HMAS Sydney (IV) entered Sydney Heads for the final time as a Royal Australian Navy ship this morning, before being welcomed alongside Garden Island by former sailors, officers and support staff.
The Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate is scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of the year to make way for the Navy’s new fleet of Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers.
Commanding Officer Sydney, Commander Karl Brinckmann said the significance of the final passage was not lost on the ship’s company of 235.
“Today marks a significant milestone in Sydney's history. It’s the closing of the chapter of the ships’ seagoing life,” CMDR Brinckmann said.
“There was a commemorative mood onboard the ship as we crossed the threshold of Sydney Heads for the last time and saluted the Sydney II memorial mast at Bradley’s Head.
“A number of former Commanding Officers joined us for the passage and reflected on all the ship achieved in her 32 years of service,” CMDR Brinckmann said.
Sydney (IV) was commissioned on 29 January 1983 and is the fourth ship to bear the name. During her service life, the ship received battle honours for service in Kuwait, East Timor, the Persian Gulf and Iraq.
“It is an exciting time to be in the Navy. While we will farewell Sydney, she is making way for a new generation of world class ships, which will provide Australia with an improved war fighting capability,” CMDR Brinckmann said.
During the months before she is decommissioned, Sydney will support alongside training.
When Sydney decommissions the harbour city won’t be without a namesake ship for long, with the third Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer to be commissioned HMAS Sydney (V).
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