Armidale Class- Her Majesty's Australian Ship Pirie.

Her Majesty's Australian Ships (HMAS) Albany and HMAS Pirie are the latest Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPB), to join the Royal Australian Navy’s operational Fleet. The ships built by Austal Ships in Perth , Western Australia , were commissioned on 15 July and 29 July respectively.

HMAS Albany is the fourth, and HMAS Pirie the fifth, ACPB built in Australia for the Navy. The ACPB project is part of a $553 million contract signed in December 2003 between the Federal Government and the Defence Maritime Services.

The ships are 56.8 metres long, can move approximately 300 tonnes, and are operated by a crew of 21 personnel. The ACPBs are able to operate for longer at sea with a longer range, some 3,000 nautical miles more than the Fremantle Class. They have significantly enhanced habitability, so crews will enjoy greater cabin comfort that in turn will allow them to perform at their optimum ability while at sea.

The design and surveillance technology incorporated in ACPB is one of the most advanced platforms of its kind in the world. This will enable it to operate anywhere around the Australian coast for extended periods.

The Armidale class vessels substantially improve the Royal Australian Navy’s capability to intercept and apprehend vessels suspected of illegal fishing and quarantine, customs or immigration offences.