One of Australia's oldest diesel-electric submarines HMAS Farncomb of the Collins class caught fire in Australia

HMAS Farncomb is one of the Royal Australian Navy's oldest diesel-electric submarines. It recently suffered a fire on board while the submarine was at sea.

Here's What We Know

The emergency occurred in August 2023. The details of the incident are carefully kept secret. The leadership of the Royal Australian Navy even refuses to disclose the location of the diesel-electric submarine.

The military service only confirmed that the fire was connected with electrical equipment, which was energised. At the same time, the Royal Australian Navy did not specify where the submarine is now located or what repairs will be required after its return.

HMAS Farncomb is the second of six Collins-class submarines. She was launched in December 1995 and commissioned into the fleet about two years later. It can carry Mark 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedoes, Stonefish Mark III mines or UGM-84C Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

The fire is not the first emergency incident involving HMAS Farncomb. In 1998, the submarine had all three diesel generators fail. One generator failed in 2010. Three years earlier, the submarine became entangled in fishing nets.

In 2011, HMAS Farncomb lost momentum and began an uncontrolled dive, forcing the crew to dump ballast. A year later, during a RIMPAC exercise, the submarine developed a leak, after which it went in for repairs.

Source: ABC