Former HMAS Perth has been awarded to Albany.

20/12/99
The former HMAS Perth has been awarded to Albany to be sunk in King George Sound as a dive wreck and artificial reef, Tourism Minister Norman Moore announced today.
The Minister said that the former guided missile destroyer was currently under tow from the Eastern States and, weather permitting, was expected off Albany about Christmas Day.
Six coastal communities had sought the former HMAS Perth. The other applicants were Esperance, Rockingham, Rottnest, Carnarvon and Roebourne.
"The bid by Albany was clearly the most outstanding submission received," Mr Moore said.
"It demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the task at hand across a range of criteria covering financial, technical and environmental issues.
"The City of Albany clearly acknowledged the financial commitment involved, not only in covering the cost of towing the Perth from Sydney Harbour, but for the preparation, sinking and ongoing maintenance of the vessel as a dive wreck and artificial reef."
Mr Moore said he had accepted the Albany recommendation from an independent panel of State and Federal Government, business, environment and safety specialists.
The panel had been convened by the Western Australian Tourism Commission to assess the six bids.
State Cabinet had approved the Albany bid.
Mr Moore said that the process had been monitored by a probity auditor, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, to ensure that decisions were made on an equitable basis, and financial consultant Arthur Andersen provided expert advice to the panel on the financial aspect of the submissions.
The Member for Albany, Kevin Prince, applauded the decision.
He said it would be a major boost for tourism and the local economy.
Mr Moore said that the former HMAS Perth wreck and artificial reef would link to the extensive range of dive products available along the State's coastline.
"This will serve to cement Western Australia's reputation worldwide as the best nature-based tourism destination," Mr Moore said.
As well as providing the Great Southern Region with a first-class diving attraction, Mr Moore said Albany intended to create a visitor attraction detailing the ship's history and providing a memorial for the sailors who served on the ship.
Plans were being developed for an interpretive display at Albany's Princess Royal Fortress, linking the first HMAS Perth with this decommissioned vessel. There were hopes that Albany could also become the adopted port of the new HMAS Perth.
For both the preparation and sinking of the vessel, Albany had sought advice from the Geographe Bay Artificial Reef Society, responsible for WA's first purpose-made dive wreck and artificial reef, the former HMAS Swan off the coast at Dunsborough, and from the British Columbia Artificial Reef Society, who assisted in the Swan's sinking.
Mr Moore stressed that the final location of the Perth in King George Sound would be decided after environmental impact analysis and approvals were gained from all relevant government departments. This process, together with the preparation of the ship for sinking, could take up to two years.

Media contacts:
Hartley Joynt
Media Secretary, Office of the Minister for Tourism
Telephone 9321 1444 or 0419 982 508
Tamara Bowles
Corporate Communications Project Manager, Western Australian Tourism Commission
Telephone 9220 1708 or 0414 311 168
DECOMMISSIONED HMAS PERTH
Description The former HMAS Perth was a guided missile destroyer and number 38 in the Royal Australian Navy fleet. Her main task was air defence, but with significant anti-submarine and surface gunnery capabilities. HMAS Perth had a distinguished record. Between 1967 and 1971, the ship completed three tours of duty with the US forces off Vietnam. She came under fire on four occasions and was the only Australian ship to be hit by enemy fire during the Vietnam War. For her performance in bombardments of enemy positions, the ship was awarded the US Navy Unit Commendation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The awards gave HMAS Perth the unique privilege of flying the two distinct burgees. Built in the USA, she had two sister ships, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Hobart, both still in naval service.
Laid down 21 September 1962
Launched 26 September 1963
Commissioned 17 July,1965; arrived in Australia in March 1966
Decommissioned 15 October, 1999
Displacement 4,720 tonnes
Length 133.2 metres
Beam 14.3 metres
Speed More than 30 knots
Complement 333 men
Machinery Two General Electric steam turbines drove two shafts.

Propulsion came from four superheated boilers and two main
engines which produced more than 70,000 shaft horsepower at
top speed. Four turbo generators driven from the boilers
provided 2,000 kilowatts of electrical power.

aircraft more than 300 kilometres away. The major anti-
aircraft weapon was the Standard surface-to-air missile with a
range of more than 35 kilometres. Anti-submarine capability was
provided by powerful sonar under the bow. For close-range
attack, torpedoes were launched from tubes on each side of the
ship. Two 127mm rapid-fire guns enabled Perth to
deliver 70 rounds per minute on to targets up to 20 kilometres
away, and were used for air defence, surface action and shore
bombardment. During her 1967-71 deployment in the Vietnam War, the former HMAS Perth fired a total of 30,711 shells.