HMAS Brisbane (DDG-40)

History of HMAS Brisbane (DDG-40)

HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) is the lead ship of the Royal Australian Navy's Hobart-class guided missile destroyers, commissioned in 2018 alongside its sister ship, HMAS Hobart (DDG-39). Operating from the East Fleet base in Sydney, the vessel is recognized as the "Steel Cat" and is a key player in the RAN's surface warfare operations, adhering to the motto "We aim higher." Constructed by ASC, Forgacs Marine & Defence, and Bae Systems, the ship boasts a displacement of 7,700 tons, a length of 482.10 feet, and is powered by a CODOG unit, enabling speeds over 28 knots and a range of 5,800 miles.

Manned by 202 personnel, including a 16-member Air Force unit responsible for a Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, HMAS Brisbane is equipped with modern sensors, communication systems, and weaponry. The arsenal includes a Mark 45 Mod 4 deck gun, a Mark 41 Vertical Launch System, Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, torpedo systems, automatic cannons, and a Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. Despite successful weapons testing in 2019 off the coast of California, the destroyer has primarily been engaged in general patrol and training tasks at sea, without deployment in active combat situations.

The ship's construction commenced in 2014, led by Navantia in Spain, and it was officially launched on December 15, 2016. Brisbane's commissioning on October 27, 2018, marked its entry into operational service. With its advanced capabilities and strategic positioning, HMAS Brisbane stands as a formidable asset for the Royal Australian Navy's maritime defense efforts.

Specification

Basic

Year of Service: 2018

Origins: Australia

Status: In service

Manufacturer: Navantia - Spain / ASC; Forgacs Group (Forgacs Navy and Defense); BAe Systems Australia - Australia

Class: Hobart Class

Class Size: 3

Carrier: Australia

Characters

Sea Bombing: Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault: Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol :Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence: Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support: Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Distinctive Features

Air Defense: Airborne systems warn and protect ships from airborne and low-altitude ballistic and/or missile threats.

On the horizon: The ship is granted over-the-horizon combat capability, usually provided by a launched fixed-wing/rotary-wing aircraft.

Missile weapons: The ship supports long-range missile launches to air, sea or land-based targets; typical of modern design.

Torpedo: Able to launch torpedoes at distant targets.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 483.0 feet (147.22 m)

Ray: 61.0 feet (18.59 m)

Draft: 17. 0 feet (5.18 m)

Shift: 6,900 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power: 2 GE Marine 7LM2400-SA-MLG38 gas turbines each producing 23,500 hp and 2 Caterpillar 3616 diesel engines in CODOG arrangement (diesel or gas combination) each producing 7,580 hp and driving 2 axis.

Surface Velocity: 29. 0 nodes (33.4 km/h)

Area: 5,040nm (5,800 miles | 9,334 kilometers)

Weapons

1 x 5" Mark 45 Mod 4 deck gun with turret.

1 x 48 cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) for RIM-66 Standard 2 and/or RIM- 162 "Evolved Sea Sparrow" (ESS) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM).

2 x 4 Cell Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile Launchers. 1 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).

2 x 25mm M242 Bushmaster Chain Guns.

2 x Mark 32 Mod 9 Twin Torpedo Launchers.

Aircraft

1 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk Navy helicopter, equipped for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions.