HMAS Dechaineux

Named after Captain Emile Dechaineux, who was mortally wounded on the bridge of HMAS Australia during the first-ever Kamikaze attack at Leyte Gulf in 1944. HMAS Dechaineux (S76) carries the motto "Fearless and Ferocious," a tribute to Dechaineux's reputation for aggressive and effective leadership. Historically, the boat is remembered for surviving a critical deep-submergence incident in 2003; the crew’s rapid response saved the vessel from a seawater leak, a testament to the high standards of Australian damage control training.

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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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