The AWD Alliance reached another major milestone in the lead up to sea trials for the HMAS Hobart (DDGH-39) with the commencement of «Main Engine Light-Off» – or starting of one of the main engines that will drive the ship’s propellers.

The large 5,650 kW/7,577 hp Bravo V16 Propulsion Diesel engine burst into life on Thursday 14 April, in an engine room deep below the main superstructure of the ship.

It will drive the port-side propeller while the other Bravo propulsion diesel, to be started in coming weeks, will drive the starboard propeller. They will provide the propulsion power for the HMAS Hobart (DDGH-39) to travel at low speeds, while higher speeds will be achieved by two gas turbines, which are yet to be commissioned on the ship.

Platform Test and Activation Manager Mike Clements said the successful commencement of Main Engine Light-Off (MELO) is a testament to the work completed by hundreds of AWD personnel across the shipyard in bringing the ship’s systems and engine to this point.

«Main Engine Light-Off is a major milestone for any warship and the start of the MELO activities this week is a great achievement for everyone who has contributed to the ship to date», Mike said.

The main propulsion engines were made by Navantia in Spain and transported to Australia by barge. There are a further four diesel generator engines on-board for the ship’s electrical power that have been commissioned and are currently undergoing parallel testing.

In coming months, once MELO is complete, the propulsion engines will be connected to the propellers and «dock trials» conducted, in which the engines turn the propellers while the ship remains roped to the dock.

 

Characteristics

Length	481.3 feet/146.7 m
Beam	61 feet/18.6 m
Draft	23.6 feet/7.2 m
Full load displacement	7,000 tonnes
Main Engine	36 MW/48,276 hp
Top speed	28+ knots/32 mph/52 km/h
Range at 18+ knots/21 mph/33 km/h	5,000+ NM/5,779 miles/9,300 km
Crew	186
Accommodation	234
Combat System	Aegis Weapon System Baseline 7.1
	AN/SPY-1D(V) Phased Array Radar (81 NM/93 miles/150 km)
	AN/SPQ-9B Horizon Search Radar
	Mk-41 Vertical Launch System (48 VLS cells: RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM)/Standard Missile-2 (SM-2)/SM-6)
	Mk-45 Mod.4 5” (127-mm) 62 Calibre Gun (Range: 20 NM/23 miles/37 km)
	Advanced Harpoon Weapon Control (2 × 4 launchers)
	Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite
	Very Short Range Air and Surface Defence
	Nulka Active Missile Decoy system
	Integrated Sonar System incorporating a hull mounted and towed array sonar
	Communications Suite
Aviation	Flightdeck and hangar for one helicopter
Boats	Two Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs)

 

This computer-generated animation highlights the multi-mission capability of the three naval destroyers being built as part of the Air Warfare Destroyer Project