View source for HMAS Perth (D 38)

{{Other ships|HMAS Perth}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{short description|Guided missile destroyer of the Australian Navy, sunk as a dive site off Western Australia }}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = [[File:HMAS Perth (D38) underway 1991.jpg|300px|''Perth'' underway during the early 1990s]]
| Ship caption = HMAS ''Perth'' underway during the late 1980's
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Ship country = Australia
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Australia|naval}}
| Ship namesake = City of Perth
| Ship builder = [[Defoe Shipbuilding Company]], Michigan, US
| Ship laid down = 21 September 1962
| Ship launched = 26 September 1963
| Ship completed = 22 May 1965
| Ship commissioned = 17 July 1965
| Ship decommissioned = 15 October 1999
| Ship motto = "Fight And Flourish"
| Ship nickname = 
| Ship honours = *'''Battle honours:'''
*[[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] 1967–71
*plus [[HMAS Perth#Battle honours|eight inherited honours]]
*'''Awards:'''
*[[Navy Unit Commendation]]
*[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]]
| Ship fate = Sunk as [[Sinking ships for wreck diving sites|dive wreck]] 24&nbsp;November&nbsp;2001
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = [[File:HMAS perth crest.png|Ship's badge]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Ship class = ''Perth''-class (Modified ''Charles F. Adams''-class) destroyer
| Ship displacement = *3,370 tons standard
*4,618 tons full load
| Ship length = *{{convert|134|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[length overall]]
*{{convert|128|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[between perpendiculars]]
| Ship beam = {{convert|14|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = 4 × Foster Wheeler boilers, 2 × [[General Electric]] steam turbines, 70,000 shp (52 MW), 2 propellers
| Ship speed = {{convert|35|kn}}
| Ship range = {{convert|6000|nmi}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
| Ship complement = 311 sailors, 22 officers
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *1 × [[Mark 13 missile launcher|Mk 13 launcher]] for [[RIM-24 Tartar|Tartar]], then [[RIM-66 Standard|Standard]] missiles
*2 × [[5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun]]s
*2 × [[Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes|Mark 32 triple torpedo tube sets]]
*2 × [[Ikara (missile)|Ikara anti-submarine missile]] launchers (installed 1967, removed 1991)
*2 × [[Phalanx CIWS]] (installed later)
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}
'''HMAS ''Perth'' (D 38)''' was the [[lead ship]] of the {{sclass|Perth|destroyer|0}} [[guided missile destroyer]]s operated by the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN). Built in the United States to a modified version of the [[Charles F. Adams-class destroyer|''Charles F. Adams'' design]], ''Perth'' entered service with the RAN in 1965.

The destroyer made three deployments to the [[Vietnam War]], earning a RAN [[battle honour]] and two United States Navy commendations for her service. The majority of the ship's career was spent on training exercises and goodwill visits to other nations, with one deployment as far as the Mediterranean. ''Perth'' was decommissioned in 1999, and [[Sinking ships for wreck diving sites|sunk as a dive wreck]] off the coast of Western Australia in 2001.

==Design and construction==
''Perth'' was the [[lead ship]] of three {{sclass|Perth|destroyer|0}} [[guided missile destroyer]]s built for the RAN.<ref name=Cassells81>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 81</ref> Based on the [[United States Navy]]'s {{sclass|Charles F. Adams|destroyer|4}}, ''Perth'' had a [[Displacement (ship)|displacement]] of 3,370&nbsp;tons at standard load, and 4,618&nbsp;tons at full load, a length of {{convert|134|m|ft}} [[length overall|overall]] and {{convert|128|m|ft}} [[between perpendiculars]], a beam of {{convert|14|m|ft}}, and a maximum draught of {{convert|6|m|ft}}.<ref name=Cassells81/> Propulsion was provided by four [[Foster Wheeler]] boilers feeding two [[General Electric]] turbines, which provided {{convert|70000|shp|lk=on}} to the destroyer's two propeller shafts.<ref name=Cassells81/> ''Perth'' could achieve speeds of {{convert|35|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=Cassells81/> The ship's company consisted of 22&nbsp;officers and 311&nbsp;sailors.<ref name=Cassells81/>

