Royal Australian Navy retires patrol boat Maitland

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) decommissioned the Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Maitland at a ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin, on Thursday, April 28.

The vessel named after a city in New South Wales was commissioned into service in 2006. It has worked alongside the Australian Border Force, Australian Fisheries, and the Australian Federal Police in support of various maritime security operations.

Maitland and its Armidale-class sisters will be gradually replaced by the 12-strong Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, which have greater range and endurance.