Journal of the Australian Naval Institute
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P JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN NAVAL INSTITUTE VOLUME 6 MAY 1980 NUMBER 2 AUSTRALIAN NAVAL INSTITUTE 1. The Australian Naval Institute has been formed and incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory. The main objects of the Institute are:— a. to encourage and promote the advancement of knowledge related to the Navy and the Maritime profession. b. to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas concerning subjects related to the Navy and the Maritime profession. c. to publish a journal. 2. The Institute is self supporting and non-profit making. The aim is to encourage freedom of discussion, dissemination of information, comment and opinion and the advancement of professional knowledge concerning naval and maritime matters. 3. Membership of the Institute is open to — a. Regular members — Members of the Permanent Naval Forces of Australia. b. Associate Members — (1) Members of the Reserve Naval Forces of Australia. (2) Members of the Australian Military Forces and the Royal Australian Air Force both permanent and reserve. (3) Ex-members of the Australian Defence Forces, both permanent and reserve components, provided that they have been honourably (discharged from that force. (4) Other persons having and professing a special interest in naval and maritime affairs. c. Honorary Members — A person who has made a distinguished contribution to the Naval or maritime profession or who has rendered distinguished service to the Institute may be elected by the Council to Honorary Membership. 4. Joining fee for Regular and Associate members is $5. Annual Subscription for both is $10. 5. Inquiries and application for membership should be directed to:- The Secretary, Australian Naval Institute, P.O. Box 18, DEAKIN, A.C.T. 2600 CONTRIBUTIONS As the Australian Naval Institute exists for the promotion and advancement of knowledge relating to the Naval and maritime profession, all members are strongly encouraged to submit articles for publication. Only in this way will our aims be achieved. DISCLAIMER In writing for the institute r must be borne in mind that the views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Department of Defence, the Chief of Naval Staff or the Institute. Registered for Posting as a Publication — Category B ISSN 0312-5807 JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN NAVAL INSTITUTE (INC) CONTENTS Title Page Chapter News 2 Correspondence 2 From the Editor 5 Admiral Sir James Eberle, KCB 5 Strategic and Defence Studies Centre 6 Australian Association for Maritime History 6 Training the General List Officer — Three Years On — by 'Master Ned' 8 The RAN and the JMSDF — Pacific Partners'' — by Lieutenant Kerry Clancy RAN 11 Application of Training Systems Theory to the RAN Staff Course — by Commander Haydn Daw RAN 18 The Demise of the Fleet Air Arm 22 Some Impressions of Antarctic Operations — by Lieutenant Frank Doe RAN 26 New Members 31 Canadian IROQUOIS Class Anti-Submarine Destroyers — by Mr. Alan Payne 32 Journal Back Issues 35 HMAS FREMANTLE — Two Generations 36 Shiphandling Corner 37 Nobody asked me, but 39 Ships and the Sea 41 Book Reviews 42 Journal Binders 47 Application for Membership 48 Articles or condensations of articles are not to be reprinted or reproduced without the permission of the Institute. Extractsmay be quoted for the purposes of research, review or comment provided the source is acknowledged. The front cover shows the launching of the RAN's new amphibious heavy lift ship. HMAS TOBRUK, at Carrington's shipyard. Tomago. NSW on 1 March, 1980. TOBRUK will commis- sion later this year. — Defence Public Relations photograph Journal of the Australian Naval Institute — Page / CHAPTER NEWS CANBERRA CHAPTER 'home-owned' merchant ships, before the day arrives when On 18 April, members and guests in the Canberra Chap- there is no allied merchant shipping left to protect. Mike's ter were entertained by Mr Michael Melliar-Phelps (Asso- talent as a marine photographer and raconteur will be borne ciate Member ANI) who journeyed from Sydney to deliver his out in a later transcript planned to be published in the In- provocative address entitled: 'Sovie' Mercantile Offensive'. stitute Journal. The Soviet merchant fleet is aggressively and un- Members may also be interested in his unique book, to ashamedly using Western capitalist tactics to capture trade in be published by Rigby's later this year, entitled 'A Century of all parts of the world, at a time when high overheads and Sydney Shipping', and featuring over 200 rare and beautiful shrinking markets are causing the collapse of shipping photographs covering 120 years of shipping in Sydney companies as we know them. A sobering feature of this vast Harbour. Soviet merchant fleet is that all bul the 'specials' are built Looking to coming events, the Institute will be hosting an outside the Soviet Union, despite the reality of the largest address by C in C Fleet, Admiral Sir James Eberle, at