HMAS Cairns (naval base)
| HMAS Cairns | |
|---|---|
| Cairns, Queensland in Australia | |
Sentry gate at the entrance to HMAS Cairns | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Naval base |
| Owner | Department of Defence |
| Operator | Royal Australian Navy |
| Website | navy |
| Location | |
Location in Queensland | |
| Coordinates | 16°56′08″S 145°46′40″E / 16.93556°S 145.77778°E |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1974 - present |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander | Commander Alfonso Santos, CSC, RAN |
| Garrison | |
HMAS Cairns is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base located adjacent to the Trinity Inlet on the shore of Trinity Bay in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Although used regularly as a port-of-call since before World War II, a permanent RAN presence was not established until 1971, when a maintenance and support base for patrol boats was set up. The base was formally commissioned in 1971 as a minor war vessel base. The current commander of the base is Commander David Hannah, RAN.
HMAS Cairns is responsible for all Australian naval activity off north-eastern Australia, and is the home base for one Armidale class patrol boat, two Cape class patrol boats and the ships of the Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service.