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GREENBANK NAA NEWSLETTER GREY FUNNEL DITS

Disclaimer: The material contained in this publication is in the nature of entertainment for the members. Contributions are

acknowledged, with thanks, from service organisations. The editor expressly Disclaims all and any liability to any person, whether an

association member or not. Views expressed may not necessary be those held by the Executive or the members.

Editor: Tony Holliday tonyholliday13@gmail.com 0403026916

Series No. 3 Date: September 2020 No.9

GREENBANK NAVAL ASSOCIATION Sub Section

Events for September and October 2020 Tuesday 01 September 1900-2100 Normal Meeting RSL Rooms Wednesday 30 September 1000-1030 Executive Meeting RSL Rooms Tuesday 06 October 1900-2100 Normal Meeting RSL Rooms Wednesday 28 October 1000-1030 Executive Meeting RSL Rooms Great news with the awarding of the Australian Victoria Cross to Ordinary seaman Teddy Sheean. Great pride for his family and us Gunnery Jacks.

Editors Request:

Articles for the newsletter can be handed in at meetings, or by email: articles may be edited to fit the newsletter.

The contents of this edition of the newsletter have been obtained from information provided from Len Kingston-Kerr whom I thank

greatly, various publication publications and NAA information emailed in.

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ROYAL USTRALIAN NAVY - PERSONALITY

Commodore W A Kemp:

William Alexander Kemp was born in the tiny village of

Woomelang in Victoria’s Mallee Region on 29 February 1928. He

joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Cadet Midshipman (Supply), at

HMAS Cerberus, on 30 January 1946. After initial training he went to

sea as a Midshipman (Supply) in the sloop HMAS Warrego (1946)

and the heavy cruisers HMA Ships Shropshire (1946-47) and

Australia (1947-48). William Kemp was then posted to HMAS

Lonsdale and promoted Sub Lieutenant in May 1948.

In late 1948 Sub Lieutenant Kemp was sent to England for training courses with the Royal Navy and on

his return in 1949 he joined the cruiser Australia as a junior Supply Officer. He was promoted

Lieutenant in April 1950 and shortly after joined the destroyer HMAS Bataan as the Supply Officer.

In late June Bataan was en route to Japan for service in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force

when the Korean War broke out. The destroyer was quickly diverted to Korea and saw service there

from July 1950 until late May 1951. She carried out a variety of duties such as patrolling and

blockading the North Korean coastline, providing naval gunfire support for land forces and escorting

aircraft carriers. For his service in Korean waters, Lieutenant Kemp was awarded a mention in

dispatches.

Lieutenant Kemp was posted to HMAS Kuttabul during 1951-52 where he worked as a Staff Officer to

the Flag Officer commanding the NSW area, before he became the Secretary to the Senior Officer in

Command of the 1st First Frigate Squadron. During his tenure he served in the frigates HMAS

Shoalhaven (1952-53) and Quadrant (1953-54). In 1954 he served in the destroyer HMAS Tobruk as

the Destroyer Squadron Supply Officer before being posted to Navy Office (then in Melbourne) as a

Staff Officer in the Directorate of Supply and Secretariat.

In mid-1957 Lieutenant Kemp was posted to the United Kingdom to work on the staff of the RAN

Liaison Officer, at the Australian High Commission, and was promoted Lieutenant Commander in

April 1958. He returned to Australia in 1960 where he served at the Supply School (HMAS Cerberus),

before becoming the Squadron Supply Officer of the 1st Destroyer Squadron (embarked in HMAS

Vendetta) in February 1961. During his time in Vendetta the ship operated in Australian waters and was

also part of the Far East Strategic Reserve based in Singapore.

Kemp then served briefly at the RAN Apprentice Training Establishment HMAS Nirimba, from May-

December 1962, before being promoted Acting Commander and posted to HMAS Leeuwin where he

served as the Executive Officer during the period January 1963-July 1964. He was confirmed in the

rank of Commander in December 1963.

Commander Kemp then joined the staff of Fleet Command serving as the Secretary for three successive

Fleet Commanders (Rear Admiral HO Becher, Rear Admiral TK Morrison and Rear Admiral VAT

Smith). During that time his service alternated between ashore at HMAS Kuttabul and at sea in various

ships when the Fleet Commander was embarked. In February 1967 he was posted to Navy Office

Canberra as the Deputy Director Fleet Supply Duties and Administrative Planning.

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In late 1968 he took up his final sea posting when he joined the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne as

the Supply Officer. During his time in Melbourne the ship operated in Australian and South East Asian

waters. On the night of 3 June 1969, when the carrier was operating in the South China Sea, it collided

with the United States Navy destroyer USS Frank E Evans which was cut in two. Her bow section sank

and 74 US personnel lost their lives. Melbourne returned to Australia for repairs to her bow during

July-October 1969.

In April 1970, Commander Kemp returned to Navy Office resuming the role as Deputy Director Fleet

Supply Duties until promoted Captain in December 1971 after which he became the Director of Fleet

Supply Duties. In February 1974 he was appointed as the Director of the Administrative Plans Branch.

That branch was later renamed the Directorate of Naval Logistics Plans and Coordination.

In January 1976, Captain Kemp was appointed in command of the RAN’s premier training

establishment, HMAS Cerberus. He relinquished command of Cerberus in early 1978 and returned to

Navy Office as the Director General Logistics Branch - Navy and was promoted Commodore on 26

August 1978 (with seniority backdated to 26 April 1978).

