HMAS ARMIDALE commissioning booklet
Publisher
Royal Australian Navy
(Australian, founded 1913)
Date24 June 2005
Object number00044395
NameBooklet
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 300 x 210 mm, 45 g
ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from RAN Maritime Headquarters Sydney
DescriptionThe commissioning ceremony of the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS ARMIDALE (pennant number 83) took place on 24 June 2005, the first of the Armidale class patrol boats to be put into service. This commissioning booklet contains information on the official ceremony, the Commanding Officer, the ship's history, crew and the ship's motto 'Stand Firm'.HistoryBooklets are produced for guests attending the commissioning or decommissioning ceremonies for vessels of the Royal Australian Navy. They provide technical information about each of the ships, an Order of Service for the Commissioning Ceremony, along with the history of any naval vessels that have shared the same name.
HMAS ARMIDALE is the lead ship of the Armidale class patrol boats of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It underwent its official commissioning ceremony on 24 June 2005 at Darwin, Northern Territory and was put under the responsibility of the Commanding Officer LCDR Andrew Maher. ARMIDALE was named after the first HMAS ARMIDALE a Bathurst class corvette (minesweeper) which sank after being attacked by Japanese torpedoes near Timor on 1 Dec 1942.
The commissioning of ARMIDALE marked the introduction of 14 new Armidale class patrol boats to the RAN, replacing the older Fremantle class patrol boats. ARMIDALE was built at the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia in 2004. Its commissioning ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defence, the Honourable Senator Robert Hill; the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie AO RAN; Acting Maritime Commander, Commodore Peter Lockwood and Chief of Airforce, Air Marshall A G Houston AO AFC. The Commissioning Lady was Ms Jana Stone, daughter of Ordinary Seaman Donald Lawson who served in the first ARMIDALE.
HMAS ARMIDALE's primary purpose is for surveillance, interception, investigation and the apprehension of vessels infringing Australian fishing, quarantine, customs and immigration laws. In November 2008 ARMIDALE played a key role in the commemoration service for HMAS ARMIDALE (I) at Timor. The ship's badge consists of a tower on a mount which was taken from the crest of the Coat of Arms of the City of Armidale. Its motto 'Stand Firm' is a symbol of the strength and stature of the city of Armidale and HMAS ARMIDALE.SignificanceThis booklet demonstrates the continuing traditions and ceremonial procedures of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and provides useful information on HMAS ARMIDALE.
