HMAS Stirling
HMAS Stirling | |
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Part of Fleet Base West | |
Captain Ken Burleigh, RAN | |
Garrison |
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Location in Western Australia | |||||||||||
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HMAS Stirling is a
History
HMAS Stirling is named after Admiral
The planning of Stirling began in 1969 when, after it was decided to create the Two-Ocean Policy, a feasibility study into the use of Garden Island as a naval base was begun. The 4.3 km (2.7 mi) causeway linking the island with the mainland was completed in June 1973. Construction of the wharves and workshops began in early 1973 and accommodation in 1975 with the facility, including the new Fleet Base West, being formally commissioned on 28 July 1978.[4]
The first major unit to call Fleet Base West home was HMAS Stuart, having first been assigned to Stirling in 1984 for several years and, after refitting in the east, again in 1988 until decommissioning in 1991. The first submarine to be based at Stirling was HMAS Oxley in 1987. Later, the headquarters of the Australian Submarine Squadron was relocated there in 1994.[2]
Stirling has expanded significantly within its existing boundaries and is the largest of the RAN's shore establishment, with a base population of approximately 2,300 service personnel, 600 defence civilians and 500 contractors. Amenities included berthing and wharves, vessel repair and refit services, a ship-lift, and a helicopter support facility, as well as medical facilities, fuel storage and accommodation. The base also hosts the Submarine Escape Training Facility – one of only six in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.[2]
Garden Island
Garden Island is 10 km (6.2 mi) in length, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) wide, and is 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi) in area, with Stirling occupying approximately 28% of that area. The remaining portion of the Island is nature reserve, the navy has been active in the removal of introduced flora and fauna species. The island has its own quarantine conditions, which prohibit bringing of plants and animals to the island.[5]
Submarine Rotational Forces
In March 2023, the US, UK and Australia announced, as part the AUKUS security partnership, the Submarine Rotational Forces-West (SRF-W) initiative whereby the US and UK would maintain a permanent rotational presence of nuclear-powered submarines at the base. Under the AUKUS partnership, US and UK submarines will visit Stirling' more frequently and remain for longer. Australia's nuclear-propelled submarines will be based at Stirling from the early 2030's.[6][7]
In December 2023, it was announced that
Ships stationed
Stirling is home port to 11 fleet units, including six
See also
- List of airports in Western Australia
- List of Royal Australian Navy bases
- CETO Perth Wave Energy Project
- Women's Peace Train
References
- ^ YGAD – Garden Island (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 21 March 2024
- OCLC 768976880.
- ^ a b "HMAS Stirling". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^ "Defence Environmental Management".
- GOV.UK. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
Submarine Rotational Forces. From 2027, the United Kingdom and the United States plan to establish a rotational presence of one UK Astute class submarine and up to four U.S. Virginia class submarines at HMAS Stirling near Perth, Western Australia – this initiative will be known as 'Submarine Rotational Force-West' (SRF-West).
- ^ "Perth to become 'home' to AUKUS nuclear submarines under $8 billion naval base expansion". ABC News. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ First US submarine repairs in Australia scheduled for summer, Megan Eckstein, Defense News, 2023-12-01