HMAS VAMPIRE

Artist Darrell White

Date2001

Object number00030961

NameDrawing

MediumGraphite pencil on paper

DimensionsOverall: 608 x 412 mm, 1 mm, 0.1 kg

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionDarrell White's graphite pencil drawing of the Royal Australian Navy's Daring class destroyer HMAS VAMPIRE shows the vessel in its pre-1969 configuration.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 Royal Navy 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 drawing features HMAS VAMPIRE in the early years of its service in the Royal Australian Navy.