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October 2018 Oct 2018

Task Force 72 added 11 new photos.

2 days ago

As mentioned here on the 9th, the members of Task Force 72's Fleet Base Gulf Waters put on a static display for the public in Adelaide, and did they ever come through.

As one member described it... "All up we have 3x Battleships, 1x small Carrier, 2x Nuclear cruisers, 1x Attack sub, 2x DDGs, 2x DDs and a FFG, 1x Russian Corvette, 3x Armidales, 1x LCH, x1 USN Fleet tug, 1x Coastguard cutter, 1x Hospital ship, an Amercian paddle steamer, a Japanese PT boat, a Sunseeker 108 motor yacht, a 1/72 sailing ship and a Circus ship!"

Enjoy some of the models on show. ...

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Task Force 72 added 5 new photos.

4 days ago

On this day (12 October) in 1985, the guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth, (CAPT G. Sloper, RAN), rescued the crew of the Singaporean ship Hoe Lien, in mountainous seas off Newcastle, NSW.

In a feat of daring seamanship Perth took the ship in tow and proceeded towards Sydney.

The tow was passed to the tug Wonga the next morning, however Hoe Lien later sunk 30 miles north of Sydney.

Captain Sloper would go on to become the on-scene senior officer of the RAN Task force committed to the first Gulf War (1990-91) as Captain of HMAS Success, eventually reaching the rank of Commodore. ...

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Task Force 72 added 15 new photos.

5 days ago

A photo essay on a famous ship, the World War 2 Australian Tribal class destroyer HMAS Arunta

In the lead up to WW2 the Royal Navy, realising most of its destroyer classes, even the most recent, were outclassed by potential foreign adversaries, they started with a clean sheet of paper to design a destroyer that would be the match for potential enemy destroyers.

While arguments could be made as to whether that objective was achieved, the general consensus was that in the Tribal class they did succeed in creating one of the Royal Navy’s most attractive destroyer designs.

The design emphasised gun power, with eight 4.7 inch guns in four twin mounts. Torpedo armament was reduced compared to preceding classes, down to a single quad launcher for 21 inch torpedoes. The ships were much larger than their predecessors, the I class, displacing 2,560 tonnes at full load compared to the 1900 tonnes of their predecessor.

The ships were well armed however wartime service proved that their main armament was ineffective against attacking aircraft, in particular dive bombers, given the maximum elevation of 40 degrees. After the loss of HM Ships Afridi and Gurkha early in the war to air attack, the remaining ships were taken in hand to improve the situation.

Each ship's twin 4.7 inch 'X' mount was removed and replaced by a twin 4-inch high-angle gun mount. The mainmast was cut down and the rear funnel was lowered to improve the arcs of fire for the anti-aircraft weapons. As they became available, the more effective 20 mm Oerlikon guns were added, at first adding to and eventually replacing the .50 in./12.7 mm machine guns.

The ships proved effective in service and attracted interest from both the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.

The RAN completed three ships, HMA Ships Arunta, Warramunga and Bataan (formerly the Kurnai). The last completed too late to see service in WW2.

Arunta herself commissioned into the RAN in 1942 and fought throughout the second half of World War II; initially as a convoy escort and patrol ship then in the shore bombardment and amphibious landing support roles while attached to the United States 7th Fleet.

During the war, she was responsible for sinking Japanese submarine RO-33 off Port Moresby on 24 August 1942, and earned five battle honours:
• Pacific 1942–45
• New Guinea 1942–44
• Leyte Gulf 1944
• Lingayen Gulf 1945
• Borneo 1945).

After the war's end, Arunta underwent two deployments to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. ...

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Task Force 72 added 6 new photos.

7 days ago

It's a busy weekend for Task Force 72 in two states, with the members of Fleet Base Gulf Waters taking part in the Port Adelaide Boatfest 2018 from 10am to 4pm daily.

Our members will be putting on a static display and answering questions from the public so if you're in the Port Adelaide area and would like to know more about our hobby, drop in and say hi. ...

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Task Force 72 added 8 new photos.

1 week ago

This coming weekend Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 October the Menangle Park Oil, Steam and Kerosene Family Fun Day is on at Menangle Park, 86 Menangle Road, Menangle Park in Sydney's south-western suburbs.

Task Force 72 will be putting on a static display (the lake at the Park has almost dried up due to the drought).

Last year we did the same and the event was a lot of fun, with a lot of historic vehicles on display and being driven around the site.

If you're out in Sydney's south-west this weekend, why not drop in and say hi! ...

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