Commodore Kemp’s final posting in the RAN, in March 1981, was as the Chief of Staff in Naval

Support Command. He retired from the RAN in early 1983 after 37 years of service. Following his

retirement, he resided in Canberra. Commodore William ‘Bill’ Kemp passed away in Canberra on 26

December 2014, aged 86.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY - ADMIRALS

RADM M F Bonser:

Marcus ‘Mark’ Frederick Bonser was born in Sydney on 7 August 1952 and educated at Manly Boys

High School and Macksville High School. He joined the RAN

College as a senior entry Cadet Midshipman in January 1971. Bonser

was promoted Midshipman and joined the fast troop transport

HMAS Sydney in September 1972 for training, which included the

ship's last deployment to Vietnam (during 23-24 November 1972) to

deliver humanitarian aid to Cambodia (which was trans-shipped

from Vung Tau). He was promoted Sub Lieutenant in December

1973 and appointed to the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, in

August 1974, to obtain his bridge watch-keeping qualification.

Sub Lieutenant Bonser joined the patrol boat HMAS Advance in June 1975 as Executive Officer.

During his year of service in her the ship operated from Darwin conducting fisheries protection and

maritime surveillance patrols in northern Australian waters. Bonser was promoted Lieutenant in March

1976 and undertook short training courses at HMAS Watson and HMAS Cerberus in mid-1976 before

joining the training ship HMAS Duchess, in September 1976, as an Officer of the Watch.

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Duchess was a Daring Class destroyer which had been converted to a training ship in mid-1974 and

took groups of midshipmen to sea for sea experience and navigational training. She operated mainly in

Australian,

New Zealand and South West Pacific Waters. Duchess conducted her last training cruise, to Fiji, in late

1977 and on returning to Australia was decommissioned on 24 October 1977.In October 1977, Bonser

transferred to the new training ship HMAS Jervis Bay as an Officer of the Watch and served in her until

April 1979. During his time on board the ship also conducted training cruises to ports in Australia, New

Zealand, Southeast Asia and the South West Pacific to provide ‘at sea training’ for RAN College

midshipmen and trainees from other Commonwealth navies.

He joined the hydrographic vessel HMAS Diamantina (a former WWII frigate) in April 1979 for her

deployment to Northern Australian waters and Singapore with a number of embarked scientific staff

conducting experiments with anti-submarine towed array systems. Diamantina returned to Sydney in

August 1979, but more testing was undertaken off the east coast in October-November. Lieutenant

Bonser departed the ship in November and returned to the patrol boat force in December 1979 as the

Commanding Officer of HMAS Aware.

While in command of Aware the patrol boat was based in Darwin, as part of the Third Patrol Boat

Squadron, and conducted fisheries patrols and border protection duties. Bonser relinquished command

in January 1982 and then served briefly in the Landing Ship Heavy HMAS Tobruk, during February-

April 1982. He then proceeded to the United Kingdom to undertake the Principal Warfare Officers

(PWO) Course and he subsequently qualified as a PWO (Anti-Submarine Warfare). Bonser then served

on exchange with the Royal Navy in the destroyers HMS Antrim and HMS Glamorgan. He was

promoted Lieutenant Commander on 31 December 1983 and returned to Australia in mid-1985.

Lieutenant Commander Bonser was appointed to the guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth in June

1985 as the anti-submarine warfare officer. During his service in Perth the ship operated in Australian

and Southeast Asian waters conducting various training activities and exercises. On 14 October 1985,

while conducting Exercise CORAL SEA off the coast of New South Wales, Perth undertook the rescue

of 24 crewmen from the Singaporean vessel MV Hoelien, the ship sank later that day. Perth also took

part in the Navy’s 75th anniversary celebrations during 1986.

In early 1987 he completed training at HMAS Watson before joining HMAS Torrens as Executive

Officer in April 1987. During his twelve months on board the destroyer escort took part in the RAN’s

rolling deployments to Southeast Asia conducting exercises with various navies and associated port

visits. He was posted to the staff at Fleet Headquarters (FHQ) in April 1988. On 30 June 1988 Bonser

was promoted Commander and appointed as Commander Operations in FHQ.

Bonser served as chief staff officer to the RAN Task Group Commander (Commodore Don Chalmers),

embarked in HMAS Brisbane, during the First Gulf War (October 1990-May 1991) for which he was

awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service, in November 1991, for distinguished service as

Commander Plans on the staff of the Commander Task Group 627.4 during the Gulf War. He also

received a Meritorious Unit Citation for his service in Brisbane.

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Commander Bonser completed the Joint Service Staff Course, at Weston Creek, Canberra, in the

second half of 1991. He was then selected as the Commanding Officer of the frigate HMAS Sydney and

took command in April 1992. While in command the ship deployed to the Red Sea (Operation

DAMASK VII), during June-December 1993, to enforce United Nations sanctions against Iraq and

prevent the import of weaponry and munitions into Iraq and illegal exports. Sydney conducted 179

boarding’s as well as several hundred interrogations of merchant vessels.

In late October 1993 the ship's helicopter located a sinking merchant ship and directed a US destroyer

to its location to render assistance. Bonser was subsequently awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross

(CSC) in the 1994 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for conspicuous service to the Royal Australian

Navy, particularly as Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney while deployed in the Northern Red Sea

in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

He was promoted acting Captain in January 1994 and appointed as Chief Staff Officer Command,

Control, Coordination and Information in Maritime Headquarters (formerly Fleet Headquarters).

Bonser was confirmed in the rank of Captain in July that year. In January 1996 Captain Bonser became

the Director Combat Force Development (Sea) in Navy Office, Canberra. After 18 months in this

position he was selected for his next sea command and undertook command courses at HMAS Watson

during July-October 1997.

