|
NEXT
GENERATION OF NAVAL SHIPS TO REFLECT A RICH HISTORY OF SERVICE
Blackanthem Military News,
SYDNEY, Australia, January 21, 2006 10:41
|
 |
The names of Australia's new
large amphibious ships and Air Warfare Destroyers will be named after
Australian cities with close links with Navy heritage.
Senator Hill said that the Chief of Navy made the recommendation for the
names after careful consideration and taking into account the
considerable public interest in the naming process. The Government
submitted the names to the Governor General for approval, which has now
occurred.
Senator Hill said that is was a great honour to announce the two large
amphibious ships will be named HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide and the
Air Warfare Destroyers will be named HMAS Hobart, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS
Sydney.
"One of the principal aims of naming ships for our Navy has been to
promote links between the Navy and the community," Senator Hill said.
"Naming of the ships after Australian cities will hopefully build on
these links and gain the wide acceptance from former Navy personnel.
Ships of the Royal Australian Navy have previously carried these names
and all have received battle honours in conflicts dating from the First
World War."
The acquisition projects to acquire these new ships have received first
pass approval from the Government. Second pass approval is planned for
2007.
Subject to these approvals, the two large amphibious ships are expected
to enter service with the Royal Australian Navy from 2012 and the three
Air Warfare Destroyers are expected to enter service form 2013.
"Both classes of ship will be a quantum leap over our current
capability. The AWDs will provide protection to forces from air threats
including aircraft and missile attacks," Senator Hill said.
"The Amphibious Ships will support the deployment of forces and assist
in a whole range of tasks such as peacekeeping and peace monitoring and
regional disaster relief."
BACKGROUND ON NAMES FOR NEW AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND AIR WARFARE DESTROYERS
Canberra (I)
HMAS Canberra was one of two 10000 ton County Class heavy cruisers
ordered by the Australian Government as part of a five year naval
development program begun in 1924 and completed in 1929. She
commissioned at Clydebank on 9 July 1928, under the command of Captain
George L. Massey RN. After some five months in British home waters,
Canberra sailed from Portsmouth for Australia on 4 December 1928 and
arrived at Fremantle on 25 January 1929
In the following nine years leading up to the outbreak of the World War
II, Canberra remained in commission with several periods as the Flagship
of the Australian Squadron. At the outbreak of hostilities in September
1939, Canberra began her war time career patrolling and escorting in
home waters under the command of Captain Wilfrid R. Patterson CVO, RN.
In June 1940 Captain Harold B. Farncomb MVO, RAN assumed command and the
following month Canberra began a period of service in the Indian Ocean
on escort duty from Fremantle to Colombo and Cape Town. In July she made
an unsuccessful search for the German raider Atlantis, then at large on
the shipping routes leading from Africa to India and the Malay States.
In November 1940 she rescued survivors of the SS Port Brisbane and
carried out a prolonged but again unsuccessful search for her attacker,
the German raider Pinguin, then en route for Antarctica after mining
Australian ports. In March 1941 the cruiser reaped the reward of the
constant patrolling, when in company with HMNZS Leander she intercepted
the German supply ship Coburg and the ex Norwegian tanker Ketty Brovig,
which had been taken in prize the previous month by the raider Atlantis.
Both German ships were sunk.
When war broke out with Japan on 8 December 1941, Canberra was berthed
in Sydney Harbour with more than 175,000 miles of war time operational
steaming to her credit. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War she
continued her role of escort cruiser, convoying troops to New Guinea in
January 1942 and convoys to the Malayan/Java theatre. On 7 February 1942
she docked in Sydney for extensive refit work that was not completed
until mid May. Captain Frank E. Getting RAN assumed command of Canberra
in June 1942. During the same month Canberra took part in offensive
sweeps in the Coral Sea as part of Task Force 44, which included US
Ships Chicago and Salt Lake City.
In August 1942 Canberra operated with the naval force supporting the
American landings at Guadalcanal and Tulagi, operations that ended with
her loss in the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942. Two torpedoes
struck Canberra on her starboard side and she received more than 20
salvoes of 8-inch shellfire from her Japanese aggressors. With power
lost and the ship listing, the survivors were transferred to USS
Patterson and USS Blue. Rear Admiral R.K. Turner USN ordered that
Canberra be abandoned and sunk if she could not raise steam. Once all
the survivors had been evacuated, Canberra was sunk by USN ships.
These were 193 casualties amongst the 819 personnel serving in Canberra
on 9 August 1942. Missing believed killed were nine officers (including
one Royal Australian Air Force and one United States Navy) and 65
ratings (including three Royal Australian Air Force and two Royal Navy);
one officer (Captain Getting) and nine ratings (including one Royal
Australian Air Force) died of wounds; and 10 officers (including one
Royal Navy), 96 ratings (including two Royal Australian Air Force, one
Royal Navy and two United States Navy) and three civilian Canteen Staff
were wounded.
