HMAS Farncomb

HMAS Farncomb (S74) is named in honor of Rear Admiral Harold "Fearless Frank" Farncomb. During the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942, Farncomb’s brilliant maneuvering of HMAS Australia (II) allowed the ship to emerge unscathed from a massive Japanese aerial bombardment—earning his ship the nickname "The Ghost Ship." Carrying the motto "With Skill and Resolve," the submarine continues this legacy of tactical cunning and has been a frequent participant in high-end international exercises.

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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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