Image Gallery: November 2005
Decommissioning of HMAS Canberra
15 November 2005
HMAS Canberra is the first Adelaide Class Guided
Missile Frigate (FFG) to be decommissioned.
Launched on 1 December 1978 at Todd Pacific
Shipyard Corporation in Seattle, USA, HMAS Canberra
was commissioned on 21 March 1981.
The Decommissioning Lady for the ceremony on
Saturday 12 November 2005 at HMAS Stirling,
Garden Island, Western Australia, was Mrs Jenny
Moir, daughter of the late former Secretary
of the Australian Department of Defence, Sir
Arthur Tange. Mrs Moir's mother, the late Lady
Marjorie Tange, was HMAS Canberra's Launching
Lady.
Special guests included the Minister for Defence,
Senator the Hon. Robert Hill.
HMAS Canberra participated in numerous operations,
including Operation DAMASK following the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait (November 1992 to March 1993),
Operation BRANCARD to evacuate Australian nationals
from Jakarta (May 1998), and Operation SLIPPER
(March to July 2002) as part of the international
coalition against terrorism.
The FFG was the second RAN ship to bear the
name HMAS Canberra. HMAS Canberra I, a Kent
Class heavy cruiser, served with distinction
during WWII until she was heavily damaged and
sunk during the Battle of Savo Island in August
1942 with the loss of 84 crew. In 1943 in honour
of HMAS Canberra I, the United States commissioned
the Baltimore Class heavy cruiser, USS Canberra,
the only US Navy ship so far to be named for
a capital city outside the United States of
America.
| 20051112ran8100662_417027 Members of the Guard at the decommissioning ceremony for HMAS Canberra. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_417048 The Australian White Ensign is lowered for the last time aboard HMAS Canberra. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_417062 The ships company comes ashore from HMAS Canberra during her decommissioning. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_417093 Commanding Officer Commander Ray Leggatt RAN, walks across the gangway for the last time as Commanding Officer HMAS Canberra, carrying the ships White Ensign. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_417115 The guard march past the Maritime Commander Australia, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas, AM, CSC, RAN and Commanding Officer HMAS Canberra Commander Ray Leggatt, RAN. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_417164 The Minister for Defence, Robert Hill, with the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russell Shalders AO, CSC, RAN speaks with members of HMAS Canberra after the decommissioning. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_420055 The guard and ships company form up on HMAS Canberra and on the wharf at HMAS Stirling for the decommissioning ceremony. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_420097 Decommissioning Lady Mrs Jenny Moir inspects HMAS Canberra Guard. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_420140 Commanding Officer HMAS Canberra, Commander Ray Leggatt, addresses the crowd at the decommissioning of HMAS Canberra. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20051112ran8100662_420159 Members of HMAS Canberra at prayer during the decommissioning ceremony. (Date taken: 12 November 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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