Royal Australian Navy

Also known as RAN, Australian Navy, navy of Australia, na Australia

naval warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force

Key facts

Founded: 1 March 1901 ; 125 years ago ( 1901-03-01 )
Country: Australia
Branch: Navy
Role: Naval warfare
Size: 16,000 permanent personnel 4,607 reserve personnel 30 commissioned ships 14 non-commissioned ships
Part of: Australian Defence Force
Headquarters: Russell Offices , Canberra
Mottos: To fight and win at sea
March: Royal Australian Navy
Anniversaries: 10 July
Fleet: 2 landing helicopter docks 1 landing ship dock 6 submarines 3 destroyers 7 frigates 1 offshore patrol vessel 10 patrol boats 2 minehunters 1 survey ship 2 replenishment oilers
Engagements

Article

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. The Chief of Navy is also jointly responsible to the Minister for Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence, which is a part of the Australian Public Service, supports the ADF, and ergo, the Royal Australian Navy.

The navy was formed in 1901 as the Commonwealth Naval Forces (CNF) through the amalgamation of the colonial navies following the federation of Australia. Although it was originally intended for local defence, it became increasingly responsible for regional defence as the British Empire started to diminish its influence in the South Pacific.