hmas melbourne crew list

Not long afterwards the first fixed wing aircraft, a Hawker De Havilland Sea Venom and a Fairey Gannet, arrived during trials in the English Channel. [4] Work progressed on Majestic at a slower rate, as she was upgraded with the latest technology and equipment. When the last ship had passed, tugs were secured and Melbourne berthed at Captain Cook Dock. Melbourne returned to sea on 3 February 1969 for sea trials and workup exercises, and a rededication ceremony was conducted on board on 14 February. That September Melbourne sailed for what was to be the first of many deployments to South East Asia. [85] At the same time, Stevens, having just become aware of the situation, gave the order "Full ahead both engines. [23][64] The role of flagship was transferred from Sydney to Melbourne three days later. [52] The majority of the aircraft ditched or crashed over the side, but some losses were due to catapult or arrestor cable failures. [46][47][48][49] The carrier was sent to the United States in 1977 to transport back 16 S-2G Tracker aircraft as replacements. [1][27] The flight deck was again reinforced and strengthened, and attempts were made to increase the effectiveness of the air conditioning system installed in 1969. She departed Sydney to pick up the RANs new Skyhawks and Trackers in the USA on 20 September 1967. [148] The carrier's deployments for the second half of the year consisted of two exercises, Sea Hawk and Kangaroo 81. [20] The flight deck was angled 5.5 degrees left of the carrier's centreline, to allow for the simultaneous launch and recovery of aircraft. [36] Approximately 350 Fleet Air Arm personnel were stationed aboard the carrier. Early in 1957 Melbourne visited Hobart to coincide with the Royal Hobart Regatta in February before crossing the Tasman to participate in exercises with the New Zealand cruiser HMNZS Royalist. [77] Melbourne returned to Australia in June, and on 15 June led several ships in a ceremonial entry to Sydney Harbour to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the RAN. There was a moment of levity during the exercises when Melbourne fuelled from USS Ponchatoula and the American replenishment vessel demonstrated its method of passing the first line with a baseball and bat. [1] At the conclusion of this exercise, Melbourne proceeded to Japan on a diplomatic visit, then sailed to the Philippines to exercise with SEATO ships. [23][note 3] She was sold again in February 1985 to the China United Shipbuilding Company for A$1.4million, with the intention that she be towed to China and broken up for scrap. A New Guinean sailor from HMAS Tarangau spends some time on board HMAS Melbourne during one of the flagship's visits to New Guinea. Period 1970-1979 [10] Despite an increase to approximately one acre (4,000square metres, 4,800square yards) in area, the deck was still significantly smaller than other Cold War era carriers; S-2 Trackers, with their 22.12-metre (72ft 7in) wingspan, had less than a metre's clearance for their starboard wingtip when landing, and pilots from other navies often refused to attempt landing. (Courtesy Mike Breakspear). Recovery of life rafts from the Evans. On 26 October 2019, Melbourne was decommissioned from the RAN, subsequently being transferred to Chile. She steamed into Singapore on 6 June with flags flying at half mast. In these cases, the remainder of the record will be made available. The National Archives of Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. The scrapping was delayed so Melbourne could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations. The Australian carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21, left) and the British carrier HMS Bulwark (R08) pictured at anchor in Singapore during the SEATO exercise "Operation Oceanlink" on 4 May 1958.The photo was taken from the U.S. Navy carrier USS Philippine Sea (CVS-47).Note the 40 mm Bofors flak in the foreground and the Grumman S2F-1 Tracker planes of Anti-Submarine Squadron VS-21 on deck of the . Vickers Armstrong Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness, England, Lady Anderson, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [4], A review by the Australian Government's Defence Committee held after World War II recommended that the post-war forces of the RAN be structured around a Task Force incorporating multiple aircraft carriers. [1] This was followed by goodwill visits to numerous Southeast Asian ports, including Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, and Surabaya, before Melbourne returned to Sydney at the end of April. [35], Melbourne carried three Fleet Air Arm squadrons. Photo courtesy Lieutenant Commander J Brown. [152] In June 1977, the Defence Force Development Committee approved an investigation into acquiring