On 30 October 1997 he was appointed as Commanding Officer of the frigate HMAS Anzac, based in

Western Australia. During his time in command the ship carried out exercises in Australian waters and

also deploying to Asia for exercises with other navies (during September-December 1998). Anzac

conducted port visits to Guam, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Indonesia

while deployed. Marcus Bonser relinquished command of Anzac on 25 July 1999 and was promoted

Commodore on 27 July 1999.

He was then appointed as Commander North Command, based in Darwin, and reporting directly to

Headquarters Australian Theatre (HQAST) in Sydney. This was a very challenging command with the

deployment and sustainment of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) from Darwin during

September 1999-February 2000 and the subsequent support to the United Nations Transitional

Administration East Timor also being heavily supported by Australia from the Forward Operating Base

of Darwin. In addition, Bonser had to deal with the dramatic increase in illegal immigrants arriving in

northern Australian waters by boat. This required a significant increase in surveillance operations and

interception of the vessels by RAN and other Australian Government vessels.

In January 2001 he joined the Defence Materiel Organisation as the Director General Command

Support Systems, but this was a short-lived posting as on 30 July 2001 he was promoted Rear Admiral

and appointed as Director General Coast Watch (the forerunner of today’s Maritime Border

Command). Within weeks of taking up this position he was directly involved in dealing with hundreds

of illegal immigrants who had been rescued in the Indian Ocean south of Java by the merchant ship

Tampa and taken to Christmas Island. This event saw rapid and dramatic changes to Australia’s

immigration policy and the allocation of substantial Government assets to curb the influx of illegal

immigrants attempting to reach Australia by boat.

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Bonser also had to deal with the many issues created by the sinking of a suspected illegal entry vessel

(SIEV) on 19 October 2001 with the loss of over 350 lives. Known as SIEV-X, the un-named

Indonesian fishing vessel, with over 400 persons onboard, departed the Indonesian port of Bandar

Lumpang on the 18th and sank south of Java on the 19th, in International waters but well inside

Indonesia’s declared search and rescue region. The exact location of the vessel's sinking is still actively

debated. The loss of the vessel was not known until survivors were rescued by an Indonesian fishing

boat on the 20th.

This event was investigated by the Australian Government as ‘A Certain Maritime Incident’ in early

2002. The work undertaken by various Australian Government agencies in late 2001 to curb the influx

of unlawful maritime arrivals was extremely effective with the number of arrivals in 2001 alone

exceeding 5000 people, in 43 vessels, yet during 2002-2005 the numbers dropped to less than 100

people in four vessels.

In June 2002 Rear Admiral Bonser was appointed Commander Australian Theatre, based in Sydney,

with control and oversight of ADF operations both in Australia and overseas; particularly in the Middle

East Area of Operations. ADF units and personnel had been deployed to the Middle East/Afghanistan

in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks under the auspices of Operation SLIPPER. In January 2003

additional units were deployed as part of Operation BASTILLE in preparation for possible combat

operations against Iraq. March 2003 saw the commencement of Operation FALCONER and the ADF

contribution to the larger United States led Operation IRAQI FREEDOM which lasted until combat

operations ceased in July 2003. ADF units remained in Iraq as part of Operation CATALYST until

2009 while Operation SLIPPER continued in the Arabian Gulf.

In November 2003 Rear Admiral Bonser was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO)

for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force as the Commander Australian Theatre in

support of combat operations during Operation FALCONER. Rear Admiral Bonser became the

Commander of the Australian Defence College in May 2004 with responsibility for the training of

personnel at the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Australian Command and Staff College and

the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies in Canberra.

His final appointment was in January 2006 as the Head of the Military Justice Implementation Team

reporting directly to the Chief of the Defence Force. Rear Admiral Mark Bonser retired from the RAN

on 16 February 2008. In retirement he has resided in Western Australia and in June 2016 was appointed

to the Western Australian Veterans Advisory Council.

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NAVAL BATTLES

The Battle of the Eastern Solomons was fought August 23–25, 1942 in the waters east and northeast

of the Solomon Islands by forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet and the US Navy's

Pacific Fleet. The battle resulted from a major effort by the Japanese to reinforce their troop strength on

the island of Guadalcanal. The Japanese high command had realized this reinforcement was necessary

following the annihilation of the Ichiki Detachment by the 1st Marines a few days earlier.

The battle can be counted both a tactical and strategic American victory: greater ship losses were

inflicted on the Japanese, and the transports were turned back from their mission of landing

reinforcements.

The battle can be counted both a tactical and strategic American victory: greater ship losses were

inflicted on the Japanese, and the transports were turned back from their mission of landing

reinforcements.

On 21 August, the rest of the Japanese Ka naval force departed Truk, heading for the southern

Solomons. These ships were basically divided into three groups: the "main body" contained the

Japanese carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku, light carrier Ryūjō, and a screening force of one heavy cruiser

and eight destroyers, commanded by Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo in Shōkaku; the "vanguard force"

consisted of two battleships, three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and three destroyers, commanded

by Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abe; and the "advanced force" contained five heavy cruisers, one light

cruiser, six destroyers, and the seaplane carrier Chitose, commanded by Vice Admiral Nobutake

Kondō. Finally, a force of about 100 IJN land-based bombers, fighters, and reconnaissance aircraft at

Rabaul and nearby islands were positioned for operational support. Nagumo's main body positioned

itself behind the "vanguard" and "advanced" forces in an attempt to more easily remain hidden from

U.S. reconnaissance aircraft.

