzac

(III)

HMAS Anzac (III) was the first of ten Anzac class frigates for the Royal Australian (eight) and Royal New Zealand (two) navies, based on the German MEKO 200 design. HMAS Anzac and the Anzac class frigates that followed were capable, flexible and powerful seaborne platforms. Anzac was the First Lady of the Fleet (oldest ship in commission) between 15 June 2023 and her decommissioning on 18 May 2024.

Built by Tenix Defence systems at Williamstown in Victoria, the keel of Anzac was laid on 5 November 1993. Launched on 16 September 1994, by Lieutenant Colonel V. Statham, AO, MBE, ARRC, ED, FNM, better known as Vivian Bullwinkel, Second World War Australian Army nurse and sole survivor of the Bangka Island massacre, the ship commissioned into service on 18 May 1996 under the command of Captain Les Pataky. Many of team that brought the first-of-class into service went on to impressive careers, with two Chiefs of Navy (Griggs and Noonan) part of the commissioning wardroom.

The Anzac class was only the second class of surface combatants to be able to carry a helicopter operating the Seahawk from commissioning onwards. Its roles included surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, and reconnaissance. All the class featured a flexible engineering plant with both diesel engines for routine operations and a gas turbine for higher speed requirements.

HMAS Anzac during exercises in the Western Australian Exercise Area in February 2016.

The class brought a number of changes to the way the Royal Australian Navy operated its frigate force. The smaller crew than in the River class Destroyer Escorts that the Anzacs replaced, required new thinking. There was considerably more integration of the ship’s company, as activities that were once seen as the domain of one part of the crew became whole-of-ship activities.

Three Royal Australian Navy ships have carried the name Anzac. Named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the First World War, the ANZACs landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula as part of a larger Allied Force on 25 April 1915, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. The campaign dragged on for a further eight months of hellish trench warfare, giving berth to a legend of endurance, selflessness, dedication to duty and mateship in the most demanding of environments. It is a shared memory of common sacrifice for the nations involved, regardless of nationality or religion, providing an enduring example for the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and Australian's as a whole. Anzac Day is annually commemorated in Australia on 25 April. As such, Anzac (III) proudly bears the name underpinned by the motto, United We Stand.

In 1997, in its second year of  service, Anzac deployed to the Southern Ocean to protect Australia’s exclusive economic zone from illegal fishing. Its range of 6,000 nautical miles at 18 knots allowed it to traverse these distances and made it ideally suited to the vast oceans that are the Australian Navy's area of responsibility in protecting Australia’s national interests.

This first deployment to the Southern Ocean set the operational tempo that would mark its service and be the hallmark through the years ahead. Anzac was often at the centre of Australia’s most important international commitments. In 1999, Anzac was part of the Australian-led peacekeeping force in East Timor (INTERFET) established to address the humanitarian and security crisis that emerged subsequent to the East Timor Special Autonomy Referendum.

Aerial photograph of HMAS Anzac sailing near La Reunion during the NORTHERN TRIDENT 2005 deployment.

This deployment transitioned to Operation BASTILLE – the pre-deployment of ADF assets to the Middle East in anticipation of future operations – in January 2003, and then in March to Operation FALCONER, the 2003 Gulf War. Anzac was involved primarily in patrol and force protection operations, with a notable exception. On 21 March 2003, Anzac, along with HM Ships Marlborough, Chatham and Richmond, provided naval gunfire support for a detachment of Royal Marines tasked with securing oil terminals on the Al Faw peninsula before Iraqi forces could destroy them. Anzac was called upon to target Iraqi command, bunker and artillery positions. This was the first time since the Vietnam War that an RAN ship had provided naval gunfire support. The salvos from Anzac’s 5-inch (127 mm) guns were accurate and highly effective, and Iraqi forces withdrew or surrendered. This was the first of seven gunfire-support missions conducted by Anzac over the following week, for which the ship and its crew received a Meritorious Unit Citation. Anzac returned to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) again in 2007 to assist in Iraqi reconstruction, and once more in 2012 to counter international terrorism and piracy.

In maintaining a close link with the rich traditions of the Anzac spirit, Anzac twice participated in commemorative activities on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. During a world trip in 2005, Anzac visited Anzac Cove, Gallipoli for the 90th Anniversary of the landings. In company with warships of Britain, France and Turkey, Anzac provided a stunning backdrop to the official dawn service ceremony while some members of her crew participated in the services ashore. During the deployment, Anzac celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in the UK as part of the International Fleet Review.

Anzac was granted freedom of entry to the City of Albany, Western Australia, the departure port for the ANZAC. The Warnbro High School, near her home port of Rockingham in Western Australia, established the 'HMAS Anzac Learning Centre' that promotes the education of our Navy and the history of Australia's most costly war.

In late October 2014 the ship participated in the commemoration of troops sailing from the port of Albany to the First World War. Seven warships lined up in King George Sound in front of approximately 60,000 spectators to replicate the departure 100 years on- Anzac was joined by HMA Ships Arunta, Stuart, Sirius and Rankin, and the New Zealand frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and Japanese destroyer JDS Kirisame.

In 2015 Anzac returned to Turkey and took part in the commemorative events for the 100th Anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.

An aerial photograph of HMAS Anzac (left) berthed alongside HMAS Arunta at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

HMAS Anzac was the second Anzac class frigate to complete the Anzac Mid-Life Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia. The ship later received upgrades to the combat system and the addition of an Australian-designed CEAFAR radar.

The upgrade was performed by the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA) Alliance and included the replacement of the Long Range Air search radar, IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) and secondary surveillance radar capabilities. Anzac also underwent a platform systems obsolescence program to improve platform reliability and maintainability. Work was also performed to improve the ship’s habitability for the crew as well as an upgrade to the ship’s communications systems.

Illustrating the diverse roles performed by RAN ships, Anzac regularly conducted regional presence deployments, building trust and regional relationships with our neighbours. In 2008, for example, Anzac’s south-east Asian deployment included on goodwill visits and training activities in  Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. 

In early March 2021, HMAS Anzac departed Australia with auxiliary oiler replenisher HMAS Sirius for a deployment throughout Southeast Asia and the Northern Indian Ocean. During the deployment the frigate undertook exercises and international engagement with Navies including France, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States and Canada. Nearing the end of the deployment, Anzac was re-tasked to support a critical search and rescue effort. Anzac travelled 670 nautical miles west of Perth to assist an Indonesian fishing boat in distress, the ship rescued 20 fishermen who were provided with medical assistance and accommodation before being returned to Bali on 21 May 2021.

HMAS Anzac (III) decommissioned alongside Fleet Base West on the ship's 28th anniversary of commissioning on 18 May 2024.

Indonesian fishermen rescued in the Indian Ocean are accommodated on HMAS Anzac's quarterdeck.