Canberra (II)
HMAS Canberra (II) was the second Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided
missile frigate ordered for the Royal Australian Navy. She was launched
on 1 December 1978 and commissioned 21 March 1981. Much of Canberra's
early career followed the usual routine of peacetime service. Annual
exercises were combined with visits to the United States, South West
Pacific and South East Asia. This was punctuated in October/November
1985 when Canberra intercepted and shadowed a Soviet Surface Action
Group (SAG) led by the 25,000 tonne nuclear powered guided missile
cruiser Frunze through the Malacca Straits. In May 1990 she visited
Penang and took part in the Royal Malaysian Navy's Fleet Review.
In December 1991 Canberra commenced a refit which saw the helicopter
flight deck extended to enable her to operate Seahawk helicopters. On
completion of this refit Canberra returned to the Fleet an on 19 October
1992 she deployed from HMAS Stirling for the Red Sea as part of
Australia's support for United Nations Security Council sanctions
against Iraq. She entered the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) on 9
November 1992 where she was engaged in interception and boarding
operations to prevent the illegal export of oil out of Iraq. Canberra
returned to Australia (Darwin) on 8 April 1993 following goodwill calls
to Karachi, Phuket and Singapore.
Upon her return, Canberra resumed the normal exercise and port visit
routine. In 1996 her homeport was transferred from Sydney to HMAS
Stirling, in Western Australia from which she continued to operate in
support of Australia's national interests in South East Asia and the
Southern Ocean. In September 2001 Canberra participated in Operation
TREK as part of Australia's contribution to peace monitoring in the
Solomon Islands.
On 29 January 2002 Canberra again sailed for the Southern Ocean as part
of Operation SUTTON to intercept and apprehend vessels poaching in the
Australian Fishing Zone. During this operation she boarded and
apprehended two FFV escorting them back to Fremantle. Her return was
followed immediately by preparations for a further deployment to the
MEAO on 25 February. She remained in the Middle East enforcing UN
sanctions on Iraq and contributing to the War On Terrorism until 8 July
2002.
Upon return to Australia Canberra began a refit that lasted until April
2003. For much of the remainder of 2003 Canberra operated in support of
Operation RELEX, enforcing Australian border protection, and
participating in Exercise CROCODILE off Darwin.
During 2004 Canberra continued to support Operation RELEX and
participated in Exercise TASMANEX 04 before deploying to South East
Asia. The major highlight of Canberra's decommissioning year, 2005, was
a North East Asian Deployment that took her to China and Japan, the
latter coinciding with the World Expo in Aichi. On her return to
Australia she participated in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE before departing
for her final overseas deployment to Singapore and Malaysia. Canberra
will decommission in Western Australia on 12 November 2005.
Battle Honours: SAVO ISLAND 1942 GUADALCANAL 1942
Adelaide (I)
HMAS Adelaide was an improved version of the 'Chatham' group of the
British 'Town' Class light cruisers. At the time of her construction she
was the most sophisticated engineering project ever undertaken in
Australia. She was commissioned in Sydney on 5 August 1922.
Early in Adelaide's commission she formed part of the Royal Navy Special
Service Squadron which she joined in Australia in April 1924 and
remained with for a worldwide cruise. During this cruise Adelaide became
the first RAN ship to pass through the Panama Canal.
In October 1927 Adelaide deployed to the Solomon Islands to provide
protection for the Resident Commissioner following a massacre, by
natives, of a district officer, a cadet and 15 native policemen. When
the situation was stabilised she returned to Sydney for service in home
waters before paying off into reserve in Jun 1928. Adelaide remained in
reserve for more than ten years before under going an extensive refit
and modernisation at Cockatoo Island Dockyard that completed in March
1939.
Adelaide re-commissioned on 13 March 1939 and following a period of sea
trials and exercises returned to Sydney where she was placed in reserve
on 17 May 1939.
With war imminent Adelaide recommissioned on 1 September 1939 and
operated around the Australian coast in defence of trade. Her wartime
service included operations in Australian waters, the Pacific Ocean
where she actively assisted in the establishment of a Free French
government in New Caledonia, and the Indian Ocean where she was
instrumental in the destruction of the German surface raider Ramses in
October 1942.
In October 1944 Adelaide left Fremantle for Eastern Australia and ended
her sea-going service in Sydney. She was used briefly as a tender vessel
in Sydney before paying off for the last time on 13 May 1946. The ship's
hulk was sold in January 1949 for breaking up in Port Kembla.
