HMAS ''Stirling'' is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base that is part of Fleet Base West situated on the west coast of Australia, on the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by t ...

. The base is located on Garden Island in the state of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to t ...

, near the city of

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

. Garden Island also has its own military airport on the island . HMAS ''Stirling'' is currently under the command of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Gary Lawton.

History

HMAS ''Stirling'' is named after Admiral Sir James Stirling (28 January 1791 – 23 April 1865). Stirling, a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

officer and colonial administrator, landed on Garden Island, Western Australia in 1827 and returned as commander of the barque ''Parmelia'' in June 1829 to establish and administer the

Swan River Colony The Swan River Colony, also known as the Swan River Settlement, or just Swan River, was a British colony established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. This initial settlement place on the Swan River was soon named Perth, and it b ...

in Western Australia. He was the first

Governor of Western Australia The governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of the monarch of Australia, currently King Charles III. As with the other governors of the Australian states, the governor of Western Australia performs constitutional ...

, serving between 1828 and 1838. The planning of ''Stirling'' began in 1969 when, after it was decided to create the Two-Ocean Policy, a feasibility study into the use of Garden Island as a naval base was begun. The causeway linking the island with the mainland was completed in June 1973. Construction of the wharves and workshops began in early 1973 and accommodation in 1975 with the facility, including the new Fleet Base West, being formally commissioned on 28 July 1978. The first major unit to call ''Fleet Base West'' home was HMAS ''Stuart'', having first been assigned to ''Stirling'' in 1984 for several years and, after refitting in the east, again in 1988 until decommissioning in 1991. The first submarine to be based at ''Stirling'' was HMAS ''Oxley'' in 1987. Later, the headquarters of the Australian Submarine Squadron was relocated there in 1994. ''Stirling'' has expanded significantly within its existing boundaries and is the largest of the RAN's shore establishment, with a base population of approximately 2,300 service personnel, 600 defence civilians and 500 contractors. Amenities included berthing and wharves, vessel repair and refit services, a ship-lift, and a helicopter support facility, as well as medical facilities, fuel storage and accommodation. The base also hosts the Submarine Escape Training Facility – one of only six in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.

Garden Island

Garden Island is in length, wide, and is in area, with ''Stirling'' occupying approximately 28% of that area. The remaining portion of the Island is nature reserve, the navy has been active in the removal of introduced flora and fauna species. The island has its own quarantine conditions, which prohibit bringing of plants and animals to the island.

Ships stationed

''Stirling'' is home port to 11 fleet units, including six ''Anzac'' class

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...

s, all six of the ''Collins'' class

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

s operated by the

Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service The Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service is the submarine element of the Royal Australian Navy. The service currently forms the Navy's Submarine Force Element Group (FEG) and consists of six ''Collins'' class submarines. The Royal Australia ...

, and a replenishment vessel.

References

External links

Globalsecurity.org profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stirling Royal Australian Navy bases Airports in Western Australia Cockburn Sound Military installations established in 1978 1978 establishments in Australia Buildings and structures in Perth, Western Australia Military installations in Western Australia

History

Garden Island

Ships stationed

See also

References

External links