HMAS Brisbane : Combat Data Centre : Chair

Accession Number	REL32982.001
Collection type	Technology
Object type	Maritime vessel or watercraft
Maker	Turnbull Enterprises Inc
Place made	United States of America: Maryland, Baltimore
Date made	Unknown
Conflict	Gulf War, 1990-1991 Vietnam, 1962-1975

Description

The chair consists of a cylindrical cast column base which mounts on a square floor plate (REL32982.002). The chair is attached to the plate using a pipe collar (REL32980.137). Above the column is a heavy cast mounting for the seat including two sliding rails. The seat has a cast square which connects to the lower section by rollers. A square cushion covered in orange vinyl is attached to the seat base. At the rear corners of the seat base are a pair of cast vertical members to which are attached the seat back and armrests and the seatbelt. The two members are braced by a cast cross member. The seat back and arm-rests are upholstered in orange vinyl. The chair is high-backed but do not have a head rest. Below the seat base is a tubular, U shaped footrest. The chair is adjustable fwd or aft and the elevation is also adjustable via a level under the seat. Also on the back of the chairs is a nomenclature plate which reads: `TURNBULL'Naval Identification No: 5840-00-814-1101, Turnbull Identification No: 525-067-352. The orange vinyl is covered with a blue/purple fabric cover.

History / Summary

This component was removed from HMAS Brisbane after the ship was de-commissioned in 2001. The chair is located in the Combat Data Centre. 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.