Shipping News: In Port ...

[kookaburra]

A thread presently based on a single, fairly striking photo - but one which I hope we might be able to add to from time to time.

This is a concentration of Commonwealth ships - mainly RAN and RNZN identifiable, at Sembawang, Singapore, in the mid-1970s (I believe it is Sept 1975 ...but, see below).


Centre stage ,foreground, is an Oberon class submarine, which, from the 'O' insignia lower right on the conning tower, I think is one of the RAN First Submarine Squadron boats, but could be RN .

First row from left: (1 + 2) RNZN frigates which from jutting bridge structure I believe to be HMNZSs [I]Taraniki and Otago, but can't distinguish which is which; (3)survey ex-frigate HMAS Diamantina (gor-266); (4) Harbour tug; (5) HMAS Vendetta (DD08); (6) HMAS Vampire (DD11); and (7) HMNZS Southland, identifiable by the kiwi on funnel and Ikara missile system installation forward of the bridge.

Second row: (1) RAN Perth class DDG; (2) sister HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41) outboard; and (3) not sure what type vessel it is with the 'A' on the bow opposite, with its superstructure not visible ( could it be RN Ark Royal or Invincible maybe? RFA ?) .

Third row, left (1) is indistinguishable; (2) Type 12 frigate, name and nationality not clear either.

The caption on this pic says it is 1976 but a little investigation shows that cannot be. Vendetta was under re-fit at Williamstown from Dec 1975 to Sept 1976, and working up in Australian waters for the remainder of that year. She was with a Task Force at Sembawang and Hong Kong in Sep-Oct 1975, and I think that's probably the right date for this grouping.

If you look around, at the people on the dock and on the ships, there's a LOT going on in this pic. Well, hope you like it, and that we might find some more similar RAN port concentrations -some have been posted elsewhere for Garden Island, Darwin, and other places over the past few weeks and months.

Anway, all contributions welcome.

[harry.gibbon]

and ... three 'Holdens' available for the RAN contingents there on the right if I'm not mistaken.

We even had one allocated to the RANCD at the radio station on yu chu kang road 64-66 for the Lt RAN in charge. It was used every fortnight to go and collect the detatchments 'dosh' and one of us RN or RAN killicks had to ride shot-gun with the .38 at the ready ... on a lanyard and in a holster of course.

Happy days

Little h

[BECA@CLEAR.NET.NZ]

Hi Kookaburra.
Who could ever get tired of looking at a picture like this?

[kookaburra]

Thanks Harry, and Colin - yes, I got quite wrapped up in that Singapore pic.

Not sure if I'll find that same upfront quality close to so many ships again, but - not wanting to leave it as a one-hit wonder - this is a Garden Island aerial that I'd hoarded, and now find it enlarges somewhat better than I'd expected.

It's about the same period, mid-1970s.

Ships from lower left, and following the shore.

1. Merchant ship unknown.

2. Carrier HMAS Melbourne

3. Fleet oiler HMAS Supply

4. Down in the Captain Cook Graving Dock: Destroyer, not identifiable.

6. Small ship in the floating dock (opposite Supply)

7. Perth Class DDG, not identifiable.


8. River (Type 12) frigate, not identifiable.

9. Troop transport, ex-carrier HMAS Sydney

10. Numerous small ships/boats and lighters in and alongside the shelter bays down the Eastern (right side) shore, with a Motor Stores Lighter outside lower bay.

11. Escort maintenace ship HMAS Stalwart, with both a lighter, and an unidentifiable ship, possibly frigate, mostly obscured, alongside.

You'd know, of course, that Garden Island was an island until WW11, when it was linked to the (left side) Potts Point promontory by the construction of the Captain Cook dock, and that looping road lower right, known as The Burma Road.


Well, that's one more. Cheers K.

[kookaburra]

Here's another one I've cropped, re-sized and cleaned up a little: Wellington, 1950, and fascinating to the schoolboys on the pier:

1. RN 'T' Class sub docking, possibly Telemachus.

2. RAN Tribal DD (Arunta, Warramunga or Bataan)

3. HMAS Australia aft.

4. Frigate, can't identify, alongside.

5. From the mast structure, I think its a carrier behind Australia, and therefore most likely Sydney, arrived Down Under June 1949).

