HMAS Yarra III
The Modified Type 12 Frigates built for the Royal Australian Navy were generally similar to that of British Type 12 anti submarine frigates, but were modified to incorporate improvements in equipment and habitability.
YARRA was one of six Modified Type 12 frigates built in Australia between 1957-70. HMAS YARRA (the 3rd Australian ship to bear the name) commissioned on 27 July 1961 at Williamstown Naval Dockyard under the command of Commander J.L.W. Merson, RAN. After sea trials and work-up she was transferred to the operational and administrative command of The Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet on 1 November and became a member of the 2nd Division, 1st Frigate Squadron.
YARRA exercised with her sister ship PARRAMATTA for the remainder of the year and made her first operational visit to New Zealand in November/December. A short refit at Williamstown in early 1962 was a prelude to service with the Far East Strategic Reserve between April and October, during which YARRA visited four Japanese ports plus Singapore, Hong Kong and Penang.
After arrival back in Australia in mid October YARRA spent the remainder of the year at Williamstown Dockyard. YARRA again sailed for the Strategic Reserve in March 1963 and participated in the SEATO Exercise SEA SERPENT during the three-month deployment. The remainder of the year was spent in Australian and New Guinea waters and YARRA was involved in the search for missing junior officers from HMAS SYDNEY in the Whitsunday Passage during October 1963.
A six month Strategic Reserve deployment was undertaken in early 1964 and after arrival back in Australia in July YARRA underwent a five month refit at Williamstown Dockyard. Early 1965 was a work-up and training period after which YARRA departed for service with the Strategic Reserve. During this deployment, between April and September 1965, YARRA spent two months patrolling Malayan and Borneo waters during the confrontation with Indonesia.
In June/July YARRA was employed on guardship duty off the Tawau area. During this period she conducted shore bombardment as a deterrent against possible Indonesian incursions. Prior to this, and while on passage from Singapore to Manila in May to participate in the SEATO Exercise SEA HORSE, YARRA located the wreck of HMS REPLUSE about 45 miles to the North of Pulau Tioman.
On return to Australia, local area exercises and training occupied the remainder of the year January to March 1966 saw YARRA participate in Joint Unit Control exercises in the Sydney/JB area before departing for the Far East Station in late March. This was a three-month deployment, which encompassed the SEATO Exercise SEA IMP, escort duty for HMAS SYDNEY to Vung Tau, Vietnam, and the usual port visits. An eight-month refit at Williamstown Naval Dockyard followed during which YARRA was fitted with SEACAT and IKARA missile systems. Post refit trials, IKARA sea acceptance trials and IKARA and SEACAT firings occupied the months to September 1967 when YARRA departed for the Far East Station for a 6 month deployment.
During this period YARRA assisted HMS AJAX in the search and rescue of personnel from a ditched RAF Shackleton west of Sumatra, escorted HMAS SYDNEY to Vietnam and visited the Indian Ocean. YARRA arrived back in Australia in March 1968 and after an intermediate docking at Williamstown participated in LONGEX 68 in New Zealand waters. Because of a delay in replacing a gun mounting on HMAS DERWENT, YARRA again departed for the Strategic Reserve in September and was away 6 weeks before being relieved by DERWENT and returning home for Christmas.
The first half of 1969 was taken up with a refit at Williamstown with sea trials and local area exercises occupying July October. YARRA departed Sydney on 10 October for the Strategic Reserve and participated in the SEATO Exercise PX41 before escorting HMAS SYDNEY to Vietnam. Return to Australia in April 1970 was short lived and after a 3 month mid cycle docking YARRA again departed for Strategic Reserve service in September 1970.
This deployment saw YARRA proceed via Guam and Kwajalein to Pearl Harbour where she conducted IKARA firings on the local USN Range. Escort duty for HMAS SYDNEY Vietnam and participation in Exercise FEBEX off Singapore in February 1971 followed. YARRA returned to Sydney via West Australia in April 1971. After several months of local area exercises YARRA departed Sydney for Hawaiian waters in October 1971 to participate in the first of the RIMPAC exercises, RIMPAC 71. This was a prelude to a main refit, which commenced in December 1971 and saw YARRA in dockyard hands until October 1972.
