Collection: HMAS Success (II)

HMAS Success was a Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Launched on March 3, 1984, and commissioned on April 23, 1986, she was the largest vessel ever built for the RAN and the last major vessel constructed at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney. Success was tasked with the crucial role of resupplying ships at sea with fuel, ammunition, food, and other stores, enabling sustained naval operations over long periods. At 157.2 meters long and displacing over 18,000 tonnes, the ship could carry vast quantities of cargo and support helicopter operations with its aft hangar and helipad.

Throughout her 33 years of service, Success participated in important operations, including the 1991 Gulf War and peacekeeping missions to East Timor. She underwent a significant double-hull refit in 2011, meeting new safety standards and extending her operational life. Decommissioned on June 29, 2019, Success was affectionately known as the “Battle Tanker” and remains an iconic part of Australian naval history.