HMAS Brisbane : Combat Data Centre : Control Module VCS 945C

The Control Module is housed in a rectangular metal case. The front of the unit is a square metal plate painted grey and secured by four screws (3 fitted). On this is mounted at the top a moulded plastic rectangular unit with a red screen on the left side fitted with two lamps and on the right is a keyboard with two buttons at the top and a group of twelve buttons below. The keypad has one red button at the top which reads PLAIN and a green button which reads CIPH. The rest of the keypad has the numbers 1-0, with two extra buttons which read BITE and RESET respectively. On the left of the keypad is a glass display screen, with red and yellow indicator lights. On the lower half of the front panel is (from left) a dimmer knob, a lamp test button, a socket for headset-phones, and two more knobs with the word `Gain' underneath them. On the top of the unit is a nomenclature plate, which reads `FSN 5998-66-138-1380 VCS ' 945C Control Module Serial No: 092/065, designed by Stanlite Electronics PTY LTD Sydney.' Engraved on the top of the unit at the back is 5840-AP-173-141. The back of the unit slopes down at an angle, and has three severed power cords. The unit sits on top of a mounting bracket constructed from welded alloy plate sections. It consists of a rectangular top plate and an angled rectangular rear plate with four mounting holes. The two plates are joined by a welded triangular reinforcing section.

This component was removed from HMAS Brisbane after the ship was de-commissioned in 2001. The module was fitted 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.