HMAS DARWIN

During the last day of the LTT, the HMAS Darwin moored across the pier from us. This was an Austrialian frigate, an Oliver Hazard Perry class built by American shipyards. I did some research on it and found out that the first six frigates produced actually went to Australia.

I had never seen a frigate upclose before and the lime green paint made it catch my attention all the more. The steel gray of American and Japanese ships can get old after a while. Frigates are smaller than destroyers, not so much by length but by the superstructure. Seeing the size difference made me appreciate being on a destroyer all the more. A big storm would be much worse inside a frigate.

Not to sterotype, but if this ship is typical of the Australian Navy, the best way to describe them would be to go back twenty or thirty years and look at our sailors. They are allowed to grow full beards and their uniforms include shorts. They also enjoy rations of beer every so often. That was something many of the sailors on board my ship were immediately envious of.

While I was on shipmate patrol shortly afterwards, it was interesting to watch the interaction between American and Austrialian sailors. It was not always easy to tell them apart, that is until one of the spoke. I wonder if the Japanese could tell us apart, even with the accent. They were always surrounded by Americans though so that probably made it a little easier.

The DARWIN hosted a party shortly after arriving for any Officers who wanted to attend. That was the night I had shipmate patrol so I did not get the chance to go and socialize. Everyone on the pier was in summer whites though so the event was hard to miss. Many dignitaries and Flag Officers showed up to greet the Austrailians and from the noise level, it sounded like everyone was having fun.