HMAS BARCOO

[AllThingsNavy]

HELP PLEASE - Does anyone have a photograph of HMAS BARCOO refitted as a Survey Vessel:confused::confused:

Anything would be much appreciated.

Adrian

[spruso]

Hi Adrian,
Have uploaded 4 that I have. Two not real good. Hope they help,
Cheers
Bruce

[hydroggy]

I have never tried this but I might be able to upload a "video" to my website - the clip was 1955.

[hydroggy]

Back again. I have uploaded a 4MB "RealPlayer" file. You can get it from this URL http://members.optusnet.com.au/cgfh/Barcoo.flv

It des not seem to play from the website but if you d/l to your computer and have RealPlayer installed it works for me. I can also email a WMV file at 3MB.

Clip shows Warrego going alongside Barcoo at anchor off Mackay, QLD.

[AllThingsNavy]

Bruce - Cheers mate:):) very much appreciated. I love the 2nd photo with the washing line at the bow:D:D

Mike - Wiil send you my e-mail via PM - Cheers:):)

Adrian

[Batstiger]

THis has nothing to do with the Barcoo but it is quite an interesting story about the survey ship HMS Fantome.

HMS Fantome,built by Sheerness Dockyard,launched 23/3/1901.Survey ship 1906.Sold in Sydney 30/1/1925.

Well known on the Australian Station as a survey ship, Fantome had been launched as an active fleet member, armed with six QF 4 inch Mark III guns, backed up by four 3 pounders.

HMS Fantome arrived in Australian waters in 1907 to take over the surveying duties of HMS Penguin, and presented a similar appearance. Her main armament had been removed, the ship mounting only one single 3 pounder. Even this gun wasn’t really required, but it gave the ship full warship status, ensuring that she would not incur harbour dues. As was the usual practice, Fantome carried the survey service livery of a white hull and a buff funnel. She remained on surveying duties until 1914, when she was taken over by the RAN, at the request of the Admiralty, to be re-armed for war duties. On 27th November 1914, Fantome was commissioned as an HMA Ship by Lieutenant G.P.M. Fitzgerald, RN.

As the Admiralty had plans for a strengthening of the Bay of Bengal area, another Royal Navy ship, HMS Psyche, was brought into RAN service, Fantome being earmarked for the Gulf of Aden area. Orders were changed and both Psyche and Fantome were to end up in the Bay of Bengal. One solitary 3 pounder was not a suitable armament for an active warship, so Fantome was quickly rearmed with two QF 4 inch Mark IIIs removed from Psyche, and four QF 12 pounder 12 cwt guns. One of the 12 pounders was taken from the former Queensland Gunboat Gayundah, whilst the other three were obtained from stores. On 27th July 1915 Fantome commissioned for full wartime duties under the command of Acting-Commander L.T. Jones, RN. Departing Sydney on 15th August 1915, Fantome sailed north, not returning to Sydney until September 1917. After a refit, the ship went back into full swing as a patrol vessel, her one interesting episode on this duty was a punitive raid on Malekula in the New Hebrides in October 1918. She finally paid off from the Australian service on 14th January 1919.

In April 1920 Fantome recommissioned as an HM Ship in Sydney, and returned to her former surveying duties. She carried on in this role until she paid off for disposal on 27th April 1925. In 1925 she was sold out of service for scrapping. Her hull was stripped to a bare hulk and, as such, was used as a barge, mainly in Tasmania, until she was sold for demolition in 1956. Fantome had stayed afloat for 55 years, which was a good effort for such a ship, and was the last of her class. Few relics of her remain, but on Garden Island there is at least one engine room telegraph still preserved. A very pretty ship, as the illustrations show, she was also a very efficient ship.

Her composite steam and sail power gave her an extremely long range, useful for duties as a sloop, but more useful as a survey ship. When fitted out for war service in 1915 she lost her main mast permanently, and from then on relied on steam alone for propulsion.

Her hull would have made a good naval museum, but in 1956 not many people were interested in her, and being tucked away in Tasmania, she was far from the eyes of the general public. Her contribution to the oceanic survey of Australian waters ensure that she will not be forgotten.

Cheers, Bob.

[kookaburra]

Spruso posted this pic in first reply, but I think this a sharper image - from pingbosun's ships site on picasweb: