HMAS Darwin heads home to Sydney for the last time

After 33 years of service to the nation, HMAS Darwin will complete her final entry into Sydney Harbour tomorrow, Monday 27 November 2017.

FILE PHOTO (4 Aug 2017): HMAS Darwin leads HMA Ships Melbourne, Parramatta and Toowoomba from Sydney Harbour for Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Phillip Hunt.

She will pass through Sydney Heads approximately 9am and dock at Garden Island about an hour later.

During the arrival, Darwin will fire a gun salute which will be returned by HMAS Kuttabul.

She will be welcomed at Fleet Base East for the last time by the Royal Australian Navy Band, family and friends of current ship’s company, ex-serving members, as well as members of her commissioning crew.

During maritime operations spanning the globe, HMAS Darwin steamed more than 1,000,000 nautical miles (1.8million km) and has been involved in operations in the Middle East seven times, as well as operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

In 2016, Darwin made three seizures of heroin worth $800 million off the coast of Africa.

Darwin was commissioned on 21 July 1984 and will be decommissioned at a formal ceremony at Fleet Base East on 9 December 2017.

 

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