The Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service is the agency of the Australian Commonwealth Government responsible for the mapping and surveying of undersea terrain and irregularities on and under the water's surface (known collectively as hydrography). It is primarily operated by the Royal Australian Navy, and makes up one of the RAN's seven Force Element Groups. The agency serves both military and civilian functions, and in latter instances is known as the Australian Hydrographic Service (commonly abbreviated as AHS). This article describes the national government of Australia. ... Hydrography focuses on the measurement of physical characteristics of waters and marginal land. ... The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Australian Defence Force numbers about 53,000 full-time active duty personnel plus another 20,700 reservists. ...

The Hydrographic Service is responsible for charting over one-eighth of the world's surface, bordered by Cocos Island to the west, the Solomon Islands to the east, the Equator to the north, and Antarctica to the south. ^[1] World map showing the equator in red For other uses, see Equator (disambiguation). ...

History

From the time hydrographic surveying begain in Australia until 1942, it was administered by the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office (later the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office). The RAN took over the role of hydrographic surveying in 1920, and responsibility for the publication of charts in 1942. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hydrographic office. ...

In 1946, the Australian Cabinet instructed the Commonwealth Naval Board that it was to take control of all aspects of hydrography in relation to Australia. The Cabinet of Australia (whose members also serve in the Executive Council of Australia) is the council of senior ministers, responsible to parliament. ...

Units

As of 2007, the folowing units and equipment are assigned to the Hydrographic Service: ^[2] 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• The Australian Hydrographic Office, located in Wollongong, New South Wales. Was opened in 1994, and has a staff of 120 mixed civilian and military personnel.
• Two Leeuwin class survey vessels
  • HMAS Leeuwin (A 245)
  • HMAS Melville (A 246)
• Four Paluma class motor launches
  • HMAS Paluma (A 01)
  • HMAS Mermaid (A 02)
  • HMAS Shepparton (A 03)
  • HMAS Benalla (A 04)
• One LADS-equipped Fokker F27

A hydrographic office is an organisation which is devoted to acquiring and publishing hydrographic information. ... Wollongong (IPA: ) is an industrial city located on the eastern coast of Australia in the state of New South Wales. ... LADS is an acronym for Laser Airborne Depth Sounder. ... A PIA F27 at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore in January, 2006 The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. ...

References

• Australian Hydrographic Service. website (and subpages). Commonwealth of Australia / Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved on 2007-02-28.
• Force Element Groups - Hydrographic Force. RAN website (and subpages). Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved on 2007-02-28.