ARUNTA arrives at FBW. Pic: POPH Bill McBride.

Beneath blue skies, HMAS ARUNTA glided alongside the Diamantina Pier at HMAS STIRLING to announce her arrival for homeporting on March 10.

Played in by the Kolbe Catholic College Swing Band, ARUNTA was met by a large crowd of families and friends.

Also present was a group of seven proud old destroyer men who served in the wartime first ARUNTA.

Her partner ABSIG Brent Irving and their daughter Madison greet "Mummy", ABCSO Tara Blennerhassett. Pic: POPH Bill McBride.

Commanding officer CMDR Greg Yorke unslipped a "Welcome HMAS ARUNTA" banner attached to the ship before he stepped ashore.

HMAS STIRLING's CO, CMDR Vince Di Pietro, greeted him with a handshake and a bottle of West Australian red win and the greeting "welcome to paradise."

ARUNTA joins her sister ship HMAS ANZAC and the FFGs HMA Ships ADELAIDE, CANBERRA and DARWIN as the fifth major surface combatant based at Fleet Base West.

Dad used to fire them, now his son maintains them. Parents WOB Bill Clifton and wife Grace, meet their son ABETW Kevin Clifton in ARUNTA. Pic: POPH Bill McBride.

Other fleet units based in the west are the submarines COLLINS, FARNCOMB and WALLER with the fourth, the Oberon-class OTAMA laid up in reserve.

Also attached as the replenishment ship WESTRALIA, patrol boats BUNBURY and GERALDTON along with the Defence Maritime Service's support ship Seahorse Standard.

The two new "fast tracked" submarines, DECHAINEUX and SHEEAN, are due in the west later this year.