Aust, captain wants to keep defence tie

Press, 9 August 1985, Page 3

Aust, captain wants to keep defence tie

The captain of the visiting Australian destroyer Brisbane said yesterday it was important that defence ties between New Zealand and Australia were maintained, in spite of the virtual suspension of the A.N.Z.U.S. Treaty by the United States. Captain Ken Doolan said that bilateral defence arrangements between Australia and New Zealand had not altered. “It makes no difference to the bilateral relationships existing between our two countries. It is important that these ties are maintained,” he said. The Brisbane arrived at Lyttelton yesterday morning after a short visit to Auckland. While sailing south, she took part in maritime strike and air defence exercises with R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft.

Captain Doolan has commanded the Brisbane for the last year. He said that earlier this year the ship had taken part in naval exercises off the south coast of Australia with the New Zealand frigates Waikato, Canterbury, and Southland. The Brisbane is one of three Charles F. Adamsclass destroyers in the Royal Australian Navy. Built in 1968, she took part in active service off Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The 4500-ton guided missile destroyer has a complement of 24 officers and 312 sailors. She is fitted with ship-launch torpedoes, two automatic five-inch rapidfire guns, and the Austra-lian-designed Ikara anti-sub-marine missile system, which is used extensivelv in

the Australian and Royal Navies. The Brisbane will be at Lyttelton until Monday, berthed at No. 4 East wharf. She will be open to the public between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday. She will sail from Lyttelton via Milford Sound to Sydney, where she will begin an extensive two-year modernisation. Captain Doolan said the modifications would help prolong her life, and would include updating weapons and communicatinns