HMAS Tobruk's last journey

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rritchie71
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HMAS Tobruk's last journey

Post by rritchie71 »

Another fine ship is coming to the end of her time. She was built to serve 20years and the navy ran her hard the entire time. I remember from my time in the RAN, Toburk was always at sea.
Whilst she had issues and inherited the name "Tobroken" halfway through her career, when you put it in perspective, she was still mission capable 34years and almost a million miles later. That is testament to good ship.

Extract below from the Newcastle Herald - http://www.theherald.com.au/story/31579 ... /#slide=34

FOUR resounding gun salutes welcomed HMAS Tobruk into Newcastle Harbour for one final visit on Friday. The Newcastle-built navy supply-ship will be decommissioned at the end of July, after 34 years of service.

Seeing the ship berthed at the Port of Newcastle was a poignant moment for former shipwright John Fisher, who oversaw its construction at Carrington Slipways, from the laying of the keel in 1978, to the ship’s launch in 1980 and commissioning in 1981. "It’s an absolute credit to the ship builder and the men and women of Newcastle who worked on it," Mr Fisher said. About 400 people helped build the vessel at the Tomago site and dozens of local businesses were involved in its construction, Mr Fisher said. The Tobruk was the first ship to be launched sideways and Mr Fisher can clearly remember the ‘‘spectacular’’ event on March 1, 1980. Since its launch the 6000-tonne amphibious vessel has travelled 974,000 nautical miles and been deployed on 26 navy operations around the world.

Tobruk commanding officer Leif Maxfield said Tobruk had been a ‘‘star feature’’ and one of the busiest ships in the navy. In its final 18 months the Tobruk was part of humanitarian missions in the Philippines and Vanuatu and a civic assistance operation in Papua Guinea. ‘‘It’s quite fitting to return [to Newcastle] as our final port,’’ Mr Maxfield said. ‘‘It’s a great way to end what has been an outstanding career for the ship.’’ This is Tobruk’s seventh visit to Newcastle. In 1991 it returned for a refit at the Forgacs Floating Dock, which is no longer in the harbour.
It was the first naval ship Forgacs repaired at the dock, and it was the scene of a protracted industrial dispute with the painters and dockers union, which picketed the vessel.

The dispute was eventually settled but the painters and dockers union merged into the larger manufacturing workers union soon after. Maritime warfare officer Darren Watkins is the third sailor in his family to crew the Tobruk. He followed in the footsteps of his uncle, who was one of the ship’s second crew in 1982. ‘‘Hearing stories about when he was in the engine room, it hasn’t changed at all in the 34 years,’’ Mr Watkins said. ‘‘Knowing that she was built in Newcastle, and we’re returning for the last trip has been really enjoyable too,’’ Mr Watkins said. ‘‘It’s also sad that the oldest ship and the most mechanically efficient ship in the fleet is being decommissioned. Last year the ship was awarded the Australia Cup for mechanical efficiency.

Tobruk will be replaced by Land Helicopter Dock systems, The Canberra and The Adelaide, which the navy described at ‘‘a quantum leap in capability’’.
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Tobruk and Canberra
Tobruk and Canberra
Salute into Newcastle for the last time
Salute into Newcastle for the last time
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Re: HMAS Tobruk's last journey

Post by MikeJames »

That shot highlights just how huge Canberra is by comparison.

Mike
rritchie71
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Re: HMAS Tobruk's last journey

Post by rritchie71 »

Her last journey is completed, with de-commissioning pennant flown, she has entered Sydney harbor and shut down main engines for the last time.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-25/h ... ce/6572120

170 crew dressed in formal winter uniform lined the deck of HMAS Tobruk as she sailed into Garden Island for the final time before being decommissioned.
Under escort of the HMAS Darwin and HMAS Melbourne, the Tobruk took the salute of Navy personnel as she pulled into Garden Island after sailing from Jervis Bay overnight.
Commander Leif Maxfield said it was an emotional moment for the ship's crew as the Tobruk ends a 34-year career in the Royal Australian Navy.
"Every day has been an adventure, and it's been great to go out and provide assistance to quite a lot of people," Commander Maxfield said. It will be sad to see her go.

Commissioned in April 1981 to provide sea-lift capability for the Australian Army, the Tobruk had an inauspicious beginning.
Soon after commissioning she suffered a serious engine malfunction and the main engine control had to be redesigned and reconstructed.
After the repairs were completed a Navy cadet was fatally gassed when the ship's sewerage system malfunctioned during trials.
From this tragic error-riddled beginning the Tobruk went on to play an integral role in the Australian Defence deployment in East Timor in 1999.
Vin Thompson, the commanding officer of the Tobruk in 1999, joined other former commanders on the ship's last voyage from Jervis Bay to Garden Island.
"We did eleven trips to Dili and Suai taking Australian soldiers, Canadians and other soldiers in," he recalled.
"When we steamed in Dili was burning and there were about 5,000 people living on the waterfront; we knew why we were there."
Grateful to the Navy for the invitation to take part in the ship's last voyage, Mr Thompson said it was a fantastic feeling to be back on board.

22-year-old Seaman Warren Reitburg was also returning to HMAS Tobruk after being evacuated from Honiara with his family after tribal warfare erupted in the Solomon Islands in 2000.
The communications information systems analyst joined the Navy in 2013 and still clearly remembers boarding the ship as a 7-year-old with his cousins.
"Seeing all the uniforms and equipment and how amazing the ship was, it was great," Seaman Reitburg remembered.
"It's going to be pretty sad to say goodbye; I've got a lot of good memories on here. "It will be sad to see her go."

Capable of carrying 3 helicopters, 18 leopard tanks, 40 armoured personnel carriers, up to 520 soldiers and 130 crew, HMAS Tobruk has run emergency errands around the Pacific arena.
From rescuing Australians from Fijian coups to providing humanitarian aid after cyclones, tsunamis and earthquakes that have devastated communities, HMAS Tobruk has touched many lives.
"3,000 ships crew and tens of thousands of army and civilians have been aboard the Tobruk, and that's amazing," Commander Maxfield said.
Living up to her motto of "Faithful and Strong", HMAS Tobruk is retiring with about 2,000,000 kilometres travelled and countless lives helped.
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