Last deployed warship home for Christmas

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

CAPTION: HMAS Brisbane sails towards Garden Island, Sydney, after a five-month deployment to the United States of America. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

Brisbane’s arrival marks the return of all 10 Royal Australian Navy warships recently deployed 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 to the USA saw the Hobart-class destroyer put through her paces, including combat-system testing off the US west coast.

Her Commanding Officer Commander Josh Wilson said that, 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.

“[It] 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 Mk41 Vertical Launch System with SM-2 Standard Missiles and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, a Mk 45 5-inch main gun, Phalanx close-in weapon system, two 25mm Typhoon guns, and MU90 and Mk54 light-weight torpedoes.

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