HMAS Yarra (DE 45)

HMAS Yarra (DE 45) was a River-class destroyer escort of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Laid down in 1957, she was built at the Williamstown Naval Dockyard and commissioned in 1961. The Yarra was the first ship of her class and the third RAN vessel to bear the name.

Yarra served extensively during her career, participating in numerous exercises and deployments throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Notably, she was involved in operations during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in the 1960s.

The River-class destroyers were designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare. Yarra's armament included anti-submarine mortars, guns, and torpedoes. She also carried a helicopter for surveillance and attack.

HMAS Yarra was decommissioned in 1991 and subsequently sold for scrap. Her service represented a significant period in the RAN's history, particularly in the context of regional security and anti-submarine capabilities. Her name is perpetuated in the RAN through other vessels.