HMAS Brisbane (II) was the third of three improved Charles F. Adams Class guided missile destroyers (DDG) built in the United States for the Royal Australian Navy, known locally as the Perth class DDGs. Commissioned in 1967, Brisbane was primarily tasked with air defence, offering vastly increased capabilities in all warfare areas, particularly in command, control, and air defence. The ship played a significant role in the RAN’s modernization during the post-World War II era, participating in notable exercises such as RIMPAC and conducting successful missile firings, which demonstrated the effectiveness of its advanced weaponry.
Throughout her service, HMAS Brisbane was involved in both operational deployments and multinational exercises, including deployments to the Vietnam War and various peacekeeping missions. She underwent significant upgrades, such as the installation of the Ikara anti-submarine guided missile system, further enhancing her versatility. Brisbane was decommissioned in 2001 after more than three decades of distinguished service and was later sunk as a dive wreck. Now located a few kilometres from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Brisbane’s final resting place in 27 metres of water is now one of Australia’s top dive sites.