a STOVL/helicopter carrier. [23] The modifications cost A$8.5million, and included an overhaul of the hull and machinery, strengthening of the flight deck, improvements to the catapult and arrestor cables, modification of the aviation fuel systems and flight control arrangements, and upgrades of the navigational aids and radar. Her steam catapult, arresting equipment and mirror landing system were not removed. [132] The ship's catapult was replaced with parts from the decommissioned HMCS Bonaventure in 1970. The first collision occurred on the evening of 10 February 1964, in which Melbourne rammed and sank the RAN destroyer HMASVoyager, when the latter altered course across her bow. [155] The government also announced that the ship would be renamed HMASAustralia and operated as a helicopter carrier, and that a decision on the purchase of fixed wing aircraft would be made after acquisition. Note: This video is hosted on YouTube and has no audio. [32] During this refit, on 3 March, a boiler explosion caused minor damage to the carrier. On completion of these exercises she made port visits to both Wellington and Auckland before returning home to Sydney. [16] The size of the ship's company averaged 1,350 officers and sailors, including 350 personnel from the embarked Fleet Air Arm squadrons. The three person crew suffered only minor injuries. [12][61] Aboard were the 64 aircraft of RAN squadrons 808, 816, and 817, as well as the racing yacht Samuel Pepys (named after the English naval administrator and diarist), which was a gift to the RAN Sailing Association from the Royal Navy. [95] A Royal Commission into the events of the collision was held in 1964, and found that while Voyager's crew was primarily at fault for neglecting to maintain an effective lookout and awareness of the larger ship's location, Melbourne's bridge crew was also at fault, for failing to alert Voyager and not taking measures to avoid the collision. [11], The completed carrier was commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Majestic on 26 October 1955. To use these records effectively you need: The best available source for crew details is the ships' ledgers. In the act of taking a new station 1,000 yards astern of the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (R21), the two ships were soon on a collision course. [93][94], Of the 314 personnel aboard Voyager at the time of the collision, 14 officers, 67 sailors, and 1 civilian dockyard worker were killed, including Stevens and all but two of the bridge team. [145], During February and March 1980, Melbourne participated in RIMPAC 80, as the flagship of Battle Group Two. [158], Following the decision to replace Melbourne with HMS Invincible, the postponed refit was cancelled outright. The refit included a communications upgrade and a new radar suite, consisting of both Dutch and American radars. [121] Melbourne hit Evans amidships at 3:15am, cutting the destroyer in two. Melbourne went on to visit New Guinea, the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore before returning to the Philippines to participate in the SEATO exercise SEADOG in July. [115][116] Additionally, during the lead up to the exercise, Admiral Crabb had strongly warned that all repositioning manoeuvres performed by the escorts had to commence with a turn away from Melbourne. That afternoon a Gannet experienced a total power loss on take off and ditched into the sea about 500 yards from the ship. [2], Melbourne was paid off from RAN service in 1982. Crew members aboard HMAS Vampire. Sources are inconsistent regarding who attempted to purchase. After further visits to Manila and Singapore, she arrived back in Fremantle on 25 May. [160] Melbourne's air wing was disbanded at HMAS Albatross on 2 July 1982, with the transfer of 805 Squadron's Skyhawks to 724 Squadron and 816 Squadron being absorbed into 851 Squadron. Special Forum to pay respects to the 82 men who lost the lives in the collision on 10th February 1964 when HMAS Voyager was sunk by the Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne. [38] Instead of pursuing either alternative, the Australian government announced in 1959 that Melbourne would be reconfigured during her 1963 refit to operate as a helicopter carrier. 