photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Alan K | all galleries >> Canberra >> Australian War Memorial (Gallery) > 080705_112534_2170 Bridge And Turret (Sat 05 Jul 08)
previous | next
05-Jul-2008 AKMC

080705_112534_2170 Bridge And Turret (Sat 05 Jul 08)

Australian War Memorial, Campbell (Canberra), ACT

One of the gun turrets from HMAS Brisbane can be seen (and is described) in image 2151. Located behind the turret, in the same relative position where it was on the ship, is the bridge of the Brisbane. The windows (of which there are 13 square, Perspex ones) are blacked out because the inside of the bridge (accessed from inside the Memorial) is set up as it was back when the Brisbane was on patrol off the coast of Vietnam many years ago, with the windows providing a simulated video display.

The ship had multiple radar systems (I can't identify which one is above the bridge here) and anti-missile defences. Certainly they seem to be counting on nothing getting through and hitting the bridge since the sheet alloy is only around 7mm thick. That won't keep a hell of a lot out, especially if it's something that goes fast and explodes.

There's one thing to be aware of too if you're searching for information about the ship. This ship is based on the US Charles F Adams class of guided missile destroyers, which had identifying numbers like DDG2, DDG3, etc, right?

There were two sub-classes: The German Lütjens class (named after the fleet admiral who went down with the Bismarck in 1941), and the Australian Perth class consisting of:
* DDG38 HMAS Perth;
* DDG39 HMAS Hobart; and
* DDG41 HMAS Brisbane, whose partial remains we see here. (No, I have no idea why 40 was skipped.)

Now, the RAN's latest guided missile destroyers are the Hobart class, and for the two ships that bear the same name as the Perth class they've reused the pennant numbers:
* DDG39 HMAS Hobart
* DDG41 HMAS Brisbane
* DDG42 HMAS Sydney.

Tradition and sentiment are all very well, and obviously in a current deployment there will be no confusion, but in a military history text book 20 years from now I can see the possibility of "No, not that DDG41 Brisbane, thaaaaaat DDG41 Brisbane.

Most of the references to this one now call her D41 which was indeed her pennant number despite really being a DDG, but then... the current Brisbane's pennant number is also D41. It probably wouldn't be quite as potentially confusing if they were different types; for example the current HMAS Perth is an Anzac class helicopter Frigate (FFH 157).

So yes, Virginia, there are two FFG41 HMAS Brisbanes. One is still working, the other is... a bit here, and a bit under the seas.

Canon EOS 40D ,Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
1/320s f/9.0 at 80.0mm iso200 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time05-Jul-2008 11:33:24
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 40D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length80 mm
Exposure Time1/320 sec
Aperturef/9
ISO Equivalent200
Exposure Bias0.00
White Balance0
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality (5)
Exposure Programaperture priority (3)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment