Craft of Opportunity Program

The Craft of Opportunity Program (COOP) was a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquisition program intended to supplement the navy's mine warfare capability with civilian vessels that could be quickly converted into minesweepers. Vessels acquired under COOP were not commissioned into the RAN, and instead operated with the prefix "MSA" (Minesweeper Auxiliary).

MSA Brolga in 2001. Brolga was a lighthouse tender acquired by the RAN under the Craft of Opportunity Program to serve as an auxiliary minesweeper.

Acquisitions

COOP was initiated in 1985, to cover the gap in mine warfare capability caused by the decommissioning of the Ton-class minesweepers and delays in building their replacements, the Bay-class minehunting catamarans.[1][2] In order to equip the auxiliary vessels, the RAN acquired several Klein Type 590 towed sidescan sonar arrays, along with Mini-Dyad magnetic influence sweep arrays, AMASS influence sweep arrays, and mechanical minesweeping gear.[3] When the Bays were found to be poorly suited for minehunting work, the COOP vessels were kept on until the Huon class entered service, with some retained even later as a supplementary force.[4]

Six vessels were purchased under COOP: Bermagui and Koraaga (ex tuna fishing boats), Brolga (a lighthouse tender), Gunundaal, and the Bandicoot-class minesweepers Bandicoot and Wallaroo (former Singaporean harbour tugboats).[1][2][5] Another three trawlers, Salvatore V, Waverider, and Carole S, were chartered.[2] Also acquired under the program were three drone ships, which could be operated from the auxiliary minesweepers.[6] Although not directly a part of COOP, the Defence Maritime Services training ship Seahorse Horizon can also be fitted out as an auxiliary minesweeper.[3]

End of the program
The former MSA Wallaroo in 2018

By 2012, most of the vessels have been sold or returned to their owners.[7] Bandicoot and Wallaroo have not been operated as minesweepers since 2010, but were retained until 2014 to provide berthing support for nuclear-powered warships.[8][9] The drones have been non-operational since 2007, and are due to be replaced by 2013.[10]

Citations
  1. Jones, in Stevens (ed.), The Royal Australian Navy, p. 252
  2. Gillett, Australia's Navy, p. 44
  3. Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 23
  4. Spurling, in Stevens (ed.), The Royal Australian Navy, p. 275
  5. Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, pp. 23–4
  6. Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 24
  7. Gillett, Australia's Navy, pp. 42–5
  8. Gillett, Australia's Navy, p. 45
  9. Saunders & Philpott (eds.), IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016, p. 25
  10. Gillett, Australia's Navy, p. 42

References
  • Gillett, Ross (2012). Australia's Navy: Today and Tomorrow. Vol. Part 1. Topmill.
  • Saunders, Stephen; Philpott, Tom, eds. (7 August 2015). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015-2016. Jane's Fighting Ships (116th Revised ed.). Coulsdon: IHS Jane's. ISBN 9780710631435. OCLC 919022075.
  • Stevens, David, ed. (2001). The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-555542-2. OCLC 50418095.
    • Jones, Peter. "A Period of Change and Uncertainty". The Royal Australian Navy.
    • Spurling, Kathryn. "The Era of Defence Reform". The Royal Australian Navy.
  • Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781591149552. OCLC 140283156.
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