HMAS Stuart (DE 48)

For other ships of the same name, see HMAS Stuart.

HMAS Stuart in Hong Kong Harbour in 1989
Career (Australia (RAN))
Builder:	Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company
Laid down:	20 March 1959
Launched:	8 April 1961
Commissioned:	28 June 1963
Decommissioned:	26 July 1991
Motto:	"Semper Paratus"
Honours and awards:	Seven inherited battle honours
Fate:	Broken up for scrap
General characteristics
Class and type:	River class destroyer escort
Displacement:	2,750 tons full load
Length:	112.8 metres (370 ft)
Beam:	12.49 metres (41.0 ft)
Draught:	5.18 metres (17.0 ft)
Propulsion:	2 x English Electric steam turbines 2 shafts; 30,000 shp total
Speed:	31.9 knots (59.1 km/h)
Sensors and processing systems:	LW02 long range air warning radar 1979: Mulloka sonar system SPS-55 surface-search/navigation radar Mark 22 fire control radar
Armament:	2 x 4.5in Mark 6 guns 2 x Limbo Mark 10 anti-submarine mortar 1 x quad Seacat SAM launcher 1 x Ikara ASW system 2 x Mark 32 torpedo tubes

HMAS Stuart (F 21/DE 48) was one of six River class destroyer escorts built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Commissioned in 1963, Stuart served until decommissioning in 1991.

Construction

The first four ships of the River class were based on the Royal Navy's Type 12 frigate, and were intended to close the gap between ships and submarines in regards to anti-submarine warfare, following the rapid improvement of submarines during and after World War II.

Stuart was laid down by Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company in Sydney on 20 March 1959.^{[citation needed]} She was launched on 8 April 1961 by the wife of John Gorton, then Minister for the Navy, and was commissioned into the RAN in Sydney on 28 June 1963.^{[citation needed]}

Stuart and the other River class ships were fitted with the Ikara anti-submarine missile system: the first Australian-designed naval weapons system. Stuart was the first ship to fire an Ikara missile, during trials in August 1963.

Operational history

On 25 December 1966, while operating as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve, Stuart was the first ship to fly the Australian White Ensign. The Australian White Ensign did not officially replace the British White Ensign as the ensign flown by RAN ships until 1 March 1967.

From late 1968 until 1969, Stuart was designated Flagship of the RAN, while the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne underwent a major refit.

In 1970, she carried out escort duties for the Royal Yacht Britannia during the visit to Australia by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.^{[citation needed]}

Following the destruction of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy in December 1974, Stuart was one of thirteen RAN ships deployed as part of the humanitatian aid mission Operation Navy Help Darwin.

Stuart, along with HMA Ships Hobart, Vampire, and Supply, visited the United States in 1976 for the nation's bicentennial celebrations.

In 1979, Stuart entered dock to undergo a half-life modernisation refit valued at A$50 million. This included upgrades to weapons and systems, reinforcement of the hull, and improvements to seakeeping and habitability. The main improvement was the installation of the Australian-developed Mulloka sonar sysytem. An SPS-55 surface-search/navigation radar and a pair of Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes were also installed.^{[citation needed]} Delays and cost increases meant that Stuart did not re-enter service until 1983.

In January 1984 ,Stuart became the first major RAN warship to be homeported at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

In 1987 she returned to Sydney for a six month refit, followed by six months in the training squadron with HMAS Stalwart and HMAS Jervis Bay.^{[citation needed]} In November 1988, she returned to Western Australia.^{[citation needed]}

Stuart was originally intended to leave service in early 1990, but the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait saw Australia commit several Adelaide class frigates to the United States-led Coalition. Stuart was kept in service to perform the local defence duties of the deployed frigates.

Decommissioning and fate

Stuart was paid off into reserve on 26 July 1991.^{[citation needed]} She was later sold for scrapping.^{[citation needed]}

References

• Cooper, Alastair (2001). "The Era of Forward Defence". in Stevens, David. The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195555422. OCLC 50418095. 
• Jones, Peter (2001). "Towards Self Reliance; A Period of Change and Uncertainty". in Stevens, David. The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence. III. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195555422. OCLC 50418095. 
• Kathryn, Spurling (2001). "The Era of Defence Reform". in Stevens, David. The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence. III. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195555422. OCLC 50418095. 
• Weaver, Trevor (1994). Q class Destroyers and Frigates of the Royal Australian Navy. Garden Island, NSW: Naval History Society of Australia. ISBN 0958745633.