HMAS Hobart (DDG 39)

The ship was assembled from 31 pre-fabricated modules ('blocks'): 12 for the hull, nine for the forward superstructure, and 10 for the aft superstructure.^[3][4] Modules were fabricated by ASC in South Australia, BAE Systems Australia in Victoria, and Forgacs Marine & Defence in New South Wales, with final assembly of the ship at ASC's shipyard in Osborne, South Australia.^[5][6][3][4] Delays and project slippage resulted in the redistribution of block construction across the three shipbuilders, and the bow hull block was constructed by Navantia.^[7][8]

In October 2010, the 20-by-17-metre (66 by 56 ft) central keel block for Hobart was found to be distorted and incompatible with other hull sections.^[9] Incorrect drawings from designer Navantia and first-of-kind manufacturing errors by manufacturer BAE were blamed, and the delay in reworking the block set construction back at least six months.^[9][10] Other major issues during construction included the need to replace 25% of the destroyer's internal pipework due to faulty manufacture, and the initial rejection of the ship's mainmast block because of defects in the cabling and combat system equipment.^[11][12]

Hobart's keel was laid down on 6 September 2012.^[13] The ship was launched on 27 May 2015, with 76% of construction complete.^[14][15][16] Construction of Hobart and her sister ships saw numerous delays: a planned December 2014 commissioning for Hobart was pushed back in September 2012 to March 2016, then again in May 2015 to delivery in June 2017.^[5][13][17] As of October 2015, construction of Hobart was estimated to be 30 months behind schedule and $870 million over budget.^[18] Sea trials were completed in September 2016.^[18] Hobart was handed over to the Navy in June 2017, and was commissioned on 23 September 2017 with the designation Guided missile destroyer 'DDG' and assigned the pennant number '39'.^[19][20]

Hobart conducted a five-month deployment to the United States during late 2018 which was undertaken to test her combat systems. During the deployment the ship completed a range of intensive trials, and fired multiple missiles.^[21][22]

Hobart commenced her first operational deployment in late September 2019. During this deployment she served as the flagship for a RAN task group in Northern and South-East Asia.^[23] Hobart was one of the Australian ships which participated in the RIMPAC 2020 exercise in mid-2020. This was undertaken as part of a broader deployment by the ships to South-East Asia and the Pacific.^[24]

Hobart visited her namesake city for the 183rd Royal Hobart Regatta in February 2018, which was the first time in 18 years a vessel bearing its name had done so.^[25] She returned again for the next regatta in 2022.^[26] On 9 March 2024 Hobart's crew marched in a Freedom of Entry parade through the Hobart central business district.^[27]