HMAS Advance (P83)

History

Given the vast coastline Australia maintains and the critical nature of trade and stability in the Asia-Pacific, the Australian Navy must be able to respond quickly to threats. The Assault Class Patrol Boat Group was established in 1964 for coastal defense purposes and eventually 20 powerboats were provided for the service.

These ships became replacements for the Bathurst-class frigates that served after World War II. In March 1967 Walkers Limited of Queensland developed the attack class HMAS Advance (P83). She was launched on August 16, 1967, and officially commissioned on January 24, 1968.

After a career spanning two decades, the ship was finally decommissioned on 6 February 1988 and is now housed on a functioning, well-preserved museum ship as part of the collection of the Australian National Maritime Museum.

During active duty, HMAS Advance fought under the motto "Never Look Back". Of the 20 attack-class ships built, Advance was the third ship and received pennant designation "83". The attack class was built from 1967 to 1969.

When built, the Advance displaces 100 tons under standard load and 150 tons when fully loaded. She has a length of 107.5 feet, a beam of 20 feet, and a draft of 7 feet. The hull is made of steel for increased robustness in rough Pacific waters. Power is provided by 2 Paxman YJCM Ventura 16-cylinder turbo diesel engines producing 3,500 hp when driving twin axles. In addition to its streamlined hull, the boat can reach speeds of up to 24 knots and have a range of up to 1,400 miles.

A total of 19 crew members consisted of 3 officers and 16 seamen. Advance went light for her character, deploying a 1 x 40mm Bofors cannon (in the turret above the bow) and 2 x 12.7mm Browning M2 machine guns. Also, any small arms carried by the crew can function. The Advance's profile includes a raised nose, stepped centralised aluminium superstructure and a nearly unobstructed stern area.

The armrests extend the length of their sides. A smoke funnel was found amidships just aft of the superstructure. The bridge is easily recognizable due to its window section.

One of Advance's key design qualities is their equipment inventory, which uses "off the shelf" components wherever possible. This is due to the general demands of Australia's vast coastline and remote areas in some areas, which limit access to any full-service naval bases that require any maintenance or repair work.

Advance and her class are tasked with staying away from these amenities, and using off-the-shelf components at every given location on the Australian coast is a key part of their basic operational existence.

From 1968 to 1980 Advance found her home port in Darwin and was responsible for operations in the waters of North West Australia. During that time, she was used for surveillance, anti-smuggling operations, investigative platforms and search and rescue operations. In 1968at the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union as its main enemyAdvance spied on a suspected Soviet trawler, the Van Gogh, for espionage and acted as a deterrent to such operations in the future. From 1975 to 1976, Advance formed the Australian Navy, whose mission was to end illegal foreign fishing in the north.

The Advance survived Hurricane Tracy in 1974 and has since been actively patrolling the East Coast. In 1979, the ship played the role of "HMAS Ambush" in the TV series "Patrol Boat" and subsequently acted as a deterrent to terrorist activities on oil platforms in the area.

At this time, the Australian Navy is looking to the future and working on the Fremantle-class patrol boat family. Fifteen of these were eventually procured, and their arrival marked the end of the Advance as an active frontline ship.

As a result, she was demoted to training and eventually found a new home with the Naval Reserve in Sydney in early 1982. The Australian National Maritime Museum, which was decommissioned in February 1988, took ownership of the vessel, where she is cared for to this day (2014).

She is still working and actively participating in some prestigious events while providing guided tours.

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