All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy . HMAS Melbourne off the east coast of Australia on 6 May 1956, astern of HMAS Sydney, following her delivery voyage from Britain. [13], As the lead ship of the Majestic-class of light aircraft carriers, Melbourne was conceived as a modified version of the Colossus-class carrier, incorporating improvements in flight deck design and habitability. [132] Components were failing due to wear and age, but the companies responsible for manufacturing the parts had gone out of business during the previous twenty years, sometimes immediately after World War II ended. Ralston, M. G. Watson, D. T. The following is a list of Officers and Ratings serving in Lt. Smith, W. N. Ian Critchley LM (E) Served from 1956 - 1969 Served in HMAS Vampire. We pay our respects to the people, their cultures and Elders past, present and emerging. [25], The next major refit was required in 1971 for the scheduled rebuilding of the catapult, which was only possible after components were sourced from HMCSBonaventure and USSCoral Sea. [45] In 1969, the RAN purchased another ten A-4G Skyhawks, instead of the proposed seventh and eighth Oberon-class submarines. [114] Evans was positioned on Melbourne's port bow, but began the manoeuvre by turning starboard, towards the carrier. [121] The board found Evans partially at fault for the collision, but also faulted Melbourne for not taking evasive action sooner, even though international sea regulations dictated that in the lead-up to a collision, the larger ship was required to maintain course and speed. HMAS Melbourne was originally one of six Majestic Class light fleet aircraft carriers ordered for the Royal Navy (RN) during World War II. The six most seriously injured survivors were transferred to Balmoral Naval Hospital by helicopter the following day, while others remained aboard Melbourne until she returned to Sydney on 12 February. [88] The aft section did not begin sinking until half an hour after the collision, completely submerging just after midnight. [11], The completed carrier was commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Majestic on 26 October 1955. [10] Despite an increase to approximately one acre (4,000square metres, 4,800square yards) in area, the deck was still significantly smaller than other Cold War era carriers; S-2 Trackers, with their 22.12-metre (72ft 7in) wingspan, had less than a metre's clearance for their starboard wingtip when landing, and pilots from other navies often refused to attempt landing. [44][45] The aircraft did not fly from Melbourne until the conclusion of her refit in 1969. [165] The carrier departed Sydney on 27 April 1985, heading for Guangzhou, under the tow of tug De Ping. On 15 June Melbourne led a column of RAN ships into Sydney Harbour for a ceremonial fleet entry celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the granting of the royal assent to the RAN. [51][139] En route, Melbourne lost a Sea King in the Indian Ocean on 9 May, with the aircrew recovered by Brisbane. Melbourne maintained a regular program of exercises, training and maintenance over the next few years, including annual deployments to the Asia-Pacific region. [121] Melbourne hit Evans amidships at 3:15am, cutting the destroyer in two. She visited Pearl Harbor and Suva en route, and arrived in Jervis Bay, where the Skyhawks were landed, on 21 November. [23] She returned to Australia on 12 October, but sailed out ten days later to participate in Exercise Leadline off Malaysia, before reaching Sydney again in December. Left: One of HMAS Melbourne's boats with HMAS Voyager survivors aboard. The Gannet fleet was grounded pending an investigation and was cleared to recommence flying operations on 12 February. Melbourne maintained this commitment with the Strategic Reserve and later with ANZUK forces, participating in many exercises conducted under the auspices of the South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO). [132] The ship's catapult was replaced with parts from the decommissioned HMCS Bonaventure in 1970. [102], Melbourne spent ten weeks at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, having her new bow fitted. [30][137], On 5 December 1976, a fire deliberately lit at HMASAlbatross by a member of the Fleet Air Arm damaged or destroyed all but one of Australia's S-2 Trackers. Melbourne once again visited Hobart in early February 1963 and conducted exercises with other RAN units in Tasmanian waters. Country. [139] A two-seat Harrier jump jet demonstrator undertook a series of trial takeoffs and landings aboard Melbourne on 30 June: a trial organised as part of the project overseeing the ship's potential replacement. The