As a guided missile destroyer, ''Perth''{{'}}s main armament consisted of a [[Mark 13 missile launcher]] firing [[RIM-24 Tartar|Tartar]] missiles.<ref name=Cassells81/> This was supplemented by two [[5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun]]s and two [[Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes|Mark 32 triple torpedo tube sets]].<ref name=Cassells81/><ref name=Chant208>Chant, ''A compendium of armaments and military hardware'', p. 208</ref> Over the course of the ship's career, two [[Ikara (missile)|Ikara]] anti-submarine missile launchers were installed during a refit in 1966–67, then removed in 1991, the Mark&nbsp;13 launcher was modified to fire [[RIM-66 Standard|Standard]] missiles, and two [[Phalanx CIWS]] units were installed.<ref name=Cassells81/>

''Perth'' was laid down at the [[Defoe Shipbuilding Company]] shipyard in [[Bay City, Michigan]], on 21 September 1962.<ref name=Cassells81/> She was launched on 26 September 1963 by the wife of [[Howard Beale (Australian politician)|Howard Beale]], the [[List of Australian Ambassadors to the United States|Australian Ambassador to the United States]].<ref name=Cassells81/> ''Perth'' was completed on 22 May 1965, having cost $45&nbsp;million to construct, and was commissioned into the RAN on 17 July.<ref name=Cassells81/> During the month leading up to the commissioning, the ship's company volunteered to help create hiking trails in the forests of [[Rhode Island]]'s [[George Washington Management Area]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/361179/walking-about-the-woods |title=Walking about the woods |last=Basch |first=Marty |date=14 October 2012 |work=Concord Monitor |access-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119180854/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/361179/walking-about-the-woods |archive-date=19 January 2013  }}</ref> The destroyer spent eight months in American waters on trials and exercises before sailing for her namesake city, via Pearl Harbor and Suva, on 12 February 1966.<ref name=Cassells81/> During construction, the ship was assigned the United States Navy [[hull number]] DDG-25.<ref>Sea Power Centre-Australia, ''AWD, Hobart, MFU or DDGH – What's in a name?''</ref>

==Operational history==
In April 1967, ''Perth'' was ordered to [[Macquarie Island]] to rescue a seriously ill researcher.<ref name=Cassells81/> The ship arrived without incident, but conditions at the island were so adverse to boat handling that instead, the ship's diver swam ashore and back towing a liferaft.<ref name=Cassells81/>

===Vietnam deployments===
{{further|Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War}}
During the mid-1960s, the United States government pressured Australia to increase the resources it was committing to the [[Vietnam War]]; one of the requests was for a combat vessel to help the USN meet the demand for [[naval gunfire support]] operations.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pgs. 132, 138–9</ref> The idea of deploying a RAN combat ship to the Vietnam War was initially hampered by the number of ships available, particularly with commitments to the [[Far East Strategic Reserve]] and involvement in the [[Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation]], along with the difficulty of operating and maintaining British-designed ships with USN resources.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pgs. 76, 80</ref> On 14 December 1966, the Australian Cabinet approved the deployment of ''Hobart'' as part of increases to [[Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War|Australian military commitment to the conflict]].<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 81</ref><ref name=Cooper204/> Destroyers deployed to the Vietnam theatre generally operated in one of four roles:
* Patrols along the coast of [[North Vietnam]] as part of [[Operation Sea Dragon]] to interdict coastal shipping, with secondary attacks on inland supply lines and military targets, along with coastal defence sites that had fired on American and Australian ships.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 125–30</ref> Ships assigned to Sea Dragon were normally split into a northern and southern unit (although during 1967 up to four units were operating at any time), with each unit made up of two to three ships.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 129</ref> However, the Australian government forbade RAN vessels from operating in the northern area.<ref name=Grey141>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 141</ref>
* Naval gunfire support operations to assist ground forces, particularly the United States Marine Corps units operating closest to the North Vietnam border.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 130–5</ref> Seven ships were usually stationed on the 'gunline', and attacks fell into two categories: 'unspotted' shelling of areas where North Vietnamese or Viet Cong forces and facilities were known or believed to be, and 'spotted' fire missions in direct support of ground troops.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 132</ref> In this role, ''Perth'' operated under the callsign "Gunpowder".<ref name="Grey, Up Top, p. 155">Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 155</ref>
* Anti-infiltration operations under [[Operation Market Time]], which aimed to stop the logistic supply and reinforcement of Viet Cong units operating in South Vietnam by tracking, intercepting, and searching coastal shipping.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 135-8</ref> RAN destroyers were never formally assigned to Market Time, but the overlap of the gunline and Market Time operational areas meant the ships were often called on to assist by tracking suspicious ships or participating in raids.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 135</ref>
* Escort of USN aircraft carriers involved in [[Operation Rolling Thunder]] airstrikes.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 125</ref>
Although RAN ships on deployment were expected to fulfil all duties of an equivalent American destroyer, they were forbidden by the Australian government from operating outside the Vietnam theatre on unrelated Seventh Fleet duties (such as the [[Taiwan Patrol Force]], guard ship duties at Hong Kong, or the [[Space Recovery Program]]).<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 140–1</ref> After the [[Cambodian Campaign|invasion of Cambodia]] in 1970, RAN ships were also prohibited from entering Cambodian waters.<ref name=Grey141/>

