HMAS Stuart (DE 48)

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For other ships of this name, see HMAS Stuart.

Career Australia

Builder:	Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company
Laid down:	20 March 1959
Launched:	8 April 1961
Commissioned:	28 June 1963
Decommissioned:	26 July 1991
Status:	Broken up
Homeport:	Western Australia
General Characteristics
Displacement:	2,750 tons full load
Length:	112.8m
Beam:	12.49m
Draught:	5.18m
Propulsion:	2 x English Electric steam turbines 2 shaft; 30,000shp
Speed:	31.9 knots
Complement:
Sensors and processing systems:	1979: Mulloka sonar system SPS-55 surface-search/navigation radar
Armament:	2x 4.5in Mk6 gun 2x Limbo Mk10 AS mortar re-fitted 1x quad Seacat SAM launcher 1x Ikara ASW system 2x Mark 32 torpedo tubes 1979
Motto:	"Semper Paratus"
Nickname:	"the Tartan Terror"
Badge:

The second HMAS Stuart (F 21/DE 48) was one of six "River" class frigates/destroyer escorts built for the RAN. HMAS Stuart was laid down by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company at Sydney in New South Wales on 20 March 1959, launched on 8 April 1961 by Mrs. J. G. Gorton, wife of the Minister for the Navy and commissioned at Sydney on 28 June 1963.

[edit] Operational History

HMAS Stuart was the first ship in the RAN to conduct trials on the Seacat short range anti-air missile system and the Australian designed and manufactured Ikara anti-submarine missile system.

In 1970, she carried out escort duties for the Royal Yacht Brittannia during the visit to Australia by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh.

In 1979, HMAS Stuart began an extensive modernisation involving the fitting of new sensor and weapons systems, such as the Australian designed and built Mulloka sonar system, SPS-55 surface-search/navigation radar, and a pair of Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes. Conditions of habitability were also improved.

In January 1984 Stuart became the first major RAN warship to be homeported in Western Australia.

In 1987 she returned to Sydney for a 6 month refit, followed by 6 months in the training squadron with HMAS Stalwart(II) and HMAS Jervis Bay. In November 1988 she returned for her second homeporting in Western Australia.

HMAS Stuart, nicknamed "the Tartan Terror", paid off on 26 July 1991.