Aug-Sep-Oct, Nov-Dec 1971-Jan 1972 - Navy League of Australia

R.A.N T.ODAYPapuan and New Guinean officersand sailors are being trained toresume full responsibility foroperating the P-NG patrol boatsquadron.The speed and versatility of thepatrol boats have made them usefulfor assisting disabled craft, for useas sea-air rescue boats and fortransporting patients from remoteshallow ports.Major excursions have been madeinto Papua-New Guinea riversystemsIncluded in the ship's equipment ishigh definition navigation radar,high and ultra-high frequency radiotransmitters and receivers, gyro andmagnetic compasses and echosounderThey are fully air conditioned Allwere built in Queensland shipyards,with the first being commissioned inNovember. 1967PATROL BOATSAttack, Altape. Samarl. Advance. Acute. Aware. Lae. Madang. LaDaVa. Archer. Assail. Adroit. Arrow.Ardent. Barricade. Barbette. Bombard. Buccaneer. Bandolier and Bayonet.Displacement: 146 tonsLength: 107 ftBeam: 20 ItArmament: 40 60mm Bolors gu» machine gun and variety ol light .ir msMachinery: Two 16cylinder dieseis producing more than 3000h pSpeed: Over 20 knotsShip's company: 19The troopship/equipment carrier. H.M.A.S. Sydney (formerly an aircraft carrier). She has beencontinuously employed in transporting Australian forces to and from South Vietnam.TROOP TRANSPORTH.M.A.S. Sydney, which first sawservice in the Royal Australian Navyas a light aircraft carrier, wasconverted in 1961-62 to a fasttroop/transport carrierIt is also the senior ship of the FirstAustralian Training SquadronSydney was recommissioned inher present transport role on 7March. 1962She is capable of transporting alarge body of men and theirequipment anywhere in the worldLate in May. 1964 Sydneytransported a complete load of Armyand R A A F units to MalaysiaShe has been continuouslyemployed in transporting AustralianForces to South Vietnam and in 1971visited the United States to pick upnew aircraft for the Fleet Air ArmSydney was laid down in 1943 asH.M.S.Terrible.By the end of the war she was noturgently needed and was laid upuntiil bought for the RAN asAustralia's first aircraft carrierShe reached Sydney on 28 May.1949. but returned the followingyear to bring back the 21st CarrierAir Group The aircraft bornecomprised Sea Furies (fighters), thenthe fastest piston engined fighter inthe world, and all purpose FairyFireflies.In 1951-52 and 1953-54 Sydneyserved with distinction in Koreanwaters where she mounted aerialstrikes against Communist tanks,trains, bridges, supply depots andtroop concentrationsSydney finally landed her aircrafton 1 May. 1955. and six years laterbegan her role as a training shipSYDNEYDisplacement: I 7.233 tons Mull load)Length: 698 It (overall)Beem: 80 ItArmament: Four 40 60mm BoforsgunsMachinery: Parsons single reduction gearedturbinesSpeed: Over 20 knotsShip'* company: 607TRAINING SHIPSMuch of the sea training for R.A.N,sailors is gained through experienceaboard the troop carrier H.M.A.S.Sydney, and the training destroyersQueenborough and Anzac. The threeships form the First AustralianTraining Squadron.Queenborough was a Royal Navyship loaned to the R.A.N, in 1943 andPage Twenty-six THE NAVY August-September-October, 1971QUEENBOROUGHDisplacement: 2 020 tonsLength: 3b9ftBeam: 35 7 ftArmament: Twin40 60mm Bofors guntwo anti-submarinemortarsMachinery: Parsonsgeared turbines40.000 shp 2 shaftsSpeed: Over 31 knotsShip's Company: 237R A N TODAYtransferred to the R A N in 1950.She was converted to a fast antisubmarinefrigate and saw service inSouth-East Asia and off theAustralian coastShe was taken out of service andplaced in the Reserve Fleet in 1963.but recommissioned in 1966 as atraining ship.With the other training ships.Queenborough provides most of thebasic sea time for recruits andmidshipmen during their initialtraining periodThe destroyer Anzac is a veteran ofthe Korean War. and since 1960 hasbeen a Fleet training ship.Originally she had three twin 4.5inch gun mountings, but one of theforward turrets was removed in 1966and replaced by a classroom fortrainingANZACDisplacement 3 450 tonsLength: 379 f IBeam: 41 ItArmament: I wo 4 bingun (one twin turret)Machinery: Parsonsgeared turbines50.000 shp. 2 shaftsSpeed: 31 knotsShip's Company: 270The destroyer tender H.M.A.S. Stalwart She is a floating workshop with the Job of maintaining andrepairing destroyers between major dockyard refits. Stalwart can handle several destroyersalongside at one time and can operate from forward bases.H.M.A.S. Queenborough was launched and completed In 1942 as a destroyer. Later she wasconverted to a Fast Anti-submarine frlgete and since 1966. along with the other ships of the R.A.N.training squadron, she has provided basic sea time for recruits and midshipmen during their Initialtraining period.she has had her director removed and "B" turret replaced by a classroom.DESTROYER TENDERThe destroyer tender H.M.A.S.Stalwart is a floating workshop withthe job of maintaining and repairingdestroyers between major dockyardrefits. Three-quarterr of the ship'scompany of 396 are engaged inrepairing and maintaining otherships.Stalwart can handle severaldestroyers alongside at the sametime and can operate from forwardbases.She has extensive and wellequipped engineering, electrical,electronic, weapons, shipwright andother workshops manned by officersand sailors expert in a variety oftrades.She is Australian-designed andbuilt.August-September-October, 1971 THE NAVY Page Twenty-seven