While deployed to Vietnam, the destroyers were placed under the administrative control of [[Commander Australian Forces Vietnam]] in addition to that of the [[Flag Officer Commanding Australian Fleet]].<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 82–3</ref> Operationally, the RAN vessels were under the command of the [[United States Seventh Fleet]].<ref name=Grey82>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 82</ref> Arrangements were made to provide logistic support through the [[United States Pacific Fleet]].<ref name=Grey82/> A USN lieutenant was assigned to each ship during deployments to act as a liaison with the Seventh Fleet.<ref name=Grey144>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 144</ref> The deployment of {{HMAS|Hobart|D 39|6}} in March 1967 began a pattern of six-month deployments for RAN destroyers, with a constant RAN presence with the Seventh Fleet.<ref name=Cooper204>Cooper, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 204</ref> Australia was the only allied nation to provide naval support to the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 94–5</ref>

====First deployment====
On 14 September 1967, Vietnam duties were handed to ''Perth'' by ''Hobart''.<ref name="Grey, Up Top, p. 155"/> The destroyer's first assignment was the gunline off the II Corps operating area, where ''Perth'' rendezvoused with {{USS|Radford|DD-446|6}} on 26 September.<ref name=Grey157>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 157</ref> The ship was specifically tasked with providing gunfire support for the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] of the United States Army, which was involved in [[Operation Pershing]].<ref name=Grey157/> Three days later, ''Perth'' was reassigned to the northern part of South Vietnam, in response to increased North Vietnamese activity.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 158</ref> On 2 October, both turrets broke down; both were repaired by 23:00, but the aft turret failed again the next evening, with the new problem beyond repair until replacement parts were air-dropped on 5 October.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 161–2</ref> ''Perth'' was redeployed to Sea Dragon operations on 16 October, joining American cruiser {{USS|Newport News|CA-148|6}}.<ref name=Grey163>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 163</ref> On the morning of 18 October, the destroyer was fired on by coastal artillery while investigating a group of fishing junks; ''Perth'' was hit once, with the shell deflecting off the aft gun turret and penetrating the superstructure to start a fire in the confidential books vault.<ref name=Grey163/> The gun turret captain was later awarded a [[Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Medal]] for his actions in response to the attack, while the [[officer of the watch]] was [[mentioned in despatches]] for courage and calmness under fire.<ref name=Grey170>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 170</ref> Six days later, ''Perth'' and {{USS|Rupertus|DD-851|6}} fired on six small supply craft, sinking five.<ref name=Grey163/>

[[File:HMAS Perth (D 38) fires on North Vietnamese coastal defense sites in February 1968.jpg|thumb|''Perth'' firing on North Vietnamese targets, 23 February 1968]]

