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HMAS Waterhen (naval base)
Encyclopedia
HMAS Waterhen is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN), 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 as a base of the RAN, and became home to the RAN's mine warfare forces. Waterhen was the first small-ship base established by the RAN, and from 1969 to 1979 was also responsible for the RAN's patrol boat forces.
to the mainland at Potts Point
led to the quarrying of this hill for sandstone, which altered the geography to a sheer cliff-face and near-water level plateau. The site was populated with fibro
buildings during the leadup to World War II, and during the war was used to store spare netting for the Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net net. The area was under military control from 15 March 1943 until the end of the war: the first three months under joint Royal Australian Navy
-United States Navy
control.
The location reverted to a storage site after the conclusion of World War II, but in the early 1960s was earmarked as the future base for the RAN's minesweeping forces: six ex-Royal Navy Ton class minesweepers
and a Clearance Diving Team
, with the base commander to simultaneously hold overall command over these forces. Commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Waterhen (following the Royal Navy practice of treating naval bases as 'stone frigate
s') on 5 December 1962, Waterhen was the first 'small-ship' base to be established by the RAN. At commissioning, there were minimal facilities available: the River class frigate was relocated to the northern wharf in December 1952 and used as a barracks ship
until June 1971.
In March 1969, following the introduction of the Attack class
of patrol boats, the base's role was expanded to include command of the RAN's patrol boat forces: the base commander held the position of Commander Australian Mine Warfare and Patrol Boat Forces. The command roles were split again in 1979, with the command of patrol boat forces relocated to in Queensland. The 1980s saw an attempted upgrade to the minesweeper fleet with the development of the Bay class minehunter
s, with the first two ships of the class, HMA Ships and assigned to Waterhen. The Bays did not enter service until 1993, and problems with their sonar and seakeeping
ability saw the other four ships of the class cancelled and forced the RAN to rely on a force of minesweeper auxiliaries converted from acquired civilian vessels and also based at Waterhen until the development of the Huon class minehunters
in the late 1990s.
In 1994, the same year the Huon class project began, it was recognised by the RAN that the facilities at Waterhen needed to be upgraded. Over a period from December 1994 to December 1996, the entire base was levelled, with new buildings, wharves, and facilities installed. The upgrade cost A$70 million and was completed eight months ahead of schedule.
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Waterhen is also used as a base for minor war vessels visiting or operating temporarily from Sydney.
Waterhen was used to represent a fictional Australian naval base in the first season of the television drama series Sea Patrol
, which was primarily set on a Fremantle class patrol boat
. Waterhen was used for the filming of several 'ashore' scenes, and was host to the decommissioned , which was used to film scenes of the patrol boat docked at base.
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...
(RAN), located in Waverton
Waverton, New South Wales
Waverton is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Waverton is located 4 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council.-History:...
, 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 as a base of the RAN, and became home to the RAN's mine warfare forces. Waterhen was the first small-ship base established by the RAN, and from 1969 to 1979 was also responsible for the RAN's patrol boat forces.
History
Prior to the 1930s, the area on which Waterhen would be constructed was a large hill overlooking Balls Head Bay. In the 1930s, the decision to construct a graving dock and landbridge connecting the naval base at Garden IslandGarden 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....
to the mainland at 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....
led to the quarrying of this hill for sandstone, which altered the geography to a sheer cliff-face and near-water level plateau. The site was populated with fibro
Fibro
Fibro, the shortened form of "Fibrous Cement" - or "Fibrous Asbestos Cement", FAC, is a building material made of compressed fibres cemented into rigid sheets....
buildings during the leadup to World War II, and during the war was used to store spare netting for the Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net net. The area was under military control from 15 March 1943 until the end of the war: the first three months under joint Royal Australian Navy
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...
-United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
control.
The location reverted to a storage site after the conclusion of World War II, but in the early 1960s was earmarked as the future base for the RAN's minesweeping forces: six ex-Royal Navy Ton class minesweepers
Ton class minesweeper
The Ton class were coastal minesweepers built in the 1950s for the Royal Navy, but also used by other navies such as the South African Navy and the Royal Australian Navy...
and a Clearance Diving Team
Clearance Diving Team (RAN)
The Clearance Diving Teams of the Royal Australian Navy also act as commando frogmen: they consist of naval personnel who are qualified in diving, demolitions, underwater repairs, and reconnaissance...