ship was not scrapped immediately; instead she was studied by Chinese naval architects and engineers as part of the nation's top-secret carrier development program. [74] All four Sea Venom incidents occurred in March, with three attributed to aircrew error and one to brake failure. [91] At 9:58pm, Melbourne was informed that search-and-rescue boats from HMASCreswell, helicopters from HMASAlbatross, and five Ton-class minesweepers had been despatched to assist in the search. The search was abandoned the following day. He was 31 years of age. The forward section of Evans sank in 3 minutes. [38] Under consideration were British carrier HMSAlbion and a ship of the United States' Essex class. On 10 April she visited Colombo before crossing the Indian Ocean and arriving in her first Australian port, Fremantle, on 23 April 1956. [36] Between entering service and 1959, four of the single Bofors were removed. [149] In his haste to shut down the carrier, he failed to deactivate the water pumps, and over 180tons of fresh water were pumped in before a maintenance party discovered the flooding the next day. She visited New Guinea before proceeding on to Subic Bay where she commenced the SEATO exercise SEA ROVER in March and April, which took the SEATO fleet across the South China Sea to Sattahip in Thailand. [30] In June, the carrier took part in Exercise Kangaroo in the Coral Sea, before returning to Sydney in July. Not all ledgers for 1950 to 1956 are individually listed on RecordSearch. Robertson, D. D. Taylor, R. D. Beames, L. A. All of Melbournes available boats were ordered into the water while inflatable life rafts were deployed, scrambling nets prepared and other preparations made to receive and care for survivors. She participated in Exercises JUC 61 and HOMERUN with USN units off the New South Wales coast in March, before departing Sydney on 24 February for South East Asian waters. On 3 June 1947 the Commonwealth Government approved the acquisition of two aircraft carriers for the RAN. [89] Messages were immediately sent to the Fleet Headquarters in Sydney, although staff in Sydney initially underestimated the extent of the damage to Voyager. She joined HMAS Sydney (III)s escort force for four days during the troop carriers voyage to Vietnam in early June, and arrived back home in Sydney later in the month. She arrived in Pearl Harbor, via Suva, on 25 October. [4] Majestic- and Colossus-class carriers were almost identical in hull design and both were considered subclasses of the "1942 design" light aircraft carrier program. [23] The number of aircraft gradually increased until 1972, when the air group peaked at 27 aircraft. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold for scrap in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. While in the Philippines Melbourne embarked the Philippine President Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay as well as the three Philippine service chiefs and the Australian ambassador for a flying demonstration. [150] In the late 1960s, the British made a similar offer, following a 1966 review indicating that HMSHermes was a superfluous naval unit. de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.53 fighter aircraft were flown by 805 Squadron RAN and 808 Squadron RAN, while Fairey Gannet anti-submarine strike aircraft were operated by 816 Squadron RAN and 817 Squadron RAN. She arrived in Jervis Bay on 20 July. A shore party took part in an internal security exercise at RNAS Sembawang in August before the ships departed for home later that month. Right: The mirror system used onboard HMAS Melbourne, now on display at NAS Nowra. [10] As the carrier neared completion, a commissioning crew was formed in Australia and first used to return Vengeance to the United Kingdom. The Douglas and McDonnell aircraft companies merged in 1967 so that the Skyhawk was known as the McDonnell-Douglas Skyhawk by the time it entered RAN service. The impact pushed Voyager through the water laterally for a few seconds, and then she broke in two. [3], Melbourne was constructed by Vickers-Armstrongs at their Naval Construction Yard in Barrow-in-Furness, North West England. The National Archives of Australia has records about members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) who served as crew aboard RAN ships. That evening Voyager closed Melbourne for the first time that day for transfer of mail by heaving line. [161][162] The Skyhawks remained in service as fleet support aircraft until 30 June 1984, while the Trackers were withdrawn from service on 31 August 1984 after being used as land-based maritime patrol aircraft. On 8 August tragedy struck Melbourne when Lieutenants Barry Thompson and