The Ka plan dictated that once U.S. carriers were located, either by Japanese scout aircraft or an attack

on one of the Japanese surface forces, Nagumo's carriers would immediately launch a strike force to

destroy them. With the U.S. carriers destroyed or disabled, Abe's "vanguard" and Kondo's "advanced"

forces would close with and destroy the remaining Allied naval forces in a warship surface action. This

would then allow Japanese naval forces the freedom to neutralize Henderson Field through

bombardment while covering the landing of the Japanese army troops to retake Guadalcanal and

Tulagi[

In response to an unanticipated land battle fought between U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal and Japanese

forces on 19–20 August, the U.S. carrier task forces under Fletcher reversed towards Guadalcanal from

their positions 400 mi (350 nmi; 640 km) to the south on 21 August. The U.S. carriers were to support

the Marines, protect Henderson Field, engage the enemy and destroy any Japanese naval forces that

arrived to support Japanese troops in the land battle on Guadalcanal.

Both Allied and Japanese naval forces continued to converge on 22 August and both sides conducted

intense aircraft scouting efforts, however neither side spotted its adversary. The disappearance of at

least one of their scouting aircraft (shot down by aircraft from Enterprise before it could send a radio

report), caused the Japanese to strongly suspect that U.S. carriers were in the immediate area. The U.S.,

however, was unaware of the disposition and strength of approaching Japanese surface warship forces.

At 09:50 on 23 August, a U.S. PBY Catalina flying boat (based at Ndeni in the Santa Cruz Islands)

initially sighted Tanaka's convoy.

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By late afternoon, with no further sightings of Japanese ships, two aircraft strike forces from Saratoga

and Henderson Field took off to attack the convoy.

However, Tanaka, knowing that an attack would be forthcoming following the PBY sighting, reversed

course once he had departed the area, and eluded the strike aircraft. After Tanaka reported to his

superiors his loss of time by turning north to avoid the expected Allied airstrike, the landings of his

troops on Guadalcanal was pushed back to 25 August. By 18:23 on 23 August, with no Japanese

carriers sighted and no new intelligence reporting of their presence in the area, Fletcher detached Wasp

(which was getting low on fuel) and the rest of TF 18 for the two-day trip south toward Efate Island to

refuel. Thus, Wasp and her escorting warships missed the upcoming battle.

Carrier action on 24 August

At 01:45 on 24 August 1942, Nagumo ordered Rear Admiral Chūichi Hara (with the light carrier Ryūjō,

the heavy cruiser Tone and destroyers Amatsukaze and Tokitsukaze) to proceed ahead of the main

Japanese force and send an aircraft attack force against Henderson Field at daybreak. The Ryūjō

mission was most likely in response to a request from Nishizō Tsukahara (the naval commander at

Rabaul) for help from the combined fleet in neutralizing Henderson Field. The mission may also have

been intended by Nagumo as a feint maneuver to divert U.S. attention allowing the rest of the Japanese

force to approach the U.S. naval forces undetected as well as to help provide protection and cover for

Tanaka's convoy. Most of the aircraft on Shōkaku and Zuikaku were readied to launch on short notice if

the U.S. carriers were located. Between 05:55 and 06:30, the U.S. carriers (mainly Enterprise

augmented by PBY Catalinas from Ndeni) launched their own scout aircraft to search for the Japanese

naval forces.

At 09:35, a Catalina made the first sighting of the Ryūjō force. Later that morning, several more

sightings of Ryūjō and ships of Kondo's and Mikawa's forces by carrier and other U.S. reconnaissance

aircraft followed. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, U.S. aircraft also sighted several

Japanese scout aircraft and submarines, leading Fletcher to believe that the Japanese knew where his

carriers were, which actually was not yet the case. Still, Fletcher hesitated to order a strike against the

Ryūjō group until he was sure there were no other Japanese carriers in the area. Finally, with no firm

word on the presence or location of other Japanese carriers, at 13:40 Fletcher launched a strike of 38

aircraft from Saratoga to attack Ryūjō. However, he kept aircraft in reserve from both U.S. carriers

potentially ready should any Japanese fleet carriers be sighted.

Meanwhile, at 12:20, Ryūjō launched six Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" bombers and 15 A6M3 Zero fighters

to attack Henderson Field in conjunction with an attack by 24 Mitsubishi G4M2 "Betty" bombers and

14 Zeros from Rabaul. However, unknown to the Ryūjō aircraft, the Rabaul aircraft had encountered

severe weather and returned to their base earlier at 11:30. The Ryūjō aircraft were detected on radar by

Saratoga as they flew toward Guadalcanal, further fixing the location of their ship for the impending

U.S. attack. The Ryūjō aircraft arrived over Henderson Field at 14:23, and tangled with Henderson's

fighters (members of the Cactus Air Force) while bombing the airfield. In the resulting engagement,

three "Kates", three Zeros, and three U.S. fighters were shot down, and no significant damage was done

to Henderson Field.

Almost simultaneously, at 14:25 a Japanese scout aircraft from the cruiser Chikuma sighted the U.S.

carriers. Although the aircraft was shot down, its report was transmitted in time, and Nagumo

immediately ordered his strike force launched from Shōkaku and Zuikaku.

