HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41)

HMAS BRISBANE (DDG 41) a Perth class guided missile destroyer was the second vessel of that name to serve in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was the third of the RAN's Perth class (modified "Charles F. Adams" class) built in the U.S. and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1967.

BRISBANE undertook two tours of duty with the United States Seventh Fleet off Vietnam in 1969 and again in 1971, and was the last ship of the RAN to serve there. On each occasion, she fired approximately 8,000 rounds of ammunition while on the gunline.

BRISBANE also deployed to the Persian Gulf as a part of Operation Damask, the liberation of Kuwait, taking up station in December 1990 to March 1991. BRISBANE underwent numerous modifications prior to her deployment; including the fitting of two Vulcan Phalanx Close-in weapon systems, the upgrading of technical communications systems, the installation of chaff launchers, the fitting of extra detection aids and the fitting of Radar Absorbent Material Panels.

During this campaign BRISBANE served in a number of roles, primarily in the role of plane guard (anti-air defence) for the USS MIDWAY Carrier Task Group, which operated in the Northern Persian Gulf. Apart from contributing to the anti-air defence, she also kept watch for mines and ensured that small civilian craft kept well away from the carrier group. Later, during Desert Storm, BRISBANE controlled fighter combat air patrols and tanker aircraft. Her final role was as an escort for US replenishment ships. As a result of the professionalism of her crew in providing support to the Coalition Forces, BRISBANE was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation.

HMAS BRISBANE paid off on 19 October 2001, and was marked to be sunk as a dive wreck off the coast of Queensland. Her bridge and one 5? (127mm) gun mounts was removed and preserved at the Australian War Museum in Canberra.

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