HMAS Stuart (II) was a River-class destroyer escort, commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1963 and built at Cockatoo Island Dockyard in Sydney. Notably, she was the only ship in her class not named after an Australian river, instead inheriting the name from her distinguished World War II predecessor and continuing the legacy of the famed “Scrap Iron Flotilla”. Stuart achieved several significant firsts: she was the first RAN ship to fly the Australian White Ensign and the first major vessel to be homeported at Fleet Base West in Western Australia. She was also the first ship to successfully fire the Australian-designed Ikara anti-submarine missile, marking a milestone in naval innovation.
Throughout her career, Stuart was involved in a wide range of operations, including deployments with ANZUK forces, disaster relief after Cyclone Tracy in Darwin, and rescue missions such as the recovery of survivors from the oil barge Perentie. Her service was extended until 1991 due to RAN commitments during the Gulf War, after which she was decommissioned and sold for scrap. Stuart is remembered for her pioneering role, operational versatility, and the proud continuation of a historic naval name.
