HMAS Yarra - The Album

All photos copyright Leading Airman Phot Mal Lancaster

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Specification

HMAS Yarra III was the only one of the six RAN Type 12/Leander class ships that was not modified - she paid off with her LW-02 radar on top of the foremast - HMAS Yarra IV was launched some time ago and is a 'plastic' mine hunter.

Yarra anchored off Tawau at 0800H Saturday 19th June 1965 and during the day took over as guardship from HMS Carysfort. Other ships in the area were HMS Houghton and Dufton, RFA Gold Ranger, and KDs Negri Sembilan and Melaka. Carysfort departed for Singapore at 1900H Saturday 19th.

Yarra handed over guardship duties to KD Hang Tuah on Tuesday 13th July 1965. Ships in the Tawau area at the beginning of the month were HMS Dufton, which was relieved by HMS Lawton on Saturday 10th July and HMAS Teal, RFA Gold Ranger, KD Sri Melaka and KD Negri Sembilan, which was relieved by the KD Sri Perak on Saturday 3rd July.

Malacca Strait

We stopped a suspected gun runner in the Malacca Strait and the boarding party consisted of Lt(SD X TAS) Fitzgerald and CPOQMG Frank Tabb and a Malay police officer. Click on thumbnail left to view 5 images from the boarding.

The ship was involved in some of the first anti-infiltration patrols in 1964 and we continued the involvement in 1965. I do have some photos taken by Leading Airman Phot Mal Lancaster when he and I were ashore with the Gordons for a few days and went up to the border with Parachute Engineers to build a chopper pad. In 1966 we travelled most of the time with HMAS Melbourne.

Tawau/Wallace Bay

Ships Radio Operator returns	Fort Scot	RMAF Alouette helicopter	Para Engineers
River crossing	Other side of the river	"It ain't half hot mum"	Marker balloon

Specification of HMAS Yarra Australian "River Class" Destroyer Escort.
Built at Williamstown Naval Dockyard, Victoria.
Laid Down 9 April 1957 Launched 30 September 1958 commissioned 27 July 1961.
Compliment 250 consisting of 13 Officers and 237 Chiefs, Petty Officers and sailors.
Length (PP) 109.7 metres (360 feet)
Length (Overall) 112.7 metres (370 feet)
Beam 12.5 metres (41 feet)
Draught 5.3 metres (17.3 feet)
Speed + 30knots
Range 3400 miles at 12 knots
Armament on Commissioning and until 1964 refit:
2 x 4.5" guns in single turret forward of the bridge
1 x twin 40/60 Bofors aft of the mainmast
2 x triple barrel Limbo Depth Charge Mortars
After 1964 refit (1965 deployment)
2 x 4.5" guns in single turret forward of the bridge
1 x quadruple "Sea Cat" missile launcher aft of mainmast
2 x triple barrel Limbo Depth Charge Mortars
4 x .303" Bren Light Machine Guns ( 2 on Flag Deck and 2 on Quarterdeck)
Radar LW-02(C), 293, 978
Sonar 162, 170, 177m

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