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The first wave of aircraft (27 Aichi D3A2 "Val" dive bombers and 15 Zeros), under the command of

Lieutenant Commander Mamoru Seki, was off by 14:50 and on its way toward Enterprise and

Saratoga. Coincidentally about this same time, two U.S. scout aircraft finally sighted the main Japanese

force. However, due to communication problems, these sighting reports never reached Fletcher. Before

leaving the area, the two U.S. scout aircraft attacked Shōkaku, causing negligible damage, but forcing

five of the first wave Zeros to give chase, thus aborting their mission. At 16:00 a second wave of 27

Vals and nine Zeros was launched by the Japanese carriers and headed south toward the U.S. carriers.

Abe's "Vanguard" force also surged ahead in anticipation of meeting the U.S. ships in a surface action

after nightfall.

Again, coincidentally about this same time, the Saratoga strike force arrived and attacked Ryūjō, hitting

and heavily damaging her with three to five bombs and perhaps one torpedo, and killing 120 of her

crew. Also during this time, several U.S. B-17 heavy bombers attacked the crippled Ryūjō but caused

no additional damage. The crew abandoned the heavily damaged Japanese carrier at nightfall and she

sank soon after. Amatsukaze and Tokitsukaze rescued Ryūjō's survivors and the aircrews from her

returning strike force, who ditched their aircraft in the ocean nearby. After the rescue operations were

complete, both Japanese destroyers and Tone rejoined Nagumo's main force.

At 16:02, still waiting for a definitive report on the location of the Japanese fleet carriers, the U.S.

carriers' radar detected the first incoming wave of Japanese strike aircraft. Fifty-three F4F-4 Wildcat

fighters from the two U.S. carriers were directed by radar control towards the attackers. However,

communication problems, limitations of the aircraft identification capabilities of the radar, primitive

control procedures, and effective screening of the Japanese dive bombers by their escorting Zeros,

prevented all but a few of the U.S. fighters from engaging the Vals before they began their attacks on

the U.S. carriers. Just before the Japanese dive bombers began their attacks, Enterprise and Saratoga

cleared their decks for the impending action by launching the aircraft that they had been holding ready

in case the Japanese fleet carriers were sighted. These aircraft were told to fly north and attack anything

they could find, or else to circle outside the battle zone, until it was safe to return.

At 16:29, the Japanese dive bombers began their attacks. Although several attempted to set up to attack

the Saratoga, they quickly shifted back to the nearer carrier, Enterprise. Thus, Enterprise was the target

of almost the entire Japanese air attack. Several Wildcats followed the Vals into their attack dives,

despite the intense anti-aircraft artillery fire from Enterprise and her screening warships, in a desperate

attempt to disrupt their attacks. As many as four Wildcats were shot down by U.S. anti-aircraft fire, as

well as several Vals

Because of the effective anti-aircraft fire from the U.S. ships, plus evasive manoeuvres, the bombs from

the first nine Vals missed Enterprise. However, one of Vals from the second division (led by

Lieutenant Keiichi Arima) managed to score a hit with armor-piercing, delayed-action bomb that

penetrated the flight deck near the aft elevator and passed through three decks before detonating below

the waterline, killing 35 men and wounding 70 more. Incoming sea water caused Enterprise to develop

a slight list, but it was not a major breach of hull integrity.

Just 30 seconds later, the next Val planted its bomb only 15 ft (4.6 m) away from where the first bomb

hit. The resulting detonation ignited a large secondary explosion from one of the nearby 5 in (127 mm)

guns' ready powder casings, killing 35 members of the nearby gun crews and starting a large fire.

About a minute later, at 16:46, the third and last bomb hit Enterprise on the flight deck forward of

where the first two bombs hit. This bomb exploded on contact, creating a 10 ft (3.0 m) hole in the deck,

but caused no further damage. Seven Vals (three from Shokaku, four from Zuikaku) then broke off from

the attack on Enterprise to attack the U.S. battleship North Carolina.

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However, all of their bombs missed and all the Vals involved were shot down by either anti-aircraft fire

or U.S. fighters. The attack was over at 16:48, and the surviving Japanese aircraft reassembled in small

groups and returned to their ships.

Both sides thought that they had inflicted more damage than was the case. The U.S. claimed to have

shot down 70 Japanese aircraft, even though there were only 37 aircraft in all. Actual Japanese losses—

from all causes—in the engagement were 25 aircraft, with most of the crews of the lost aircraft not

being recovered or rescued. The Japanese, for their part, mistakenly believed that they had heavily

damaged two U.S. carriers, instead of just one. The U.S. lost six aircraft in the engagement, with five

pilots lost.

Although Enterprise was heavily damaged and on fire, her damage-control teams were able to make

sufficient repairs for the ship to resume flight operations at 17:46, only one hour after the engagement

ended. At 18:05, the Saratoga strike force returned from sinking Ryūjō and landed without major

incident. The second wave of Japanese aircraft approached the U.S. carriers at 18:15 but was unable to

locate the U.S. formation because of communication problems and had to return to their carriers

without attacking any U.S. ships, losing five aircraft in the process from operational mishaps. Most of

the U.S. carrier aircraft launched just before the first wave of Japanese aircraft attacked failed to find

any targets. However, two SBD Dauntlesses from Saratoga sighted Kondo's advanced force and

attacked the seaplane tender Chitose, scoring two near-hits which heavily damaged the unarmoured

ship. The U.S. carrier aircraft either landed at Henderson Field or were able to return to their carriers

after dusk. The U.S. ships retired to the south to get out of range of any approaching Japanese warships.

In fact, Abe's "Vanguard" force and Kondō's "Advance" force were steaming south to try to catch the

U.S. carrier task forces in a surface battle, but they turned around at midnight without having made

contact with the U.S. warships. Nagumo's main body, having taken heavy aircraft losses in the

engagement and being low on fuel, also retreated northward.

