Australia decommissions final Adelaide-class frigate

The HMAS Melbourne (FFG-05). Photo c/o RAN.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has decommissioned its last operational Adelaide-class guided missile frigate, the HMAS Melbourne (FFG-05) in ceremonies held on 26 October 2019 at the RAN’s base in Garden Island, Sydney.

The ship prides itself of 27 years of distinguished service to Australia’s maritime security operations including deployments to the Middle East 8 times, and earning battle honors for serving in East Timor and Persian Gulf.

Prior to retirement, the HMAS Melbourne completed a four-month deployment through North Asia, including enforcing United Nations Security Council resolution sanctions against North Korea.

The HMAS Melbourne was built by Australian Marine Engineering Consolidated in their shipyard in Williamstown in Melbourne, and was laid down in July 1985, launched in May 1989, and commissioned into service with the RAN in 15 February 1992.

She was the 5th ship of the class, and was built based on a modified version of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate design used by the US Navy. The Adelaide-class were the RAN’s foremost air defense asset until the introduction of the Hobart-class air warfare destroyers.

No decision has been made on its final disposition although there were previous reports that Chile was interested in purchasing her to replace older Dutch-made air defense frigates in service with the Chilean Navy.


[1] ADBR 
[2] 9News
[3] Jane’s Defence Weekly