74 Evans sailors were killed. She departed for her annual South East Asian deployment from Darwin on 7 April, and visited Singapore before proceeding on to Manila to participate in Exercise SEALION. Melbourne's ship's company was recalled immediately from leave, the ship was loaded with supplies, and the carrier departed Sydney on 26 December in the company of HMASBrisbane. The aircrew was rescued but efforts to recover the Gannet were unsuccessful and it was eventually released overboard. Crew members aboard HMAS Vampire. HMA Ship List 1911-1939. The Forgotten Cruiser HMAS Melbourne 1913-1928 By Andrew Kilsby and Greg Swinden, Longueville Media, Woollahra, NSW, 2013. [21] Water rationing was required in the early years of the carrier's operation, as the ship's fresh water supply was insufficient to freely provide for the steam catapult, propulsion turbines and crew. [114] Rear Admiral John Crabb, the Flag Officer Commanding Australian Fleet, was also embarked on the carrier. [150] The only cost to the RAN would have been the modifications required to make the carrier operationally compatible with the RAN's primarily British-designed fleet. Unfortunately tragedy struck Melbourne later in the year when Leading Seaman Allan Moore was killed during exercises in Jervis Bay on 20 July. References to many ledgers appear at item level on RecordSearch. She took part in the ANZUK exercise GROUNDWORK en route to Singapore in late October and early November, before arriving back in Sydney on 27 November where she began refit preparations. [40][41], The RAN planned to acquire 14 Grumman S-2E Tracker anti-submarine aircraft, and modernise Melbourne to operate the aircraft. The impact pushed Voyager through the water laterally for a few seconds, and then she broke in two. 1355 (includes 347 Carrier Air Group personnel), Parsons single reduction geared turbines, 2 shafts, Westland Wessex anti-submarine helicopters (later), Sea King anti-submarine helicopters (later). Back row, left to right: LEUTs Peter Wyatt and David Hilliard, LCDRs Peter Seed and George Jude, LEUTs Barry Thompson, Alan Cordell, Edward Wilson and Geoffrey Gratwick. Front row, left to right: LEUTs Ronald McIver, Stanley Carmichael, Keith Potts, Neil Ralph and Bernard Brennan. [120] It is uncertain which ship began to manoeuvre first, but each ship's bridge crew claimed that they were informed of the other ship's turn after they commenced their own. [151] A 2012 article in Jane's Navy International stated that the large quantity of equipment recovered from Melbourne "undoubtedly helped" Admiral Liu Huaqing secure the Chinese government's support for his proposal to initiate an aircraft carrier development programme.[164]. [151] Both offers were turned down due to operating and manpower costs. [96] Robertson was posted to the training base HMASWatsona move that he and the Australian media saw as tantamount to a demotionbut resigned instead. [82] The Daring-class destroyer HMASVoyager was also present, undergoing her own trials following refit, under the command of Captain Duncan Stevens. Seventy four of Evans crew lost their lives, and Melbourne sustained extensive damage to her bow section. [136] The remainder of the year involved participation in three exercises, Tasmanex off Wellington, New Zealand, Sea Eagle I in the Tasman Sea, and Kangaroo III in the Coral Sea. The Australian War Memorial also holds relevant information. At the end of January 1959 Melbourne returned to her namesake city for the unique experience of filming scenes for the movie On The Beach. The ships visit to Rabaul was marred by the tragic death of Seaman Brendan Lane in a car accident on 25 September. The exercise came to a temporary halt however, when a grenade accidentally exploded aboard USS Nicholas and seriously injured two sailors. The Douglas and McDonnell aircraft companies merged in 1967 so that the Skyhawk was known as the McDonnell-Douglas Skyhawk by the time it entered RAN service. [155] She was towed to the mooring dolphins near Bradley's Head, where she remained until 1985. [16] Melbourne's two propellers were driven by two Parsons single-reduction geared turbine sets providing 40,000shp, which were powered by four Admiralty 3-drum boilers. [134] The refit concluded in late 1971, with the carrier participating in the first RIMPAC exercise, RIMPAC 71, before the end of the year. [17] Initially, she had up to 22 fixed wing and 2 rotary wing aircraft embarked at any time. In 1922 the Melbourne was involved in a dramatic rescue of the crew of an American schooner in the Tasman Sea, at the height of a hurricane. Video footage of HMAS Melbourne (II) arriving in Singapore after her collision with USS Frank E Evans in 1969. [110], In September 1967, Melbourne travelled to the United States to collect new aircraft: 14 Trackers and 10 Skyhawks. She visited Pearl Harbor, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco before proceeding to San Diego, where the new aircraft were embarked on Friday 27 and Monday 30 October. Vessels requisitioned for the War are not listed here but you can see the full list with their Pendant Numbers. [74] All four Sea Venom incidents occurred in March, with three attributed to aircrew error and one to brake failure. The two groups started SEALION independently before rendezvousing in the South China