Actions on 25 August

Believing that two U.S. carriers had been taken out of action with heavy damage, Tanaka's

reinforcement convoy again headed toward Guadalcanal, and by 08:00 on 25 August they were within

150 mi (130 nmi; 240 km) of their destination. At this time, Tanaka's convoy was joined by five

destroyers which had shelled Henderson Field the night before, causing slight damage. At 08:05, 18

U.S. aircraft from Henderson Field attacked Tanaka's convoy, causing heavy damage to Jintsu, killing

24 crewmen, and knocking Tanaka unconscious. The troop transport Kinryu Maru was also hit and

eventually sank. Just as the destroyer Mutsuki pulled alongside Kinryu Maru to rescue her crew and

embarked troops, she was attacked by four U.S. B-17s from Espiritu Santo, which landed five bombs

on or around Mutsuki, sinking her immediately. An uninjured but shaken Tanaka transferred to the

destroyer Kagerō, sent Jintsu back to Truk, and took the convoy to the Japanese base in the Shortland

Islands.

Both the Japanese and the U.S. elected to completely withdraw their warships from the area, ending the

battle. The Japanese naval forces lingered near the northern Solomons, out of range of the U.S. aircraft

based at Henderson Field, before finally returning to Truk on 5 September.

The battle is generally considered to be a tactical and strategic victory for the U.S. because the Japanese

lost more ships, aircraft, and aircrew, and Japanese troop reinforcements for Guadalcanal were delayed.

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Aftermarth:

The Battle of the Eastern Solomons was unquestionably an American victory, but it had little long-term

result, apart from a further reduction in the corps of trained Japanese carrier aviators. The (Japanese)

reinforcements that could not come by slow transport would soon reach Guadalcanal by other means.

The U.S. lost only seven aircrew members in the battle. However, the Japanese lost 61 veteran aircrew,

who were hard for the Japanese to replace because of an institutionalized limited capacity in their naval

aircrew training programs and an absence of trained reserves. The troops in Tanaka's convoy were later

loaded onto destroyers at the Shortland Islands and delivered piecemeal, without most of their heavy

equipment, to Guadalcanal beginning on 29 August 1942. The Japanese claimed considerably more

damage than they had inflicted, including that Hornet—not in the battle—had been sunk, thus avenging

its part in the Doolittle Raid.

Emphasizing the strategic value of Henderson Field, in a separate reinforcement effort, the Japanese

destroyer Asagiri was sunk and two other Japanese destroyers heavily damaged on 28 August, 70 mi

(61 nmi; 110 km) north of Guadalcanal in "The Slot" by U.S. aircraft based at the airfield.

Enterprise travelled to Pearl Harbor for extensive repairs, which were completed on 15 October 1942.

She returned to the South Pacific on 24 October, just in time for the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

and her rematch with Shōkaku and Zuikaku.

Combatants: USA Japan

2 Fleet Carriers 2 Fleet Carriers

1 Battleship 1 Light Carrier

4 Heavy Cruisers 2 Battleships

2 Light Cruisers 12 Heavy Cruisers

11 Destroyers 3 Light Cruisers

176 Aircraft 25 Destroyers

1 Seaplane Tender

4 Patrol boats

3 Transports

171-176 Aircraft

Losses: 1 Fleet Carrier damaged 1 Light Carrier sunk

20 Aircraft lost 1 Destroyer sunk

90 Casualties 1 Transport sunk

1 light Cruiser damaged

1 Seaplane Tender damaged

75 Aircraft lost

290 Casualties

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12

HAVE A LAUGH

A child asked his father, "How were people born?" So his father said, "Adam and Eve made babies,

then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on." The child then went to his mother, asked

her the same question and she told him, "We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are

now." The child ran back to his father and said, "You lied to me!" His father replied, "No, your mom

was talking about her side of the family."

Mr. and Mrs. Brown had two sons. One was named Mind Your Own Business & the other was named

Trouble. One day the two boys decided to play hide and seek. Trouble hid while Mind Your Own

Business counted to one hundred. Mind Your Own Business began looking for his brother behind

garbage cans and bushes. Then he started looking in and under cars until a policeman approached him

and asked, "What are you doing?" "Playing a game," the boy replied. "What is your name?" the officer

questioned. "Mind Your Own Business." Furious the policeman inquired, "Are you looking for

trouble?!" The boy replied, "Why, yes."

A bus full of ugly people had a head on collision with a truck. When they died, God granted all of them

one wish. The first person said, "I want to be gorgeous." God snapped his fingers and it happened. The

second person said the same thing and God did the same thing. This went on and on throughout the

group. God noticed the last man in line was laughing hysterically. By the time God got to the last ten

people, the last man was laughing and rolling on the ground. When the man's turn came, he laughed

and said, "I wish they were all ugly again."

A husband and wife were driving through Louisiana. As they approached Natchitoches, they started

arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth, then they stopped for lunch.

At the counter, the husband asked the blonde waitress, "Before we order, could you please settle an

argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are very slowly?" She leaned over the counter

and said, "Burrr-gerrr Kiiing."

A policeman pulls a man over for speeding and asks him to get out of the car. After looking the man

over the policeman says, "Sir, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are bloodshot. Have you been

drinking?" The man gets really indignant and says, "Officer, I couldn't help but notice your eyes are

glazed. Have you been eating doughnuts?"