, with the base commander to simultaneously hold overall command over these forces. Commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Waterhen (following the Royal Navy practice of treating naval bases as 'stone frigate
Stone frigate
Stone frigate is a nickname for a naval establishment on land. The term has its origin in Britain's Royal Navy after its use of Diamond Rock, off Martinique, as a 'sloop of war' to harass the French...
s') on 5 December 1962, Waterhen was the first 'small-ship' base to be established by the RAN. At commissioning, there were minimal facilities available: the River class frigate was relocated to the northern wharf in December 1952 and used as a barracks ship
Barracks ship
Barracks ship or barracks barge are terms used to indicate a ship or a non-self-propelled barge containing a superstructure of a type suitable for use as a temporary barracks for sailors. A barracks ship may also be used as a "Receiving Unit" for sailors who need temporary residence prior to being...
until June 1971.
In March 1969, following the introduction of the Attack class
Attack class patrol boat
The Attack class patrol boats were small coastal defence vessels built for the Royal Australian Navy and operated between 1967 and 1985...
of patrol boats, the base's role was expanded to include command of the RAN's patrol boat forces: the base commander held the position of Commander Australian Mine Warfare and Patrol Boat Forces. The command roles were split again in 1979, with the command of patrol boat forces relocated to in Queensland. The 1980s saw an attempted upgrade to the minesweeper fleet with the development of the Bay class minehunter
Bay class minehunter
The Bay class Minehunter Inshores were a class of catamaran-hull mine warfare vessels operating with the Royal Australian Navy from 1986. Also referred to as the MHCAT , the class was an attempt to produce a locally designed inshore mine warfare vessel. Two prototype ships were ordered in 1981,...
s, with the first two ships of the class, HMA Ships and assigned to Waterhen. The Bays did not enter service until 1993, and problems with their sonar and seakeeping
Seakeeping
Seakeeping ability is a measure of how well-suited a watercraft is to conditions when underway. A ship or boat which has good seakeeping ability is said to be very seaworthy and is able to operate effectively even in high sea states....
ability saw the other four ships of the class cancelled and forced the RAN to rely on a force of minesweeper auxiliaries converted from acquired civilian vessels and also based at Waterhen until the development of the Huon class minehunters
Huon class minehunter
The Huon class Minehunter Coastal ships are a group of minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy . Following problems with the Bay class minehunters, a request for tender was issued in 1993 for a class of six coastal minehunters under the project designation SEA 1555...
in the late 1990s.
Present
As of 2010, Waterhen is home to the Australian Navy Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group, which consists of:- Clearance Diving Team OneClearance Diving Team (RAN)The Clearance Diving Teams of the Royal Australian Navy also act as commando frogmen: they consist of naval personnel who are qualified in diving, demolitions, underwater repairs, and reconnaissance...
- Six Huon class minehuntersHuon class minehunterThe Huon class Minehunter Coastal ships are a group of minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy . Following problems with the Bay class minehunters, a request for tender was issued in 1993 for a class of six coastal minehunters under the project designation SEA 1555...
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- Several minor war vessels and commercially operated support vessels
- Diving Tender Seal
- Navigation training vessel Seahorse MercatorSeahorse MercatorSeahose Mercator is a navigational training vessel operated by Defence Maritime Services under contract to the Royal Australian Navy . She is a modified version of the Pacific class patrol boat design and is based at HMAS Waterhen at Sydney. Seahorse Mercator is fitted with an extensive suite of...
- Torpedo Recovery Vessel Trevally
- Minesweeper Auxiliaries MSA Bandicoot and MSA Wallaroo
Waterhen is also used as a base for minor war vessels visiting or operating temporarily from Sydney.
Waterhen was used to represent a fictional Australian naval base in the first season of the television drama series Sea Patrol
Sea Patrol
Sea Patrol may refer to:*Sea Patrol, an Australian television series from 2007-2011**Sea Patrol **Sea Patrol , known as Sea Patrol II: The Coup**Sea Patrol , known as Sea Patrol: Red Gold...
, which was primarily set on a Fremantle class patrol boat
Fremantle class patrol boat
The Fremantle-class patrol boats were coastal patrol vessels operated by the Royal Australian Navy from 1979 to 2007. Designed by British shipbuilder Brooke Marine and constructed in Australia by North Queensland Engineers and Agents, the Fremantle class were larger, more powerful, and more...
. Waterhen was used for the filming of several 'ashore' scenes, and was host to the decommissioned , which was used to film scenes of the patrol boat docked at base.