[kookaburra]

Garden Island: 1967 Used somewhere before, but here are the indentifications ...

Clockwise from ...
1. HMAS Melbourne, far left.
first rack-up ..

2. Tugboat Wattle (indistinct)
3. Oil fuel lighter.
4. HMNZS Leander
5. HMNZS Taranaki
6. HMS Arethusa
7. DDG HMAS Hobart

Harbour workboat outside 2nd rack-up:

8. HMS Cleopatra
9. HMAS Derwent
10. HMAS Vendetta

In Harbour, top right
11. Oiler HMAS Supply (half profile)
12. Fast troop transport ex-carrier HMAS Sydney
13. Second oiler, centre top, unidentified.
14. HMAS Tobruk in reserve at Athol Bight, seen behind the oiler
15. HMAS Arunta in reserve.

RAN photo and identifications

[kookaburra]

Newcastle NSW: February 10, 1957.

Eager Novocastrians line up for an open day inspection of HM submarine Thorough - so many its hard to see how they're all going to get aboard.

No doubt there's a hatch open to take them out at the other end. Meantime officers and a rating are on hand to help visitors down the forward hatch and make sure noone slips overboard.

Two more visiting warships are obscured in funnel smoke down the dock, and I can't identify them. Then two Harbour tugs, and Knobby's Head in the distance.

Hope you like it. I did.

[kookaburra]

Port Adelaide, Oct 1988

The RAN and its Bicentenary guests concentrated in Adelaide on their way to the big Sydney Harbour review:

I've already posted a couple of shots from this excellent series by Adelaide Archivist - the NZ ships Waitako and Endeavour, in the NZ forum's Warships of New Zealand, and the French cruiser Colbert in French Cruisers post-WW11, in Photo Galleries.


Seen here (1) the Italian missile cruiiser Ciao Dulio coming up the river as tug Tusker buffets HMNZS Endeavour 11 into dock; (2) Ciao Dulio under the bow of HMNZS Waitako; (3) and stern view of Ciao Dulio again at her berth; (4) HMS Edinburgh getting tugboat attention; HMAS Hobart with a police boat escort;
and the Dutch frigates Kortenaer and Jan Van Brakel comfortably berthed.

Hope you like them. Well done to Adelaide Archivist.

[kookaburra]

Port Jackson, Sydney, March 13, 1947:

Showing some wear after three months on station in Antarctica, the 3,460 ton Gearing Class destroyer USS Henderson berthed at Woolloomooloo today.

The cruiser HMAS Hobart, surrounded by lighters and several other RAN units were nearby in Farm Cove and at Garden Island to greet her. Since December Henderson has been engaged in 'Operation Highjump' a program of scientific testing of clothing and equipment in extreme Polar conditions.

No doubt her liberty men will be hoping for a warm welcome ashore after months with nothing for company but penguins! Look out Kings Cross!

- from our shipping correspondent.

[kookaburra]

Pearl Harbour 1980s: RAN, RNZN, Canada, USN

Quite a mix of national flags and ensigns here, and a somehow messed up Kiwi hull number confused the identification issue.


From landward:

Row 1 (single ship) RAN Perth (Charles F.
Adams) Class DDG (flag visible)

Row 2: Three Canadian Improved Restigouche
Class DEs.

Row 3: (i) HMNZS Canterbury F 421 with '1'
dropped off, but bow flag visible ( I was initially
thinking it was HMS Phoebe, F 42, but no)

(ii & iii) Two RAN Type 12s, bow flag on ii
visible, funnel kangaroo on iii.

Row 4 (foreground stern) DDG 21, USS Cochrane


Flag of unidentifiable USN far right, and departing harbour tug far left. That's the best your shipping reporter can make of it.

Edit: Having lost the trace I've rediscovered this image was taken by 'Larpoon' of HMAS Brisbane 1980-82, posted on flickr.

[kookaburra]

Sembawang Basin 1975 Pic [Post #1] revisited - from another angle.


