HMAS Perth (D 38) was the flagship of the Perth-class guided missile destroyers operated by the Royal Australian Navy, constructed in the United States based on a modified Charles F. Adams design. Laid down on 21 September 1962 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company shipyard in Michigan, she was launched on 26 September 1963 and commissioned on 17 July 1965. The vessel had a displacement of approximately 3,370 tons at standard load and 4,618 tons at full load, with an overall length of 134 meters and a beam of 14 meters. Her maximum draught was 6 meters. Propulsion was provided by four Foster Wheeler boilers feeding two General Electric turbines, collectively delivering 70,000 shaft horsepower, enabling speeds up to 35 knots. Her armament included a Mark 13 missile launcher for Tartar missiles, two 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 guns, and two Mark 32 triple torpedo tube sets. During her service, she was refitted with Ikara anti-submarine missile launchers (1966–67), later removed in 1991, and was modified to fire Standard missiles. Two Phalanx CIWS units were also added. The ship's crew comprised 22 officers and 311 sailors. HMAS Perth’s operational history was distinguished by three deployments to the Vietnam War, earning her a battle honour and commendations from the United States Navy. She participated in gunfire support, Sea Dragon operations, and various combat actions, including being hit by coastal artillery in October 1967. Her service earned her the U.S. Navy Unit Commendation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Post-Vietnam, she undertook numerous goodwill visits, training exercises, and regional deployments, including operations in Southeast Asia, South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. Decommissioned in 1999, HMAS Perth was gifted to Western Australia and scuttled as a dive wreck off Albany in 2001. Her legacy includes her significance as a key Australian naval asset during the Cold War and Vietnam, exemplifying Australia’s commitment to regional security and alliance operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.