Cape-class patrol boat
ACV Cape St George on Darwin Harbour in 2014
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Cape class |
| Builders: | Austal Ships |
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | Bay-class patrol boat |
| Built: |
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| In service: | 2013–present |
| Planned: | 10 |
| Completed: | 8 |
| Active: | 8 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Patrol boat |
| Length: | 57.8 metres (190 ft) |
| Beam: | 10.3 metres (34 ft) |
| Draught: | 3 metres (9.8 ft) |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Range: | 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Endurance: | 28 days |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
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| Crew: | 18 |
| Armament: | 2 x .50 calibre machine guns |
The Cape class is a ship class of eight large patrol boats operated by the Marine Unit of the Australian Border Force (previously the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service). Ordered in 2011, the vessels were built by Austal Ships to replace Customs' Bay-class patrol boats, and entered service from 2013 onwards. Following availability issues with the Armidale class, two vessels were chartered by the Royal Australian Navy from mid-2015 to late 2016. A further two vessels were ordered at the end of 2015 by the National Australia Bank, who will charter the patrol boats to the Department of Defence from completion in 2017.
The Bay class was due to be replaced in 2010, but it was not until June of that year that a request for tender was issued for eight new, larger patrol boats.Austal Ships received the tender for eight 57.8-metre (190 ft) patrol boats on 12 August 2011. Each vessel is 57.8 metres (190 ft) in length, with a beam of 10.3 metres (34 ft) and a draught of 3 metres (9.8 ft). Propulsion machinery consists of two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, providing 6,770 horsepower (5,050 kW) to two propeller shafts. A 160-kilowatt (210 hp) bow thruster is also fitted. Maximum speed is 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), with a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), and an endurance of 28 days. Each vessel has a crew of 18, and two crew groups are assigned to each vessel, alternating between operating the patrol boat and shore duties, to ensure maximum vessel availability. Each Cape-class vessel is armed with two .50 calibre machine guns, and carries two 7.3-metre (24 ft) Gemini RHIB interception craft in cradles at the stern, along with a small boat carried amidships. Several updates and reconfigurations were implemented in response to issues found with the previous class of patrol boats built by Austal, the Armidale class operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
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