''Perth'' sailed to Subic for emergency maintenance and rebarrelling on 26 October, and returned to Sea Dragon duties on 1 November.<ref name=Grey163/> Another maintenance period occurred between 7 and 16 November, after which ''Perth'' sailed to Singapore for shore leave, returning to operations on 27 November.<ref name=Grey164>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 164</ref> This gunline deployment lasted until 20 December, with ''Perth'' coming under shore battery fire on two occasions, but receiving no hits or damage.<ref name=Grey164/> After maintenance at Subic, the destroyer returned Sea Dragon operations on 9 January.<ref name=Grey164/> Problems with the forward gun turret and the starboard propeller saw ''Perth'' withdraw to Subic for repairs on 2 February.<ref name=Grey165>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 165</ref> These were completed by 14 February, with the destroyer returning to the Sea Dragon force that day.<ref name=Grey165/> The commanding officer of ''Perth'' was appointed overall commander of both the northern and southern task units; the northern unit was normally led by the commander of the assigned cruiser, but ''Newport News'' was in dock for maintenance.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 165-6</ref> In mid-February, the forward gun mount malfunctioned again, which left the turret operational but unable to rotate.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 166</ref> On 1 March, the destroyer withdrew for maintenance, returning to operations ten days later.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 168</ref> On 23 March, ''Perth'' withdrew to Subic to conclude her tour of duty, and was replaced on 31 March by ''Hobart''.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 169-70</ref>

The destroyer was awarded the United States [[Navy Unit Commendation]] for her service during the deployment.<ref name=Cassells81/> In addition to the two personnel awards for actions in response to the 18 October hit, ''Perth''{{'}}s commanding officer was Mentioned in Despatches, and 22 personnel received Naval Board commendations.<ref name=Grey170/>

====Second deployment====
On 19 September 1968, ''Perth'' departed from Sydney to replace ''Hobart'' in the Vietnam warzone.<ref name=Grey189>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 189</ref> En route, a training exercise with RAAF aircraft revealed that one of the radars and both [[Identification friend or foe|identification-friend-or-foe]] units had defects, which were repaired in Subic.<ref name=Grey189/> ''Perth'' relieved her sister ship on 29 September, and after exercising with the Seventh Fleet, deployed to the gunline on 5 October.<ref name=Grey189/> Four days later, the destroyer sailed north to relieve {{USS|Berkeley|DDG-15|6}} as leader of the northern Sea Dragon unit, as that destroyer was experiencing faults with her gun turrets and targeting computer.<ref name=Grey190>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 190</ref> The next day, ''Perth'' and {{USS|Furse|DD-842|6}} were joined by the battleship {{USS|New Jersey|BB-62|6}}, with the battleship taking command of the unit and the Australian destroyer was reassigned back to the southern force.<ref name=Grey190/> On 21 October, a day after rejoining the northern Sea Dragon unit, the destroyer observed the return of 14 North Vietnamese prisoners-of-war.<ref name=Grey191>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 191</ref>

Two days later, a failure of the counter-recoil mechanism in the forward turret forced ''Perth'' to withdraw from Sea Dragon and sail south to less-demanding gunline duties of [[Danang]].<ref name=Grey191/> She remained on station until November, when she sailed to Hong Kong for personnel leave.<ref name=Grey192>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 192</ref> Operation Sea Dragon was cancelled completely on 1 November.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 191–2</ref> The ship was assigned to the II Corps area on 12 November, providing gunfire support for a battalion of the Korean [[26th Regiment (Republic of Korea)|26th Regiment]], then later relocated south to the IV Corps area to provide similar services for the South Vietnamese [[7th Division (South Vietnam)|7th]] and [[9th Division (South Vietnam)|9th Divisions]].<ref name=Grey192/> ''Perth'' returned to the gunline off Danang on 12 December, sailed back to the IV Corps area four days later, then effectively turned around on arrival as the ship was ordered to sail to the II Corps area and provide gunfire support for [[Operation McLain]]; firing 511 rounds in one day.<ref name=Grey192/> On 19 December, ''Perth'' sailed back to IV Corps, where, apart from a brief deployment to Taiwan at the start of 1969, she remained until 20 January.<ref name=Grey193>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 193</ref> The destroyer was assigned to the destroyer screen of the aircraft carrier {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CVA-63|6}} for ten days, sailed to Subic for maintenance on 7 February, then returned to naval gunfire support duties on 22 February.<ref name=Grey193/> From 25 to 28 February, the ship operated in support of [[Operation Victory Dragon VIII]], and fired 690 shells at a variety of targets.<ref name=Grey194>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 194</ref> ''Perth'' continued on fire support operations until 16 March, when she sailed to Hong Kong.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 195–6</ref>

''Perth'' was awarded the United States Navy [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] for the second deployment.<ref name=Cassells81/> An appointment as a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]], two Mentions in Despatches, and 25 Naval Board commendations recognised the achievements of individual personnel during the tour of duty.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 196</ref>

