HMAS Success (OR 304), an 18,000-tonne auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessel stretching nearly 160 meters, was a titan of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Nicknamed “The Battle Tanker” for her robust support capabilities, she was the largest ship ever built in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) and the largest constructed in Australia for the RAN. Launched on March 3, 1984, and commissioned on April 23, 1986, Success was the final vessel built at Vickers Cockatoo Dockyard on Cockatoo Island before its closure in 1992. Over her 33-year career, she became the RAN’s longest-serving ship, steaming over one million nautical miles and earning a storied place in naval history.

Origins and Construction

Success’s story began in the early 1970s when the RAN sought to replace its aging oiler, HMAS Supply (AO 195). An initial plan in 1971 to build a combat support ship, HMAS Protector, was abandoned in 1974 due to rising costs. Instead, the RAN turned to a cost-effective alternative: a modified design of the French Durance-class replenishment oiler, offered by France’s Direction Techniques des Constructions Navales (DTCN). In 1977, a design contract was signed, and by October 1979, Vickers Cockatoo Dockyard in Sydney secured the $68.4 million construction contract (1978 prices).

Cockatoo Island, known to Indigenous custodians as Wa-rea-mah, had been a shipbuilding hub since 1856. To build Success, the dockyard was upgraded with a 50-ton crane from BHP’s Whyalla shipyard and repurposed foundry spaces. Her keel was laid on August 9, 1980, and her launch on March 3, 1984, drew a massive crowd. Her Excellency Lady Valerie Stephen, wife of Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen, blessed and named the ship, upholding the tradition of women as ship sponsors. The RAN Band’s spirited performance elevated the event, one of several high-profile naval showcases in the 1980s, including the RAN’s 75th anniversary in 1986 and the 1988 Bicentennial Naval Salute.

At 157.2 meters long, with a 21.2-meter beam and 8.6-meter draught, Success displaced 18,221 tonnes at full load. Her 10,200-tonne cargo capacity included diesel, aviation fuel, munitions, water, and stores, enabling her to replenish two ships simultaneously via four transfer points. A hangar and helipad further enhanced her versatility, supporting helicopter operations.

A Career of Distinction

Commissioned in 1986, Success quickly proved her worth, conducting nearly 3,500 replenishments at sea over her career. Her service spanned major conflicts, peacekeeping missions, and international exercises, earning her battle honours for “Kuwait 1991” and “East Timor 1999.”

In 1990-91, Success deployed to the Gulf War, supporting Australia’s role in the coalition defending Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. Operating in the Arabian Gulf, she ensured naval units remained fueled and supplied under demanding conditions, earning her “Kuwait 1991” honour in a 2010 RAN update. In 1999, she joined the Australian-led INTERFET mission in East Timor, providing logistic support from September 19 to October 28 amid post-independence unrest. This deployment, followed by further missions in 2006, secured her “East Timor 1999” honour and underscored her humanitarian and military value.

Success also shone in peacetime operations. She participated in a record 11 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, demonstrating interoperability with allied navies, and aided the 2014 search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370. Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, Commander Australian Fleet, praised her: “HMAS Success has quietly operated behind the scenes to keep our frontline assets at sea longer, increasing maritime security for Australia and our allies.”

Milestones and Modernization

Success’s career was marked by notable achievements. In 1986, she outpaced U.S. and Royal Navy ships during a friendly race into Sydney Harbour for the RAN’s 75th anniversary. In 1988, she joined the Bicentennial Naval Salute, reinforcing her prominence. Her excellence earned her the Duke of Gloucester’s Cup—awarded to the RAN’s most proficient unit—in 1990, 1999, and 2014.

In 2011, a major refit in Singapore added a double hull to meet International Maritime Organization standards, extending her service into the 2020s. The 14-week upgrade, completed by ST Marine, was overshadowed by the tragic loss of a contractor who fell overboard, but it affirmed the RAN’s commitment to her longevity.

Decommissioning and Legacy

By the late 2010s, Success neared retirement. Initially slated for withdrawal between 2015 and 2017, her refit delayed this to 2019. On June 16, she sailed into Sydney Harbour for the last time, and on June 29, she was decommissioned at Fleet Base East. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan and her final Commanding Officer, Captain Darren Grogan, led the ceremony, marking the end for the “First Lady of the Fleet.” Towed to Port Pirie in August 2019 for scrapping, she was succeeded by HMAS Supply (II), commissioned in 2021 as part of the RAN’s modernization.

Cockatoo Island’s Swan Song

Success’s construction was the final chapter for Vickers Cockatoo Dockyard, which closed in 1992 after its lease ended. Cockatoo Island, a shipbuilding powerhouse for over a century, transitioned into a heritage site, preserving the legacy of Success and her predecessors. Her 1984 launch remains a celebrated milestone in the island’s industrial history.

Conclusion

HMAS Success was more than a replenishment ship—she was a symbol of Australian naval resilience and ingenuity. From her French-inspired design to her service in the Gulf War, East Timor, and beyond, she embodied the RAN’s logistical backbone. Her million nautical miles and countless replenishments leave an indelible mark on Australian naval history. As “The Battle Tanker” and the RAN’s longest-serving ship, Success proved that behind every frontline victory lies the quiet strength of support, a legacy that endures beyond her 2019 decommissioning.