-2 - “THE LOWER DECK” THE LOWER DECK is the official Newsletter of the WARSHIPS & newsletter of the MARINE CORPS MUSEUM (International), P.O. Box 89, Franklin, WARSHIPS & MARINE CORPS MUSEUM TAS. 7113 AUSTRALIA and is issued free every four months to members and friends of the Museum, Veterans Associations, libraries, (International) and ships and shore establishments of the . Number 32 May 2003 All material in this Newsletter is COPYRIGHT and cannot be reproduced in any way without the written permission of the Museum and contributors. Newsletter Editor: Paul Morrison (after-hours phone) 02-47321423 Photograph Credits: The photograph on page 20 was taken by Museum photographer Brian Morrison. All Interfet photographs are courtesy of the officers and crew of HMNZS CANTERBURY. The Museum was established in 1963 and is a non-profit organisation manned by volunteers. If you would like to help in our on-going efforts to preserve Naval history we would be most happy to hear from you. Accounts of Naval service, photographs and other items would be greatly appreciated and would find a welcome place in the Museum. All items would be treated with the utmost care and respect.

COVER: Air Cushion from USS PELELIU speeds past the Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS CANTERBURY. In the background are the rugged mountains of East Timor where Fretlin forces fought a guerrilla war against the Indonesian military forces until In this issue: eventually independence was announced for East Timor in 1999. INTERFET MARITIME FORCE BACK PAGE : HMAS HUON on the Huon River in Tasmania. The East Timor, 1999 ship is one of six minehunters built for the Royal Australian Navy. HMAS YARRA, the last of these minehunters was commissioned into the st Navy on 1 March 2003. It is beside the beautiful and scenic Huon River in Tasmania’s south-east, in the town of Franklin that the Museum will be opened to the public towards the end of 2004. We are in the process Issued free every four months to members and friends, Naval Associations, libraries, ships and shore establishments of the Royal Australian Navy of preparing to renovate the interior of our Heritage-Listed building.

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MUSEUM NEWS period would otherwise have been lost. It was not only the history of the RAN they were preserving, but also the histories of other Navies. And the encouragement also continued. 40th Anniversary of the Museum Chris Sattler, our third member joined the Museum in 1969 and the th This year marks the 40 Anniversary of the foundation of the Museum. number of artifacts catalogued by the Museum has increased greatly It’s history though goes back a little earlier to 1959 when Brian since. We now have nearly 10,000 catalogued items in the Museum, an Morrison (then aged 12) and his seven year old brother Paul developed extensive library of books as well as a negative/slide library. The an interest in Naval history. It was easy to be interested in this history Museum’s motto is: Preserving the Past for the Future. for the brothers lived in the Sydney harbourside suburb of Mosman. A long walk (or a short bicycle ride) down to Bradley’s Head would take them to where the ships of the Reserve Fleet (or the Ghost Ships as the Recent Acquisitions by the Museum kids in the area called them) were moored, and amongst these silent and The Museum has purchased an oil painting of HMS WARRIOR. The rusting vessels were many famous ships that had served with great painting is unsigned but is in the style of William Frederick Mitchell distinction in the Navy during World War 2. There was also the old (1845 – 1914), a prolific marine artist of the late 19th century who did a Bradley’s Head Fort built in the 1860s to defend Sydney Harbour from series of paintings on the ships of Queen Victoria’s Navy. sea attack as well as a larger fort on nearby Middle Head also built during this period but expanded greatly during World War 2. And there was the R.A.N’s fire-fighting school at HMAS PENGUIN. It was difficult for the two brothers not to be interested in Naval history! In the suburb of Mosman and its nearby suburbs were also a number of retired Royal Australian Navy personnel. Some of these veterans gave encouragement by donating items to what was essentially a ‘collection’ of Naval artifacts that the two brothers were assembling. The encouragement though was so great that in 1963 it was decided to set up a Naval Museum which was later expanded to a spare room in the house where they lived. They were extremely grateful to their parents, for the HMS WARRIOR was designed by John Russell and was the first establishment of this Museum also involved a large number of nail holes ironclad battleship specifically built for the Royal Navy, displacing in the timber walls of the spare room! They even had their own Museum 9,210 tons and carrying a broadside armament of twenty eight 7-inch Newsletter which ran for one issue (schoolwork and the running of a (178mm) guns. