Sailing into Darwin Harbour on a sunny day with smooth seas, the last of the Armidale-class patrol boats – HMA Ships Albany, Bathurst and Childers – made a final group entry into the basin at HMAS Coonawarra.

Captain Ross Upton, the patrol boat capability manager representative, was there to meet the three vessels and mark this final milestone.

“For 20 years, the Armidale-class patrol boats have made a critical contribution to the security of our maritime approaches and the protection of our national interests,” he said.

Childers had recently returned from an Operation Resolute patrol and both Albany and Bathurst were returning from deployments to the south-west Pacific, conducting regional engagement.

“The Armidale-class patrol boats and their officers and sailors have provided outstanding service to our nation, frequently in challenging circumstances and conditions,” Captain Upton said.

The Armidale-class were built by Austal at Henderson in Western Australia, with all 14 ships commissioning between 2005 and 2008. 

The Armidale-class patrol boats served valiantly, protecting Australia’s borders and promoting maritime security with our regional friends and partners. They have ventured into South-East Asia, across the Indian Ocean to the Cocos and Christmas Islands, and into the South Pacific to show the flag.

“All who have served in this class can be very proud of their achievements,” Captain Upton said.

All three ships will hold their decommissioning ceremonies in early December at Coonawarra.