HMAS Brisbane : Gun Plot Room : Transformer

The transformer is located in the Gun Plot Room mounted on either the wall or the ceiling (plans do not specify exact location). It consists of two, grey, rectangular boxes which are being held together by two long metal brackets, which run the top and bottom of each unit. One of the units has three sets of 5 air vents running along the side and 2 sets of 5 running along the front, the other unit has two metal bars running along the sides. There are two metal cables protruding from the bottom of the unit. They have been painted white and the paint is now heavily flaking off. On the front of the transformer is a big yellow sticker with a human skull on which is written `CAUTION- this compartment/equipment contains PCB products ' a toxic environmental contaminant' Hand written on the sticker in black pen is NOT FOR THE AWM. It also has two brass plaques, the top plaque is painted red and is engraved with DANGER- HIGH VOLTAGE. A nomenclature plate on the base of the unit reads: `Constant Voltage Transmitter, Serial No. C0904.'

This component was removed from HMAS Brisbane after the ship was de-commissioned in 2001. The transformer is located in the Gun Plot Room mounted on either the wall or the ceiling (plans do not specify exact location). HMAS Brisbane [II] was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in December 1967 and was the second vessel of that name to serve in the RAN. Known officially as DDG-41, Brisbane was the third of the RAN's American-built "Charles F. Adams" class guided-missiles destroyers. This class were the first major Australian warships designed and built in America, and were constructed by the Defoe Shipbuilding Co. The original complement of the Brisbane was 20 officers and over 300 sailors. Main armament was two 5-inch/54 calibre guns and anti-submarine torpedoes. The Ikara missile system was subsequently added. In later service the ship was known by the nick-name ‘the Steel Cat’. The HMAS Brisbane saw operational service in two conflicts. During the Vietnam War the ship undertook two tours of duty with the United States Seventh Fleet, in 1969 and again in 1971. The ship’s major task was to provide gunfire support for the land campaign. During the Gulf War (1990-91), Brisbane was one of four Australian warships to serve a tour in Gulf waters. The Brisbane arrived in the Gulf in December 1990 and operated there until March 1991, performing a number of roles. Apart from contributing to the anti-aircraft defences in the carrier screen, the ship also kept watch for mines and ensured that small civilian craft kept well away from the carrier group. Later, during Operation Desert Storm, the Brisbane controlled fighter combat air patrols and tanker aircraft. The ship’s final role was as an escort for US replenishment ships. In 2003 HMAS Brisbane was retired from service in the Royal Australian Navy. The Brisbane was the last steam powered ship in the RAN. HMAS Brisbane was sunk as a recreational dive wreck off the coast of southern Queensland in July 2005.