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1861 and ‘serious’ Naval Museum didn’t allow the time for a second issue). is today restored and preserved as a Museum ship in Portsmouth. Through the kindness of retired Naval veterans (some of whom had USS THORN (DD-647) served in the Navy during World War 1), and the assistance given by USS THORN (DD-647) was a BRISTOL class destroyer that served in many of the ships that made up the post-World War 2 Royal Australian the United States Navy during World War 2. The ship was commiss- Navy the Museum flourished in a time when there was little interest in ioned into the Navy in April 1943 and its Battle Honours included 7 Naval history. Much of the history preserved by the brothers during this -5 - -6 -

Battle Stars, 2 Japanese aircraft and 1 Japanese destroyer. THORN also had one of the shortest men to serve in the U.S. Navy. Harold Shorty Starry had tried to enlist in the armed forces but was told he was too small at 4 foot 11 inches – one inch under minimum requirements. He wrote a letter to Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, stating – “I’m as big as any Jap.” The Navy waived the rule and Shorty was allowed to enlist. Kaj ‘Swede’ Swenson also served in USS THORN during the war. In the post-war years he was active in setting up the ship’s Association and in tracking down every crew member (more than 600 of them) who served in the ship. Swede also edits the Association’s newsletter. Swede is a good friend of the Museum’s and has helped us greatly over the years. We even had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife Betty when they visited Sydney some years ago. The Editor remembers seeing Swede for the first time – he was not hard to miss for he was wearing a The Navy House in Grosvenor Street, Sydney was always a favourite, USS THORN (DD-647) ball cap. “I’m still looking for THORN not only for the MANOORA crew members but for any Navy personnel shipmates,” he said. “We’re missing about a hundred and who knows? whose ships were in port, because ‘Johnnies’ (as it was fondly known) Some of them might be living in Sydney and may recognise the cap.” possessed a bar strictly for Naval personnel only. Swede is determined that his old ship will not be forgotten. He has been working for the past few years on the USS THORN (DD-647) Web Site. The Web Site is a comprehensive history of the ship that includes Funny Naval Signals photographs of the ship, including a few of USS THORN alongside the An aircraft was towing a target down a line of cruisers who were firing Japanese battleship NAGATO at war’s end; some of the actions it fought at the target with their anti-aircraft armament. A shell suddenly burst in in; the various departments that made up the ship; as well as photographs front of the aircraft. of individual crew members, and details of their service. There are also From pilot by radio to the cruisers: technical details of the ship, a complete history of its service, its eventual fate and just about everything else, and the Web Site is designed for easy I AM PULLING THIS BLOODY THING, NOT PUSHING IT. navigation. You can even sign the Log before you exit! It is highly INTERFET MARITIME FORCE recommended by the Editor as one of the best web sites he has visited. East Timor, 1999 Take a look at it on - http://www.geocities.com/thorndd647

Roger Gittus’ Navy In 1999, warships from several countries, as well as ground forces acting Roger Gittus was a talented artist who served in the Landing Ship in a peace-keeping role took part in overseeing the independence of East 1 Infanty HMAS MANOORA during World War 2. The Museum has a Timor. It was feared there would be a bloody confrontation between the number of his original pen and ink sketches preserved in our archives. 1. Timor is an island of the Malay Archipelago. As far back as 1520 the Portugese traded in Timor for sandalwood but in 1613, when the Dutch established themselves on the western -7 - -8 - pro and anti-independence movements in East Timor, and there was also were landed over the shore by amphibious craft at a hastily prepared the possibility that units of the Indonesian military stationed in West beach. This beachhead had been surveyed by the Response Force and Timor (Indonesian territory) would then intervene. Hydrographic Support Unit the day prior to the Task Group’s arrival at One of the ships that comprised the Interfet Maritime Force was the Dili, and was used in favour of other intended landing sites within Dili amphibious support ship (Landing Ship Heavy) HMAS TOBRUK. In Harbour due to their congestion by Indonesian vessels. the following extracts from their account, “A Much Neglected Lady TOBRUK loading in Darwin and then passaging to Dili to unload cargo Proves She Can Still Deliver the Goods”, Lieutenant Commander John and troops set a pattern of operations for the next three weeks. When Pritchard (Ship’s Operations Officer), and Lieutenant Commander Peter wharf space became