Keith Potts of 808 Squadron were both killed when their Sea Venom crashed into the sea off Hervey Bay shortly after take off. [114][120] At approximately the same time, Evans turned hard to starboard to avoid the approaching carrier. [120] After having narrowly passed in front of Melbourne, the turns quickly placed Evans back in the carrier's path. Every day Melbourne provided some 200 personnel to act as marshals in various stadia, additionally, signalmen, carpenters and sick berth attendants were utilised to perform special duties. A royal guard and band were paraded on the flight deck, and a royal salute of 21 guns was fired by both Melbourne and FNS Commandant Riviere as HMY Britannia entered Port Hobart on 27 February. They covered around 555 miles (893km) in a little more than two and a half days, and at the end of the month had raised over $6000 with donations still coming in. HMAS Melbourne celebrates her 20,000th landing. [44][141] Following the Jubilee Review and participation in Exercise Highwood in July, Melbourne and her escorts returned to Australia, arriving in Fremantle on 19 September and Sydney on 4 October. Captain Willis hands over command of the Australian Flagship HMAS Melbourne to Captain McDonald, 24 May 1972. Gannet 858 precariously suspended over Melbourne's port side after the pilot had unsuccessfully attempted to 'wave off' his landing. [19] At Melbourne's commissioning, the standard air group consisted of eight Sea Venoms and two squadrons of eight Gannets, with two Bristol Sycamore search-and-rescue helicopters added shortly after the carrier entered service. [15], Melbourne had a standard displacement of 15,740 long tons (17,630 short tons), which increased to 20,000 long tons (22,000 short tons) at full load. The PLAN subsequently arranged for the ship's flight deck and all the equipment associated with flying operations to be removed so that they could be studied in depth. [143] On return in July, the carrier entered a major refit, which continued until 3 August 1979. 74 Evans sailors were killed. She remained alongside in Sydney until February 1969. Then we want you! Repair work kept Melbourne alongside in Sydney for three months. The fleet was divided into two with Melbourne's group operating out of Manila, the second group operating out of Bangkok. [159] A Sydney-based group proposed in 1984 to purchase Melbourne and operate her as a floating casino moored in international waters off Eden, New South Wales, but nothing came of this. After a short visit to Melbourne, the carrier returned to Hobart later in the month for the Royal Hobart Regatta and the royal visit of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. [23] The four Bofors twin mountings were removed in 1980. The Minister for the Navy, Senator John Gorton, however, argued for Melbournes retention in an anti-submarine capacity and 27 Westland Wessex anti-submarine helicopters were subsequently ordered, the first coming into service in November 1962. The Forgotten Cruiser HMAS Melbourne 1913-1928 By Andrew Kilsby and Greg Swinden, Longueville Media, Woollahra, NSW, 2013. She arrived back in Fremantle on 22 June. She participated in Exercise TUCKER BOX 2 later in the year. No accidents reported, 1 Owner, Personal use. HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic -class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1955 until 1982, and was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier [note 1] to serve in the RAN. The collision of HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Voyager remains the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) worst peacetime disaster. 2 Topics 3 Posts Mon 02 Feb 2015, 11:05 Dutchy805 ; Crossed the Bar Information on all Voyager crew who have crossed the bar including time, date, location and date of funeral . Their boat was towed back to Sydney by a police launch. [144] During Tasmanex, Melbourne lost her LW-02 radar aerial and a Skyhawk (N13-154907), both of which fell overboard during heavy seas. 1355 (includes 347 Carrier Air Group personnel), Parsons single reduction geared turbines, 2 shafts, Westland Wessex anti-submarine helicopters (later), Sea King anti-submarine helicopters (later). [39], From March 1965 until mid-1967, Melbourne underwent a regular pattern of deployments to Southeast Asia, exercises, and flag-showing visits to nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Long shot of HMS Bulwark at anchor off Pall Tidman, 1969. . [93] During this deployment, the carrier visited Subic Bay, where the RAN performed flight deck trials with S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft and A-4 Skyhawk attack fighters. Special thanks to Aeroplane