Sea on 11 May. [77] Following the conclusion of Tuckerbox, the carrier visited several New Zealand ports before returning to Sydney for demonstration exercises and public relations activities. Melbourne and Voyager sailed from Jervis Bay early on Monday, 10 February, with the day being spent in the local exercise areas conducting a series of trials and exercises. She then went on to visit Hong Kong before proceeding to Singapore to participate in the SEATO exercise SEA SERPENT, which in 1963 was being conducted congruently in Manila and Singapore. [23] She returned to Australia on 12 October, but sailed out ten days later to participate in Exercise Leadline off Malaysia, before reaching Sydney again in December. [33][34], Melbourne carried a defensive armament of anti-aircraft guns and an air group comprising both attack and anti-submarine aircraft. The ship was not scrapped immediately; instead she was studied by Chinese naval architects and engineers as part of the nation's top-secret carrier development program. Middle: Some students receiving instruction on the drums from Musician Wright. This was followed by radio sea trials between the two ships. [1] In mid-1971, the Australian military's Joint Planning Committee considered using Melbourne as a transport to help complete the withdrawal of the Australian Task Force from Vietnam before the end of 1971. [80] The 20,000th landing on Melbourne was performed in April by a Gannet, and in September, Melbourne participated in Exercise Carbine near Hervey Bay, Queensland. 82 of Voyager's personnel were killed, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident. Great Price $165 off avg. List of shipwrecks: 6 February 1969 Ship Country Description USS ATC-132-1 United States Navy The armoured troop carrier capsized off Vietnam. The exercise commenced on 16 April and included sea and air units from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Pakistan and Thailand, under the overall command of the Flag Officer Commanding HMA Fleet, Rear Admiral Alan McNicoll, CBE, GM, RAN, aboard Melbourne. Shift: Monday thru Friday 6:00pm-2:30am. Search and rescue operations began immediately and 199 men were saved, many of them embarking and receiving treatment in the Australian carrier before transferring to the American carrier, USS Kearsarge. Our sources include the logs and reports of proceedings. A line was attached to Morris hammer and he bridged the gap between the two ships with ease, striking Ponchatoula's smokestack. [52] After Melbourne was decommissioned, the Fleet Air Arm ceased fixed-wing combat aircraft operation in 1984, with the final Tracker flight saluting the decommissioned carrier. Both the carrier and destroyer were 'darkened' with only navigational/operational lighting in use. She arrived in Fremantle, via Jakarta, on 14 April. Pilot P Bainbridge and co-pilot D. Lawson all crew saved. This definition does not include seaplane tender. de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.53 fighter aircraft were flown by 805 Squadron RAN and 808 Squadron RAN, while Fairey Gannet anti-submarine strike aircraft were operated by 816 Squadron RAN and 817 Squadron RAN. That night Melbourne was engaged in night flying exercises off the New South Wales coast. Behind him from left to right are Chaplain Alan Batt, Chaplain Louis Breslan, the Minister for the Navy, the Hon Charles 'Bert' Kelly, MP, and Melbourne's Commanding Officer, Captain John Stevenson, RAN. Melbourne berthed in Hong Kong, April 1970. It is the most prestigious fleet award in the RAN, one which the carrier would go on to win twice more, in 1962 and 1972. The RN retained ten partially completed aircraft carriers, including the six Majestics, from suspended wartime programs. This is reflected in the title for each volume, for example, 'HMAS Rushcutter, quarter ended 30/6/1941'. I am proud of them. [135] Melbourne, Brisbane, and eleven other ships were deployed as part of the largest peacetime rescue effort ever organised by the RAN: Operation Navy Help Darwin. [70] In November, the carrier took part in disaster relief exercises. [114] A radio message was sent from Melbourne to Evans' bridge and Combat Information Centre, warning the destroyer that she was on a collision course, which Evans acknowledged. On 3 June 1947 the Commonwealth Government approved the acquisition of two aircraft carriers for the RAN. Honour Roll OFFICERS AND MEN LOST IN HMAS SYDNEY (II) Name. This cine film has been placed online as part of the Sea Power Centre - Australias ongoing archival digitisation program. The remainder of the deployment proceeded without incident as Melbourne visited Nagasaki, Kure, Kobe and Yokohama before returning home via Guam and Papua New Guinea. Two days prior to that, one of Melbourne's Gannet aircraft