Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/August 22

The bow of HMAS Stuart in 1984

The second HMAS Stuart (F 21/DE 48) was a Royal Australian Navy River class frigate/destroyer escort. She was built at Sydney and was commissioned in June 1963. HMAS Stuart was the first RAN ship conduct trials on the Seacat short range anti-air missile system and the Ikara anti-submarine missile system. After 16 years of routine service she was extensively modernised in 1979 and was fitted with new sensors and weapons. In January 1984 Stuart became the first major RAN warship to be homeported in Western Australia. HMAS Stuart paid off in July 1991.