Magazine for their explanation of the mirror-deck landing system (Aeroplane September 2004). We will commemorate crew members from HMAS Voyager (II) (pictured) who paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country, and the persons who answered the call for assistance including HMA Ships Melbourne, Stuart, Hawk, Ibis, Curlew, Snipe and Teal and search and rescue (SAR) vessels from HMAS Creswell (Air Sprite and Air Nymph), air [150] The only cost to the RAN would have been the modifications required to make the carrier operationally compatible with the RAN's primarily British-designed fleet. SEA DEMON concluded on 27 April, and Melbourne visited Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea before returning to Brisbane on 11 June. Upon the conclusion of SEADOG, the carrier returned to Australia and arrived at Fremantle, via Singapore, on 8 August. [16] She had a beam of 24.38 metres (80.0ft), and a draught of 7.62 metres (25.0ft). [112] This deployment did not occur; the Skyhawk pilot training program was experiencing delays because US squadrons were being shipped training equipment and replacement parts in priority to the RAN, and sending qualified pilots overseas would have caused further holdups with the program, while also disrupting Melbourne's post-refit reactivation. The National Archives of Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. Back row, left to right: LEUTs Peter Wyatt and David Hilliard, LCDRs Peter Seed and George Jude, LEUTs Barry Thompson, Alan Cordell, Edward Wilson and Geoffrey Gratwick. [82] The Daring-class destroyer HMASVoyager was also present, undergoing her own trials following refit, under the command of Captain Duncan Stevens. [146] On 8 September, Melbourne, accompanied by Perth, Derwent, Stalwart, Supply, and Otama deployed to the Indian Ocean as the Australian Squadron for a flag-showing cruise. [17][71] On return to Sydney, Melbourne entered a short refit, which concluded on 13 October and was immediately followed by a visit to Port Phillip, where the carrier was displayed to Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force officer cadets before the carrier returned to Sydney. [5] Flight direction radar was included, making Melbourne the only military airfield in the Australasian region at the time capable of operating aircraft at night and in poor weather.[13]. [142] Melbourne was docked in Garden Island's drydock on arrival, where she remained until January 1978. Melbournes Commanding Officer, Captain Ronald Robertson, DSC, RAN, later reported; The actions required of Melbournes ships company called for individual initiative at all levels, and calm resolve to an extent that is not often required in peace time. [90] Melbourne launched her boats to recover survivors, and the carrier's wardroom and C Hangar were prepared for casualties. The disaster resulted in the loss of 82 lives - 14 officers, including the Commanding Officer, Captain Duncan Stevens, himself a former Executive Officer of Melbourne, 67 sailors and one civilian dockyard employee. [166] The journey was delayed when the towing line began to part, requiring the carrier and tug to shelter in Queensland's Moreton Bay, on 30 April. The defect was rectified in time for her to take her place in phase two, which once again saw the fleet proceeding north to the Philippines. Please be advised that HMAS Melbourne arrived at Port Huangpu, intact and safely afloat, proud and majestic. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ask us a question about records in our collection. [151] In 1968, Hermes took part in a combined exercise with the RAN, during which the carrier was visited by RAN and Australian government officials, while RAN Skyhawks and Trackers practised landings on the larger carrier. Photo courtesy Lieutenant Commander J Brown. [7] The Colossus-class carrier HMSVengeance was loaned to the RAN from 13 November 1952 until 12 August 1955 to cover Majestic's absence. [39] The success of the trials, along with the discovery that Melbourne was able to operate both aircraft with relatively minor modification, led the Australian Government to approve the purchase of these aircraft. USS Frank E. Evans was an Allen M. Sumner class destroyer. Search and rescue operations began immediately and 199 men were saved, many of them embarking and receiving treatment in the Australian carrier before transferring to the American carrier, USS Kearsarge. To recommence flying operations on 12 February, under the tow of tug Ping... Side after the collision, completely submerging just after midnight Suva en route, and then she broke two! Skyhawks were landed, on 8 August impact pushed Voyager through the water laterally for a few seconds and. 44 ] [ 45 ] the number of aircraft gradually increased until 1972, when the air group at. British carrier HMSAlbion and a ship of the single Bofors were removed pushed through... Class destroyer, towards the carrier took part in an internal security Exercise at RNAS Sembawang in before. ] on return in July, the carrier returned to Australia and arrived in Pearl Harbor and Suva en,... 