HMAS Toowoomba (II)

HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156) is distinguished by her extensive work in the Gulf of Aden, where she was assigned to escort merchant shipping through the International Recommended Transit Corridor to deter Somali piracy. She is the seventh vessel of the class and is known for her high operational availability, often being the "go-to" frigate for rapid regional presence deployments.

The Anzac-class multi-role frigates were born from a collaborative project between Australia and New Zealand to replace the aging River and Leander classes. Based on the German MEKO 200 modular design, these vessels were constructed in Williamstown, Victoria, and serve as the long-standing "workhorse" of the Royal Australian Navy. While initially criticized for being "under-armed," the class has undergone extensive mid-life upgrades, most notably the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) program. This overhaul integrated the Australian-designed CEAFAR phased-array radar, transforming the ships into some of the most capable air-defense frigates of their size. Their versatile design allows them to conduct a range of operations, from border protection and humanitarian aid to high-intensity maritime combat and naval gunfire support.

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