HMAS Collins

As the lead boat, HMAS Collins (S73) broke new ground as one of the first submarines in the world to be entirely designed by computers. Historically, she is named after Vice Admiral Sir John Collins, the first graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College to reach flag rank. Sir John famously commanded HMAS Sydney (II) during the Battle of Cape Spada in 1940, where he successfully sank a superior Italian cruiser. The submarine’s motto, "Vanguard," reflects its role as the pioneer of Australia's sovereign submarine capability.

The Collins-class guided-missile submarines were the first vessels of their kind to be entirely designed and built in Australia, representing a landmark achievement in domestic naval engineering. Based on an enlarged version of the Swedish Type 471 design by Kockums, the six submarines were specifically tailored for the vast distances and varied environments of the Indo-Pacific. Despite early technical challenges, a series of comprehensive "niche" upgrades to their sonar suites and the adoption of the US Navy’s AN/BYG-1 weapons control system have maintained their status as some of the most capable conventional (non-nuclear) submarines in the world. Known for their extreme stealth and long range, they serve as Australia's primary deterrent, capable of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and anti-surface warfare.

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