====Third deployment====
''Perth''{{'}}s third and final tour of duty in Vietnamese waters began on the ship's arrival in Subic on 26 September 1970.<ref name=Grey223>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 223</ref> After relieving ''Hobart'' and completing work-up trials, the destroyer arrived off Danang on 3 October and took up gunline duties in Military Region 1.<ref name=Grey223/> On 23 October, the ship supported a [[United States Navy SEALs]]; although two commando teams were able to infiltrate the [[Cua Viet River]], the operation was inconclusive.<ref name=Grey223/> On 26 October, ''Perth'' sailed to Subic for maintenance and rebarrelling, and returned to gunline operations on 4 November.<ref name=Grey223/> On 14 November, both gun turrets became unusable, although the aft turret was restored later that day.<ref name=Grey223/> Two days later, the ship sailed south to Military Region 3.<ref name=Grey223/> On 2 December, the destroyer moved further south to Military Region 4.<ref name=Grey223/> ''Perth'' sailed to Hong Kong for shore leave on 22 December.<ref name=Grey225>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 225</ref>

The Australian warship returned to duties on 10 January with a five-day stint at Yankee Station, escorting the carrier {{USS|Hancock|CVA-19|6}} during Rolling Thunder operations.<ref name=Grey225/> ''Perth'' was then assigned to the gunline at Military Region 4.<ref name=Grey225/> The forward gun turret became unusable again during the latter part of January, and the destroyer sailed to Bangkok for leave on 2 February, then Subic for maintenance and repairs.<ref name=Grey225/> The ship returned to service on 22 February, operating across Military Regions 2 and 3.<ref name=Grey225/> There was minimal activity when operating off Military Region 3, as the presence of a gunfire support vessel was unexpected, thus no pre-planned fire missions had been made.<ref name=Grey225/> ''Perth'' left the gunline for the final time on 7 March, and was attached to the escort group of {{USS|Ranger|CVA-61|6}}.<ref name=Grey225/> Five days later, she sailed to Hong Kong, then Subic, to conclude her Vietnam deployment.<ref name=Grey225/> The destroyer was relieved by {{HMAS|Brisbane|D 41|6}} on 29 March.<ref name=Grey228>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 228</ref> Personnel awards for the deployment included one appointment as a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]], two instances of Mentioned in Despatches, and 26 Naval Board commendations.<ref name=Grey228/>

During 1971, the Australian government decided to withdraw all forces from Vietnam by the end of the year; ''Brisbane'' was the last ship to make a combat deployment to Vietnam, and was not replaced when this deployment ended in September.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 96</ref> ''Perth'' was awarded the [[battle honour]] "Vietnam 1967–71" for her three deployments.<ref name=Cassells81/><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref>

===1970s===
In February 1973, ''Perth'', {{HMAS|Derwent|DE 49|2}}, and {{HMAS|Supply|AO 195|6}} sailed on a goodwill cruise to ports in Africa.<ref name=Cassells81/> On 31 July 1974, the destroyer sailed to [[Long Beach, California]], for a modernisation and refit.<ref name=Cassells81/> Returning to Sydney on 25 September 1975, ''Perth'' spent most of the next two years on training exercises.<ref name=Cassells82>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 82</ref> At the end of March 1980, the destroyer undertook a two-month Pacific deployment to train with the United States Navy and other navies.<ref name=Cassells82/> From late September to early October, ''Perth'' was involved in [[Tuvalu]]'s independence celebrations, before sailing to Hawaii for naval exercises.<ref name=Cassells82/>

===1980s===
[[File:DDG-38.jpg|thumb|left|''Perth'' at sea in 1980]]
During early 1980, the destroyer's propulsion system was modified to operate on diesel fuel instead of furnace oil.<ref name=Cassells82/> The upgrade was finished in May, and during July, ''Perth'' was involved in a [[disaster relief]] exercise at Jervis Bay.<ref name=Cassells82/> On 8 September 1980, ''Perth'' joined five other RAN vessels to form the Australia Squadron.<ref name=Lind297>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 297</ref> The Squadron, a [[Carrier battle group|carrier group]] formed around the RAN flagship {{HMAS|Melbourne|R21|2}}, also included {{HMAS|Derwent|DE 49|2}}, {{HMAS|Stalwart|D 215|2}}, ''Supply'', and {{HMAS|Otama||2}}, and spent two months in the Indian Ocean as part of a flag-showing cruise;<ref name=Lind297/> the largest RAN deployment since World War II.

