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HMAS Kuttabul (naval base)
Encyclopedia
HMAS Kuttabul is the Royal Australian Navy
's primary naval base {Fleet Base East} on the east coast of Australia
. It is located on Garden Island
in Sydney
, New South Wales
. The administrative, training and logistics support centre is situated south of Garden Island in the suburb of Potts Point
.
The base is named for the steam ferry HMAS Kuttabul
that was sunk while docked at Garden Island during the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour
in 1942.
suggested giving the area over to the Royal Navy
as a base for ships serving on the Australia Station. Following the foundation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911, all naval establishments were given over by the UK to the RAN. However, until 1939, the ownership of Garden Island itself was in dispute, with NSW claiming it as its property. This was solved when the Australian government initially requisitioned the island (together with the naval base) under emergency wartime powers. The government then purchased Garden Island from NSW for £638,000 in 1945.
The Garden Island facility houses the Captain Cook Graving Dock, the largest graving dock in the Southern Hemisphere. The dock was constructed between 1940 and 1945, by filling in the area between Garden Island and Potts Point. The dock and associated dockyard are operated under lease by Thales Australia
. The northern tip of Garden Island is as of 2008 open to the public, accessible only by ferry. The area features the Navy Heritage Centre
, opened in 2004, and graffiti dating to the First Fleet in 1788.
From its foundation until the establishment of the Two Ocean Policy and commissioning of HMAS Stirling
in 1978, Kuttabul was the RAN's main naval base. With the establishment of two main bases, Kuttabul and Garden Island took on the additional designation of Fleet Base East.
Although Kuttabul is the main administrative part of Fleet Base East, Fleet Base East is also responsible for the Mine Counter Measures forces of the RAN stationed on the east coast. These are based at HMAS Waterhen
.
Anzac Class Frigate
Adelaide Class Frigate
Huon Class Minehunters
Amphibious
Replenishment
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
's primary naval base {Fleet Base East} on the east coast of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located on Garden Island
Garden Island, New South Wales
Garden Island is an inner-city locality of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located to the north-east of the Sydney central business district, north of the suburb of Potts Point....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The administrative, training and logistics support centre is situated south of Garden Island in the suburb of Potts Point
Potts Point, New South Wales
Potts Point is a small, densely-populated suburb of inner-city Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Potts Point is located 3 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney....
.
The base is named for the steam ferry HMAS Kuttabul
HMAS Kuttabul (ship)
HMAS Kuttabul was a Royal Australian Navy depot ship, and former Sydney harbour ferry. During the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour on 31 May 1942, Kuttabul was torpedoed and sunk, with 21 Commonwealth naval personnel aboard....
that was sunk while docked at Garden Island during the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour
Attack on Sydney Harbour
In late May and early June 1942, during World War II, submarines belonging to the Imperial Japanese Navy made a series of attacks on the cities of Sydney and Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia...
in 1942.
History
Garden Island itself has been host to a naval base since 1856, when the government of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
suggested giving the area over to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a base for ships serving on the Australia Station. Following the foundation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911, all naval establishments were given over by the UK to the RAN. However, until 1939, the ownership of Garden Island itself was in dispute, with NSW claiming it as its property. This was solved when the Australian government initially requisitioned the island (together with the naval base) under emergency wartime powers. The government then purchased Garden Island from NSW for £638,000 in 1945.
The Garden Island facility houses the Captain Cook Graving Dock, the largest graving dock in the Southern Hemisphere. The dock was constructed between 1940 and 1945, by filling in the area between Garden Island and Potts Point. The dock and associated dockyard are operated under lease by Thales Australia
Australian Defence Industries
Thales Australia is a primary defence contractor for the Australian Defence Force. Thales Australia is best known for its naval ship repair operations, and currently leases the Captain Cook graving dock at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, New South Wales and also leases and occupies many of the...