available in Dili, TOBRUK would berth alongside Arnold describe TOBRUK’s involvement.... to unload and provide services to troops ashore. Whilst alongside in Dili With signs of Indonesian unease increasing as the East Timor referendum (for independence) drew nearer, TOBRUK was put on short notice to move. The ship sailed from Sydney to Darwin on 30 August 1999, on the very day that the East Timorese people cast their democratic votes overwhelmingly in favour of independence. The ship called into Townsville enroute to Darwin to embark two Landing Craft Medium (LCMs), an Amphibious Beach Team, and elements of 3 Brigade. TOBRUK then departed Darwin on 18 September in company with elements of TG 627.1 for passage to Dili (the capital of East Timor). On the morning of Tuesday 21 September, TOBRUK and (HMAS) JERVIS BAY, under the protection of Allied escorting destroyers and , and watched closely by Indonesian Naval vessels commenced off loading troops and equipment ashore. TOBRUK’s unloading operat- ions with (the landing craft heavy) HMAS BALIKPAPAN, BRUNEI, HMAS TOBRUK unloads alongside a wharf in Dili. LABUAN and the two LCMs lasted most of the day due to difficult weather conditions. on 25 September, TOBRUK achieved its fastest off-loading throughout the whole operation. Utilising five stations simultaneously, LCMs at the Despite the landing site being in the confines of Dili Harbour it was stern door and alongside, the ship’s 70 ton derrick, the two 8 tonne none-the-less a proper amphibious operation as troops and equipment cranes, and the Sea King helicopter, TOBRUK managed to off-load a

full cargo in just over three hours. TOBRUK completed five voyages side of the island, the Portugese took formal control of the north and eastern sides of Timor. from Darwin to Dili between 18 September and 10 October during After World War 2, the western side of the island reverted to Indonesia following that country’s independence from the Dutch. In 1975, after plans were announced by Portugal to which over 3,000 tonnes of cargo and 590 soldiers were transported to give independence to their colony of East Timor, Indonesia invaded – beginning a brutal Dili. occupation of East Timor in which the Indonesian military faced a fierce and bloody guerrilla On 11 October, TOBRUK’s familiar pattern of Darwin to Dili express war against the East Timorese Fretilin Movement. Eventually worn down by this war in which hundreds of thousands died, Indonesia agreed to give East Timor independence. runs changed. Whilst alongside in Dili, TOBRUK embarked elements of -9 - -10 -

3 Brigade in preparations for an amphibious assault at Suai. The ship to action was received by TOBRUK2 to perform her amphibious role she departed Dili, rendezvoused with (the guided missile frigate HMAS) was able to respond and perform true to her motto – Faithful and Strong. ADELAIDE for escort, and then rendezvoused with BALIKPAPAN and Despite years of neglect, this fine lady has proven she can still deliver BRUNEI off Suai at 0500 on 13 October. the goods. After the Suai assault, TOBRUK recommenced her theatre resupply role conducting four return trips from Darwin to Suai in which almost 2,000 Another to take part in the INTERFET Maritime Force was the Royal tonnes of cargo and 642 soldiers were transported. The conduct of these New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS CANTERBURY. In his report the military sealift/ amphibious lodgements was definitely an Allied affair: ship’s commanding officer, Commander W. M. Cummins RNZN wrote TOBRUK transported cargo and troops from Australia, Canada, Ireland in part.... and New Zealand whilst being escorted by, assisted by, or working in concert with Australian, Canadian, French, New Zealand, United Saturday, 25 September dawned without the, by now, familiar easterly Kingdom and United States warships and aircraft. wind and in perfectly calm conditions CANTERBURY eased alongside Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin at 1000 in very strong tidal streams associat- In addition to TOBRUK’s primary roles of amphibious lodgement and ed with spring tides. Following the usual pattern of storing, fuelling, top military sealift, the ship provided support for INTERFET forces ashore up and wash down, the majority of the ship’s company were stood down whenever the opportunity arose. Either alongside or at anchor, for two day’s rest. During this time the first tasking message arrived. TOBRUK offered recuperation services of showers, laundry facilities, This was to be an escort for the troop and equipment transport HMAS fresh meals, temporary air conditioned comfort, and e-mail facilities to TOBRUK (Commander V. Thompson RAN), due for reloading in very grateful troops. More than 1,800 personnel utilised these services. Darwin during the daylight hours of the 27th. For those unable to take advantage of the hospitality aboard, TOBRUK delivered hundreds of kilograms of fruit and rations ashore. As well as After a weekend of relaxation