the shipbuilding capacity in the world. Asa consequence of this Academy of Science at 1930 on Thursday 24 July (see page 'eco-strategy', it would appear necessary for the RAN to re- 5 of this Journal). Members could assist the planning of this assess its traditional role of 'protecthg the sea lanes', or al- function by indicating to the Secretary as soon as possible ternatively the government reviewing its policy regarding their likely attendance. Correspondence SWORDS (I) This at least would seem to disprove some of the pos- sible explanations put forward by 'Master Ned': it makes one Dear Sir, suspect that the others are equally ill-founded. I think the best answer is the usual one given in response to questions Master Ned' asked after the origins of the manner of the of naval lore — it's traditional. wearing of Naval swords I passed the question to an Un- impeachable Authority and reproduce his reply below: Yours sincerely, D. J. Campbell, 'Having consulted the Naval Historical Section and the Commander, RAN Maritime Museum, neither can produce any collateral Government House, for the various mylhs connected with the origins of the Canberra 2600 long slings and thus the need for Naval Officers to carry their swords in their left hand. However, I am informed that thore was no standard pat- WANTED tern of Naval sword until 1805 Before that officers wore whatever type of sword took ttieir fancy or suited their Dear Sir, pocket I would like to ask through the Journal's 'Correspon- The shoulder sword belt was worn until 1832, when dence' column for assistance in obtaining back issues of the William IV directed that it should be replaced by a waist Volume 1 Number 1 and Volume 3 Number 1 Journals. belt. Since then the length of th>3 slings has been chang- Yours faithfully. ed on several occasions GARRY CANNING None of the authorities I have approached can produce ABETW any rationale for that directive, out that is not to say that Electrical Mess none exists (It would have betm late in the day for it to HMAS HOBART have been a censure for the mutinies of 1793 ) Care G.P.O. SYDNEY 2890 Page 2 — Journal of the Australian Na val Institute SWORDS (II) Monthly "musters" or meetings, are held at the thea- trette of the State Public Library. La Trobe Street, Mel- Dear Sir, bourne, at 7 45 on the second Wednesday of every month (with the exception of January ) These meetings feature I had hoped that my first contribution to the Journal would lectures, usually illustrated, of topics ranging from personal have related to a serious maritime subject However, being experiences to historical and current maritime subjects Films an old gunnery worthy. I must pontificate in reply to MASTER of maritime interest are occasionally shown. Visitors are NED's search for knowledge on the wearing of naval officers' welcome at all musters. swords ('Nobody asked me. but ...', Page 43. February, 1980 The subscriptions are for Journal). Metropolitan members, $9 00 Country, interstate and overseas members $7 00 The origin of the custom of wearing one's sword swung low All financial members receive a copy of The Dog Watch lay in the whims of fashion. In the first half of the eighteenth and four quarterly issues of the News Letter; these are century, the cutaway coat in various forms became popular, included in the subscription. although not standard. A waistcoat was necessary with this For further information apply to the address below: style and the sword belt was worn under it, which in turn necessitated the sword being slung so that the hilt was below Yours faithfully. the waistcoat. To ensure that the sword hung with a slightly forward angle, different length slings were used clipped to The Hon Secretary rings on the same side of the scabbard. Shiplovers' Society of Victoria During the next hundred years, various changes in sword P.O. Box 1169K wearing styles occurred and it was not until 1856 that an Ad- G.P O Melbourne 3001 miralty regulation was issued determining the present length of slings and therefore the method of wearing and carrying a sword. Nowhere can I find reference to mutinies or decrees of mon- ELIGIBILITY FOR REGULAR MEMBERSHIP archs, except in the legend mentioned by MASTER NED. Sir, Undoubtedly the correct method of carrying one's sword now- adays is clumsy and awkward and rarely used by senior I write with regards to correspondence in your columns officers, or junior officers who think the gunnery officer is not concerning full membership of the Institute for members of watching. the RANR. The alternatives to carrying the sword in this manner would The Institute's founding fathers' desire to ensure that appear to be either to wear the belt outside the jacket and fresh minds lead the Institute is both understood and sup- support the sword in a frog or to indulge in the practice re- ported It is appreciated that retired Reserve Officers are as quired of colour officers and greatcoat-wearers, namely likely as retired PNF Officers to inhibit the availability of fresh having a slit in the left-hand side of the jacket.