Thread: For the Mil enthusiasts. Navy Cerberus

Originally Posted by shorty943

Thread hijack alert.

Bob, speaking of "vamps" guess where the door tally plate of the Vampire's Coxswains Office is right now?

Late night sneak attack, pussers dirk in hand etc, door tally now resides happily on the door of the "littlest room" in my home.
Score one for the stokers, nill for the crushers.

OK hijack over, you may resume normal services.

HI, Jack, That little Coxn's office could tell a lot of stories. Our Chief Coxn. was Des Harper, a renown pugilist. Many's the time he locked the door & said, " my punishment, or the Jimmies? " I don't know anyone who chose Des's, and not many re-offended. Bob

Since we're on the topic of Vampire. I still have an un opened bottle of de-comissioning port and the four glasses with the Vampire coat of arms on them.

Originally Posted by extreme

Since we're on the topic of Vampire. I still have an un opened bottle of de-comissioning port and the four glasses with the Vampire coat of arms on them.

I'm sure you'll find some takers if you want to make sure it doesn't go off, Bob

Originally Posted by bob10

Well, may as well hi-jack the thread properly I guess.We Destroyer men used to call Stalwart building 215, rumour has it it was welded to the wharf. Sounds like a great draft, if you didn't like seatime. snip< Bob

Building 215 did do some seatime Up top in the mid 80's (including the gas incident and the Nella Dan/Macquarie Island thing).

Originally Posted by pop058

Building 215 did do some seatime Up top in the mid 80's (including the gas incident and the Nella Dan/Macquarie Island thing).

Not knocking Stalwart [well, not much] because I realise what an asset she was, in her time she would have been one of the most capable repair ships in the World, capable of doing minor and some major repairs on destroyers, frigates, submarines, & patrol boats, many miles from any base. Fitted with up to date state of the art [ at the time] trade machinary, and manned with highly capable engineering, electronic, & shipwright tradesmen, Stalwart was indeed a fleet asset. .... she also carried those 26/33 ft work boats discussed about earlier in the thread. Bob

Whilst on strategic reserve in Asia ,Vampire performed a task that Navies had been taking on since the days of Drake, Piracy patrol! She patrolled the Mallaca Straits , escorting merchant ships during a time piracy was becoming a major concern, costing shipping companies a lot of money. We caught no pirates, but no shipping was attacked whilst we were there, for the very good reason the pirates had cockatoos in fishing boats warning them about a warships presence . Lucky for them! Bob

Originally Posted by land864

Currently staying with a friend up on the Hawkesbury at Berowra Waters.

A few years back this old girl caught my eye because of her classic lines.

I have struggled to find any history on her.

Does anyone know what type or class of boat she would be?

She is named Cerberus and has an RAN numbered plate inside.

She is currently in a fairly sad state

If my numbers came up I would be sorely tempted to try and buy her and restore her for histories sake.

I have been touch with the RAN historical society and the HMAS Cerberus base society to no avail.


Any contacts or suggestions on finding out some info would be greatly appreciated.

Pete

.........Hi Pete..I currently own this boat after purchasing her from the owner..Yes she is in a sad state for sure...Powered by two turbocharged perkins diesels through v-drives....email is waynegalvin49@gmail.com

Originally Posted by bob10

After the initial sorting out period, stokers & tiffies usually got on well, I know the 3 badgemen on the Vampire kept us in line, when we first joined. I will always remember old George Ballard, teaching us all the old RN songs in the pubs of Williamstown, whilst in refit. Great memories, still with me today. Bob [If anyone tried to be obnoxious to those blokes, it was knocked out of them ]

Fellow Vampire sailor- of course not being a Dibbi deducts points but as a UC Vampire was a bit sad

Back on topic- drove Leewuin Cerberus and Waterhen boats or dove off them. I'd vote glass on the one pictured and bet the name was post Navy days.

Back off topic- Will be putting my kids in my former bunk on Vampire this weekend after a little run on Sunday over the nice bridge in Sydney