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Tartan terror wins
By LCDR Nigel Smith

Volume 50, No.3, March 8, 2007
 
AWARDED: The Govenor General inspects Stuart’s ship’s company
Photo: ABPH Paul Berry
 
The Governor-General of Australia, Major-General Michael Jeffery, handed the Gloucester Cup for 2006 to HMAS Stuart (CMDR Nick Woodley) at a ceremony at the RAN Heritage Centre at Garden Island.

The Cup was presented to the Commanding Officer, with Stuart’s CO during 2006, CAPT Peter Leavy also in attendance.

The award of the Gloucester Cup topped a busy and successful year for Stuart.

This is the third time the name Stuart has been engraved into the Gloucester Cup, with the Destroyer Escort HMAS Stuart II recognised in 1973 and 1976.

Highlights for the ‘Tartan Terror’ included flagship duties for the Australia Day Regatta in Sydney Harbour and the Hobart Regatta in February.

A five-month deployment through the South-West-Pacific and South-East-Asia, participating in Exercises RIMPAC, AusThai and Bersama Padu.

For many, the highlight was the two Evolved Super Sea Sparrow Missile firings during Exercise RIMPAC.

Stuart hosted Channel Nine’s Today show in Sydney Harbour, before proceeding to Williamstown, Victoria to commence a six-month refit.

Stuart was also acknowledged in other fleet awards as runner-up in the Otranto Shield for gunnery, the Voyager Trophy for Anti-Submarine Warfare, and the Commodore Wardle Cup for communications.