First FFG upgrade nears completion as...
Sydney readies for sea

CO HMAS Sydney, CMDR Peter Quinn shows the ship’s new vertical launch system to CN VADM Ritchie and MCAUST RADM Rowan Moffitt.

Photo: ABPH Yuri Ramsey

By Graham Davis

The $350 million upgrade to the first of four the RAN’s FFGs, HMAS Sydney, is nearing completion.

She is scheduled to go to sea on December 6.

The commanding officer of the frigate, CMDR Peter Quinn, told of the December 6 sailing date on the day the Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie inspected the ship and the work done on her VADM Ritchie was accompanied by the Maritime Commander, RADM Rowan Moffitt, RADM Trevor Ruting, CDRE Simon Hart and a number of senior ADI Ltd personnel.

The visit by VADM Ritchie to the warship was part of a tour of Maritime Headquarters and units.

Sydney’s return to sea follows almost 18 months of work done initially in the Captain Cook Graving Dock and later at the East Wall of Garden Island by a small army of ADI Ltd workers and sub-contractors.

Among the upgrade tasks undertaken was the fitting of an eight cell vertical launcher on the foredeck to allow the firing of Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles.

The ship can carry a total of 32 of the missiles.

Four new diesel generators were installed along with extensive new wiring as well as a new and enhanced combat system to allow for improved warfighting capabilities.

Life for the ship’s company will be enhanced with an upgrade to the Sydney’s air conditioning system and mess deck improvements.

CMDR Quinn told Navy News, “We are scheduled to sail from Sydney on December 6.

“Our first trials will be in the Eastern Exercise Area and will involve a mariner skills evaluation. “Only a small number of ADI people will be with us on this occasion.”

He said later trials will involve “contractor’s trials” which will see a larger number of civilians join the ship to help test what they have installed.

“In the first quarter of 2005 we will commence more testing including weapons firing and test our new combat systems,” he said.

CMDR Quinn said the upgrade had been very complex project.

“However the upgrade has made her a very capable ship,” he said.

He said that even while the ship was alongside a program of checks was already well advanced.

“The Damage Control Light Off Examination has been achieved and the Material Readiness Assessment was well advanced,” he said.

Asked if the ride of the upgraded FFG would be observed during trials (the upgrade has seen 100 tonnes of additional equipment fitted to the frigate taking her weight to 4,200 tonnes), CMDR Quinn said, “yes...but the extra weight has been evenly distributed”.

“Melbourne, Darwin and Newcastle will be upgraded,” the Maritime Commander, RADM Moffitt said.

“Work on Melbourne is scheduled to start in the first half of 2005,” he said.

 

 

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