Post refit trials and a visit to New Zealand for Exercise AUCKEX 72 completed the year. YARRA departed for a South East Asian (ANZUK) deployment in June 1973 after a work-up period and local area exercises. In August 73 YARRA collided with No 4 buoy on approach to Victoria Basin, Hong Kong, and had to undergo a starboard propeller change at Whampoa shipyards.
Exercises in the Singapore area and visits to Thailand and Indonesia completed the deployment. YARRA arrived Sydney in late November for leave and self-maintenance.
July 1974 saw YARRA at Williamstown Dockyard to be fitted with MULLOKA sonar. This refit lasted until early 1975 and YARRA was utilised almost exclusively for the remainder of 1975 and most of 1976 as the MULLOKA trials ship. Preparations for half-life refit commenced in September 1976 and YARRA decommissioned on Monday 11 October 1976 for refit at Cockatoo Island Dockyard. Sydney.
YARRA recommissioned on 16 December 1977 under the command of CMDR W.S.G. Bateman, RAN. Shakedown trials and work-up followed. Once again YARRA was almost exclusively used for MULLOKA trials during 1978/79, these trials being interspersed with Australian and New Zealand port visits.
Early 1980 saw YARRA depart for RIMPAC 80, which was conducted both in Hawaiian waters and during transit from Hawaii to the West Coast of the USA. Visits to San Diego, Long Beach, Esquimalt, Vancouver and San Francisco followed and YARRA returned to Australia in June via Pearl Harbour, Suva and Apia. During July YARRA visited Port Vila for the New Hebrides Islands Independence celebrations.
Preparations for refit were commenced in October 1980 and YARRA began a 10-month refit at Sydney in November. This refit was completed in September 1981 and the remainder of that year was taken up with post refit trials and work-up. The first half of 1982 saw YARRA's involvement in local area exercises and RIMPAC 82 in Hawaiian waters.
On July 27 YARRA celebrated her 21st birthday. Her Report of Proceedings for July stated "July 27 was the 21st Anniversary of commissioning of YARRA by Lady McBride, Williamstown Dockyard, 1961. During these years YARRA was at sea on 1808 days and steamed 612,270 miles including 9 visits to South East Asia, 5 visits to USA and one deployment in the Indian Ocean. The ship has undergone 9 refits and 13 dockings. There have been 20 Commanding Officers of which 10 are still serving in the RAN." YARRA departed Sydney on 23 August 1982 for a South East Asian deployment in company with HMAS SWAN.
After port visits to Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang and Jakarta, YARRA underwent a 2-week Self Maintenance Period at HMAS STIRLING before participating in Exercise SANDGROPER 82 with other fleet units. Sydney was reached on 10 December after a 4 month deployment.
Early 1983 was an exercise period for YARRA with participation in a Fleet Concentration Period and Exercise SEA EAGLE 83. South west Pacific port visits followed in March/April and in May YARRA departed for South East Asia to take part in a Five Power Defence Agreement exercise, STARFISH 3 83. On arrival back in Australia in July YARRA underwent a 5 month extended Intermediate Docking at Williamstown, arriving back in Sydney on 20 December.
The first part of 1984 was a repeat of early 1983 and YARRA was involved in MULLOKA sonar trials and acceptance trials for the new Sydney degaussing range. The final South East Asian deployment for YARRA commenced in August when she departed Sydney as a member of Task Group 627.2. During this deployment YARRA was involved in a collision with HMAS SYDNEY during a jackstay transfer and suffered minor damage. Visits to Balikpapan, Manila, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Surabaya followed before participation in Exercise SANDGROPER 84 off Western Australia. Further exercises, with Indonesian Naval Forces, were conducted in the Darwin area during November and YARRA arrived back in Sydney on 29 November after 16 weeks away.
The final year of YARRA's long career began with Sonar Acquisition Display System (SADS) trials with HMAS OTWAY, followed by participation in local area exercises.
YARRA visited Brisbane in March 1985 as part of a combined RAN/USN Task Group, which had exercised off the East Coast of Australia.
A visit to Newcastle in July saw YARRA participate in the commemoration of the 43rd Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.
A final deployment commenced in August with visits to Vila and Port Moresby (10th Anniversary of PNG Independence) before return to Sydney in late September.
YARRA's last day at sea was Friday 8 November 1985 when she sailed for the day with seven survivors from HMAS YARRA II on board. She was decommissioned on Friday 22 November 1985 after a 24 year career with a total distance steamed of 714,054 nautical miles.