At the start of 1981, after returning to Sydney for a five-week break, ''Perth'' returned to the Indian Ocean for another, four-and-a-half-month-long deployment.<ref name=Cassells82/> The cruise included numerous port visits and three [[Line-crossing ceremony|crossing the line ceremonies]].<ref name=Cassells82/> Later in the year, she participated in [[Exercise Kangaroo]] 81.<ref name=Cassells82/> In March 1982, the destroyer was deployed to the Indian Ocean for the third time, this time for five months.<ref name=Cassells82/> ''Perth'' was docked in Sydney for refit between April 1983 and July 1984, and spent the rest of the year on training exercises.<ref name=Cassells82/> In 1985, following the cancellation of [[ANZUS]] exercises after New Zealand withdrew from the treaty, ''Perth'' participated in their replacement, Exercise Flying Fish.<ref name=Cassells82/> Later in the year, she was deployed to South-east Asia, before returning to Sydney for maintenance and leave.<ref name=Cassells82/>

In early 1986, ''Perth'', along with several other ships, visited Hobart prior to participation in Exercise Tasman Sea as part of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Australian Navy's foundation.<ref name=Cassells83>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 83</ref> On arriving in Hobart on 7 February, the destroyer accidentally rammed a wharf with her bow, damaging it and the two-storey waterfront building, while narrowly missing a "Welcome" sign.<ref name=Cassells83/> Damage to the ship was not so significant as to prevent participation in the exercise, after which, ''Perth'' visited Melbourne.<ref name=Cassells83/> This was the start of a series of port visits by the ship, up the western coast of Australia, to Darwin, then into South-east Asia and the Indian Ocean, before returning via Australia's eastern coast.<ref name=Cassells83/> She spent almost all of 1989 docked for maintenance and upgrades.<ref name=Cassells83/>

===1990s===
In February 1990, after completing post-refit trials, the destroyer sailed to Hobart to act as flagship for the [[Royal Hobart Regatta]].<ref name=Cassells83/> She then sailed to South-east Asia in May, participating in several naval exercises and making port visits throughout the region before returning to Sydney in October.<ref name=Cassells83/>

[[File:HMAS Perth (D38) and HMAS Brisbane (D41).jpg|thumb|left|''Perth'' and sister ship ''Brisbane'' participating in Exercise Kangaroo 95]]
During mid-1991, ''Perth'' sailed to the Mediterranean via South-east Asia and eastern Africa.<ref name=Cassells83/> She returned to Sydney in August, then spent the rest of the year on training exercises and visits to New Zealand.<ref name=Cassells83/> Early 1990 saw her return to South-east Asia, then operate off the coast of Western Australia before a stint in the South China Sea, returning to Australia in November.<ref name=Cassells83/> The ship spent the early part of 1994 making port visits to western Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand before docking for refit in June.<ref name=Cassells83/> This did not conclude until the end of March 1995, with the ship sailing to the South China Sea for multinational naval exercises later in the year.<ref name=Cassells83/> In 1996, ''Perth'' participated in [[RIMPAC]], before visiting Melbourne for the [[Melbourne Cup]].<ref name=Cassells84>Cassells, ''The Destroyers'', p. 84</ref> She returned to Hawaii for another RIMPAC exercise in 1998.<ref name=Cassells84/> 1999 was spent primarily on exercises,<ref name=Cassells84/> along with a deployment to South East Asia, including port visits to Vietnam (for the first time since the war), Guam, Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} ''Perth'' completed a round-Australia voyage during July and August prior to de-commissioning.<ref name=Cassells84/>

