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Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds has officially welcomed the Royal Australian Navy’s new auxiliary oiler replenishment ship, NUSHIP Supply, at its homeport in Sydney Harbour.
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NUSHIP Supply is one of two new auxiliary oiler replenishment ships that will provide combat and logistics support to the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet, replacing HMA Ships Success and Sirius.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said Supply will provide enhanced logistics to the Navy for decades to come.
“The arrival of Supply into Sydney Harbour today marks the beginning of a new capability for the Royal Australian Navy, one that will extend the endurance and operational range of Australia’s entire naval fleet,” Minister Reynolds said.
“This is the second ship of the Royal Australian Navy to carry the name Supply. The first HMAS Supply has a long list of achievements and honours, including providing disaster relief in North Australia following Cyclone Tracy in 1970.
Minister Reynolds added, “The two new Supply Class ships are part of the Morrison government’s largest regeneration of the Navy since the Second World War through our up to $183 billion Naval Shipbuilding Plan.”
HMA Ships Success and Sirius will be replaced with a single class of double-hulled, AOR ship to be built by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia. The two Australian ships are based on the Spanish Navy's Cantabria Class AORs.
HMAS Supply was launched at the Navantia Shipyards in Ferrol, Spain, on 24 November 2018. The following day, in accordance with shipbuilding tradition, the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, positioned a coin under where the hull will be constructed for Stalwart.
The Supply Class AOR ships will carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support to deployed naval or combat forces that are based far from ports for long periods.
In addition to replenishment, the vessels can be used to combat against environmental pollution at sea, provide logistics support to the joint force and partner navies, and to support humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
Supply is expected to commission into the RAN in April 2021.
