HMAS Arunta

HMAS Arunta Statistics

Commanding Officer	Commander John Stavridis
Pennant	FFH 151
Type	Surface Combatant
Classification	Frigate Helicopter (FFH)
Class	Anzac Class
Based	Perth
Launched	28 June 1996
Commissioned	12 December 1998
Displacement	3,600 tonnes3,600,000 kg 3,600,000,000 g 7,936,639.2 lb 126,986,263.2 oz
Length	118 metres11,800 cm 0.118 km 0.0733 mi 387.139 ft 4,645.669 in
Beam	14.8 metres1,480 cm 0.0148 km 0.0092 mi 48.556 ft 582.677 in
Armament	5 inch Mk45 Mod 2 automatic rapid fire gun, Mk 41 vertical launch system with Evolved Sea Sparrow anti-air missiles, 2 x Mk32 Mod 5 triple mounted torpedo tubes, 4 x 50 calibre (12.7mm) machine guns Nulka Active Missile Decoys
Main Machinery	1 x General lectric LM2500 gas turbine engine; 2 x MTU 12V 1163 diesels driving two controllable pitch propellers
Speed	28 knots14.404 m/s 51.856 km/h 0.0144 km/s 2,835.521 ft/min 47.259 ft/s
Company	174
Battle Honours	Persian Gulf 2002

HMAS Arunta is the second of the Royal Australian Navy's eight Anzac class frigates. The Arunta is based on the German Meko 200 frigate, designed and built by Tenix Defence Systems at Williamstown, Victoria.

Arunta is a long-range escort capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The ship can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

Arunta is fitted with an advanced package of air surveillance radars, omni-directional hull mounted sonar and electronic support measures that interface with a state-of-the-art combat data system.

The ship can embark a multi-role Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter to enhance anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and Search and Rescue capabilities. Embarkation of a helicopter also provides the ship with the capability to deliver air-launched torpedoes.

Arunta is the second ship of the name. The original Arunta (I), commissioned in 1942, became one of the best known RAN ships in World War II . She served with distinction in New Guinea and the Pacific between 1942-1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944 and Lingayen Gulf in 1945.

The name "Arunta" comes from the Arrernte Aboriginal people (also spelt "Arunda" or "Aranda") located in central Australia.

Selection of the Arunta name and original motto 'Conquer or Die' recognises the ship's proud history and the ongoing and special relationship with the ARRERNTE Aboriginal people.

The Arrernte Aboriginal people of Central Australia

The Arrernte region based around Alice Springs is large, and traditionally there have been many different aboriginal groups within it; each with their own language dialect. Language is strongly connected with family membership and the relationships to land and dreamings that go with this. Arrernte is known as a nation in itself to Aboriginal communities of Central Australia. Within these boundaries the ancestors of the modern Arrernte have roamed, hunted, and performed their ceremonies, just as their living descendants do in the present day.

Arrernte have always been traditional custodians of many of the river beds of Central Australia. Art, myths and ceremonies are at the centre of the Arrernte culture which is as strong and diverse today as it has ever been.

The Arrernte region itself is large and diverse and covers an area from Tea Tree to the north of Alice Springs, west to the WA border, east to the Queensland border and south to Uluru.

To maintain the warm and special bond between HMAS Arunta and the Arrernte people the Arrernte Council presented HMAS Arunta with a flag displaying a Perrente lizard. The lizard is an animal from the dreamtime for the Arrernte people.

HMAS Arunta also sponsors a Perrente Lizard, the ships mascot, at Perth Zoo, Western Australia.