Adelaide (II)
HMAS Adelaide (II) was the first of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided
missile frigates (FFG) built for the RAN by the Todd Pacific Shipyards
Corporation in Seattle, USA. She commissioned into the RAN on 15
November 1980.
During her 25 year career in the RAN Adelaide has participated in
numerous deployments, exercises and operational activities. These
include participation in Operation MORRIS DANCE (Fiji Coup 1987),
Operation DAMASK (I) (Persian Gulf 1990), Operation WARDEN/STABILISE
(East Timor 1999), Operation RELEX (Christmas Island 2001), Operation
SLIPPER (Persian Gulf 2001), Operation RELEX (II) (2002) and Operation
CATALYST (Persian Gulf 2004). Adelaide was also instrumental in rescuing
the 'around the world' yachtsmen Thierry Dubois and Tony Bullimore from
the Southern Ocean in 1997.
Throughout her career Adelaide has enjoyed a close association with her
namesake city in South Australia and was granted the Key to the City of
Adelaide in February 1997. Adelaide is currently scheduled to
decommission in 2006.
Battle Honours: PACIFIC 1941-43
Hobart (I)
HMAS Hobart (I) was a modified Leander Class light cruiser of 7105 tons,
commissioned on 28 September 1938 under the command of Captain R.R.
Stewart, RAN.
Hobart served in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Pacific theatres
during World War II seeing considerable action. She was badly damaged in
1943 after being struck by a torpedo fired from a Japanese submarine and
as a result of this she was kept out of service until 1945. Following an
extensive refit Hobart returned to service and covered several of the
major amphibious landings to the north of Australia that took place in
the closing stages of the Pacific war.
On 31 August 1945 she arrived in Tokyo Bay and was among the Australian
ships present at the time of the Japanese surrender. In the two years
following the end of hostilities, Hobart remained in service as a unit
of the Australian Squadron and spent time in Japanese waters in support
of the occupation forces.
Hobart paid off into reserve on 20 December 1947 and on 22 February 1962
was sold for breaking up to the Japanese firm of Mitsui & Co (Aust) Pty
Ltd for £186,886. The ship left Sydney under tow on 3 March 1962 and
arrived at Miyachi Shipyard, Osaka, Japan on 2 April 1962.
Hobart (II)
HMAS Hobart (II) was an American built Charles F. Adams Class guided
missile destroyer commissioned into the RAN on 18 December 1965 at
Boston, Massachusetts, USA. This class of ship soon established itself
as a capable command and control platform and confirmed the RAN's status
as a missile-age navy.
On completion of trials in US waters Hobart arrived in Australia in July
1966 and a year later deployed for the first of three operational
deployments to Vietnam, operating with the US Seventh Fleet for six
month periods during 1967, 1968 and 1969. For her first deployment the
destroyer was awarded a United States Navy Unit Commendation for
meritorious service.
Hobart's peacetime record was similarly impressive. She was one of the
first vessels to provide relief to the citizens of Darwin after Cyclone
Tracy and at other times carried out rescue missions in South East Asia
and as far south as Macquarie Island in the Australian Antarctic waters.
In 1976 Hobart proudly represented Australia at the US Bicentennial
celebrations in New York and participated in numerous exercises and
deployments throughout her long career. She enjoyed close links with the
city of Hobart and was the Flagship and centrepiece for the Hobart
Regatta on many occasions. Hobart decommissioned on 12 May 2000 and was
scuttled as a diving and recreation attraction in Yankalilla Bay, South
Australia.
Battle Honours: MEDITERRANEAN 1941 INDIAN OCEAN 1941
CORAL SEA 1942 SAVO ISLAND 1942
GUADALCANAL 1942 PACIFIC 1942-45
VIETNAM 1967-70
Brisbane (I)
HMAS Brisbane (I) was a 'Town' Class light cruiser, built at Cockatoo
Island Dockyard Sydney. She was laid down on 25 January 1913 and was the
first cruiser-type vessel ever built in Australia. She commissioned at
Sydney on 31 October 1916 under the command of Captain Claude L.
Cumberlege, RN and has the distinction of being the first RAN warship to
operate an aircraft.
On 13 December 1916 she departed Sydney for war service in the
Mediterranean, arriving at Malta on 4 February 1917. After a brief stay
she was transferred to the Indian Ocean to assist in the hunt for the
German commerce raiders Wolf and Seeadler and later that year was
engaged in patrol duty off the Western Australian coast.
Between October 1917 and January 1918 Brisbane was stationed in the
Western Pacific where she undertook further patrol duties before
returning to Australia. On 30 October 1918 she departed Fremantle for
England and was at sea en route Colombo to Aden when the Armistice of 11
November 1918 ended hostilities in World War I. Further service in the
Mediterranean followed before completing her voyage to England where she
commenced a refit lasting three months.
