HMAS VAMPIRE in Hong Kong
Date1966
Object number00038522
NamePainting
MediumPaint, fabric
DimensionsOverall: 285 x 375 x 14 mm, 0.84 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionSouvenir painting featuring HMAS VAMPIRE against the Hong Kong night sky.
Paintings such as this were made by local artists and sold to the crew of visiting naval vessels. The artist's design generally incorporated an image of the ship in front of the Hong Kong cityscape and the badge of the relevant ship.
HistoryHMAS VAMPIRE was the last of three Daring class destroyers built and launched in Australia. Originally ordered in 1946, VAMPIRE was built between 1952 and 1956 and commissioned in 1959. Her sisterships were VOYAGER (commissioned 1957) and VENDETTA (commissioned 1958). A fourth ship - WATERHEN - was planned but never ordered. They were named in honour of the Admiralty V&W class destroyers. Together, the three Darings formed the 9th Destroyer Squadron. During a 27-year career, VAMPIRE steamed some 808,000 nautical miles.
VAMPIRE is a ship from another era - the last of the big destroyers built in Australia at the former premier shipbuilding facility on Cockatoo Island, Sydney - which closed in 1990. Ships such as VAMPIRE represent the last of the ships which had guns as their primary armament and which still relied to an extent on the skill of the gunners. Modern frigates might carry a single highly automated turret gun, but their real firepower comes from guided missiles.
Decommissioned in 1986 for the final time, VAMPIRE was put on display at ANMM where it remains one of the most popular exhibits at the Museum.
SignificanceThis painting is an example of the variety of souvenirs brought home by sailors during their deployments. This is a typical representation of the local production of souvenir paintings in Hong Kong.
5 January to 28 June 1979
