Last Navy warship returns home in time for Christmas – 17 December 2019

Department of Defence

LAST NAVY WARSHIP RETURNS HOME IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

Australia’s newest warship, HMAS Brisbane, arrived home to family and friends in Sydney today following her first overseas deployment.

Brisbane’s arrival draws to a close the return of ten Royal Australian Navy warships from deployments across South East Asia, the Pacific, and the United States.

Over the past several months, Navy’s warships have conducted complex exercises with our partners, building on our respective skills, and helping to keep our region secure.

Brisbane’s five month deployment saw the Hobart Class Destroyer put through her paces, including combat system testing off the West Coast of the US.

Commanding Officer, Commander Josh Wilson, said in a first for the Royal Australian Navy, Brisbane completed a live cooperative missile engagement with the United States Navy.

“Brisbane’s deployment has both enhanced interoperability with the United States and demonstrated the capabilities of the Hobart Class,” Commander Wilson said.

“Australia is now better equipped to integrate into joint exercises and operations as a result of this deployment.”

“The deployment marked the culmination of 12-months’ hard work for the crew.

“It feels fantastic to have achieved our objective, and returned home to our friends and family in time for Christmas,” Commander Wilson said.

HMAS Brisbane is the second of three 147-metre long Australian-built Hobart Class Destroyers, and is designed to provide air defence against missiles and aircraft for groups of ships, land forces, and coastal infrastructure.

The ship is equipped with a Mk41 Vertical Launch System with SM-2 Standard Missiles and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, a Mk 45 5-inch main gun, Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, two 25mm Typhoon guns, and MU90 and Mk54 light-weight torpedoes for subsurface defence.

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/Public Release.