Installed and Supported Armament
The armament suite of HMAS Toowoomba is consistent with other frigate-type surface combatants of today and is a mix of projectile-based and missile-based weaponry. There is a single 5" turreted deck gun over the forecastle and this is backed by 1 x 8-cell Mark 41 Mod 5 Vertical Launch System (VLS) provisioned for the RIM-7 "Sea Sparrow" / RIM-162 "Evolved Sea Sparrow" surface-to-air medium-ranged missile (a second VLS cell is supported but apparently not fitted). There are 2 x 4-cell "Harpoon" anti-ship missile launchers fitted as well (after 2005) as well as 2 x Mk 32 324mm triple-torpedo tubes. 2 to 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns are carried for extreme close-in defense.
HMAS Toowoomba in Profile
The profile of HMAS Toowoomba is conventional as modern fighting frigates go. She has a short, unobstructed forecastle headlined by a single turreted deck gun. Aft of this is the hull superstructure which is more or less a continuous piece running from aft of the forecastle to ahead of the stern-based helipad. The bridge sits atop the forward section of the superstructure with a commanding view over the bow. Atop this area is the main mast of tripod form (now enclosed) mounting the various communications, sensors, and radar fits. A secondary mast is fitted just aft of this and ahead of the low-profile smoke funnels. The hangar is attached to the primary hull superstructure and takes up the section aft of midships. Some stealth features are built into the design including slab sides and a generally low-profile appearance.
Air Arm
Over the rear of the ship is a combination hangar-helipad which supports a single Sikorsky MH-60R (S-70B-2) "Seahawk" navalized helicopter. This aerial system can be used in the at-sea resupply role, in the hunting and tracking of enemy warships and submarines (ASW), and in the Search And Rescue (SAR) roles.
Operational History to Date
Toowoomba's initial operational deployment took her to Middle East waters in early 2007. A similar voyage greeted her in 2009 and she took part in the defense of commerce and civilian vessels against Somali pirates off the Somali coast as part of an allied initiative led by the United States. During the early part of 2013, the warship formed with the United States Navy's Carrier Strike Group 3 as part of a show-of-force in the hotly contested South China Sea region. The following year, she was used in the search for the mission Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (to no avail as the aircraft remains missing as of April 2018). In 2015, the warship received a missile defense upgraded to better prepare her for emerging threats. She has more recently returned to operate in and near the South China Sea with both Australian units as well as allied naval forces.
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