Portal:Military history of Australia/Equipment

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Portal:Military history of Australia/Equipment/1

The Light Armoured Car (Aust), also known as Rover, was an armoured car produced in Australia during World War II. The Rover was designed in 1941. It utilized Ford 3-ton CMP truck chassis, either F60L or shorter F60S. The armoured bodies were produced by Ruskin Motor Bodies Pty Ltd of Melbourne. The production was stopped in 1943, a total of 238 cars were built. The Rover entered service with the Australian Army in April 1942. It never saw combat and was used mostly for crews training. A long narrow opening at the top of the hull earned the vehicle a nickname "mobile slit trench".

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The F88 Austeyr is a derivative of the Austrian designed Steyr AUG assault rifle. The F88 replaced the SLR L1A1 in the early 1990s. The first unit to be issued with the F88 was the 6RAR, who received them in January 1989. The F88 is manufactured under licence to Steyr Mannlicher AG by Australian Defence Industries (ADI), in Lithgow, New South Wales, and has been sold to the armed forces of Australia and New Zealand among other countries.

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HMAS Manoora

The Kanimbla class landing platform amphibious was a class of two amphibious transport ships in the Royal Australian Navy. Both ships were originally built as Newport class LSTs and were purchased by Australia in 1994. Following their purchase the ships underwent extensive reconstruction to improve their capabilities. The main new feature was the addition of a large flight deck and hangar facilities capable of supporting up to three Sea Kings or four Blackhawks. Both ships were also able to mount two Army landing craft on the forward flight deck, which could be winched on and off by a 70 tonne crane. Each vessel had the capacity to transport up to 450 soldiers and their associated equipment into a combat area. They were sold in 2013 and scrapped.

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An Australian 2 pounder anti-tank gun carrier

The Carrier, Anti-tank, 2-pdr, (Aust) was a heavily modified and lengthened Australian variant of the British Universal Carrier. The vehicle was armed with a fully traversable 2 pounder anti-tank gun mounted on a platform at the rear and its engine was moved to the front left of the vehicle. Stowage was provided for 112 rounds of 2pdr ammunition. 200 were produced and used for training.

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A Royal Australian Air Force Boeing Wedgetail

The Boeing Wedgetail is an aircraft developed to meet Australian specifications for an Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force ordered six Wedgetails, with the first airframes arriving in November 2009. The RAAF's first operational sortie with the aircraft came in 2014 and the following year the aircraft fleet achieved final operational capability. The aircraft has also been purchased by several other air forces around the world, including the Turkish Air Force, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

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An Australian Austen MK I

The Mark I Austen (from "Australian Sten") was a 9 millimetre Australian submachine gun derived from the British Sten gun developed during the Second World War by the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. Approximately 45,000 Austens were produced from 1942 to 1944. They remained in service as a standard weapon of the Australian Army until 1966.

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The Sentinel tank was designed in Australia in World War II in response to the war in Europe, and to the threat of Japan expanding the war to the Pacific or even a possible Japanese invasion of Australia. It was based on the engine, drive train, and lower hull of the American M3 Medium tank but was built closely along the lines of a British Crusader. The few Sentinels that were built never saw action as Australia's Armoured Divisions had been equipped by that time with British and American tanks.

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The CAC Boomerang was an Australian-designed and manufactured fighter aircraft of World War II. Development of the Boomerang began in late 1941 following the start of the Pacific War and the first prototype flew on 29 May 1942. Boomerangs began to enter service with RAAF fighter squadrons from April 1943 but were not successful in this role due to the aircraft's mediocre performance. The Boomerang did, however, prove to be a successful close air support aircraft and saw action in New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Borneo.

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Car, Armoured, Heavy (Aust), also known as Rhino, was an armoured car designed in Australia during the Second World War. Due to enemy action and design problems the project never got beyond a prototype stage. The vehicle utilized chassis and engine produced by General Motors Canada, the rear-engined model 8446, the same chassis as used for the Canadian "Fox" armoured car.The vehicle was completed by a welded turret with 30 mm all-round protection similar in design to that of the Crusader tank. The armament consisted of a 2 pounder Mk IX gun and a coaxial .303 inch Vickers machine gun.