The remainder of Brisbane's service was spent mainly in Australian
waters. She was paid off into Reserve on several occasions but
subsequently recommissioned for further service as a training ship. In
this role she provided valuable service for a number of years before
undertaking her final voyage to Portsmouth where on 24 September 1935
she finally paid off.
Brisbane (II)
Brisbane (II) was one of three Charles F. Adams class guided missile
destroyers purchased for the RAN in the early 1960s. She was launched on
5 May 1966 and commissioned into the RAN on 16 December 1967. During her
career Brisbane deployed many times visiting numerous countries
throughout South East Asia the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Highlights of her career included two operational tours of duty in
Vietnam in 1969 and 1971 during which she fired approximately 16,000
rounds of ammunition while serving on the gun line. In 1974 she
participated in disaster relief operations in Darwin following the
devastation caused by Cyclone Tracy. In 1977 she escorted the aircraft
carrier HMAS Melbourne to the United Kingdom for the Queen's Silver
Jubilee celebrations.
In the early 1980s Brisbane deployed to the Persian Gulf, South East
Asia and the Pacific before commencing an extensive two-year
modernisation in 1985 to improve her fighting efficiency. In the early
1990s Brisbane participated in the multinational task force involved in
Operation DAMASK during the first Gulf War and at the time of her
decommissioning on 19 October 2001 she had the distinction of being the
last RAN vessel to have served in two wars.
Following decommissioning the bridge of Brisbane was removed from the
ship and given to the Australian War Memorial for use as a major
exhibit. The ex-Brisbane was then gifted to the Queensland Government
who sank the ship on 31 July 2005 for use as a diving attraction off the
Queensland coast.
Battle Honours: VIETNAM 1969-1971 KUWAIT 1991
Sydney (I)
Sydney (I) (1913-28) was a Town Class light cruiser built in the United
Kingdom. She rendered distinguished service during World War I,
commencing with the capture of German possessions in the Pacific.
Operations included the capture of Rabaul and culminated in her famous
successful engagement with the German cruiser Emden at Cocos Island on 9
November 1914. Sydney (I) later served on the North American and West
Indies Stations and with the Grand Fleet. Sydney (I) was present at the
surrender of the German High Seas Fleet in November 1918. Following
World War I she served in Australian and regional waters until 1928. She
was flagship of the Australian Squadron from 1924-27.
Sydney (II)
Sydney (II) (1935-41) was a modified Leander Class light cruiser built
in the United Kingdom. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, Sydney
(II) served in Australian waters on local patrol duties before
proceeding to the Mediterranean in May 1940. Operations with the
Mediterranean fleet included the bombardment of Bardia, convoy escort
duties and engagements with the Italian Navy. In the naval action at
Cape Spada on 19 July 1940, Sydney (II) was involved in the sinking of
the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni. She returned to Australia in
February 1941 and was employed on convoy duties off the Australian
coast. On 19 November 1941 Sydney (II) was lost with all hands following
her engagement with the German Armed Merchant Cruiser Kormoran off the
Western Australian coast; an engagement that 60 years later continues to
be the subject of some controversy.
Sydney (III)
Sydney (III) (1948-73) was the first of two Majestic Class aircraft
carriers acquired by the RAN and built in the United Kingdom. She was
the basis of the genesis of the RAN's post war Fleet Air Arm. Sydney
(III) undertook an operational deployment during the Korean War from
1951-52, being the first Dominion carrier to go into action, her
squadrons having flown 2366 sorties. She undertook a later Korean
deployment from 1953-54 after the Armistice. Between Korean deployments
her service included support for the 1952 British atomic tests in the
Monte Bello Islands and a deployment to England in 1953 for the
Coronation. Sydney (III) was utilised as a training platform from 1955
until decommissioning in 1958. In the early 1960s Sydney (III) was
converted to a fast troop transport and completed 24 voyages to Vietnam
between 1965 and 1972, transported troops and cargo, and affectionately
became known as the 'Vung Tau Ferry'.
Sydney (IV)
Sydney (IV) (1983-?) is the third of the Adelaide Class guided missile
frigates to be commissioned. She was built in the United States and saw
active service in the 1991 Gulf War, including two later deployments
during sanction operations against Iraq, and recently returned from that
region following operations with the International Coalition Against
Terrorism. She has also seen service in East Timor.
Battle Honours: 'Emden' 1914 CALABRIA 1940
SPADA 1940 MEDITERRANEAN 1940
'Kormoran' 1941 KOREA 1951-52
VIETNAM 1965-72 KUWAIT 1991
Source : Australian Department
of Defence
|
