The Collins class It was disappointing to see negative publicity from Canberra, especially around 1999-2000 about our new submarines and other RAN ships, such as “rust bucket Manoora“. Certainly there have been problems. Every undertaking generates problems. However, other than dealing with overly optimistic contingency factors (only 2.3 per cent or $115 million was allowed […]
An Australian RNVR in WW II This essay was awarded second prize in the Naval Officers Club Literary Prize competition, 2001. It was published in the Naval Officers Club Newsletter Number 46, 1 September 2001, pp 12-16. by Noel Buckley The outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 caught most people, including me, […]
The ONS-5 Convoy and U-boat battle By Mike Downes Paper presented to the Company of Master Mariners, Sydney Branch, 24 November 1993, reprinted with permission. The chief ONS-5 adversary was the Type VII U-boat. The most common variant, the Type VIIC, was 67 x 5.85 x 4.37 metres (220 ft x 19 x 14 feet) […]
Honkers revisited The first impression made by its striking new architecture is nothing short of profound. Unlike Australia, the soaring elegant skyscrapers attest to the importance of outstanding architecture in local minds. It underscores their bustling work ethic. That old stamping ground of the Far East Fleet and regular port of call for RAN ships […]
Some Chinese ferries Apart from its people and its carefully preserved historic sites, nearly everything in China seems less than 20 years old nowadays. The tourist ferries are no exception. The historic Hong Kong Star Ferries remain, but of particular interest here are the big new diesel-driven 3,000-5,000 ton Yangtze River ferries and the smaller […]
Radiance of the seas It may be asserted confidently that in design concepts, the modern cruise liner is a clear generation or two away from the gentle old 1950s and -60s Orcades and Otranto. The Royal Caribbean liner GTV (Gas Turbine Vessel) Radiance of the Seas is typical of this new breed of luxurious behemoth […]
Manila revisited by Laurie Watson During the 1960s and 1970s many RAN ships visited Manila during SEATO exercises, on R&R from Vietnam, or just on goodwill visits. There are plenty who will remember the hassle of catching liberty boats into the landing near Naval Headquarters on Roxas Boulevard, the long seafront esplanade or, even worse, […]
Iran observations by John Da Costa These observations were compiled after a recent three-week study tour of Iran, conducted by the University of Sydney in conjunction with the Near East Archaeological Foundation. The tour examined the history of Persia through the ages. In recent times, Iran has not had good press and so it was […]
Around Australia in a 4 x 4 By John and Pam Da Costa We left Sydney on 11 June in our SWB Pajero, towing our very comfortable off-road camper-trailer, and got back home 211 days later on 8 January, having driven some 30,500 kms. We had only relatively minor car/trailer problems along the way: an […]
Anti-ship missiles HMS Sheffield (above) on fire after her fatal Exocet hit, 4 May 1982, off the Falklands and USS Stark on fire and listing after taking two Exocet AM-39s aboard (one failed to explode) 17 May 1987 in the Persian Gulf. “Six, eight, heave,” is long gone from the gunner’s drill manual. No longer […]
