HMAS Benalla (A 04) is a Paluma-class survey motor launch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Design and construction

The Paluma-class vessels have a full load displacement of 320 tonnes. They are 36.6 m long overall and 36 m long between perpendiculars, have a beam of 13.7 m, and a draught of 1.9 m. Propulsion machinery consists of two General Motors Detroit Diesel 12V-92T engines, which supply 1290 bhp to the two propeller shafts. Each vessel has a top speed of 12 kn, a maximum sustainable speed of 10 kn (which gives a maximum range of 1800 nmi), and an endurance of 14 days. The sensor suite of a Paluma-class launch consists of a JRC JMA-3710-6 navigational radar, an ELAC LAZ 72 side-scan mapping sonar, and a Skipper 113 hull-mounted scanning sonar. The vessels are unarmed. The standard ship's company consists of three officers and eleven sailors, although another four personnel can be accommodated. The catamarans were originally painted white, but were repainted naval grey in 2002. Benalla was laid down by Eglo Engineering, on 25 November 1988, was launched on 31 January 1990, and commissioned into the RAN on 20 March 1990. The ship was named for the city of Benalla, Victoria.

Operational history

In October 2013, Benalla participated in the International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney. HMAS Benalla, along with HMAS Shepparton (A 03) were decommissioned at HMAS Cairns (naval base) on 16 June 2023, with the acceleration of the Defence Strategic Review released in May 2023.

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