HMAS Wollongong (ACPB 92), named after the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
HMAS Wollongong and her 12 sister Armidale Class Patrol Boats and two Cape Class Patrol Boats are the Navy’s principal contribution to the nation’s fisheries protection, immigration, customs, and drug law enforcement operations. The vessels work hand-in-hand with other Government agencies as part of the Australian Border Force. In the event of war, they would be tasked to control the waters close to the Australian mainland.
HMAS Wollongong has spent the majority of her career on border patrol to Australia’s north and north-west. The ship is assigned to Ardent Division of the Australian Patrol Boat Group, is based in Cairns, and performs border protection and fisheries protection patrols. In July 2007, the ship became the first vessel of her class to visit the port of Brisbane, Queensland.
In June 2012, Wollongong was one of several ships to respond to a Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel that sank with 206 passengers while en route to Australia. HMAS Wollongong transported the 109 survivors found during the initial rescue operation to immigrant processing facilities at Christmas Island.
Armidale Class Patrol Boats are highly capable and versatile warships that are able to conduct a wide variety of missions and tasks. Most importantly, Patrols Boats are a primary enabler of the Australian Defence Force contribution to Operation SOVEREIGN BORDERS, which is a whole of government effort to protect Australia’s borders and offshore interests.
The Armidale Class Patrol Boats are being replaced by the Evolved Cape-class Patrol boats. The new class of patrol boats will replace the existing Armidale-class patrol boats and further enhance the operational abilities of the RAN at sea. The vessels are planned to be used as interim patrol boats until the commissioning of the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels.
In November this year HMAS Wollongong completed a decommissioning deployment down the East of Coast of Australia, which included HMAS Wollongong being granted Freedom of Entry to the City of Wollongong, NSW. Approximately 30 Crew members of the Armidale Class Patrol Boat, accompanied by members of the Royal Australia Navy Band, paraded through the city streets of Wollongong.
Tomorrow, Thursday, 8 December 2022, HMAS Wollongong will Decommission after 15 years of Service to the Royal Australian Navy.