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The Huon Class Minehunters are a group of minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy to meet the need for an advanced mine detection platform to secure Australian waters. Originally designed in Italy as the Gaeta Class for the Italian Navy, the Huon Class has been modified to suit Australian conditions, including improved accommodation and mine hunting capabilities. A total of six ships were built, all of which were named after famous Australian rivers. Currently four vessels of the class are active, while the other two have been laid up in reserve.

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The CAC CA-25 Winjeel (Aboriginal for "young eagle") entered service for the Royal Australian Air Force in 1955 as an ab-initio to advanced trainer aircraft. It was developed to satisfy RAAF technical requirement No. AC.77 by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Victoria. A total of 62 aircraft were built and the first entered service with No. 1 Basic Flight Training School at Uranquiny (near Wagga Wagga). The aircraft remained in service with the RAAF until 1977 before being removed from service; examples of the aircraft remain in flying condition in private hands as well as museums around the country.

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A Short 25 Pounder in New Guinea in 1944 (AWM 075609).

The 25 pounder Short Mark I, or Baby 25 pr, was an Australian pack gun version of the British Ordnance QF 25 pounder and was first produced in 1943. This gun was a shortened version of the standard 25 Pounder and was intended for jungle warfare and was used in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, during World War II. The gun could be towed by a light vehicle or broken down into 13 sections.

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Portal:Military history of Australia/Equipment/13

A M113A1 FSV

The M113 Fire Support Vehicle (FSV) was an Australian variant of the United States M113 armoured personnel carrier fitted with the turret from Alvis Saladin armoured cars. The FSV was introduced into Australian Army units in the mid-1960s following the withdrawal of the Saladins and was armed with a 76mm gun, a .30 calibre coaxial machine gun and a .30 calibre machine gun mounted on the roof of the vehicle's turret. The M113 FSV was an interim vehicle and was replaced by the M113 Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle in the late 1970s.

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The CA-16 Wirraway was a World War II training and fighter aircraft manufactured in Australia by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation between 1939 and 1946. The Wirraway was operated by the Royal Australian Air Force until 1959. The aircraft was an Australian development of the T-6 Texan training aircraft. During World War II, the emergency fighter CAC Boomerang was based on the Wirraway. The Wirraway was also operated by the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm and the Royal New Zealand Air Force

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The Balikpapan class LCH (Landing Craft, Heavy) were a class of Australian designed and built landing craft which first entered service in the early 1970s. Eight Balikpapan-class ships served with the Royal Australian Navy from the early 1970s. Two of these were transferred to Papua New Guinea Defence Force in the mid-1970s. The remaining six were paid off from RAN service between 2010 and 2014. Of these, one was later transferred to the PNGDF and five have been gifted to the Philippines. The Balikpapan-class LCHs were capable of carrying up to 180 tons of cargo which can include up to 13 M-113 armoured personnel carriers or 400 soldiers.

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The CAC CA-15, also known unofficially as the CAC Kangaroo, was an Australian propeller-driven fighter plane designed by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) during World War II. During 1943, following the success of CAC in designing the small, makeshift Boomerang fighter, development began on a full-fledged interceptor and escort fighter. The prototype was handed over to the RAAF for testing and on 25 May 1948 and achieved a speed of 502.2 mph. The Kangaroo never entered service.

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An Ikara missile on its launcher

The Ikara missile was an Australian ship-launched anti-submarine missile similar to the United States RUM-139 ASROC. The Ikara was powered by a two stage solid-fuel rocket engine and was guided by radio until it reached the vicinity of the submarine contact whereupon it released its Mark 44 or Mark 46 acoustically-guided anti-submarine torpedo. The Ikara was developed in the 1960s and fitted to all of the Royal Australian Navy's River-class frigates / destroyer escorts and Perth-class guided missile destroyers. It was also operated by the Brazilian Navy, Chilean Navy, Royal Navy, and Royal New Zealand Navy. The Ikara was phased out in the early 1990s.

