Thread: A nautical story

Originally Posted by 4bee

Wot, they don't teach Navel History & speelink at West Head?

They teach timing. " if I wasn't a gunner I wouldn't be here" BOOM! " if I wasn't a gunner I wouldn't be here" BOOM!. And so on. [ Just kidding.]

Chief Petty Officer Jonathon Rogers. An example for all sailors. Most of the sailors with him in the FWD cafeteria were 17 year old OD's.

Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Rogers | Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Sydney and the Korean War, from one of her crew. A long yarn, but interesting.

Chapter 28: HMAS SYDNEY

Their Heritage, the Fleet Air Arm, Vietnam

Our Heritage: The RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam | Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia


The RANHFV, stories.

RANHFV - Stories | Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

You will remember these babies Bob. As an U.C. rate anti submarine types rock in my view

Only one fatal crash is an impressive record. As a ships Diver recovery of crashed aircraft was NOT my favorite job. I alway felt they were so ugly compared to Sea Kings.
Oddly I am now leading the JRs at the Melbourne March next week. My LJR Leeuwin days back to haunt me
Heritage - Wessex | Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

You will remember these babies Bob. As an U.C. rate anti submarine types rock in my view

Only one fatal crash is an impressive record. As a ships Diver recovery of crashed aircraft was NOT my favorite job. I alway felt they were so ugly compared to Sea Kings.
Oddly I am now leading the JRs at the Melbourne March next week. My LJR Leeuwin days back to haunt me
Heritage - Wessex | Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Yes, the ubiquitous Wessex. A very popular helicopter. I was present when the RAN lost one of them, with no fatalities , thank goodness. Was about 1968/9 in Jervis bay on Vampire, Wessex was delivering mail/ stores in rough weather, when the hook of the winch hooked onto something on X deck, [ that was the messdeck talk, anyway] the winch wire parted and wrapped itself around the rotor, and the aircraft lost power. I was just leaving the stokers mess to go fwd when the engine noise of the helicopter went from normal to intermittent. I looked out one of the scuttles on the port side and saw the man in the right hand seat looking up at Vampire, his eyes as big as dinner plates, no more than about 20 yards away. Curious, I thought. The aircraft's floats activated, and kept her afloat long enough to get the occupants out. This aircraft was lost because Melbourne stuffed up the recovery.

A second helicopter [ this time a Sea King]was lost was when Brisbane was operating with NATO in the North Sea, latitude 64N Operation Highwood. The Sea King flew into the sea at night, pilot lost his night vision , or something similar. The aircraft broke up, both crew members were picked up by Brisbane's boat [ we were RESDES] Both men were badly injured, but alive. This was one time I was glad I was working in an Engine room with steam at 1275 PSI and 950 degrees superheat, we kept warm off Iceland.

RAN Clearance diver OP's Vietnam. From Gun Plot.

CDT Ops In Vietnam CPOCD T. Ey. Pt. 1 | GUN PLOT

HMAS Hobart attacked by the US Air Force. There were reports of North Vietnamese helicopters , but the truth is Australian sailors were killed and wounded by an F4 from the Air National Guard, not long in country. Worthwhile reading the story from the crewman of a USN patrol boat, after the main story.

HMAS HOBART Attacked Vietnam 1968 | GUN PLOT