This almost the same moment, but subtly DIFFERENT from the pic in Post#1 that inspired this thread.

The photographer has taken a few steps to the right, and suddenly we have hull numbers to identify on the left both DDGs in row 2 as Hobart (39) and Brisbane (41) and the fleet oiler HMAS Supply (195) behind, with a RAN Type 12 frigate (bow hull number, but indistinct). Also a much clearer view of the bridge structure of the unknown tanker on the right.

So adjusting the identifications in Post #1 its ...

Centre foreground, An RAN Oberon class submarine
[ 'O' insignia lower right on the conning tower visible in the first pic]

First row from left: (1 + 2) RNZN frigates with jutting bridge structures - HMNZSs Taraniki and Otago, but can't distinguish which is which; (3)survey ex-frigate HMAS Diamantina (gor-266 visible in first pic); (4) Harbour tug; (5) HMAS Vendetta (DD08); (6) HMAS Vampire (DD11); and (7) HMNZS Southland, identifiable by the kiwi on funnel and Ikara missile system installation forward of the bridge.

Second row: (1) DDGs HMAS Hobart (39), HMAS Brisbane (41) outboard; and (3) a large unknown auxiliary opposite.

Third row, left (1) HMAS Supply, RAN Type 12 frigate, but hull number not quite distinguishable.

Total: Seven RAN and a sub; three RNZN - that's quite a big deployment for these two services - can't think of any crisis reason for it. I believe it's Sept 1975, and Vietnam had fallen in April. Maybe there was a extra need to 'show the flag' in SE Asia at that time.

[kookaburra]

Seeadler Harbour, Manus Island, Papua New Guinea - 1950s

Local people would have been reminded of the busy days of the Pacific War when this concentration of warships moored in Seeadler Harbour. The caption on the official RAN photo says they are RN and RAN.

There's a little guesswork involved as I can't quite read most hull numbers, but I think the carrier is HMAS Sydney, and that the lighter-hulled destroyers far left (bow only) and far right would be RN.

Between them (I'm guessing) is an RAN Battle Class and two tribals,

Again, I can't quite read or guess the name of the RFA in the foreground. The 120ft Motor Water Lighter MWL 255 , at the rickety wharf in the foreground is an RAN unit, built at the State Dockyard Newcastle in 1946.

Question: Manus appears to have been, and is maybe now, a regular stop and supply depot for RAN units steaming north for South East Asia from Australia's East Coast.

I've never quite had a grasp on what's there, and what role it plays. Perhaps one of our 'real' Navy people can tell me. Thanks. K.

[kookaburra]

Edit: Accidental repeat

[kookaburra]

HMAS Stirling Naval Base, WA: November 20, 1994

A caption says some 18,000 people visited four ships and submarine for this Open Day at the rapidly developing Western Australian base. The home of the Collins Class submarines, Stirling was developed to facilitate the RAN's two-ocean fleet policy, and because of increasing environmental pressures and urban encroachment on the many facilities around Fleet Base East in Sydney Harbour.

This had caused, for example, the ammunitioning depot to be moved out of the Harbour

The ships here are not identified, but there appears to be two Adelaide Class FFGs, a Perth Class DDG, possibly a Fremantle Class patrol boat and one of the subs. We can see the stern of what looks like a replenishment ship at the far right of the picture.

[iantait]

The picture taken in the stores basin is 1975 but the Ikara Leander is HMS AJAX Capt F8 HMNZ SOUTHLAND was still HMS DIDO There were 3 Submariners on Ajax myself(an LCEM)working on the Ikara system The First lieutenant and Captain Tom Le Marchant(Captain "F")We would have been in a maintainance period and continued on the round the world deployment Xmas and New year in Adelaide then Sydney Melbourne Wellington Nelson Suva,we had a switchboard fire and had to leave the rest of the group (Glamorgan LLandaff Rothesay can't remember the others)and spend 6 weeks in Pearl Harbour

[bunts66]

Further to earlier posts.
Outboard of HMAS SUPPLY - either HMAS SWAN or TORRENS
(noting the position of the LWO2 radar).