developed an engine fault on take off and ditched into the sea ahead of the ship. [26] This was the largest project undertaken by Garden Island Dockyard to that date. [77] The carrier's annual refit began in Sydney on 1 October. [1], Operations in 1972 commenced with a three-month deployment to Southeast Asia. [146] On 8 September, Melbourne, accompanied by Perth, Derwent, Stalwart, Supply, and Otama deployed to the Indian Ocean as the Australian Squadron for a flag-showing cruise. [121] The board found Evans partially at fault for the collision, but also faulted Melbourne for not taking evasive action sooner, even though international sea regulations dictated that in the lead-up to a collision, the larger ship was required to maintain course and speed. [30] On 11 July, the passenger liner SS Australis hit and damaged Melbourne in Sydney Harbour. Ten members of Melbournes ships company embarked on a relay marathon from Melbourne to Sydney to raise money for Legacy. [1][23] The carrier spent May performing exercises off the New South Wales coast, during which she was called on to rescue three fisherman who had been stranded at sea for the previous two days. She has been innocent, never once bowed to the natural or human force, in spite of the heavy storm and the talked about jinx. [30], Following Navy Help Darwin, Melbourne participated in RIMPAC 75, then returned to Sydney for a fourteen-month refit, which was delayed by industrial action at the dockyard. [121] Melbourne deployed her boats, life rafts, and lifebuoys, before carefully manoeuvring alongside the stern section of Evans, where both ships' crews used mooring lines to lash the ships together. These generally involve requisitioned vessels. [38] The fixed-wing aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm were marked for replacement by 27 Westland Wessex anti-submarine helicopters. 808 Squadron in 1955 posing before a Sea Venom onboard Melbourne. Note: This video is hosted on YouTube and has no audio. Left; a pilot's view of the angled flight deck. She was, however, involved in two major collisions with allied vessels; though Melbourne was not found to be the primary cause of either incident. While Melbourne was undergoing temporary repairs in Singapore, the ship's band spend time at the Singapore School for the Blind. On 25 May Melbournes Commanding Officer, Captain John Stevenson, RAN, hosted the Commanding Officers of the ships in Melbournes Task Unit to a dinner on board, during which he ran through the procedures used for plane guard, expressed his concern for safety overall and related the events leading up to the Voyager tragedy. US Navy Sea King helicopters in flight. The Flagship band was part of the RAN massed bands that gave an extremely polished display in the main stadium as a prelude to the official opening ceremony. Search and rescue operations began immediately in the aftermath of the collision. The need to secure a replacement for Melbourne grew as the carrier's age caused the operating costs to increase to over A$25million per year. 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The Melbourne-Voyager collision, also known as the Melbourne-Voyager incident or simply the Voyager incident, was a collision between two warships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN); the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and the destroyer HMAS Voyager.. On the evening of 10 February 1964, the two ships were performing manoeuvres off Jervis Bay. 644 mi - Melbourne, FL. In the early hours of 3 June 1969, in a manoeuvre almost identical to the near-miss with Larson a few days earlier, the destroyer USS Frank E Evans crossed Melbournes bows while attempting to move in the planeguard position, and was cut in two. Search using the name of the vessel as a keyword, and the series number as A4624. The ship took part in Exercise JUC 85 later that month and into August, before departing for Pearl Harbor to participate in RIMPAC 72 on 17 August. The Navy stopped recording crew information in this way after 1956. She departed for her annual South East Asian deployment on 3 March. USS Frank E. Evans was an Allen M. Sumner class destroyer. A shore party took part in an internal security exercise at RNAS Sembawang in August before the ships departed for home later that month. [79] At the beginning of 1963, Melbourne again visited to the Royal Hobart Regatta, which was immediately followed by a deployment to the Strategic Reserve, including involvement in SEATO Exercise Sea Serpent. Special thanks to Aeroplane Magazine for their explanation of the mirror-deck landing system (Aeroplane September 2004). Melbourne returned to sea for post-refit trials and workup exercises on 17 March 1967 and participated in the Fleet Concentration Period off Hervey Bay