interrupted only by interminable calls for providing direct support to troops ashore, TOBRUK provided fuel, water Public Relations interviews, CANTERBURY slipped from Stokes Hill and engineering repairs to Naval and Army units. at 1900 on 27 September to await TOBRUK’s departure. After final TOBRUK’s contribution can perhaps be best illustrated from the loading completion TOBRUK sailed at 2300 and rendezvoused in the following perspectives. Major General Peter Cosgrove, Commander harbour approaches at midnight. Once together, passage began towards INTERFET, visited TOBRUK on 4 November during the ship’s last East Timor in calm seas and little wind. Temperatures climbed through- visit to Dili. In an inspiring address to the ship’s company, General out the night and following day as passage continued across the Arafura Cosgrove summed up TOBRUK’s performance, stating that without Sea towards East Timor. By mid-afternoon surface temperatures were in TOBRUK the whole operation would still have been in its infancy. the high 30s to low 40s Celsius. This, combined with the unforgiving solar radiation made for an uncomfortable work environment, however, TOBRUK’s achievements in the operation have shown that not only is the time in transit to the area of operations had allowed most to she an essential unit within the Australian Defence Force’s order of climatise. battle, being the catalytic vessel for true Joint Operations. When the call

2. HMAS TOBRUK was built by Carrington Slipways, Newcastle and was commissioned into the Navy in 1981. She displaces 5,700 tons and is 126 metres (415 feet) in length. The ship is equipped to carry up to 18 tanks and 500 troops, and can also carry 3 helicopters. -11 - -12 -

Temperatures dropped slightly overnight as steady progress was made operat- ions approximately one mile inside the East Timor border while towards the Wetar Stait and the eastern-most tip of Timor. As TOBRUK CANTERBURY remained approximately a mile to seawards providing and CANTERBURY approached the strait, a number of Indonesian cover and support, and monitoring air and surface movements. It was warships approached apparently to identify and track movements. interesting to note throughout the day’s activity, the ‘normal’ flow of CANTERBURY maintained a defensive posture on TOBRUK, shielding maritime and shore activity on the West Timor side of the border, and her from close encounters with the Indonesian vessels, however, none compare this to the total lack of activity on the Eastern. Certainly a approached within 2,000 yards. No identities were exchanged during testimony to the power of the (anti-independence) militias. these approaches and progress to Dili remained unchecked. By 1330 all beach survey work was completed and CANTERBURY TOBRUK detached at 0600 Wednesday 29 September once within the commenced escort duty home. This routine was broken at 1410 when an sphere of influence of the Dili guardship, HMAS ANZAC (Captain M. unidentified air contact operating outside of airlanes closed the group Tripovich RAN) and CANTERBURY proceeded west to search and from West Timor. Gun crews closed up and, as the closing continued, locate one of the two Indonesian Type 209 submarines thought to be in warnings commenced to the aircraft. By ten miles distance no contact the area of operations. No sight of the submarine was found in the with the aircraft had been gained, however, the path of the aircraft had designated area. At 1400, a call was received to assume the duty of the diverged slightly from the ships’ positions and carefully tracking Dili guardship and CANTERBURYmoved to a patrol line some two continued without further action. The aircraft was subsequently miles from the entrance to Dili Harbour. This provided the first identified as an Indonesian Nomad aircraft. significant opportunity to sight the devastated region and the chance was The following morning, Sunday 3 October, provided the first opportun- not wasted by many of the ship’s company. CANTERBURY remained ity to land a shore party in Dili. Under the command of the Executive in the guardship role until late that evening when relieved by HMS Officer (Lieutenant Commander D. J. R. McDougall RNZN), a six man GLASGOW. Once cleared, CANTERBURY moved off to resume work party and four man security detail landed and met the New Zealand patrolling the Western approaches and tracking movements within her headquarters group to work on mutually agreed projects. These would designated sector. Overnight, the situation remained calm with only a include comfort provisions for the accomodations of Victor Company handful of contacts passing through the area. and the headquarters group, and work in the future Dili Headquarters. The month (October) began to the south of Timor having just detached Notable achievement for this party was the provision of the first flushing from HMAS TOBRUK who was headed for Darwin and resupply. toilet in Dili (inside the NZ temporary headquarters).The opportunity