The Navy Vol 61 Part 1 1999
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JANUARY-MARCH 1999 VOLUME 61 NO. 1 The Magazine of the Navy League of Australia THE NAVY Viewpoint Like all quality magazines. The Navy must change with Volume 61 No 1 the times. As the millennium approaches and to mark the beginning of the its seventh decade of publication our presentation has been altered to meet the needs of its Feature Articles readers. 3 World Navies Build New Generations The Navy is now broadly presented via the major or of Surface Combatants feature articles, naval happenings, smaller supporting 5 Nuke Ships Steam Into Hot Water stories and the regular features. 8 HMAS BARCOO - Grounding April 1948 From the July edition onwards, the Navy League, its 13 USS INCHON - MCS 12 members and readers, welcome to the editorship chair, 16 Naval Review - South Korea regular contributor Mark Schweikert. With the former Federal President Geoff Evans as Managing Editor. Mark 17 Naval Happenings will co-ordinate the contents of the each edition, RAN Celebrates 87 following the retirement of this writer, after 22 years and A New Future for ARDENT 88 editions. Fleet Air Arm 50th To create and maintain the quality of such a magazine, requires the continuous help of many Navy League 22 New Zealand News members, as well as readers of The Navy, it would be HMNZS RESOLUTION Survey Role impossible to name all contributors over the two decades, HMNZS CHARLES UPHAM but special mention should be made of the former Federal Right Ship for the Job? President Geoff Evans. Otto Albert from the NSW Division and Tony Grazebrook from Victoria. From the 29 Operation Bel Isi RAN. the official Navy Public Affairs Officers Vic 32 What is a .... Naval Airman? Jeffery. Mike James and Joe Straczek have provided numerous news and historical articles. Regular Features With the assistance of the Navy photographers and 1 Viewpoint several enthusiasts, including A.D. Baker III, Brian 2 From Our Readers Morrison, John Mortimer. Antony Preston and Chris 24 Observations Sattler. The Navy has always been extremely well served. 30 'The Old Navy' Thank you to all for your 22 years of assistance and 33 Book Reviews encouragement. Ross Gillett Montage of Navy Week 98. Front Cover: ABMUS Byron Crump and his friend 6- (Above) Open day at the Fleet Base East. month-old Blake Tonkin, really got into the swing of (Left top) Four Fleet Air Arm helicopters 'pose' in front of things during the open day at Fleet Base East in Sydney. two Sydney landmarks. (Photo - CPOPH Cameron Martin) (Left centre) RAN Band performance in front of the Back: Not a warship, but the 60 year old Manly ferry Corporate Members Australian Naval Aviation Museum display. THE AUSTRALIAN SHIPOWNERS' ASSOCIATION SOUTH STEYNE in the Captain Cook Dry Dock. (Right lower) Ceremonial Sunset, at the conclusion of the COMPUTER SCIENCES OF AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Sydney. October. 1988. (Photo - NPU) Sydney Navy Day. BTR AEROSPACE AUSTRALIA HAWKER DF. HAVIl.LAND LIMITED (Photos- CPOPH Cameron Martin and ABPH Torrin Nelson) Inside Back: HMAS GERALDTON. (Photo RAN) ROCKWELL SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD The Navy STRANG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD The Magazine of the Navy League of Australia The Navy is now in its 61" year of publication. The Navy As the official organ of the Navy League of Australia, the All letters to the editor and contributions to; quarterly seeks to keep both members and the public The Editor. Ross Gillett informed of naval developments at home and abroad. 4 Dela Close. The Navy Magazine is a combination of articles, Dee Why. NSW. 2099 describing current projects, future activities and past events, including news of naval hardware, reviews, Subscriptions and Membership personalities. All magazine subscription and membership enquiries to; Commentaries arc provided from both members and naval The Hon Secretary, writers. NSW Division. Navy League of Australia. GPO Box 1719. The opinions or assertions expressed in The Navy are those of the Svdncv. NSW. 2001 authors and arc not necessarily those of the Federal Council of the Navy League of Australia, the Kditor of The Navy or the Royal Australian Navy. Copy deadline for the next edition is 9 February 1999 PAGE 1 FROM OUR READERS World Navies Build New Generations of Surface Combatants HMAS CURLEW Would any of your readers be able to advise us if there is an HMAS CURLEW or Ton class Minesweeper DIAMANTINA after completion. Association who may be able to assist us in this regard. Queensland Maritime Museum We enjoy The Navy magazine and all copies are kept in the Museum library as a valuable source of reference. Dear Sir. Yours truly. I am researching the story of the River class frigate HMAS DIAMANTINA. our Museum's major exhibit. Paul Morrison The new South Korean destroyer KWANGGAETO. the lead ship of the KDX-1 class. (Photo - John Mortimer) GPO Box 3949 A Maritime of Australia Project