HMAS Sirius (O 266)
| HMAS Sirius in March 2009 HMAS Sirius in March 2009 | |
| Career (Australia (RAN)) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMAS Sirius |
| Namesake: | HMS Sirius of the First Fleet |
| Builder: | Hyundai Mipo Dockyard |
| Launched: | 12 April 2004 |
| Acquired: | 16 June 2004 |
| Commissioned: | 16 September 2006 |
| Renamed: | MT Delos (during construction) |
| Motto: | To Serve and Provide |
| Status: | Active as of 2010 |
| Badge: | File:HMAS Sirius.png |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Fleet Replenishment Vessel |
| Displacement: | 25,016.53 tonnes |
| Length: | 191.3 metres (628 ft) |
| Beam: | 32 metres (105 ft) |
| Draught: | 11 metres (36 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 1 x Hyundai B&W6S50MC (11,640 bhp x 127 rpm), 1 x direct drive shaft |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 34,806 cz fuel |
| Complement: | 60 |
| Armament: | Small arms |
| Aviation facilities: | Helicopter deck, no hangar facilities |
HMAS Sirius (O 266) (formerly MT Delos) is a commercial tanker purchased by the Royal Australian Navy and converted into a fleet replenishment vessel to replace HMAS Westralia. Launched in South Korea on 2004, and converted in Western Australia, Sirius was commissioned in 2006; three years before a purpose-built vessel would have, and at half the cost. The tanker is expected to remain in service until 2021.
Construction and acquisition
Delos was built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea. She was launched on 12 April 2004, and was purchased by the Australian Government on 16 June 2004, following completion. Delos was converted to her new role at Fremantle by Tenix Defence, and was commissioned into the RAN on 16 September 2006. Sirius is expected to remain in service for approximately 15 years.[citation needed]
Originally, the RAN planned to have a ship specially constructed for the role.[1] The decision to instead purchase an under-construction civilian tanker and modify her for military service allowed Sirius to enter service three years before originally planned, at a saving of half the acquisition project's cost.[1]
While HMAS Sirius is the first ship of this name to serve as part of the RAN, she is named in honour of HMS Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet of British convicts sent to Australia in 1788. HMS Sirius was wrecked off Norfolk Island on 14 April 1790.[2]
Operational history
In October 2006, Sirius successfully undertook her first Replenishment at Sea; transferring fuel and water supplies to HMAS Toowoomba. The ship completed working up and passed her first Unit Readiness Evaluation on 12 December 2006. RAN reports show that although HMAS Sirius has the ability to have helicopters land on her deck, Sirius has yet to pass the stability test that allow a helicopter to land on its deck.[citation needed]
In June 2007, she participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2007.[citation needed]
On the morning of 13 March 2009, Sirius was one of seventeen warships involved in a ceremonial fleet entry and fleet review in Sydney Harbour, the largest collection of RAN ships since the Australian Bicentenary in 1988.[3] Sirius did not participate in the fleet entry, but was anchored in the harbour for the review.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Associated Press (26 February 2008). "Defence told to find millions in savings". http://au.news.yahoo.com/080221/2/15woj.html. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
- ↑ "HMAS Sirius". Royal Australian Navy. http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Sirius. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
- ↑ Brooke, Michael (2 April 2009). "Marching into History". Navy News (Department of Defence). http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_navy.xml&iid=23701.
- Defence Materiel Organisation Maritime Operations Support Capability
- Australian National Audit Office Purchase, Chartering and Modification of the New Fleet Oiler
Media related to HMAS Sirius (O 266) at Wikimedia Commons
