Missile Destroyers For Australia

Press, Volume C, Issue 29553, 30 June 1961, Page 11

Missile Destroyers For Australia

(N Z Press Association— Copyright)

CANBERRA. June 29. Two modern guided missile destroyers will be purchased from the United States for the Royal Australian Navy as part of the Service’s modernisation plan. This was announced today i by the Minister for Defence I (Mr Athol Townley). Mr Townley said other new projects included: A big order of new helicopters for HM.A.S. Melbourne: Seacat missiles for new frigates: modern antisubmarine training: conversion of HM.A.S. Sydney to

. fast transport: a modern■ minesweeper flotilla; and a new survey ship. Mr Townley recalled that in his statement in Parliament during the debate on the Defence Estimates last year, he had stated that the : shape of the new naval pro- ' i gramme was under search■jing examination, and that an ; announcement would be . made as soon as a decision had been taken. The decisions now an- ■ nounced had been reached - after comprehensive en- • quiries into possible new’ • projects. These had been undertaken > by expert naval missions

overseas, detailed consideration by the Australian defence advisers and Cabinet, and his own investigations during his recent visit to the United States and the United Kingdom. Mr Townley said the missile destroyers would be of the Charles F. Adams type. This was a powerful, allpurpose warship. which naval experts considered to be second to none’ in the world in its class. It could guard against air attack, was equipped with the latest devices for detecting and destroying submarines, and was equally as effective in surface engagements and shore-bombard-ments .

Mr Townley said that this versatile warship provided air defence with the American designed Tartar sea-to-air supersonic missile, which was radar controlled from the ship and "homes” on to its target.

Under the arrangements agreed with the United States

Government the first of the two destroyers would be delivered at the end of 1965. and the second a year later. Mr Townley said that H.M.A.S. Melbourne would be equipped with the Westland Wessex Mark 31 helicopter when it converted to its new role of anti-sub-marine helicopter carrier in 1963 Twenty-seven of these aircraft were being purchased from the United Kingdom. The Westland Wessex had been designed specially for anti-submarine warfare, and was a proved type in squadron service with the Royal Navy. The R.A.N.’s four antisubmarine new frigates (Parramatta, Yarra, Stuart, and Derwent) would be fitted with the Seacat sea-to-air missile, which was a selfdefence system designed by i the Royal Navy for defence ' against aerial attack. It : was a sh’ort range weapon i which virtually replaced the ’ Bofors gun.