HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB 204) Patrol Boat Model 80cm

Key Features of the HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB 204) model

• A masterfully handcrafted replica of the HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB 204) Patrol Boat, capturing its precision and detail.
• Designed from original naval drawings and meticulously built by skilled artisans over 14 weeks, dedicating hundreds of hours to perfection.
• Expertly constructed from individually cut and shaped wooden planks, ensuring unmatched craftsmanship and accuracy.
• Built with on-frame construction and hand-painted to replicate the authentic colors and tones of the real vessel.
• Fully assembled and display-ready, complete with a custom nameplate and an informative history sheet.
• Size specifications: 80cm x 14cm x 32cm, scale 1:52.

The History of HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB 204)

HMAS Warrnambool (FCPB 204) was a Fremantle-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), built to strengthen Australia’s coastal defense and maritime security. As part of a fleet of fifteen Fremantle-class patrol boats, she was designed primarily for surveillance, border protection, and fisheries enforcement in Australian territorial waters.

Laid down on 30 September 1978 by NQEA in Cairns, Queensland, Warrnambool was launched on 25 October 1980 and officially commissioned into service soon after. With a full-load displacement of 220 tons, she measured 137.6 feet (41.9 meters) in length, with a beam of 24.25 feet (7.39 meters) and a maximum draught of 5.75 feet (1.75 meters). Built for high-speed operations, she could reach speeds of up to 30 knots (56 km/h), making her an agile and formidable patrol vessel.

Her armament included a 40 mm Bofors gun as her main weapon, complemented by two .50 caliber machine guns, providing effective firepower for law enforcement and defense missions. Warrnambool’s design allowed her to operate in coastal and offshore environments, playing a crucial role in safeguarding Australian waters.
During her 25 years of service, HMAS Warrnambool was actively engaged in a range of maritime operations, including:

• Fisheries protection, ensuring sustainable fishing practices within Australian waters.
• Border security and immigration control, intercepting unauthorized vessels and enforcing maritime laws.
• Customs enforcement, preventing smuggling and other illegal activities.
• Drug law operations, assisting in counter-narcotics efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking.

After a distinguished career, HMAS Warrnambool was decommissioned on 29 November 2005 as part of the retirement of the Fremantle-class patrol boats, which were replaced by the newer Armidale-class patrol boats. Despite her retirement, she remains an important part of Australian naval history, remembered for her role in protecting the nation’s waters and enforcing maritime law.