HMAS SYDNEY finally found

I would have to agree that to spend money on searching for MIA that have little chance of being found is a waste of money.

HOWEVER, when there is a chance of finding a MIA or something of historical significance is important then money should be spent. The most recent examples of these are the Sydney, the recent Vietnam recoveries and when infomation has come to light of burials in France. There are other examples.

My greatest disappointment is that during my 30 years in the Navy there was always a lot of talk at senior levels (at all levels) about searching for the three major missing wrecks of historical significance to the Navy ie Sydney in the Indian Ocean, the submarine AE1 of New Guinea and AE2 in the Dardinelles but nothing was never done - realistically the Navy could have found the Sydney from anytime after about 1980 if it wanted - thats when the technology made it possible.

It is only in the past few years that AE2 was found - when what were junior officers all those years ago became senior or retired.

I think these seaches are important - they are worth more to the psychic of the country than the costs would reflect.

Wikipedia have already updated their sites and are well worth having a look at - the first link is about the Kormoran and the second is about the battle - well worth reading.


German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Garry

Why hasnt anyone had a poke at the Sea Sprite Navy choppers, bought at massive cost, further upgraded here at massive cost, never flown and now they have given up on the programme, total cost? The Sydney is part of our Navy history as are the AE1 and 2, for many years it was the not knowing, what happened,why it happened, if your on the other side of the fence as a loved one you want answers too regardless of time past, many wives, mother, father and siblings will now be at ease as they know!,

I dont think you can put a price on the deeds that were done by our soldier regardless of service, we can never repay what they sacrificed for us and to give your life for your your king and country at that time really showed what they stood for. Alot of time has passed but for many diggers and sailors and RAAFYS there memory is as sharp today as it was then, they still carry the memories of there fallen mates and everyone else left behind, I dont think it hurts us any to close a few open doors for the sake of there families and loved ones, its the very least we can do for them.

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Originally Posted by graceysdad

Why hasnt anyone had a poke at the Sea Sprite Navy choppers, bought at massive cost, further upgraded here at massive cost, never flown and now they have given up on the programme, ....

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Forgot about them - shock horror!

Thought maybe they were a bad dream. :mad:

Diana :angel:

Australian military procurement history is littered with bad decisions and money wasting, both at a political level and at a departmental level. Vehicles, radios, clothing, weapon systems/platforms, you name it, there's endless examples of money/time wasting. Quite often, too much time/money is spent on evaluation rather than actual procurement.

There's loads of theories as to why. Decisions made by incompetent officers that have been promoted into Canberra to keep them out of field force units, civies protecting their own jobs, pollies lining their own pockets, who knows. There needs to be something done to fix it. We're too small a country to be wasting time and money like this.

I'm talking about the helicopters, not the Sydney.

I think it's good the Sydney has been found. Over 106,000 Australians have lost their lives in operations. Most of them remain overseas.

And of course we now have the Super Hornets - Defence advised Howard's Government that they were suitable but Howard went ahead anyway - now Rudd wants out but the cost is $500m so we will proceed with an aircraft we do not really need.

Garry

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Originally Posted by Jamo

.... Over 106,000 Australians have lost their lives in operations. Most of them remain overseas.

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Oh So CraigE was correct, the Aussie hospitals have such long waiting lists that patients are going overseas to shonky Asian hospitals for operations and dying.

Quick Mr KRudd, we need to fix the hospitals, before the next 106,000 Aussies die.

Diana :wasntme:

Lest we forget the Ultimate Sacrifice these Brave Australians made for all of us.
I pray for them all.
As well as their families.

Yes,
and I have the upmost respect for the price these people paid and that their families paid and it is probablly a good thing the Sydney has been found. Yes personally I have family members that have been lost in conflicts etc or wounded etc. I am not going to get into a slanging match about right and wrong. I just think we are a country of such huge waste at the momment and we really need to sort out issue that effect the living first. My belief is this sort of thing should be funded by the public sector or the organisation originally responsible like the navy, not the government. And yes I have donated money to the find the Sydney fund when they were collecting.
Hope I have not affected any families involved, it was not my intention.
Cheers
CraigE

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Originally Posted by RoverOne

"Facta Non Verba"

"Deeds not Words"

These sailors lost their lives by deeds, I don't think we need words like " what a waste of tax payers money", I dare say these thoughts would be a minority thought process thanks heavens, but they did give up their lives so you could put your point across, even though insensative.

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Originally Posted by Jamo

Quite often, too much time/money is spent on evaluation rather than actual procurement.

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Sorry Jamo, but this was found to be the reason why so many defence projects went haywire - not enough pre contract evaluation. At least so said the Kennaird report which revolutionalised the defence material organisation. Now there is a minimum amount (%15 I think) that must be spent doing evaluations, risk assessments etc before buying. That is of course if the procurement follows proper procedure and is not railroaded by ministers making their own decisions.

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Originally Posted by Taz

.... That is of course if the procurement follows proper procedure and is not railroaded by ministers making their own decisions.

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What like "Arleigh Burke's design was favoured by the Navy, but was beaten by Navantia. The executive director of the Australia Defence Association, Neil James, says the US destroyer is superior but the Government's decision is understandable.

"There's no doubt that on paper the American ship was a better ship," he said." Navy unveils $11b warship contract - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)