Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service

The Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service is the agency of the Australian Commonwealth Government responsible for the mapping and surveying of undersea terrain and irregularities on and under the water's surface (known collectively as hydrography). It is primarily operated by the Royal Australian Navy, and makes up one of the RAN's seven Force Element Groups. The agency serves both military and civilian functions, and in latter instances is known as the Australian Hydrographic Service or the Australian Hydrographic Office (commonly abbreviated as AHS or AHO).

The Hydrographic Service is responsible for charting over one-eighth of the world's surface, bordered by Cocos Island to the west, the Solomon Islands to the east, the Equator to the north, and Antarctica to the south. [cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Leeuwin_Class |title=Leeuwin Class |accessdate=2008-09-16 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy ]

History

From the time hydrographic surveying began in Australia until 1942, it was administered by the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office (later the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office). The RAN took over the role of hydrographic surveying in Australian waters in 1920, and responsibility for the publication of charts in 1942.

In 1946, the Australian Cabinet instructed the Commonwealth Naval Board that it was to take control of all aspects of hydrography in relation to Australia.

Units

As of 2008, the following units and equipment are assigned to the Hydrographic Service: [cite web |url=http://www.hydro.gov.au/aboutus/ships.htm |title=Ships & Units |accessdate=2007-02-28 |work=Australian Hydrographic Service website |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia / Royal Australian Navy |pages=(and subpages)]
* The Australian Hydrographic Office, located in Wollongong, New South Wales. Was opened in 1994, and has a staff of 120 mixed civilian and military personnel.
* Two "Leeuwin" class survey vessels
** HMAS "Leeuwin" (A 245)
** HMAS "Melville" (A 246)
* Four "Paluma" class motor launches
** HMAS "Paluma" (A 01)
** HMAS "Mermaid" (A 02)
** HMAS "Shepparton" (A 03)
** HMAS "Benalla" (A 04)
* One LADS-equipped Fokker F27

References

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