"Vanguard"
  Laid down: 14 February 1990
Launched: 28 August 1993
Commissioned: 27 July 1996

The submarine is named after Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins KBE CB RAN. During his tenure as Captain of HMAS Sydney (II) in World War II, Collins lead his men to victory in the Mediterranean against a formidable enemy, sinking an Italian destroyer and two cruisers in 1940. In June 1944, in recognition of his valuable service, he was made a Commodore 1st Class and appointed Commander of the Australian Squadron.

On 21 October 1944, while taking part in landings in the Philippines, his flagship - HMAS Australia - was attacked by Japanese suicide aircraft which struck and critically damaged the bridge. Collins was severely injured in this attack and was evacuated back to Australia.

In 1947 Collins was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral, becoming one of the first graduates of the Royal Australian Naval College to attain flag rank. In February 1948 he assumed the appointment of First Naval Member of the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board and Chief of Naval Staff, a post which he retained for a record seven years until he retired on 23 February 1955.

Commissioned on 27 July 1996, HMAS Collins was the first of the 6 Collins Class submarines to enter service in the Royal Australian Navy. Based at Fleet Base West in Western Australia, they are a formidable element in Australia's defence capability.

Since commissioning, HMAS Collins has successfully conducted a range of activities throughout the region in support of Australian Defence Force exercises, operations and the government's strategic directives.

Collins Class submarines are tailored specifically for their defence and two-ocean surveillance role in the Royal Australian Navy.

One of the first submarines fully designed by computers, these vessels boast a vast range of features. They include a high performance hull form, highly automated controls, low indiscretion rates, high shock resistance and an efficient weapons handling and discharge system.

The submarine moves silently on electric power supplied by banks of new-technology batteries charged by 3 on-board diesel generator sets.

The sophisticated combat system is an advance on any system currently available. It gathers intelligence from sensors, computes the input, and launches and directs weapons.

Images of HMAS Collins over the years