Description
Description: RAN Tally Band – HMAS Hobart – circa 1970s
Maker’s Name: N/A
Condition: Very Good
Comments: Royal Australian Navy – Tally Band – HMAS Hobart – circa 1970s.
HMAS Hobart (D 39) was a Perth class guided missile destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Built in the United States of America, she was commissioned into the RAN in 1965. Hobart served on three deployments to Vietnam; during the second in 1968, the ship was attacked by a United States Air Force aircraft. Hobart was decommissioned in 2000, and sunk as a dive wreck off South Australia.
Hobart was one of three Perth class guided missile destroyers built for the RAN.
On 15 March 1967, Hobart became the first ship of the RAN to fight in the Vietnam War. She was attached to the United States Seventh Fleet on this date, and served until 14 September 1967. The destroyer served on the gun line, and also escorted US aircraft carriers. During the deployment, Hobart fired over 10,000 rounds at 1,050 targets in fire support and bombardment operations during 160 days at sea, and was fired on ten times, with no casualties. Hobart was also awarded the United States Navy Unit Commendation for this tour of duty.
Hobart was deployed to Vietnam for the second time in 1968. On 13 April, the destroyer arrived on the ‘gunline’, relieving USS Henry B. Wilson. Five days later, she began Sea Dragon operations, during which she was fired on by shore batteries on two occasions. Following maintenance in Hong Kong and Taiwan from 1 May to 20 May, Hobart returned to the gunline.