CANTERBURY proceeded at a leisurely pace towards a patrol corridor also provided a first hand look at the devastation of Dili.3 at the north-eastern end of the Wetar Stait. The gentle pace ensured A small contingent of CANTERBURY sailors, under the control of maximum fuel conservation, an all important issue with only one tanker WOWEA Jackson, contributed to a Task Group activity to distribute on station, and also permitted routine pre-emptive maintenance to be United Nations rice aid to Dili residents. A six member work party led conducted. Once in the corridor, passage continued towards Dili, by the Supply Officer (Lieutenant Commander P. R. Simpson RNZN) arriving late in the afternoon. also continued assistance projects for the New Zealand Army – CANTERBURY closed Dili Harbour and was joined by HMAS LABUAN for an overnight passage to Bataguade on the northern edge 3. Much of the commercial and town planning infastructure in Dili had been destroyed by of the East/ West Timor boundary. At 0600 on 2 October, LABUAN the anti-independence militias in the weeks leading up to the referendum. There had also been turned towards the coast and commenced beach survey and assessment intimidation and murders despite the presence of the U.N. during the referendum. -13 - -14 - achievements for the day being the resumption of limited power and provided at 1310. This berthing was unremarkable except for the banner water supplies including an operational shower. from the locals on the wharf proclaiming, Welcome back (HMAS) OOP’s Major General Peter Cosgrove, Royal , Commander of HMNZS CANTERBURY. This, together with the previously received INTERFET visited CANTERBURY on 6 October, and provided further message that CANTERBURY was now considered a ‘local’ and no verbal proof of the value that forces ashore place upon the Maritime longer requires any pilotage, provided a humorous reminder of the Naval Force. General Cosgrove moved through the ship and met frequency of the visits that CANTERBURY has achieved to Darwin and individual members of the crew. This news is cheering to the ship’s the warm welcome that is always received. company who have enjoyed the limited opportunity to interact with the After an extended storing evolution involving all of the ship’s company, Army ashore, but feel greatly involved because of it. Once clear of all a quiter pace developed. Activity did continue to track and maintain the visitors, CANTERBURY turned once more for her familiar patrol area plot of Timorese activity while awaiting the next tasking employment in the Eden corridor, east of Dili. message. This would be the tactical lodgement of 1 Royal New Zealand A graphic reminder of how quickly things can change in an active Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) for an amphibious landing at Suai, the first theatre occurred the following day, when, during a routine Damage such lodgement since the Second, and possibly even the First World Control exercise, members of the flight deck party reported heavy War, and therefore of considerable emotional significance to all on gunfire from the shoreline in the vicinity of Bacau. Course was shaped board. Preparations and loading complete, CANTERBURY and to close the coast and CANTERBURY patrolled a mile offshore in an TOBRUK sailed at 2100 16 October for Suai. attempt to localise the source of the firing. While the perpetrators could A quiet day of preparations and maintenance followed the departure not be identified, success was achieved as the firing ceased, possibly due from Darwin. All weapons systems were loaded or prepared to within to the presence of a frigate so close to the coast. This event was also the warning state and the now familiar pattern of two watches was re- notable for the first sighting of civilians upon the shore other than in established. At 2200 TOBRUK detached and proceeded to an anchorage Dili, during the operation thus far. Whether these were the perpetrators in the approaches to Suai while CANTERBURY remained in a mobile of the firing and thus possible militia, or displaced persons was guard ship position to seawards. Offload operations began immediately unknown. within the favourable tidal window and continued throughout the night, This tempo continued through the evening as efforts to identify shipping ceasing at 0730. and air contacts went on. Another burst of excitement occurred at 0345 A quiet morning followed on Tuesday 19 October as TOBRUK awaited on 8 October when two low flying and fast moving aircraft approached the next favourable landing window. At 1100 the Maritime Commander, the ship from the coast of Timor without identification. Once again Australia (Rear Admiral J. Lord RAN) and COMFLOT arrived for a weapons crews stood to, however, without the assistance of daylight it brief visit in TOBRUK. After a hasty summons, lunch was enjoyed in proved impossible to identify the contacts who veered away outside TOBRUK in the company of the aforementioned and the commanding weapon