==Decommissioning and fate==
[[File:Rockingham Naval Memorial Park, anchor of HMAS Perth (D 38).jpg|thumb|right|upright|One of the destroyer's anchors preserved at [[Rockingham Naval Memorial Park]]]]
''Perth'' was decommissioned on 15 October 1999.<ref name=Cassells84/> The destroyer was gifted to the Western Australian government in December 1999.<ref>{{Citation |last=Collings |first=Jon |editor=Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit  |date=19 June 2002 |title=Review of the Accrual Budget Documentation |type=Report |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jcpaa/accrualbudget/contents.htm#contents |publisher=Government of Australia |chapter=Submission 18: Department of Defence |chapter-url=http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=jcpaa/accrualbudget/submissions/sub18.pdf |access-date=20 January 2014}}</ref> She was [[Sinking ships for wreck diving sites|scuttled as a dive wreck]] off the coast of [[Albany, Western Australia]], on 24 November 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/id-934 |title=Shipwreck Databases |website=Western Australian Museum |publisher=Government of Western Australia|access-date=16 November 2015}}</ref>

The original [[ships' bells]] of the destroyer ''Perth'' and her World War II-era predecessor, the cruiser {{HMAS|Perth|D29}}, are displayed at the [[Perth Town Hall]].<ref name="cop">{{cite web |title=A Place with a Past |url=http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/web/Living/Community-Services-and-Facilities/Perth-Town-Hall/A-Place-with-a-Past/ |work=City of Perth website |publisher=[[City of Perth]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518150227/http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/web/Living/Community-Services-and-Facilities/Perth-Town-Hall/A-Place-with-a-Past/ |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=14 December 2013}}</ref>

==Freedoms==
'''HMAS Perth''' was awarded the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom]] of the Following Locations.

* {{flagicon|Australia}} '''4 March 1966''': [[Perth]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-perth-ii|title=HMAS Perth (II)}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Non-U.S. recipients of U.S. gallantry awards]]
{{Clear}}

==Citations==
{{Coord|-35.085|117.96 |format=dms |type:landmark_region:AU-WA |notes=<ref>Approximate location from {{cite web |url= http://www.divealbany.com.au/dive%20sites.htm |title= Dive Sites |publisher= Dive Albany |access-date= 16 July 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110408073016/http://www.divealbany.com.au/dive%20sites.htm |archive-date= 8 April 2011 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> |display=title}}

{{Reflist}}

==References==
===Books===
* {{cite book |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Destroyers: their battles and their badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, NSW |isbn=0-7318-0893-2 |oclc=46829686}}
* {{cite book |last=Chant |first=Christopher |title=A compendium of armaments and military hardware |publisher=Routledge |year=1987 |isbn=0-7102-0720-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k9cNAAAAQAAJ}}
* {{cite book |last=Cooper |first=Alastair |chapter=The Era of Forward Defence |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III) |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=South Melbourne, VIC |isbn=0-19-555542-2 |oclc=50418095}}
* {{cite book |last=Grey |first=Jeffrey |title=Up Top: the Royal Australian Navy and Southeast Asian conflicts, 1955–1972 |year=1998 |series=The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St. Leonards, NSW |isbn=1-86448-290-7 |oclc=39074315}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lind |first=Lew |title=The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year |orig-year=1982 |edition=2nd |year=1986 |publisher=Reed Books |location=Frenchs Forest, NSW |isbn=0-7301-0071-5 |oclc=16922225}}

===Journal articles===
* {{cite journal |last=Andrew |first=Gordon |date=September 2010 |title=AWD, Hobart, MFU or DDGH – What's in a name? |journal=Semaphore |publisher=Sea Power Centre-Australia |volume=2010 |issue=7 |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_7%2C_September_2010 |access-date=6 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312181540/http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Semaphore_-_Issue_7,_September_2010 |archive-date=12 March 2011  }}
* {{cite journal|last1=N.A.|year=1990 |title=Australian Defence Boost|journal=Warship International|volume=XXVII |issue=2 |pages=192–194 |issn=0043-0374}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMAS Perth (D 38)}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-perth-ii |title=HMAS Perth (II) |publisher =Royal Australian Navy |access-date=2 October 2008}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080526070532/http://www.hmasperth.com.au/home.html Dive wreck website]

{{Perth class destroyer}}
{{Charles F. Adams class destroyer}}
{{2001 shipwrecks}}
{{Recreational dive sites|wresit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perth (D 38)}}
[[Category:Perth-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Scuttled vessels of Australia]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bay City, Michigan]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as dive sites]]
[[Category:1963 ships]]
[[Category:Vietnam War destroyers of Australia]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2001]]
[[Category:Underwater diving sites in Australia]]
[[Category:King George Sound]]