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13

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY - SHIP HISTORY

HMAS Condamine

Class River Class Length 301ft 7in

Type Frigate Beam 36ft 6in

Builder Newcastle Dockyard Draught 12ft

Laid Down 30 October 1943 Machinery Triple Expansion 2 shafts

Launched 04 November 1944 Horsepower 5,500 shp

Commissioner 22 February 1946 Speed 19 ½ knots

Displacement 2,200 Tons Crew 175

Armament 4 x 4in Guns

3 x 39mm Bofors

4 x 20mm Oerlikons

AS Armament 1 x Hedgehog

4 x Depth Charge throwers

HMAS Condamine was ordered as part of Australia's shipbuilding program during the Second World

War. Twelve of these Australian built frigates were to enter service with the Royal Australian Navy. A

further ten were ordered but cancelled as the war drew to a close.

Eight, HMA Ships Barcoo, Barwon, Burdekin, Diamantina, Gascoyne, Hawkesbury, Lachlan and

Macquarie, were built to the British River Class design and Australia likewise named its frigates after

Australian rivers. A further four, HMA Ships Condamine, Culgoa, Murchison and Shoalhaven, were

also named after Australian rivers but were built to the design of the Royal Navy's Bay Class Frigates.

These latter ships were generally known as Modified River Class Frigates although they are sometimes

referred to as Bay Class.

After a period working up in the waters off New South Wales waters, Condamine proceeded to New

Guinea in May 1946, visiting Port Moresby, Wewak, Alexishafen, Finschhafen, Rabaul and the fleet

base at Manus, before returning to Sydney at the end of July.

In October 1946 she proceeded to Darwin where she remained based until 13 December 1946. On this

day she began the long voyage to Kangaroo Island, South Australia, towing an oil fuel lighter. This task

was accomplished without mishap on 11 January 1947, when, after handing over the lighter to the tug

HMAS Reserve in D'Estree Bay, Condamine proceeded to Melbourne where she remained in refit until

early March 1947.

14

Between May and August 1947 and again from December 1947 to March 1948, Condamine saw further

service as the Australian Squadron Representative in New Guinea waters. Except for a brief visit to

Manus in September 1948, the remainder of the year was spent in home waters. At the close of 1948

Condamine had steamed 63,000 miles.

Throughout 1949 Condamine remained in Sydney Harbour, commencing seagoing service again in

January 1950 when she exercised with the Royal Navy submarine HMS Thorough. The remainder of

the year was spent in eastern Australian waters, mainly on anti-submarine exercises with one of the

Royal Navy submarines operating with the Australian fleet.

Condamine was continually in service in 1951, exercising with other units of the fleet and averaging

about one thousand miles per month in eastern Australian waters.

In June 1952 Condamine departed Sydney to join the United Nations forces operating in Korean

waters. She reached Singapore on 11 July and Japanese waters at the close of the month.

Condamine began operational duty in the Korean War in the Haeju area on the Korean west coast as a

unit of Task Unit 95.12.4 on 4 August 1952. Three days later she fired her first shots of the war with a

bombardment of enemy positions on the mainland opposite Mudo Island.

On 8 August Condamine relieved USS Kimberly as Commander Task Unit 95.12.1 in defence of the

Sokto/Chodo area at the entrance to the River Chinnampo. The following week was spent on daily

bombardment of the mainland, largely in co-operation with air elements of the west coast carrier group,

Task Element 95.11. Condamine was relieved on 16 August by HMS St Brides Bay and after a typhoon

delayed passage the frigate reached Sasebo on 19 August.

Condamine';s next assignment was on the east coast theatre and she was the first Australian frigate to

operate in that area. On 22 August she reported for duty to Commander Task Element 95.22,

Commander Chandler USN in USS McDermut, at Yongdo. There she relieved HMS Mounts Bay and

with other ships of the Task Element began a period in defence of Yandgo, with coastal patrols north to

Chongjin and south to Chado harassing enemy rail communications.It was in the main a quiet period

for Condamine with suitable targets scarce. Railway traffic proved elusive and apt to seek the safety of

tunnels and cuttings. Even direct hits were no guarantee of ultimate destruction as Condamine

discovered when after hitting a two engine train and forcing it to stop, it divided at the point of damage,

half disappearing into a tunnel while the other half made haste for the shelter of a cutting.

Some compensation for Condamine's disappointed gunners came on 10 September when a highly

successful bombardment near Tanchon ended with the complete destruction of six buildings previously

untouched.

On 11 September HMS Charity relieved the Australian frigate. In the nineteen operational days on the

east coast Condamine had steamed 2577 miles.

Ten days at Kure, 13 to 22 September, was followed by a return to the Haeju area on 23 September

where she relieved St Brides Bay as Commander Task Unit 95.12.4. Other ships of the unit comprised

South Korean Navy patrol craft.

A fortnight was spent in defence of the offshore islands of the area. Night stations were normally to the

east of Taesuap Island from which position the mud flats between the mainland and Yongmae Do

Island were effectively covered and the movement of enemy junks down the Haeju prevented. Day

stations were normally in the vicinity of Taeyongpyong Do.

15

On 28 September the frigate gave support to a United Nations guerilla raid on the Chomi Do peninsula.

Strong opposition eventually forced a withdrawal, with Condamine evacuating a wounded United

States Major and a Marine Sergeant. On other days harassing fire served to relieve the monotony of

what proved to be a mainly routine patrol. On 7 October Condamine began the last phase of her third

patrol in the Sokto/Chodo area and after six uneventful days, proceeded for Sasebo.