range and opened towards West Timor or Dili. officers of LCH’s HMAS BRUNEI (Lieutenant Commander R. Once detached (from duties), CANTERBURY commenced a 24 hour Stevenson RAN) and BALIKPAPAN (Lieutenant Commander R. B. maintenance period enroute to Darwin. At 0800 on Wednesday 13 Donnelly RAN). During the lunch, Rear Admiral Lord iterated the October, CANTERBURY anchored in Darwin Naval anchorage B2, sincere gratitude that New Zealand’s rapid and significant contribution commenced refuelling and awaited a clear berth alongside. This was had engendered in circles within Australia. At 1300, the Rear Admiral and COMFLOT disembarked by helicopter and the opportunity was then -15 - -16 - taken to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening witnessing and two packets of sweets was provided to the nineteen displaced amphibious operations to the beachhead in BRUNEI. This proved a persons in the ferry who appeared happy and relaxed as they sang songs fascinating insight into an area of warfare not previously seen, and and waived to the ship’s company before departing. Once ashore, the demonstrated to us the professionalism that the Royal Australian Navy vessel was passed into the hands of INTERFET who were able to search has in this regard. and process all personnel on the boat. By 2300 all amphibious operations had ceased and TOBRUK sailed for The routine nature of operations has also allowed some other routines to Darwin and reloading with the next round of RNZIR equipment. be implemented and these have helped to relieve some of the fatigue that BALIKPAPAN and BRUNEI, meanwhile, detached and proceeded has begun to creep into personnel – a result of the extended patrols, fore towards Dili with CANTERBURY providing close escort. shortened and very few port visits, and more generally, the length of The following three days were devoted to operations as the Suai guard time deployed without the opportunity for a leave period. These routines ship covering arrival and unloading operations. Opportunity was taken to have included an armed physical training team run to the local high point also search for the wreck of the World War 2 destroyer HMAS and lookout of Jesus Point (a huge statue of Jesus together with 580 VOYAGER that lies to the west of the town of Betano. No trace of the steps to reach the lookout), and a daily swim clear from the coast to wreck could be seen, however, the distraction proved interesting to those wash away the dirt of Dili for the work party. The final arrival of the on the upper deck and the change in scenery welcomed. The familiar Wet Season has also provided a relief within the ship. role of Suai guard ship continued until 30 October when TOBRUK Away from the lights of Dili that have gradually returned over the past departed for Darwin and a final load of RNZIR equipment. two months, the damaged state of East Timor was once again obvious. Overall the month has been typified by excellent propulsion and weapon Approaching Kom to a distance of two miles almost no lights were availability, and high personnel motivation and morale. The inevitable visible although some minor fishing activity is now evident in dugout materiel defects have, with minor exception, been swiftly rectified and canoes. operational availability restored within threat warning times. The regular Drill and conduct of practice shoots has remained very good, despite the flow of INTERFET and New Zealand Defence Force high-ranking reduced opportunities with the weapons crews conducting sufficent drills visitors who have been able to meet and talk to the ship’s company have at defence watches to ensure fluidity when required to fire. Minimial provided an external confirmation of the value of the present mission notice firings (for the crews) of this type has been found to be ideal in and have been well received. That this message has been backed by the meeting the requirements of NZCB 051 War Orders for regular firings. visible improvement in conditions ashore in the Dili region, has been an The pattern of daily work parties and patrols in the Maritime Support added bonus. Area was to be repeated until 25 November with only minor variation. While conducting patrols on 3 November, a small Dili registered ferry Initial tasking had been to set essential services to work and then was sighted and stopped midway between Atambua Island and the main- refurbish ‘Kiwi House’ – a recreation and rest centre for all New land. After closing and establishing that the vessel had broken down, Zealanders serving in the area of operations. This was soon completed. efforts to rectify the motor problem commenced. While these progressed Subsequent tasks included restoring and refurbishing the market places under armed guard, the vessel was taken alongside and passage made in West Dili. It provided immediate contact with the local population towards Dili. The motor was eventually rectified and the vessel able to who responded at once to assistance being provided, helping the work complete the last mile of transit to Dili under its own propulsion. Water crews once the initial impetus was seen. -17 - -18 -

