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Craft Of Opportunity Program
The Craft of Opportunity Program (COOP) was a Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ... (RAN) acquisition program intended to supplement the navy's mine warfare capability with civilian vessels that could be quickly converted into minesweepers. Vessels acquired under COOP were not commissioned into the RAN, and instead operated with the prefix "MSA" (Minesweeper Auxiliary). Acquisitions COOP was initiated in 1985, to cover the gap in mine warfare capability caused by the decommissioning of the Ton-class minesweepers and delays in building their replacements, the Bay-class minehunting catamarans.Jones, in Stevens (ed.), ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 252 In order to equip the auxiliary vessels, the RAN acquired several Klein Type 590 towed sidesc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HMAS Brolga
MSA (Minesweeper Auxiliary) ''Brolga'' (1102) was a minesweeper operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) between 1988 and 2003. Launched in 1975 by Australian Shipbuilding Industries, the ship was designed for the Department of Transport (1983–87), Department of Transport as the lighthouse tender ''Lumen''. Originally operating as a supply vessel for lighthouses around northern Queensland and the Torres Strait, the transition in lighthouse lights from acetylene gas to solar power meant there was less demand for the vessel, and by 1988, the Department of Transport was looking to sell the ship. Around this time, the RAN was looking to acquire vessels under the Craft of Opportunity Program, to serve as Auxiliaries, auxiliary minesweepers and technology testbeds. Design and construction The ship has a full load displacement of 268 tons, is in length, with a beam of , and a draught of .Sharpe (ed.), ''Janes Fighting Ships 1998-99'', p. 29Gallagher, ''Brolga flys home to Freo'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
