HMAS Maitland (ACPB 88)

HMAS Maitland on the day of her commissioning at Newcastle, New South Wales
History
Australia
Recommissioned	6 October 2022
Identification	MMSI number: 503000214 Callsign: VNZ3325
Status	Active
History
Australia
Namesake	City of Maitland, New South Wales
Builder	Austal Ships, Henderson, Western Australia
Commissioned	29 September 2006
Decommissioned	28 April 2022
Identification	MMSI number: 503206000 Callsign: VKMK
Motto	"Invincible"
Status	Transferred to Austal
General characteristics
Class and type	Armidale-class patrol boat
Displacement	300 tons standard load
Length	56.8 m (186 ft)
Beam	9.7 m (32 ft)
Draught	2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Propulsion	2 × MTU 4000 16V 6,225 horsepower (4,642 kW) diesels driving twin propellers
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance	21 days standard, 42 days maximum
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × Zodiac 7.2 m (24 ft) RHIBs
Complement	21 standard, 29 maximum
Sensors and processing systems	Bridgemaster E surface search/navigation radar
Electronic warfare & decoys	Prism III radar warning system Toplite electro-optical detection system Warrlock direction finding system
Armament	1 × Rafael Typhoon stabilised gun mount fitted with a 25 mm (1 in) M242 Bushmaster autocannon 2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns

PBAT Sentinel, formerly HMAS Maitland (ACPB 88), named for the city of Maitland, New South Wales, is an Armidale-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The Armidale-class patrol boats are 56.8 metres (186 ft) long, with a beam of 9.7 metres (32 ft), a draught of 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in), and a standard displacement of 270 tons.^[1] The semi-displacement vee hull is fabricated from aluminium alloy, and each vessel is built to a combination of Det Norske Veritas standards for high-speed light craft and RAN requirements.^[2] The Armidales can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), and are driven by two propeller shafts, each connected to an MTU 16V M70 diesel.^[3] The ships have a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), allowing them to patrol the waters around the distant territories of Australia, and are designed for standard patrols of 21 days, with a maximum endurance of 42 days.^[3][2]

The main armament of the Armidale class is a Rafael Typhoon stabilised 25-millimetre (0.98 in) gun mount fitted with an M242 Bushmaster autocannon.^[3] Two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns are also carried.^[4] Boarding operations are performed by two 7.2-metre (24 ft), waterjet propelled rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs).^[2] Each RHIB is stored in a dedicated cradle and davit, and is capable of operating independently from the patrol boat as it carries its own communications, navigation, and safety equipment.^[2][5]

Each patrol boat has a standard ship's company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29.^[3][2] The Armidales do not have a permanently assigned ship's company; instead, they are assigned to divisions at a ratio of two vessels to three companies, which rotate through the vessels and allow the Armidales to spend more time at sea, without compromising sailors' rest time or training requirements.^[2][6] A 20-berth auxiliary accommodation compartment was included in the design for the transportation of soldiers, illegal fishermen, or unauthorised arrivals; in the latter two cases, the compartment could be secured from the outside.^[7] However, a malfunction in the sewerage treatment facilities aboard Maitland during pre-commissioning trials in August 2006 pumped hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide into the compartment, non-fatally poisoning four sailors working inside, after which use of the compartment for accommodation was banned across the class.^[6][7]

Maitland was constructed by Austal at their shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.^[1] She was commissioned into the RAN in Newcastle, New South Wales on 29 September 2006.^[8] A day later, the ship was granted the right of Freedom of Entry to her namesake city, Maitland.^[8]

Maitland was assigned to Assail Division, and was based in Darwin. She was decommissioned on 29 April 2022.

After being decommissioned the ship was selected for conversion to an uncrewed autonomous vessel as part of a trial of artificial intelligence. Austal will refit the ship over 18 months. Once this work is completed, the ship will be used for a range of tests and trials.^[9]

On 24 April 2024, it was announced that PBAT Sentinel had successfully completed sea trials.^[10]

Books

• Heron, Wesley; Powell, Anthony (2007). "Welcome to the Armidale Class". In Forbes, Andrew; Lovi, Michelle (eds.). Australian Maritime Issues 2006 (PDF). Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs. Sea Power Centre – Australia. pp. 129–134. ISBN 978-0-642-29644-3. ISSN 1327-5658. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  • The chapter is available separately as Semaphore, Issue 4, 2006 in PDF and HTML formats.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2012). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013. Jane's Fighting Ships. Coulsdon: IHS Jane's. ISBN 9780710630087. OCLC 793688752.
• Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-955-2. OCLC 140283156.

Journal and news articles

• Kerr, Julian (1 January 2008). "Plain sailing: Australia's Armidales prove fit for task". Jane's Navy International. Jane's Information Group.
• Kerr, Julian (8 December 2007). "Patrol boats shake down fuel faults". The Australian: Defence Special Report. p. 8.
• McKenna, Michael (2 January 2010). "Gas risk remains for navy boats". The Australian. Retrieved 7 January 2010.

• Royal Australian Navy webpage for HMAS Maitland