The first of Australian Navy’s new destroyers, NUSHIP Hobart, got to ‘feel the water’ as she was launched at the ASC shipyard in Adelaide on 23 May.
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, along with the Governor or South Australia his Excellency the Hon. Hieu Van Le and the Minister For Defence the Hon. Kevin Andrews, MP oversaw the lowering of the ship into the water amid cheers from gathered dignitaries and workers.
Vice Admiral Barrett and the launching lady, Mrs Nicola Hodgman, wife of the Tasmanian Premier were joined by the premier of South Australia the Hon. Jay Weatherill, as the 7,000 tonne guided missile destroyer (DDG) was named and entered her working environment, the sea, to serve the nation for a generation.
The ship is 75 per cent complete and will now undergo several months of fit out of her sensors and weapons in preparation for her acceptance trials.
Only when they are completed and passed will she be commissioned into naval service as HMAS Hobart.
[mappress mapid=”16064″]
Image: Australian Navy