Off Suai (early December), effort was devoted to patrolling near the amphibious shipping is a salient reminder of their vulnerability during West Timor border and in close proximity to the coast providing such operations and the need for suitable anti-submarine protection. presence and poise for shore forces. Spare time was also devoted to CANTERBURY weighed anchor in Dili Harbour (10 December) for the training for junior officers and other members of the ship’s company. last time and turned for Wetar Strait and, eventually, home. Overnight, a The elusive Suai Marlin, previously sighted and reported by HMAS fast patrol of Wetar Strait was conducted in wet and threatening TOBRUK failed to appear, although visual lookout and appropriate conditions. preparations were maintained at all times just in case. On 11 December, a major 4.5-inch firing serial took place for an After two days at Suai, a day passage to Dili was broken by a short stop embarked gunnery course and ship’s staff. All remaining ammunition offshore from Betano to inspect the wreck of the World War 2 HMAS was then struck as CANTERBURY outchopped from the Timor Theatre. VOYAGER that had become stuck on the reef while unloading For the first time in 85 days cruising, watches closed up with the some- Australian Commandos. VOYAGER was then sunk by Japanese fighter what bemusing sight of a group of relatively newly arrived personnel planes the following day. Some fifty years later the wreck is in poor being briefed on the requirements of cruising stations safety – having condition with only boilers, her 4-inch gun and ammunition all that never before seen it in CANTERBURY!4 survives. Even so, it is a poignant reminder of the dangers involved in joint operations and the cost of such operations in times of war. The PHOTO GALLERY wreck also provided a valuable opportunistic tool for the ship’s divers to survey, as well as an excellent diving recruitment tool for other members of the ship’s company who longingly observed the divers departure and return. Commencing early morning 6 December, shore parties were landed to work alongside HMAS SYDNEY’s crew to restore hospital services, temporary re-roofing buildings and provide general aid to Oekusi. This area of East Timor has been destroyed to a greater level than Dili due to its isolation and late interdiction by (INTERFET) soldiers from 3 RAR. Border areas remain tense with isolated incidents between INTERFET and militia. While parties worked ashore, training continued at sea with in-company exercises. During one of these, a simulated Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise, CANTERBURY detected an unidentified submarine contact. (above) HMNZS CANTERBURY off the coast of East Timor This contact was maintained for a period in excess of thirty minutes and appeared as a solid contact, neither a mammal or biologic. While there is (below) Shore party from HMNZS CANTERBURY at an abundance of biological activity in Timorese waters, onboard expert- ise classified the contact as a possible submarine and the appropriate 4. HMNZS CANTERBURY is a Type 12 Class Frigate of 2,945 tonnes and was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1971. She is 372 feet (113.4 metres) in authorities were informed. Certainly, the presence of an unknown length, and has an armament of 2 x 4.5-inch (114mm) guns; 6 x 234mm torpedo tubes; and submarine so close to the unprotected INTERFET supply and carries 1 Seasprite helicopter. -19 - -20 -

Oekusi Convent damaged by anti-independence militia forces. If you were involved in the INTERFET Maritime Force we’d like to Members of the ship’s crew later helped repair the Convent. hear from you. You may have been a Commanding Officer, or an officer or a rating serving in one of the ships that were involved; or a diver helping clear Dili Harbour; one of those posted ashore in Dili or elsewhere in East Timor; or perhaps involved in the preparations or the planning of the operations in Darwin or Canberra. We’d like to hear from you no matter how small you think your involvement was. If you’d like to help please write to us at P.O. Box 89, Franklin TAS 7113. Only

with your assistance can we preserve Naval history.

The Museum’s INTERFET Maritime Force Project For the past three years the Museum has been working on a project to document the Naval involvement in INTERFET, East Timor. A number of Commanding Officers of the ships that were involved have kindly assisted by autographing special INTERFET Maritime Force cards as have some of those who were involved on a Staff level and in the If you have enjoyed reading this Newsletter, please pass it down the line planning. We also have a framed display of shoulder patches worn by for others to read the participating countries as well as an INTERFET patch. Even the Prime Minister has kindly assisted. How Can You Help?