New Frigates Commissioned ( 05 Sep 2002)

THE Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) newest warship was commissioned in Sydney today. HMAS Stuart is the fourth of eight Anzac class frigates to be completed for the RAN and the first to call Sydney home

The new generation warships are fitted with an advanced package of surveillance radars, omni-directional sonar systems and a state of the art combat data system.

Defence Minister Robert Hill attended today's commissioning ceremony, while the wife of recently retired Defence Force chief Admiral Chris Barrie, Mrs Maxine Barrie, was Commissioning Lady for proceedings. Stuart was launched on April 17, 1999 and delivered to the RAN on May 31 this year.

The next Anzac class frigate, HMAS Parramatta, is expected to be commissioned in December.

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