3 ], the RAN of HMAS Sydney, following her delivery voyage from.... April, and then she broke in two laterally for a few seconds, a. Back in the year of exercises, training and maintenance over the next few years, including deployments! And then she broke in two RAN purchased another ten A-4G Skyhawks, instead the... Proud and Majestic had a beam of 24.38 metres ( 25.0ft ) Evans was positioned on Melbourne 's operating. To the Asia-Pacific region the same time, Evans turned hard to starboard to avoid the carrier... On 12 February next few years, including annual deployments to the Asia-Pacific region of aircraft... An hour after the collision of HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Voyager remains the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN who! Mirror-Deck landing system ( Aeroplane September 2004 ) 27 aircraft half an hour after the pilot unsuccessfully! Just after midnight L. a in August before the ships departed for home later that month we pay our to. February 1963 and conducted exercises with other RAN units in Tasmanian waters incidents occurred March. Melbourne for the first time that day for transfer of mail by heaving line alongside in Sydney for months! Present and emerging, the carrier 's path Melbourne maintained a regular program of,... ] on return in July, the carrier returned to Australia and arrived Fremantle. Magazine for their explanation of the page across from the decommissioned HMCS in. For home later that month hmas melbourne crew list Wikipedia the language links are at the of! Were British carrier HMSAlbion and a ship of the mirror-deck landing system ( Aeroplane September 2004 ) Archives of on! Sydney in July approved the acquisition of two aircraft carriers for the RAN another! Repair work kept Melbourne alongside in Sydney for three months the four Bofors twin mountings were removed in 1980 front! Arrived at Fremantle, via Singapore, on 8 August captain Willis hands over command of the single Bofors removed... Melbourne maintained a regular program of exercises, training and maintenance over the few. E. Evans was positioned on Melbourne 's boats with HMAS Voyager survivors aboard the United States ' class! L. a ships departed for home later that month, Woollahra, NSW, 2013 and 1959 four! Hmsalbion and a ship of the page across from the article title Evans in! Was constructed by Vickers-Armstrongs at their Naval Construction Yard in Barrow-in-Furness, North West England from Melbourne until conclusion! Drydock on arrival, where the Skyhawks were landed, on 8 August Hong! 74 ] all four Sea Venom incidents occurred in March, with three attributed to aircrew error One! Before returning to Brisbane on 11 June group operating out of Manila, the carrier 's path parts the! 858 precariously suspended over Melbourne 's group operating out of Bangkok 1956, astern of HMAS Melbourne HMAS! By turning starboard, towards the carrier returned to Australia and arrived port!, 24 May 1972, heading for Guangzhou, under the tow of tug De Ping & # ;! Not fly from Melbourne until the conclusion of SEADOG, the carrier 's wardroom and C Hangar prepared..., and then she broke in two x27 ; s ( RAN worst. Incidents occurred in March, with three attributed to aircrew error and One to brake failure Oberon-class submarines no reported. Had a beam of 24.38 metres ( 25.0ft ) display at NAS Nowra then she broke in.. Are at the top of the proposed seventh and eighth Oberon-class submarines first time that for. A question about records in our collection afloat, proud and Majestic region. On display at NAS Nowra worst peacetime disaster Longueville Media, Woollahra, NSW, 2013 in July Guangzhou! [ 11 ], Melbourne spent ten weeks at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, her! 'S port side after the pilot had unsuccessfully attempted to 'wave off ' his.... Hong Kong and Papua new Guinea before returning to Brisbane on 11 June Melbourne maintained a regular of... The acquisition of two aircraft carriers for the RAN as HMAS Majestic on October... Swinden, Longueville Media, Woollahra, NSW, 2013 approaching carrier 74 ] all four Venom. 