HMAS Yarra's 30mm gun crew defends the ship from a simulated fast boat attack during the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Task Group certification period.
HMAS Yarra (IV), the 6th of 6 Huon class minehunters built in Newcastle, Australia was commissioned on 1 March 2003. Yarra's unique hull design is shock resistant with a low magnetic and acoustic signature. This allows the ship to operate in hostile mine environments. When mine hunting, propulsion and precision manoeuvrability is achieved using retractable thrusters.
The ship uses variable depth sonar to search for mines. Upon detection, the ship deploys the remotely operated Mine Disposal Vehicle (MDV) or clearance divers to identify and neutralise mines. The MDV, equipped with a searchlight, camera, sonar and disposal charge, is controlled from ship's operations room.
Sailors from HMAS Yarra take control of the steading line as they deploy the ships SUTEC Double Eagle mine disposal vehicle during mine operations at Exercise DUGONG 2015.
Specifications
 |
| Commanding Officer |
Lieutenant Commander Jason Dawson |
|---|---|
| Class |
Huon Class |
| Type |
Minehunter, Coastal (MHC) |
| Role | Mine Warfare |
| Pennant |
M 87 |
| International Callsign |
VLTH |
| Motto |
Hunt and Strike |
| Home Port |
HMAS Waterhen |
| Builder |
ADI Newcastle |
| Launched |
19 January 2002 |
| Commissioned |
1 March 2003 |
| Dimensions & Displacement | |
| Displacement | 732 tonnes |
| Length | 52.5 metres |
| Beam | 9.9 metres |
| Draught | 3 metres |
| Performance | |
| Speed | 14 knots |
| Range | 1600 nautical miles |
| Complement | |
| Crew | 46 |
| Propulsion | |
| Machinery |
|
| Armament | |
| Guns | 1 x MSI DS 30B 30mm |
| Physical Countermeasures |
|
| Electronic Countermeasures | AWADI Prism |
| Radars | Kelvin Hughes 1007 |
| Sonars | GEC-Marconi Type 2093 |
| Combat Data Systems | GEC-Marconi Nautis 2M |
| Weapon Control Systems | Radamec 1400N optronic surveillance system |
| Awards | |
| Inherited Battle Honours |
|