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The Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is an over-the-horizon radar network that can monitor air and sea movements across 37,000km². It has an official range of 3,000 km but depending upon certain atmospheric conditions has a range up to and including the Korean peninsula. It is used in the defence of Australia and can also monitor maritime operations, wave heights and wind directions. It was built by RLM Management, then in Burwood East in Melbourne, in partnership with Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Lockheed Martin, Telstra, BAE and Tenix Defence Systems. Up to now, the network has cost approximately $A1.8 billion.

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A F-111C in 2006

The F-111C was a version of the United States' F-111 tactical strike aircraft developed specifically for Australia. The F-111C combined F-111A/E avionics with the long-span wings and heavier landing gear originally designed for the F-111B. Twenty-four F-111Cs were originally ordered in 1963 and entered service in 1973. Four aircraft were modified to RF-111C reconnaissance configuration, while retaining their strike capability. An additional four ex-USAF F-111As were refitted to F-111Cs and delivered to Australia as attrition replacements. The F-111Cs were continuously upgraded and remained operational until December 2010 when they were retired from Australian service.

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The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), is an Australian version of the Mowag Piranha. It is a highly mobile, eight wheeled amphibious armoured vehicle used for reconnaissance and surveillance operations. The ASLAV has a range of 600 km with a top road speed of 100 km/h. ASLAVs have seen operational service with the Australian Army in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq.

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The Anzac-class frigate is the primary fleet unit of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The Anzac class is based on the based on a modified German MEKO 200 design. In total 10 units have been built, 8 for the RAN and 2 for the Royal New Zealand Navy. The Anzacs can displace 3,600 tonnes and were some of the first ships in the world to be equipped with the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles

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The Owen Gun, which as known officially as the Owen Machine Carbine, was an Australian submachine gun designed by Evelyn (Evo) Owen in 1939. It was the main submachine gun used by the Australian Army during World War II. The Owen Gun was later used in the Malayan Emergency, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Owen became very popular due to its reliability, this led to its use by Britain, New Zealand and the United States. It was retired in 1960, in total 50,000 were built.

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The Collins class submarine are the newest class of Australian submarines, built in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy. They were built by the Australian Submarine Corporation at Osborne, South Australia. They replace much older Oberon class submarines in the Australian fleet. In total 6 vessels have been constructed and all have been named after a distinguished former member of the RAN, some of whom have died for their country. The submarines are based at HMAS Stirling in Rockingham, Western Australia.

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A pre-production Bushmaster IMV

The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle is an Australian built wheeled armoured vehicle designed by Irish company Timoney Technology Ltd. and produced by Australian Defence Industries. The Bushmaster is currently in service with the Australian Army, the RAAF, the British Army, the Royal Netherlands Army, the New Zealand Army, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Indonesia's Kopassus. The Bushmaster is optimised for operations in northern Australia, and is capable of carrying nine soldiers and their equipment, fuel and supplies for three days. The vehicle is fitted with air conditioning and has a water cooling system. The Bushmaster is air transportable in C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster aircraft.

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The Yeramba was a self-propelled artillery vehicle built in Australia after the end of the Second World War. They were produced by mounting the 25 pounder gun howitzer on an American M3A5 Grant tank hull, converted by the Ordnance Factory Bendigo from 1950 to 1952. Along with most other WWII era tanks in Australia they were disposed of in 1956. Surviving Yerambas can be seen at the RAAC tank museum at Puckapunyal, Victoria, and at the Melbourne Tank Museum in Narre Warren.

