Peter G, you are quite correct that two FFG’s are to be retired to provide crew for the AWD’s but they are in fact replacing the CFAdams DDG’s which were retired years ago. Why Canberra was retired last year, when the final decision on the AWD’s is still some time away is a bit of a joke. We apparently did not have the manpower required for all the Anzacs. A replacement for the FFG’s should in fact be under consideration now.

Canberra went as she had sustained quite serious hull damage during her career.

Operations in the Great Southern Ocean has caused hull damage to all the FFG’s, including Canberra.

Repairs had been made to the other US-built FFG’s (the Australian built ones were built somewhat stronger and with heavier grade steel and survived the pounding better) however the decision was made with Canberra to not undertake the repairs but to retire her to release manpower for other projects.

Unicorn