Support Scheme Grant Sydney. NSW 2001 will enable me to study records in Sydney and Perth. By Navy Leaguer However, much of the ship's story is not in the records, The world's major and medium maritime powers are South Korea has just commissioned the first of a new but in the memories of the people associated with her. three ship class of 3900 ton general purpose guided Those personal stories are a vital part of a complete HMS BASILISK building a new generation of surface combatants. missile frigates. These ships armament includes short history. This reflects a carefully assessed decision that surface range anti-missile missiles, surface to surface missiles, a Dear Sir. combatants will be required to play their roles in maritime 127 mm gun and an anti-submarine helicopter. So I am appealing to readers of The Navy who sailed on warfare and operations for the next thirty years and more. The same country has laid down the keel of the first of DIAMANTINA or had contact with her. to send me an I am writing to ask if any of your readers can assist with a further three ship class of larger anti-air warfare guided account of the highlights of their connection with this information on HMS BASILISK. My grandfather served Surface combatants will be required for blue water missile frigates. These KDX-2 ships will have mark 41 veteran warship. Photographs and papers for copying and aboard her in Australian waters between 1870? and 1874 and littoral operations. Surface combatants will be vertical missile launching systems for Standard SM-2 return would be especially appreciated in the compiling of when they discovered the China Straight in south-east required for anti-submarine, anti air and anti surface the history of this long serving and much loved ship. Asia. BASILISK was a paddle warship with three masts. warfare. Surface combatants will be able to defend block III medium range anti-air missiles (very similar to themselves against sea or land based air. underwater and those with which the RAN hopes to arm the Anzac class surface attack. frigates during their war fighting improvement I can be contacted by phone on (07) 3397 9924 I am searching for the names of the ship's company, programme). The KDX-2 class will also have guns, where she was launched and her final fate. Any In formulating and implementing their policies, vertically launched ASROC anti-submarine weapons and Yours truly. information would be greatly appreciated. national governments will continue to need the offensive, defensive and graduated response options provided by an helicopter. Peter Nunan I. Davidson surface combatants. China continues series production of her own design of Luhai guided missile destroyers and Jiangwei class Queensland Maritime Museum 48 Churchill Ave Let us take a look at what is going on in our region. frigates. All these ships are expected to operate under the P.O. Box 3098 Strathfield NSW 2135 Japan has just completed a class of four new Aegis umbrella of shore based aircraft. South Brisbane. Qld. 4101 anti-air warfare destroyers of the 9500 ton full load Kongo class. Series production of the 5100 ton general Much more significantly. China is purchasing from General Services Medal Canadian Request purpose Murasame class continues. Japans program is Russia two 840 ton Sovremenny class destroyers. Tnese particularly noteworthy. ships are armed with the latest Russian weapons, including SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship missiles. Most Dear Sir. Dear Sir. A primary role of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force is the protection of trade out to 1000 nautical miles significantly, the Sovremennys are armed with area defence AAW systems, a capability the Chinese Navy Our Warships and Marine Corps Museum has recently Can the readers of The Navy magazine assist me in my from the Japanese coast well outside the radius of action currently lacks. The ships are under construction in acquired a General Services Medal with Bar: MALAYA search for RAN cap-ribbons (tally bands), of all ships and of Japanese shore based high performance fighters. Russia. The Sovremennys will be able to operated without which is inscribed with the name J.G. VICKERS and his establishments. Foreign tallies are also welcome. Furthermore, naval operations in protection of trade take RAN service number. J.G. Vickers served in HMAS JMSDF surface combatants well within the radius of shore based air cover. CURLEW in 1964 during the era of the Indonesian Please write to me; action of potentially hostile shore based high performance Taiwan is just completing construction of thirteen Confrontation. LS Robert Brytan strike aircraft. major surface combatants. Seven of these are modified #602-1865 Barclay Street Thus. Japan clearly has confidence in the ability of FFG 7 class frigates and six are French built La Fayette The medal is now on display, but we would like to contact Vancouver, BC modern surface combatants to defend themselves against class frigates.