1976:The RAN's 'Mother Duck', the escort maintenance ship HMAS STALWART [II] among her brood at Garden Island - Photo RAN.

1127. We told the story of HMAS STALWART [III] at some length, way back at Entries No 144. The long and the short of it was that she was a truly brilliant idea - and therefore had enemies.

 

The largest naval ship wholly designed and built in Australia when commissioned in 1968, the 10,500-15,500 tons full load STALWART was a mobile base that could allow her groups of escort ships to stay out on station for far longer periods.

 

Depot ships are meant to last for decades, but HMAS STALWART the 'Mother Duck' of the RAN and sometimes foreign ships in company - was retired in March 1990 and sold to ferry operators in Nicosia, Cyprus, two months later.

 

She had served 22 years, but many in the RAN regarded her retirement as very premature, and political.

 

STALWART is seen here at the EMS mooring at Garden Island with HMASs DUCHESS, VENDETTA and YARRA, with visitor HMNZS WAITAKO far right.

 

Photo: RAN Official, it appeared in 'Warship' Magazine, Vol 18, 2003 [Topmill, Sydney] p 15.

 

 

 

Done