End of an Era for the RAN
7 February 2008 By CMDR Brian Chase
Shortly before 1100 on Saturday 19 January 2008, the Australian White Ensign was hauled down aboard HMAS Adelaide (II) for the final time as she Decommissioned. The Decommissioning of a ship is always a poignant moment and in Adelaide's case it was even more so, marking the end of an era for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with the decommissioning of its' original Adelaide Class Frigate (FFG).
While Adelaide is not the first RAN FFG to be Decommissioned, HMAS Canberra being the first of her sisters to Pay-Off in 2005, the Decommissioning of the First-of-Class is always a landmark occasion.
In front of some 400 family members, VIPs and assembled invitees, the Adelaide's crew paraded for the last time as the Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Nigel Coates, AM, RAN, presided over the sombre ceremony. Among the VIPs present were the Chief of Navy, VADM Russ Shalders AO, CSC, RAN, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP and the Guest of Honour, Ms Amanda Synnot. Ms Synnot is the daughter of the late Admiral Synnot, His wife Lady Anne Synnot Commissioned Adelaide back in November 1980 in Seattle, Washington. It was hoped that Lady Anne Synnot would be able to attend, however, due to reasons beyond her control she had to decline. A number of ex-Commanding Officers and members of the Commissioning Crew were also in attendance
In keeping with tradition, the last member of the Ship's Company to march off the ship was the Commanding Officer, CMDR Rob Slaven. He marched ashore with the Ship's last Australian White Ensign, which he formally presented to the Fleet Commander for safekeeping until it is presented at the Commissioning of the next HMAS Adelaide. CMDR Slaven was the 24th Commanding Officer to have enjoyed the honour of commanding the RAN's Premier Warship.
Among the Decommissioning Crew were several personnel who had watched a very shiny and new Adelaide proudly arrive in Sydney for the first time on 17 December 1982. Two of the Ship's Heads of Department, the Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer (WEEO) CMDR Brian Chase and Mechanical Engineering Officer (MEO) LCDR Ron Condor, were both ABs serving in HMAS Swan and remember watching the first of the 'Plastic Fantastics' arriving both agreeing that "they'd never want to serve in one of those." Famous words indeed.
During her 27 years of service Adelaide has been involved in almost every Operation that the RAN has undertaken during that time. Adelaide was one of the first RAN warships to deploy to the Gulf in 1990, deploying twice more into the Gulf as part of Operation Slipper in 2002 and Operation Catalyst in 2004. Adelaide also assisted during both East Timor operations in 1999 and 2006. Adelaide also attained fame as the ship that conducted the search and rescue of lone yachtsmen Thierry Dubois and Tony Bullimore from the Southern Ocean in 1997. She was also the first of the FFGs to be home ported to Western Australia. Four members of the original Home Porting crew were onboard for the Decommissioning.
Adelaide has now arrived at Fleet Base East where she will be stripped of her armament, engines and other useful equipment before being gifted to the NSW Government who intend sinking her as an artificial reef and dive attraction off Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast.
The name Adelaide will not be missing from the Australian Fleet for long however, with the second of the new Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHDs) soon to be built, earmarked to carry the name proudly into the future.
