His Majesty's Australian Ship
His Majesty's Australian Ship (HMAS) (or Her Majesty's Australian Ship when the monarch is female) is a ship prefix used for commissioned units of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This prefix is derived from HMS (Her/His Majesty's Ship), the prefix used by the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, and can be equally applied to warships and shore bases (as Australia follows the British tradition of referring to naval establishments as stone frigates).[citation needed]
By the early 21st century, especially when RAN vessels were deployed as part of international coalitions, an unofficial, alternative prefix was sometimes used: "Australian navy ship" (which was not abbreviated). This was typically used in communications at sea with other navies or merchant vessels. This avoided any confusion that may have resulted from RAN ("HMAS") vessels serving alongside British RN ("HMS)" vessels and/or those of other Commonwealth navies.[citation needed]
On 10 July 1911, King George V granted the title of Royal Australian Navy to the naval forces of Australia.[1] At the same time, the prefix and acronym were approved for use in identifying units commissioned into the RAN.[1] The prefix had been used prior to formal approval, with the torpedo-boat destroyer Parramatta commissioned with the HMAS prefix on 1 March 1911.[2]
The prefix now refers to the monarch of Australia, who is also the King or Queen of the United Kingdom.
References
- ^ a b Frame, Tom (2004). No Pleasure Cruise: the story of the Royal Australian Navy. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. p. 96. ISBN 1-74114-233-4. OCLC 55980812.
- ^ Cassells, Vic (2000). The Destroyers: their battles and their badges. East Roseville, NSW: Simon & Schuster. p. 75. ISBN 0-7318-0893-2. OCLC 46829686.
External links
- List of current Royal Australian Navy Ships
- v
- t
- e
- Chief of Navy
- Deputy Chief of Navy
- Commander Australian Fleet
- Director-General Maritime Operations
- Commodore Flotillas
- Warrant Officer of the Navy
- Royal Australian Naval Reserve
- Australian Navy Cadets
- Maritime Border Command
- Royal Australian Navy School of Underwater Medicine
- Units and Formations
Fleet Command |
|
---|---|
Navy Headquarters |
|
equipment
- Current fleet (Anzac-class frigate, Adelaide-class frigate, Collins-class submarine, Canberra-class landing helicopter dock, Bay-class landing ship, Armidale-class patrol boat, Huon-class minehunter, HMAS Sirius, Leeuwin-class survey vessel, Paluma-class motor launch, Young Endeavour, Cape-class patrol boat)
- All ships
- Aircraft
- Naval procurement programme
- Equipment
- Craft of Opportunity Program
- Fleet Base East
- Fleet Base West (HMAS Stirling)
- HMAS Albatross
- HMAS Cairns
- HMAS Cerberus
- HMAS Coonawarra
- HMAS Creswell
- HMAS Harman
- HMAS Kuttabul
- HMAS Moreton
- HMAS Penguin
- HMAS Waterhen
- HMAS Watson
- Admiral of the Fleet
- List of admirals
- List of personnel
- Badges
- Ranks
operations
- Operation Sovereign Borders
- Operation Resolute
- Operation Highroad
- Operation Manitou
- Australia Station
- Colonial navies of Australia
- Jervois-Scratchley reports
- World War I
- World War II
- Malayan Emergency
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
- Operation Navy Help Darwin
- International Force East Timor
- Gulf War
- Iraq War
- Afghanistan War
- Middle East deployments
- Battle honours of the Royal Australian Navy
- List of Royal Australian Navy losses
- Royal Australian Navy Memorial
- Minister for the Navy
- Australian Naval Aviation
- Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
- Australian White Ensign
- Navy News
- Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam
- Naval Stores, Kangaroo Point
- Esther Williams Trophy
- Navy League of Australia
- Admiral
- Garden Island Naval Chapel
- Royal Australian Navy Tridents Rugby League Team
entities