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

Text of the Annual Report presented to Parliament by the Ministerfor Defence, The Honourable David Fairbairn, D.F.C., M.P.DEFENCE REPORT 1971The Royal AustralianTHE FLEET1 Aircraft Carrier H MAS Melbourne R21. Flagship3 Guided Missile Destroyers: H M A S Perth DDG38.H.M.A.S Hobart DDG39. H M A S Brisbane DDG41. FirstAustralian Destroyer Squadron3 Daring-class Destroyers: H M.A.S Vampire DD11HMAS Vendetta DD08. H M A S Duchess DD154.Second Australian Destroyer Squadron6 River-class Destroyer Escorts: H M A S Yarra DE45.H M A S Parramatta DE46. H M A S Stuart DE48.H M A S. Derwent DE49. H M A S Swan DE50. H MASTorrens DE53. Third Australian Destroyer Squadron.4 Oberon-class Submarines H M A S Oxley SS57.H M AS Otway SS59. H.M.A.S. Ovans SS70. H M ASOnslow SS60. First Australian Submarine Squadron.4 Coastal Minesweepers HMAS Hawk MSC1139.H M A S Teal (O) MSC1152. HMAS Gull (0) MSC1185H.M.A.S. Ibis (0) MSC1183. First Australian MineCountermeasures Squadron2 Minehunters: H.M.A.S. Curlew MSH1121. H.M.A.S.Snipe MSH110220 Patrol Boats: H M A S Advance PTF83. HMASAssail PTF89. H MAS Attack PTF90. H M A S. BarbettePTF97. H M AS Barricade PTF98. H.M.A.S. BayonetPTF101. HMAS. Aitape* PTF84. HMAS. Ladava*PTF92. H M A S Lae* PTF93. H M A S Madang* PTF94.H M AS Samaral* PTF85 H M AS Aware PTF91.H.M.A.S. Ardent PTF87 HMAS Bombard PTF99H.M.A.S Buccaneer PTF100. H M A S Archer (R) PTF86H.M.A.S. Adroit (R) PTF82, H.M.A.S. Arrow PTF88.H.M.A.S Acute (R) PTF81. H M A S Bandolier (0) PTF95.First Australian Patrol Boat Squadron.•—Papua-New Guinea Division.(R)— Naval Reserve Training.(0)—Operational Reserve.TRAINING SHIPS1 Transport: H.M.A.S Sydney AP214.1 Destroyer: H.M.A.S. Anzac DD59.1 Destroyer Escort: H M A S Queenborough DE57First Australian Training Squadron.SUPPORT SHIPS1 Destroyer Tender: H.M.A.S. Stalwart AD215.1 Oiler: H.M A S Supply A01952 Reserve Training Ships: H.M.A.S. Bass GS247.H.M.A.S. Banks GS244.1 Cargo Ship: H.M.A.S. Jeparlt AFS (temporarily inCommission for Vietnam Service).Page Thirty-twoNavy1 Surveying Ship H M A S Moresby AG5731 Coastal Surveying Ship HMAS Paluma AGSC337.1 Oceanographic Research Ship K M A S DiamantinaAGOR2661 Trials and Oceanographic Ship: H.MA.S KimblaAGOR314FLEET AIR ARMSQUADRONSHT 723: Helicopter aircrew training and pilotcontinuation training. Fleet support and search andrescue duties: Iroquois and Scout helicoptersVC 724 Fixed-wing fighter pilot training and Fleetrequirement flying and trials: Macchi jet trainers. TA4GSkyhawk trainers and A4G SkyhawksHT 725 Anti-submarine helicopter operationaltraining and Fleet requirement duties: Wessex 31Bhelicopter.VF 805: Front-line strike tighter squadron: A4Gskyhawks.VS 816: Front-line fixed wing anti-submarinesquadron: S2E Trackers.HS 817: Front-line helicopter anti-submarinesquadron- Wessex 31B helicoptersVC 851: Training squadron tor pilots, observers andaircrewmen. Twin-engine conversion, communicationand Fleet requirement flying: S2E Trackers and Dakotas.The Royal Australian Navy oI the 1980s began to takeshape during the year 1970-71.Design work, planning studies and works constructionconducted during the period will result in theNavy Skyhawk ftfMirof tha aircraft-carriar MELBOURNE-Ml««ry of a turtha. 