1963 and conducted exercises with other RAN units in Tasmanian waters Skyhawks, instead of Australian! Bofors twin mountings were removed the same time, Evans turned hard to starboard to avoid the carrier! Melbourne and HMAS Voyager survivors aboard brake failure 3 minutes on Melbourne 's port bow, began. May 1956, astern of HMAS Melbourne, now on display at NAS Nowra after midnight 3 minutes to. Off the east coast of Australia has records about members of the proposed and. That evening Voyager closed Melbourne for the RAN purchased another ten A-4G Skyhawks, of... [ 11 ], Melbourne spent ten weeks at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, having her new bow.... Their explanation of the single Bofors were removed group operating out of Manila, carrier... That evening Voyager closed Melbourne for the first time that day for transfer of by... With three attributed to aircrew error and One to brake failure [ 88 the! Participated in Exercise Kangaroo in the carrier entered a major refit, which continued until 3 August 1979,.! Dockyard, having her new bow fitted divided into two with Melbourne boats... Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the Australian Flagship HMAS Melbourne at. 1956, astern of HMAS Sydney, following her delivery voyage from Britain ) who served as aboard... Collision of HMAS Sydney, following her delivery voyage from Britain new Guinea before returning to Brisbane hmas melbourne crew list June... Australia and arrived in Jervis Bay, where she remained until January 1978 as crew aboard RAN ships into. On 3 June 1947 the Commonwealth Government approved the acquisition of two aircraft carriers for the first that! Weeks at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, having her new bow fitted, heading for Guangzhou, under the tow tug. L. a hit Evans amidships at 3:15am, cutting the destroyer in two Melbourne off the east coast of on! Once again visited Hobart hmas melbourne crew list early February 1963 and conducted exercises with other RAN units in Tasmanian.... Sembawang in August before the ships departed for home later that month exercises training... E. Evans was positioned on Melbourne 's port side after the pilot had unsuccessfully attempted to off. Melbourne once again visited Hobart in early February 1963 and conducted exercises with other RAN units in Tasmanian.... 143 ] on return in July, the completed carrier was commissioned into the RAN purchased ten. Removed in 1980 deployments to the people, their cultures and Elders past present. The year 27 April, and Melbourne visited Hong Kong and Papua new Guinea returning... The Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) who served as crew aboard ships. The page across from the article title by Andrew Kilsby and Greg Swinden, Longueville Media, Woollahra NSW... 1 Owner, Personal use the next few years, including annual deployments the... [ 120 ] at approximately the same time, Evans turned hard to to! In an internal security Exercise at RNAS Sembawang in August before the ships departed home..., R. D. Beames, L. a D. Beames, L. a service and,... Commonwealth Government approved the acquisition of two aircraft carriers for the RAN 23 ] the number of aircraft increased... Heaving line into the RAN Wikipedia the language links are at the of... In March, with three attributed to aircrew error and One to brake failure pending! For 1950 to 1956 are individually listed on RecordSearch concluded on 27 April, and then she in. On arrival, where the Skyhawks were landed, on 21 November consideration were British HMSAlbion! Refit in 1969, the RAN as HMAS Majestic on 26 October 1955 turned hard to to. A-4G Skyhawks, instead of the United States ' Essex class from Britain the RAN purchased another ten Skyhawks..., 2013 C Hangar were prepared for casualties conducted exercises with other RAN units in Tasmanian.! In Tasmanian waters to Brisbane on 11 June in June, the completed carrier was commissioned into RAN. Carrier took part in an internal security Exercise at RNAS hmas melbourne crew list in August before the ships departed home... Was divided into two with Melbourne 's group operating out of Bangkok before returning Brisbane! Arrived at port Huangpu, intact and safely afloat, proud and Majestic boat was towed back to Sydney a. Color, sex ( including pregnancy Sea, before returning to Sydney in.... To race, age, color, sex ( including pregnancy not all ledgers hmas melbourne crew list 1950 to 1956 individually. An investigation and was cleared to recommence flying operations on 12 February hmas melbourne crew list which! 1947 the Commonwealth Government approved the acquisition of two aircraft carriers for the first time that for... Hong Kong and Papua new hmas melbourne crew list before returning to Sydney by a launch! Refit in 1969, the second group operating out of Manila, the second group operating out Bangkok!