The "unknown auxilary" ship would be a merchant ship.
That berth in the basin, from memory, was a non-naval
berth, and, on my numerous visits, cannot recall seeing
a "warrie" of any gender berthed there.

Cheers

Bunts66

[kookaburra]

From a local paper. Battlestar will be going crazy!

Mega US warship anchors off Fremantle
American aircraft carrier the USS George Washington has anchored off Fremantle.

Chris Thomson
July 2, 2009 - 10:03AM
Massive aircraft carrier USS George Washington, and its high-tech watchdog USS Cowpens, have anchored off Fremantle today ahead of a five-day rest and relaxation visit for American sailors.

The stop-off is the aircraft carrier's first Australian visit since it was commissioned nearly 17 years ago. It departed Yokosuka, Japan on June 10.

"For a majority of the George Washington crew who brought the ship to Yokosuka from Norfolk last fall, this is their first visit to Australia," ship captain David Lausman said.

"I know our sailors are looking forward to experiencing the rich culture and interacting with the friendly citizens of Australia during our brief stay."

USS George Washington carries nearly 5000 crew members and flight staff - including 400-plus officers and more than 4000 enlisted sailors.

The vessel carries more than 65 aircraft - including F/A 18 Hornets, F/A 18 E/F Superhornets, EA6B Prowlers, E2C Hawkeyes, C-2 Greyhounds and SH-60 Seahawk helicopters.

The warship has more services than a Wheatbelt town - including 4000 telephones, seven galleys capable of serving 18,000 meals a day, the capacity to distil 1.5 million litres of fresh water, and enough electrical capacity to power several thousand houses.

The USS Cowpens is a guided-missile cruiser, whose main goal is to smite any aggressor brave enough to take on the George Washington strike group. The ship has a crew of 339 sailors and 66 officers.

Tour options laid out for the sailors, flyboys and flygirls include a trip to Caversham Wildlife Park and Nambung National Park, a tour of Swan Valley wineries, mountain biking on the Munda Biddi Trail, and scuba-diving at Rottnest Island

[battlestar]

G'Day All

From a local paper. Battlestar will be going crazy!

Yes I was...
It was VERY COLD (Two degree) when I got up to take the following photographs of USS George Washington, and USS Cowpens, coming into Fremantle.
I must admit, when you seen one Nimtiz class carrier, you seen them all! I want USS Enterprise to return to Perth one last time before Decommissioning. (Please understand, unlike most out there, I've toured the Nimitz class often, it kinda looses it thrill after nearly 30 years)

The first photo are of the carrier anchoring in Gage Roads off Freo. The rest are of Cowpens coming into Fremantle Harbour on a cold but sunny morning.

Enjoy

Battlestar

(A small note. The relationship the USN had with the Western Australian public aint what it used to be. I've seen the actions of several people and groups destroy what was once a fantasic relationship between the USN and WA. The fact that this carrier is here...well, you would not believe me if I said it was done due solely to ego of four men.)

[astraltrader]

Three great photographs Ian. VMT.

When you mention the deterioration in the relationship between the USN and the citizens of Western Australia - I suppose you are referring to anti-nuclear demonstrations?

[kookaburra]

Garden, Island, Sydney, c1939.

On old photo shows a jumble of funnels, masts and guns of five RAN ships pre-WW11 under the sheerlegs at Garden Island. The caption on this photo says 1939, although I think it could be a little earlier. Anyway...

Left to right:

1. D22, HMAS Waterhen.

2. Unknown, but slightly larger stern profile suggests Admiralty Class flotilla leader HMAS Stuart.

3. The double-ended warship in the centre under the sheerlegs took a while because I was surprised that she looked larger and higher than the destroyers. But I think there's no doubt in the end... it's the 1320-ton survey ship and escort HMAS Moresby, the former RN WW1 '24' or Racehorse Class convoy sloop HMS Silvio.

4. HMAS Australia 11 (behind).

5. HMAS Adelaide, after re-fit the only three-funnelled RAN Modified Town or Chatham Class light cruiser.

[kookaburra]

Port Darwin, late 1995

Rafted together in Darwin are HMAS Hobart, and the Malaysian frigates KD Lekir (F26) and KD Kasturi (F25). Ahead of them are three RAN Oliver Hazard Perry or Adelaide Class FFGs with awnings over their helo decks.

