The Navy Vol_22_Part2 1960 - Navy League of Australia
The Navy Vol_22_Part2 1960 - Navy League of Australia
The Navy Vol_22_Part2 1960 - Navy League of Australia
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EXERCISE SEALIONLAMEST SEATO EXERCISE HELDUK <strong>Australia</strong>n warships,Fincluding the carrier,H.M.A.S. MELBOURNE, haveplaved an important part inthe" SEATO Exercise SKA-LION, just concluded.<strong>The</strong> exercise was the biggest<strong>of</strong> its kind yet held by SEATO.More than tiO ships and 150aircraft from all eight membernations took part.MELBOURNE, with the DaringClass destrovers VEN-DETTA and VOYAGER, formedpart <strong>of</strong> three carrier groupswhich protected a large convoy<strong>of</strong> supply ships moving frontManila to Singapore.<strong>The</strong> three groups sailed fromManila on May 6, and in theSouth China Sea were joinedon May 11 by a second smallerforce <strong>of</strong> warships that had sailedfrom Bangkok on May 9.This second group included the<strong>Australia</strong>n fast anti-submarinefrigate. H.M.A.S. QUEEN-BOROUGH.On the completion <strong>of</strong> theoperational phase <strong>of</strong> the exercise,the ships <strong>of</strong> the combinedSEALION Fleet entered SingaporeNaval Base on Fridav.May 13.Command Rotates.Rear-Admiral W. H. Harrington.C.B.E., D.S.O., FlagOfficer Commanding the <strong>Australia</strong>nMeet and one <strong>of</strong> thethree senior National commanders.is living his flag inH.M.A.S. MELBOURNE. <strong>The</strong>other two are Rear-AdmiralJoseph D. Black. U.S.N.(U.S.S. YORKTOWN) and theoverall director, ltear-AdmiralV. C. Begg. C.B., D.S.O., D.S.C.,(H.M.S. ALBION). Throughoutthe exercise tactical command<strong>of</strong> the Force rotatedamong these three <strong>of</strong>ficers.11.M A S. MELBOURNE wasthe only carrier in the exercisewith both anti-submarine andfighter aircraft, and providedcover against submarine, surface.and air attack on theforce.Co-operation among forcesreached a high peak, so it wasnot uncommon for an <strong>Australia</strong>nGannet to combine withU.S. Trackers and helicoptersand a Pakistan destroyer in asubmarine hunt. Similarly.<strong>Australia</strong>n Sea Venoms weredirected by a French radar destroyerto intercept attackingaircraft <strong>of</strong> the U.S. MarineCorps and the R.A.F.R.A.N. Versatile.VENDETTA and VOYAGERwere members <strong>of</strong> the internationalescort screens for AL-BION and MELBOURNE respectively.<strong>The</strong>ir versatilitywas emphasised by rapid andaccurate firing in both surfaceand anti-aircraft roles anil byexcellent A/S detection and attack.This ensures their activeparticipation in most features<strong>of</strong> the exercise.QUEENBOROUGH, a specialistfast anti-submarine frigate,was well suited to thepredominantly A-S activities <strong>of</strong>Bangkok group. All three CommandingOfficers <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Australia</strong>nships took their turn asscreen commander <strong>of</strong> their respectivescreens.After a three-day post exercisecritique and relaxationperiod in Singapore, the R.A.N,ships sailed on .Monday. May16, to meet their various operationalcommitments.Sailor* from eifht Seato Nations fraternised when on shore leave durlnc- SEALION."SPORTS DAYDuring OperationSealionIn Manila Harbour an athleticmeet was held on boardthe Royal <strong>Navy</strong> Carrier, II.M.S.ALBION. Here a husky Americansailor tries his hand at"tossing the caber". <strong>The</strong> carnivalhonours went to the teamrepresenting H.M.A.S. MEL-BOURNE.Food tastes better . . .FOSTER'SMELBOURNELACItBITTER—Photo courtesy "S. M. Herald"foodbetteriswithGoodBeer12 THE NAVYJun*. I960
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