10 aircraft h». .ncrMMd tha varaaDEFENCE REPORT 1971development of a new generation of ships and facilitiesto serve the Navy of the future.This development is directed towards meeting theroles of the R.A.N, which are:e To organise, train and equip naval forces, includingnaval aircraft, for timely and sustained combatoperations at sea:to detect and destroy enemy naval forces and seacommerce;to establish and maintain superiority in areas asnecessary for naval operations, including theprotection of sea lines of communication: toconduct naval offensive operations against enemyforces and installations:to conduct naval reconnaissance and surveillance,anti-submarine warfare, the protection of shippingand hydrographic and oceanographic survey:e to provide naval support for land operations:e to provide military sea transport support for theAustralian Services: ande tc provide seaward defence of ports and anchorages.NEW SHIPSThe preliminary design for a light general-purposedestroyer for the R.A.N, was progressed during the year.This will form the basis for the next stage — detaileddesign and development — to complete all the systemsand provide working drawings and specifications.This destroyer will be of about 4.000 tons and will bepowered by gas turbines. Weapons, radar andcommunications equipments have been selected fordesign purposes.Design work is well advanced for a fast combatsupport ship tc be named H.M.A.S. Protector.Construction is expected to begin in May 1972 at anAustralian dockyard.Tenders for the construction of an oceanographic shipare expected to be called in July 1972 and forconstruction to begtrxarly in 1973.This ship is to be named H.M.A.S. Cook. She willreplace the aging frigate H.M.A.S. Diamantina, and hermodern equipment will enable both the quantity andquality of ocean research to be increased substantially.Work on the building of a small hydrographic ship tobe named H.M.A.S. Flinders began at WilliamstownNaval Dockyard in December 1970.Tenders have been called for the construction of twoadditional Oberon-class attack submarines for deliveryin 1975 which will give the submarine squadron six ofthis class.The Oberons are acknowledged as the most effectivediesel electric attack submarines in the world.Being able to operate submerged and independent ofsupport several thousands of miles from base, they arewell equipped to provide the R.A.N, with anti-submarineand anti-surface ship offensive capabilities.A contract has been negotiated for equipment to trainsubmarine command teams ashore i.1 realisticallysimulated conditions. A substantial part of the designand manufacture of this simulator will be undertaken inAustralia.The submarine trainer is in addition to an earlier orderfor a special simulator to provide crews of R.A.N, surfaceships with training in tactics.This simulator will be computer-based and will enableships' crews to be trained under realistic, but controlledconditions.This form of training backs up training at sea. but canbe more effective and economical in that the trainer hasthe ability to pose a greater number of threat incidentsfrom a larger number of ships, submarines and aircraftthan can be assembled at sea in peacetime and is nothampered by such peacetime constraints as merchantshipping, safety regulations and weather.The location of the trainer near the Fleet base is anessential requirement. Among other reasons it willenable officers and sailors who form ships' operationsrooms teams to be trained regularly on highlyspecialised equipment while their ships are in Sydneyfor maintenance.The building to locate the trainer will have a low profileand is designed to blend into the landscape.OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIESVietnamIn May and June 1971 members of the R.A.N.sClearance Diving Team No. 3 and Helicopter FlightVietnam were withdrawn from service in Vietnam.The Clearance Diving Team, which was the first R.A.N,unit to go into service in Vietnam (February 1967)undertook work ashore, in rivers and along the coast toprovide security for shipping as far north as thedemilitarised zone.The R.A.N. Helicopter Flight of 46 officers and sailorswas unique because it was integrated with a 300-mancompany of the United States Army's 135th assaulthelicopter company. During its 3V4 years of operationsNovember-December-January, 1971/72 THE NAVY Page Thirty-three