Built by Blohm and Voss in Kiel, Germany, to the Blohm and Voss 1500 design, the Kasturi Class Malaysian frigates are 1500 tons standard, 1850 fl, and were commissioned in August 1984.

They carry:

1 × Creusot-Loire Compact 100 mm/55 DP gun
1 × Bofors 57 mm/70 DP gun
2 × dual 30 mm Emerlec Mk.74 twin mountings AA gun
2 × 4 MBDA Exocet MM40-Block 2
1 × Bofors 375 mm twin barrel
ASW RL

and have provision for a light Lynx-type helicopter.

- from 'Bluey' our Darwin correspondent.

[kookaburra]

Hong Kong, RN Basin, May 14, 1966.


On the outer berth at HMS Tamar, the Royal Navy Basin, HMAS Melbourne has taken on a somewhat different appearance with a large awning on the flight deck at her stern, a concession to torrential rain sweeping the Crown Colony this week.

The Australian flagship arrived on May 6 after escorting the fast troop transport HMAS Sydney to South Vietnam, and has been engaged in a period of self-maintenance since her arrival.

The carrier leaves tomorrow for Manila, to participate in Exercise Sea Imp with other SEATO forces before re-joining Sydney to escort her south.

- from Jenny Wong, our Hong Kong correspondent.

[Editor's Note: HMAS Melbourne encountered Typhoon Irma in the South China Sea en route to Manila soon after her departure - the threatening weather already visible in the first of these photos. It's not possible to identify the other ships in the Basin - a Daring Class destroyer and Type 12 frigate are rafted together opposite the RAN flagship. A second destroyer and two Type 12 frigates lie astern of her at the main wharf, and two other frigates are visible in the Basin, with a number of smaller vessels in the outer Basin by her bow.

In these photographs, Melbourne is still carrying her first generation of aircraft, Sea Venoms and Fairey Gannets, plus the Westland Wessex anti-submarine helicopters of 817 Squadron. In September the following year, 1967, she sailed to the United States to embark 10 A-4 Skyhawks and 14 Grumman Tracker aircraft].

[kookaburra]

Garden Island, Sydney, November 1969:

This is the time of year Sydney has what might almost be called a 'Rainy Season.' On a humid day, under unsettled November skies, the ships discernible in this photograph, left to right, are:

[1] ...surprise... HMAS Kimbla, Bar Class Oceanographic Research and former boom defence vessel, its forward 'horns' and flagstaff just visible; [2]DDG HMAS Brisbane; [3]Perth Class sister ship; [4+5]Two River Class type 12s; [6]the third Perth Class DDG; and [7] a Daring Class destroyer astern of it. HGistoric little Fort Denison in the centre distance.

There are faint mast suggestions of a vessel farther north at the Cruiser Wharf, where ex-carrier FFT HMAS Sydney usually berthed.

[kookaburra]

Garden Island, Sydney, 1952:

A hard one for identifications:

From top right:

1. Q Class destroyer with tripod mast.

2. Cruiser HMAS Hobart.

3. Survey sloop HMAS Swan or HMAS Warrego beside her.

4. Bay Class frigate.

5. River Class frigate outboard.

In Captain Cook Graving Dock:

6. The stern of something big - Ensign and stern awnings
only showing: possibly HMAS Australia 11.

7. 'Q' Class destroyer with tripod mast in dock right.

8. Tribal Class destroyer with lattice mast in dock left.

9+10. Two small craft, outboard looks like a stores lighter, inboard a GPV possibly, but havent clearly identified these yet.

There is a craft(s) between the cruiser and the CC Dock, which is/are indistinguishable.

[CGRET]

Kook,

Another fine example of your hard work in sharing your Pictures associated naval identification of the Ships.

Well Done!

Regards
Charles

[mik43]

I'll agree with that, well done again Jeff

Mik

[kookaburra]

Port Jackson, Sydney, 1948:

The carrier USS Valley Forge glides down Sydney Harbour to dock at Woolloomooloo. Cruisers HMAS Australia and HMAS Shropshire were on hand at Garden Island [left] to greet her. A Tribal Class destroyer lay at Farm Cove in the distance.

