HMAS Anzac (FFH 150)
- See also: HMAS Anzac for other ships of this name
 HMAS Anzac operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom | |
| Career Australia |  <tr valign=top><td>Builder:</td><td>Tenix Defence Systems</td></tr> |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 5 November 1993 |
| Launched: | 16 September 1994 <tr valign=top><td>Commissioned:</td><td>13 May 1996</td></tr> |
| Status: | Active <tr valign=top><td>Homeport:</td><td>Fleet Base West</td></tr> |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3,600 tonnes full load |
| Length: | 118 m |
| Beam: | 15 m <tr valign=top><td>Draught:</td><td>4 m</td></tr><tr valign=top><td>Propulsion:</td><td>1× General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine providing 30,000 hp (22.5 mW) |
| Speed: | 27 knots <tr valign=top><td>Range:</td><td>6,000 miles at 18 knots</td></tr> |
| Complement: | approximately 170 Sailors <tr valign=top><td>Sensors and processing systems:</td><td>Sonars: Thomson Sintra Spherion B Mod 5; hull-mounted; active search and attack; medium frequency |
The third and present HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) is the lead ship of the Anzac class frigates, laid down by Tenix Defence Systems at Williamstown in Victoria on 5 November 1993, launched on 16 September 1994 and commissioned on 13 May 1996.
Contents |
5 Inch Friday
On March 21, 2003 HMAS Anzac began naval gunfire in direct support of the British-led Royal Marine 40 Commando assault on Al Faw Peninsula in southern Iraq. For three days HMAS Anzac fired 42 shells on enemy positions, all falling on target. She was accompanied by the Royal Navy frigates HM Ships Chatham, Richmond and Marlborough. When Anzac began firing her 127 mm (5 inch) high explosive shells into military targets, it was the first time in 31 years a vessel of the RAN had fired her guns in anger. After withdrawing from the gun line HMAS Anzac received this message from 40 Commando:
| The Al Faw Vegetation Belt has been successfully cleared of all enemy and the airport and other key military installations are now secure with no enemy resistance. Success was largely due to aggressive use of indirect fire assets and the swift and lethal response of respective units. Your bombardment and destruction of key military installations had a huge impact on the ground and shattered the enemy’s will to fight.[1] |
The entire naval support operation was named "5 inch Friday" in recognition of the damage done by Anzac’s 127 millimetre gun.
Notes
- ^ Wheeler, Stu (2005). FIVE INCH FRIDAY - Defining moment for Anzac" Defence.gov (accessed August 10, 2006)
External link
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 Australian Army |  Royal Australian Navy |  Royal Australian Air Force | |
Categories
Royal Australian Navy ships | Anzac class frigates | Frigates of Australia | Frigates of the Royal Australian Navy | Active frigates of Australia