HMAS Cessnock was a Fremantle-class patrol boat named for the New South Wales city, serving in coastal surveillance, fisheries protection, and border security roles. As part of a class built to replace the earlier Attack-class patrol boats, she operated around Australia’s northern and eastern approaches, where long, hot patrols demanded endurance from both crew and craft. Cessnock and her sister ships helped lay the groundwork for modern patrol forces like the Armidale and Arafura classes, bridging eras of technology while maintaining a constant watch on Australia’s maritime frontiers.