- from our 1948 correspondent [USN Navy History Center photo].

[kookaburra]

Port of Brisbane, March 25, 1941.

Brisbane turned out in its best finery when a scouting squadron of seven US Pacific Fleet warships docked at the South
Brisbane wharves today.

Leading the group were the cruisers USS Chicago, flying the flag of Rear Admiral John H. Newton, and USS Portland, escorted by destroyers Clark, Conygham, Reid, Cassin and Downes. The ships had arrived from Sydney, having also latterly visited New Zealand, and will depart for Suva, Fiji in several days.

It was the first visit of US warships to Brisbane since the conflict in Europe began. Although the United States is not involved, their arrival was both a welcome and somehow reasuring presence, a tangible demonstration of the power America would bring with her, should she eventually be persuaded to join the Allied cause.

- from our Brisbane correspondent.

Photographs, John Oxley Library, Queensland, from Brisbane Courier Mail.

[airlana]

Another 'golden oldie'

HMAS Warramunga in Hong Kong 1958.

Always nice to see old photos in colour.

airlana

[alanbenn]

Airlana, brilliant photo and as you say quite rare to see them in colour.

If you don't mind can I download to my album?


Regards
Alan

[benbow30]

Regarding H.MAS.Waraamunga Christmas 55 she was secured alongside the Newfoundland 5 of us came back on board early Christmas morning and borrowed a Kangeroo which as at her yard arm they were not very pleased.
Peter
Alias Benbow30

[kookaburra]

Airlana, brilliant photo and as you say quite rare to see them in colour.

If you don't mind can I download to my album?


Regards
Alan

I concur completely Ashley - another very nice contribution from your unusual-type sources [I gather you found all that hoarded stuff in your attic]. Also asking to save this one for purely my purely personal album. K.

[airlana]

Airlana, brilliant photo and as you say quite rare to see them in colour.
If you don't mind can I download to my album?
Regards
Alan

Alan, please feel free to make a copy. It's also one of my favourites as Dad served on "Warramunga"

regards airlana

[spruso]

Here's a few more of the USS DDs visiting Sydney in 1941 courtesy of USNHC. My auntie went out on the harbour to see them arrive and took a nice midships photo of Chicago but unfortunately I can't seem to locate it. (Surprise!)
Cheers
Bruce

[alexrad]

Further to earlier posts.
Outboard of HMAS SUPPLY - either HMAS SWAN or TORRENS
(noting the position of the LWO2 radar).

The "unknown auxilary" ship would be a merchant ship.
That berth in the basin, from memory, was a non-naval
berth, and, on my numerous visits, cannot recall seeing
a "warrie" of any gender berthed there.

Cheers

Bunts66

Can anyone who was there at the time confirm or refute that the "unknown auxilary" was the "SS Mayagues" which had been seized by the Khmer Rouge earlier in 1975?

[kookaburra]

October 30, 1937: Cup Week at Station Pier, Melbourne.

A fair proportion of the RAN Fleet berthed at Melbourne's Station Pier for the start of the Spring Horseracing Racing Carnival this week. Seen from the rear here are :

The heavy cruisers HMAS Australia and Canberra; destroyers Waterhen and Vendetta, the Grimsby Class sloop HMAS Swan [foreground] , with just the funnel of the the flotilla leader HMAS Stuart visible opposite.

The famous Melbourne Cup two-mile race stayers has long been known as 'The Horse Race That Stops A Nation,' as everybody listens in to broadcasts. Your Shipping Correspondent believes it could also be called 'The Horse Race that stops a Navy.'

The admirals of any potential belligerents will no doubt be taking note.

- From 'Yarra' our Shipping Correspondent, in Melbourne.

[This photo, by Allan C. Green [1878-1954], held in the Green Collection, at the State Library of Victoria [LaTrobe Library] is part of the unofficial RAN Centenary 1911-2011 that I have attempted to explain, at some length, in a separate thread in the Australia section today].