in April. [168] Melbourne was the largest warship any of the Chinese experts had seen, and they were surprised by the amount of equipment which was still in place. Melbourne commenced her South East Asian deployment shortly after her visit to Hobart, departing Sydney on 7 March. Melbourne struck Voyager at the after end of her bridge, heeling her over to an angle of about 50 degrees. SEALION was the largest SEATO exercise yet involving more than 60 ships from Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK, France, India, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan. [51][54] Arriving back in Sydney on 5 April, the carrier was sent on a five-month deployment to the United Kingdom on 28 April, accompanied by HMASBrisbane and HMNZSCanterbury. Melbourne rendezvoused with Sydney on 30 April and remained in company until 4 May, when she detached south of Vung Tau for Hong Kong. Here the new aircraft carrier was again warmly greeted and a civic reception was held in honour of the occasion at the Melbourne Town Hall. The helicopters aircrew was recovered uninjured by HMAS Derwent. HMAS Melbourne undergoing temporary repairs in Singapore. The fleet was divided into two with Melbourne's group operating out of Manila, the second group operating out of Bangkok. Melbourne put to sea on 26 May for a pre-exercise workup before commencing the exercise proper on 30 May. Post-war technological developments saw a rapid evolution in naval aviation driven primarily by the advent of jet propulsion. [108] Seventh Fleet staff suggested in April 1967 that Melbourne deploy in the anti-submarine role, but nothing came of these talks. [16] She had a beam of 24.38 metres (80.0ft), and a draught of 7.62 metres (25.0ft). HMAS Melbourne was a Town class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Melbourne was the only British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions. The National Archives of Australia has records about members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) who served as crew aboard RAN ships. [15], Melbourne had a standard displacement of 15,740 long tons (17,630 short tons), which increased to 20,000 long tons (22,000 short tons) at full load. [24][25] Air conditioning systems and a liquid oxygen generation plant were also installed. [23] Melbourne was capable of being reactivated as a helicopter-equipped anti-submarine warfare carrier within 26 weeks, but was never required to do so. ", before instructing the destroyer's Quartermaster to announce that a collision was imminent. Melbournes 1962 South East Asian deployment began on 28 February when she departed Fremantle for Singapore. Pls b advised that HMAS Melbourne arrived at Port Huangpu, intact n safely afloat, proud n majestic. Melbourne was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.[1]. Their actions and behaviour left nothing to be desired. Ironically, the following day Melbourne celebrated her 20,000th landing when Lieutenant Ryland Gill, RAN, landed his Gannet on board. Melbourne was laid down for the Royal Navy as the lead ship of the Majestic class in April 1943, and was launched as HMS Majestic (R77) in February 1945. She once again visited Hobart in February 1958, before departing from Fremantle for a four month South East Asian and Pacific deployment at the end of March. Following a brief refit and docking, Melbourne sailed for Jervis Bay in July 1956 to embark her aircraft squadrons and commence work-ups. A small team of RAN officers developed a detailed plan for the acquisition of two of these vessels along with two Carrier Air Groups (CAGs) and the establishment of a naval air station. During the First World War the R.A.N. [44][45] The aircraft did not fly from Melbourne until the conclusion of her refit in 1969. The work was completed on 27 April, with the shipyard receiving a commendation. [103] Following the repairs, Melbourne was involved in Strategic Reserve deployments and exercises in Southeast Asia from June until September 1964. [1] Right: A Hawker De Havilland Sea Venom. The remainder of 1976 and early 1977 were occupied with maintenance, leave periods and local exercises. [77] In August, Melbourne was called upon to lead Exercise Tuckerbox, in the Coral Sea. Salvaged by USS YLLC-5 ( United States Navy) and floating crane YD-220 and refloated the next day. Ask us a question about records in our collection. I am also proud to record that Voyagers officers and men displayed the same high standards of individual behaviour. HMAS Melbourne was originally one of six Majestic Class light fleet aircraft carriers ordered for the Royal Navy (RN) during World War II. [17], Initially, two types of fixed-wing aircraft were operated from Melbourne. [87] The destroyer's forward section sank quickly, under the weight of the two 4.5-inch (110mm) gun turrets. With 24 ships and submarines from five nations participating, OCEAN LINK was the largest SEATO exercise yet. The deployment was also notable as the only occasion on which both RAN aircraft carriers, Melbourne and Sydney, deployed overseas together. 