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The Armidale class patrol boat is a class of patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the Fremantle class patrol boats. Designed and built by Austal Ships, the leadship HMAS Armidale was commissioned in June 2005. The final ship in the class (HMAS Glenelg (ACPB 96)) was commissioned in 2008. In total 14 vessels were procured, although one has since been retired due to damage caused by a fire. The Armidale-class patrol boats are based in Cairns, Darwin and Dampier, and conduct border security and fishing patrols of Australia's northern waters. The ships may also be used to support the Army's Regional Surveillance Units and special forces.

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The Dingo Scout Car was a light armoured car built in Australia during the Second World War. They were produced by the Ford motor company during 1942. The Dingo was based on a commercial Ford 30-cwt 134.5 inch wheelbase chassis shortened to 110 inches, fitted with a Marmon-Herrington all wheel drive kit to give the vehicle 4 wheel drive. The Dingo was equipped with a Bren light machine gun and Mk19 wireless. The vehicle's weight restricted its off road mobility and the front axle could be bent when travelling over rough terrain. A lighter version with only 10 mm of armour and an open top was proposed at the end of 1942 but not proceeded with as armoured cars could now be imported from overseas. All 245 vehicles produced were disposed of in 1945.

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The CAC Wackett trainer was the first in house designed aircraft from the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation of Australia. The name was derived from its designer Lawrence Wackett. It entered service in March 1941 with 200 being delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force by 1942. It was a tandem seat monoplane training aircraft of steel tube and fabric construction with a Warner Scarab radial engine and a Hamilton two bladed propeller.

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The Bathurst-class corvettes were a class of minesweepers produced in Australia during World War II. 56 in total were commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy, and 4 by the Indian Navy. The Bathurst class ships performed a wide range of tasks during the war, including escorting convoys, sweeping minefields, hydrographic surveys, transporting troops and bombarding enemy positions. The ships displaced up to 1,025 tons and had a top speed of 15 knots.

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Scout Car S1 (American), was an armoured car produced in Australia for the US Army during the Second World War.The vehicle was based on a Ford F15 4x2 chassis (a single 4x4 vehicle was built). The open-topped armoured hull was similar to that of the M3 Scout Car. The armament consisted of one .50 inch heavy machine gun and two .30 inch machine guns on a skate rails, operated by the crew of five. About 40 vehicles were produced by Ford Australia.

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The two competing designs: an Arleigh Burke class destroyer (front) with a F100 class frigate (rear)

The Hobart class destroyer is a class of three air warfare destroyers built for service with the Royal Australian Navy. The Hobart class design is based the Spanish F100 design, and incorporates the Aegis combat system and other sophisticated weapons and electronic systems. The lead ship, Hobart was commissioned in September 2017. This was followed by Brisbane in October 2018. The final ship is expected to be commissioned in late 2019.

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HMAS Leeuwin

The Leeuwin class are two Australian-built survey vessels, which currently form part of the Royal Australian Navy. Both ships were built by NQEA in Cairns, Queensland, and entered service in 2000. The ships are equipped with advanced surveying technology, have a helicopter flight deck and hangar and carry three 9-tonne survey motor boats.

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HMAS Advance

The Attack-class patrol boats were small coastal defence vessels built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and operated between 1967 and 1985. Twenty boats were ordered by the Department of Defence in 1965 at a cost of around $AUD 800,000 each from two Queensland shipyards, Evans Deakin in Brisbane and Walkers in Maryborough. The Attack-class ships had a displacement of 146 tons, a crew of up to 25 and were armed with a 40-mm gun, an 81-mm mortar and two 0.50 calibre machine guns. The Attack class was replaced in RAN service by the larger and more capable Fremantle-class patrol boats. Many Attack-class patrol boats were donated to the defence forces of Pacific nations.

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HMAS Torrens

The River class was to a class of torpedo boat destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy built just prior to World War I. All six ships of the class were named after famous Australian rivers (one from each state), starting a tradition in the RAN of naming ships after the rivers of Australia. The first three ships - Parramatta, Warrego and Yarra - were initially ordered for the British Royal Navy as Acheron-class vessels, but transferred to the RAN before completion and replaced by three new orders for the RN. Australian yards produced the remaining three ships.