. The northern tip of Garden Island is as of 2008 open to the public, accessible only by ferry. The area features the Navy Heritage Centre
Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
The Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre is the maritime museum of the Royal Australian Navy. The centre opened on 4 October 2005 and is located within the Public Access Area on the northern end of Garden Island Naval base....
, opened in 2004, and graffiti dating to the First Fleet in 1788.
From its foundation until the establishment of the Two Ocean Policy and commissioning of HMAS Stirling
HMAS Stirling
HMAS Stirling is the Royal Australian Navy's primary base on the west coast of Australia. It is located on Garden Island in the state of Western Australia, near the city of Perth...
in 1978, Kuttabul was the RAN's main naval base. With the establishment of two main bases, Kuttabul and Garden Island took on the additional designation of Fleet Base East.
Ships Stationed
HMAS Waterhen (naval base)
HMAS Waterhen is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy , located in Waverton, Sydney. Constructed on the site of a quarry used to expand Garden Island in the 1930s, the location was used during World War II as a boom net maintenance and storage area. In 1962, the area was commissioned...
.
Anzac Class Frigate
- HMAS AnzacHMAS Anzac (FFH 150)HMAS Anzac is the lead ship of the Anzac class frigates in use with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy . Entering service in 1996, the frigate operated as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 1999. In 2003, she was involved in the Battle of Al Faw, and became the...
- HMAS ParramattaHMAS Parramatta (FFH 154)HMAS Parramatta is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:The Anzac class originated from RAN plans to replace the six River class destroyer escorts with a mid-capability patrol frigate...
- HMAS BallaratHMAS Ballarat (FFH 155)HMAS Ballarat is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The frigate was laid down in 2000 and commissioned into the RAN in mid-2004...
Adelaide Class Frigate
- HMAS SydneyHMAS Sydney (FFG 03)HMAS Sydney is an Adelaide class guided missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The frigate one of six modified s ordered from 1977 onwards, and the third of four to be constructed in the United States of America...
- HMAS DarwinHMAS Darwin (FFG 04)HMAS Darwin , named for the capital city of the Northern Territory, is an Adelaide class guided-missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . One of four ships ordered from the United States, Darwin entered service in 1984. During her career, she has operated in the Persian Gulf, as part of the...
- HMAS MelbourneHMAS Melbourne (FFG 05)HMAS Melbourne is an Adelaide class guided-missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . Originally ordered as HMAS Torrens, the ship was renamed during construction, and entered service in 1992. Melbourne has been deployed to the Persian Gulf on several occasions, and served as part of the...
- HMAS NewcastleHMAS Newcastle (FFG 06)HMAS Newcastle , named for the city of Newcastle, New South Wales, the largest provincial city in Australia, is an Adelaide class guided-missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The last ship of the class to be constructed, Newcastle entered service in 1993...
Huon Class Minehunters
- HMAS Huon
- HMAS HawkesburyHMAS Hawkesbury (M 83)HMAS Hawkesbury , named for the Hawkesbury River, is the second Huon-class minehunter to have been built for the Royal Australian Navy ....
- HMAS NormanHMAS Norman (M 84)HMAS Norman , named for the Norman River in Queensland, is the third Huon class minehunter to serve in the Royal Australian Navy .Norman was built by Australian Defence Industries in Newcastle, New South Wales...
- HMAS GascoyneHMAS Gascoyne (M 85)HMAS Gascoyne , named for the Gascoyne River, is the fourth of six Huon class minehunters constructed for and currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy ....
- HMAS DiamantinaHMAS Diamantina (M 86)HMAS Diamantina , named for the Diamantina River, is a Huon class minehunter currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy .-Construction:...
- HMAS YarraHMAS Yarra (M 87)HMAS Yarra is the sixth Huon-class minehunter to have been built for the Royal Australian Navy and the fourth warship to be named after the Yarra River in Victoria....
Amphibious
- HMAS Tobruk
- HMAS Kanimbla
Replenishment
- HMAS Success