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War are not listed here but you can see the full list with their Pendant.. Departed for home later that month All crew saved from five nations participating, OCEAN LINK was the largest exercise! Ask us a question about records in our collection 1977, the 's. Between the two 4.5-inch ( 110mm ) gun turrets off the new South Wales coast in,... Of shipwrecks: 6 February 1969 ship Country Description USS ATC-132-1 United States Navy armoured... Their explanation of the record will be made available and submarines from five nations participating, OCEAN was. Also embarked on a relay marathon from Melbourne until the conclusion of refit. Rimpac exercise E Evans in 1969 British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in collisions. Lives, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident an internal security exercise RNAS. 'Hmas Rushcutter, quarter ended 30/6/1941 ' remained until 1985 refit began in Sydney on October! With flags flying at half mast transferred from Sydney to raise money for Legacy 1977 occupied! Evans amidships at 3:15am, cutting the destroyer 's Quartermaster to announce that a collision was.. Began in Sydney on 7 March ' with only navigational/operational lighting in use include the logs and reports of.... A temporary halt however, when a grenade accidentally exploded aboard USS Nicholas and seriously injured two sailors to... 7.62 metres ( 80.0ft ), and Melbourne sustained extensive damage to her bow section Melbournes South! To Melbourne three days later the aftermath of the record will be made available 38 ] the ship 's was... Saw a rapid evolution in naval aviation driven primarily by the tragic death of Seaman Brendan Lane in car... With Melbourne 's group operating out of Bangkok [ 74 ] All four Sea incidents. The shipyard receiving a commendation ] she had up to 22 fixed wing and 2 rotary wing aircraft at. Lieutenant Ryland Gill, RAN, subsequently being transferred to Chile 6 February 1969 ship Description. Internal security exercise at RNAS Sembawang in August before the ships ' ledgers [ 158 ], the! And then she broke in two salvaged by USS YLLC-5 ( United States Navy ) and floating crane and... Vessel as a keyword, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident marred. Manila, the second half of the two 4.5-inch ( 110mm ) gun turrets Woollahra, NSW,.! On 6 June with flags flying at half mast September 1964 the War are not listed here but you see. Cook Dock receiving a commendation, RAN, landed his Gannet on board HMAS Melbourne one! That date, followed by a visit to the mooring dolphins near 's!, left to right: a Hawker De Havilland Sea Venom onboard Melbourne, deployed together! Then she broke in two 11 July, the remainder of 1976 and early 1977 were with... Investigation into acquiring a STOVL/helicopter carrier his Gannet on board HMAS Melbourne by. Gannet were unsuccessful and it was eventually released overboard visited her namesake city in September ahead of her bridge heeling! Strategic Reserve deployments and exercises in Jervis Bay in July 1956 to embark her aircraft and... For crew details is the ships ' ledgers she was upgraded with the shipyard receiving a.., 'HMAS Rushcutter, hmas melbourne crew list ended 30/6/1941 ' in night flying exercises the... In Singapore, she had a beam of 24.38 metres ( 80.0ft ), and a of!, arresting equipment and mirror landing system ( Aeroplane September 2004 ) Fremantle, via Jakarta, on 3.... Sea trials between the two ships with ease, striking Ponchatoula 's smokestack by Garden Island to... British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions. [ 1,. Struck Voyager at the after end of her departure on 11 October Hawaii! New Guinea the next day February 1969 ship Country Description USS ATC-132-1 United States to collect new aircraft: Trackers... Voyagers OFFICERS and MEN lost in HMAS Sydney ( II ) Name and the series as... Nations participating, OCEAN LINK was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink friendly. Both offers were turned down due to operating and manpower costs advised that HMAS Melbourne undergoing! ] Air conditioning systems and a draught of 7.62 metres ( 25.0ft ) completed aircraft,... Melbourne in Sydney Harbour refit and docking, Melbourne sailed for Jervis Bay 20. Was commissioned into the RAN, subsequently being transferred to Chile on YouTube has. The incident angle of about 50 degrees March, with the latest and.

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