Stirling celebrates her 25th
In 1827 CAPT James Stirling assessed the area as
“possessing great attractions for a sailor in search of a port”. Nothing has changed.

By Vic Jeffery

Official cake cutting at the 25th Anniversary Divisions - Youngest member of the Ships Company SMNWTR Michelle Lapsley, and First Executive Officer - CMDR Bill Ritchie and CO, HMAS Stirling - CMDR Phil Orchard.

Considered by many to be Australia’s premier naval base, HMAS Stirling recently celebrated its 25th anniversary since Commissioning with 750 naval personnel participating in Ceremonial Divisions.

Reviewing Officer for this milestone event was CANSC CDRE Russ Crane who was representing CN VADM Chris Ritchie.

VADM Ritchie sent a congratulatory message in which he said: “Today marks HMAS Stirling’s 25th Birthday. My warmest congratulations to you all.

“Since commissioning, HMAS Stirling has truly lived up to its motto of ‘Go Forward’ with massive, but carefully controlled expansion and the homeporting of ships and submarines.

“Today, Stirling continues with its long and proud record and to all concerned, you can take great pride in your success over the past 25 years.”

One VIP present at this auspicious occasion was the local Federal Member for Brand, Kim Beazley, who played such a major part in the base’s history with his announcement of the ‘Two-Ocean Navy’ policy in 1987 when he was Minister for Defence.

Among the distinguished guests present was the base’s first Executive Officer CMDR Bill Ritchie and his wife Joan. CMDR Ritchie (affectionately known as ‘Uncle Bill’) helped CO CMDR Phil Orchard and SMNWTR Michelle Lapsley cut the large celebratory birthday cake.

Then—Fleet Base West 1980

Now—Fleet Base West 2003

The Australian White Ensign is raised for the first time - July 28, 1978

The PC9 Trainers fly overhead the Ceremonial Divisions that formed part of the Anniversary celebrations.

Chief of the Naval Staff, VADM Anthony Synnot makes his address at the Commissioning Ceremony, July 28, 1978

The Minister for Defence Jim Killen, takes the salute at the Commissioning.

The Destroyer Escort HMAS Stuart, the first ship to be homeported at HMAS Stirling January 20 - 1984. She was Commanded by CMDR Chris Barrie later CDF, ADM Chris Barrie.

O-Boat, HMAS Oxley alongside HMAS Stirling.

In his address, Reviewing Officer CDRE Crane said: “Today marks a very special anniversary not only for HMAS Stirling, but for the Navy.

Twenty-five years ago HMAS Stirling was formally commissioned as the West Australian Naval Support Facility. From there Stirling has continued to grow in both stature and importance.

“In 1987 the then Minister for Defence, Kim Beazley, announced that to support a two-ocean navy, HMAS Stirling would become Fleet Base West. Since then numbers have grown significantly to a point where we now have six major surface combatants, six Collins-class submarines and a replenishment ship based there.

“It appears Stirling now has an international reputation as well - clearly being the preferred visit location for our major allies when venturing to this part of the globe.

“While the history of HMAS Stirling is very short compared to many other bases in the RAN, Stirling has come a long way since her beginning in those early days in 1978. I doubt any other RAN unit has dealt with the same rates, levels and complexities of change and development during this time.

“Our focus within the Navy’s Systems Command is all about people, safety and support. I am pleased to report that HMAS Stirling, an important part of Systems Command along with her lodger units from other Defence groups, is maintaining that focus extremely well,” CDRE Crane said.

HMAS Stirling’s CO, CMDR Phil Orchard said “Much has changed here over 25 years. During the past seven months the operational tempo has increased with our busiest period ever with the world situation as it’s been. We continue to support the ships and submarines to enable them to carry out their missions when called upon.”

A flight of Air Force PC-9 trainers from the No. 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce flew over in formation in an aerial salute, which added to the spectacle.

When HMAS Stirling was commissioned on July 28, 1978, nobody present that day could have envisaged how the base would develop.

HMAS Stirling’s Commissioning Order was read by the then Naval Officer Commanding Western Australia, CDRE Neil Boase in the presence of the Minister for Defence, Mr Jim Killen, Secretary of the Department of Defence, Sir Arthur Tange, and CNS, VADM Anthony Synnot.

Today Stirling, the bustling and vibrant Fleet Base West, is a far cry from the fledgling WA Naval Support Facility from commissioning day in 1978.

In those days the ‘afloat’ Navy presence in Western Australia was the survey ships Moresby and Diamantina along with Reservist-manned patrol boat HMAS Acute.

Ships alongside on Commissioning day were the visiting destroyer escort HMAS Stuart, HMAS Moresby, HMAS Acute and her Darwin-based sister HMAS Adroit.

Ironically it was Stuart which returned on January 20, 1984 as the first destroyer escort to be homeported in the West. Adroit had also returned in 1983.

Since commissioning, some 30 RAN commissioned units have been home ported at HMAS Stirling.

Presently based at Fleet Base West are the guided-missile frigates Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin; frigates Anzac, Arunta, Warramunga, submarines Collins, Farncomb, Waller, Dechaineux, Sheean, Rankin, and the underway replenishment ship Westralia.

Other ships and submarines which have been based at Stirling since commissioning are the destroyer escorts Stuart, Swan, Derwent, Torrens; submarines Oxley, Orion, Ovens, Otama, hydrographic ship Moresby; oceanographic ship Diamantina; trials and safety ship Protector; along with the patrol boats Acute, Adroit, Assail, Barricade, Geraldton and Bunbury.

This total does not include the important RAN support and present Defence Maritime Services vessels such as the trials and safety vessel Seahorse Standard, tugs Tammar, Quokka, Seahorse and Chuditch, torpedo recovery vessel Tailor, diving tender Shark, water/fuel lighter Wyulda oil fuel lighter OFL.1206, seaward defence boat SDB.1325 and the sail training yacht Friendship of Leeuwin.

HMAS Stirling is also a popular haven for international navies with ships and submarines from the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Malaysia and the nations which received Pacific Patrol Boats.

In fact, USN nuclear-powered submarines have recorded more than 100 visits to Fleet Base West. In 1827 CAPT James Stirling assessed the area as “possessing great attractions for a sailor in search of a port”. Nothing has changed.

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