Her fourth patrol began with four days as Commander Task Unit 95.12.2 at Paengyong Do. Bad

weather restricted both friend and enemy, reducing Condamine's task to routine watch over the offshore

islands.Six days at Haeju followed, with daily bombardment tasks. Ten rounds of 4-inch ammunition

were fired on 26 October, twelve rounds the next day and eighty rounds north of Mudo on the 28th.

Two days at Sokto supporting the minesweepers brought a quiet month to a close. The patrol finally

ended with the frigate operating at Haeju on 8 November. A return to Haeju on 28 November followed

a week at Kure. Ten days on patrol were followed by a visit to Sasebo before returning to the Korean

west coast on 23 December. Patrols off Paengyong Do and Haeju extended to 6 January 1953.

On 5 January 1953 Condamine engaged the enemy batteries opposite Mudo Island on the mainland.

Her Commanding Officer commented "This shoot of sixty-six rounds was the best Condamine has

done, and I was almost ready to believe the Korean spotters reports".On 6 January the frigate left Haeju

for escort duties before proceeding to Kure. Haeju and Sokto/Chodo patrols on the west coast continued

to occupy Condamine until 15 March 1953, when she completed her final patrol, having steamed more

than 22,000 miles in Korean waters.Condamine returned to Sydney on 20 April 1953 for a refit before

resuming duty as a unit of the fleet operating in eastern Australian waters. Between April and July 1954

Condamine was based at Darwin, conducting surveillance of the Japanese Pearling Fleet operating in

the waters to the north of Australia.

In February 1955 she returned to the Far East to begin a period of service in Japanese and Korean

waters. On 14 November she returned to Sydney having steamed some 180,000 miles since

commissioning in February 1946. Condamine paid off into Reserve on 2 December 1955.

Without being again brought into commission, Condamine was sold on 21 September 1961 to the Tolo

Mining and Smelting Co Ltd of Hong Kong. Late in December 1961 the former Royal Australian Navy

tug Reserve left Sydney for Hong Kong towing Condamine and her sister ship Burdekin. The other two

vessels had been purchased by the same firm. All were ultimately released to the Mitsubishi Company

of Japan to be broken up for scrap in Japan.

16

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY – NEW SHIPS

HMAS Warramunga (ll)

Class Anzac Class Displaceement 3,600 tonnes

Type Frigate Helicopter FFH Length 118 Mtrs

Builder Tenix Defence Systems Beam 14.8 Mtrs

Laid down 26 July 1997 Draught 4.5 Mtrs

Launched 23 May 1998 Machinery 1 x GE LM 2500 gas turbine

2 x MTU 12V 1163 diesels

Commissioned 31 March 2001 Speed 27 knots

Crew 177 Missiles Mk 41 V launch Sea Sparrow

Aharpoon Anti ship

Guns 5in Mk 45 Mod 2 Rapid Fire

4 x 50Cal Machine guns

Torpedoes 2 x Mk 32 Mod 5

Triple mounted tubes

Helicopter 1 x MH- 60R Sea Hawk Counter Measures Various

HMAS Warramunga (II) is the third of eight Anzac Class frigates built by Tenix Defence Systems at

Williamstown, Victoria for the Royal Australian Navy. The design is based on the German Meko 200

frigate.

Warramunga is a long-range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance,

reconnaissance and interdiction. Warramunga's combat capabilities have been significantly improved

under the Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade program, a world class program that provides an

enhanced sensor and weapons systems capability. The upgrade showcases Australian design and

integration capability, with new Phased Array Radar technology designed by CEA Technologies in

Canberra, upgrades to combat systems performed by Saab Systems in South Australia, and platform

integration design by BAE Systems in Victoria. Warramunga is fitted with an advanced package of air and surface surveillance radars; omni-directional hull mounted sonar and electronic support systems that interface with the state-of-the-art 9LV453 Mk3E combat data system. The ship can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

The ship's main armament comprises one Mark 45 capable of firing 20 rounds per minute, ship

launched Mark 46 torpedoes and a Mark 41 vertical launch system for the Evolved Sea Sparrow

missile. Warramunga also has eight anti-ship/land attack canister launched harpoon missiles. The ship's

other defence systems include the Nulka active missile decoy system, offboard chaff and a torpedo

countermeasures system.

17

HMAS Warramunga, like her sister frigates HMA Ships Anzac, Arunta, Ballarat, Parramatta, Stuart

and Toowoomba features a "combined diesel or gas" (CODOG) propulsion plant which enables the ship

to sustain sprint speeds of greater than 27 knots and allows an operational range in excess of 6,000

nautical miles at 18 knots.

The ship can embark Navy's latest multi-role Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk helicopter

which has enhanced anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and Search and Rescue capabilities.

Embarkation of a helicopter also provides the ship with the capability to deliver air-launched missiles

and torpedoes.

HMAS Warramunga is the second ship to bear the same name in the Royal Australian Navy. HMAS

Warramunga (I) was the second of three Australian built Tribal Class destroyers. She served with

distinction in WWII with the US 7th Fleet in the Pacific, the Korean campaign, the Malayan Insurgency

and with the United Nations Forces in Korea. The following battle honours have been awarded to

Warramunga (I): Pacific 1943-1945, New Guinea 1943-1944, Leyte Gulf 1944 (Philippines), Lingayen

Gulf 1945 (Philippines) and Korea 1950-1952.

The Warramunga name is derived from the Warramunga (also spelt Warumungu) Aboriginal people

from the Tennant Creek area and the ship's badge depicts a fearsome Warumungu tribesman about to

throw a boomerang. The blue and yellow background represents the sky and a desert hillside.

The motto "Courage in Difficulties" honours the Warumungu tribe's life of courage in their harsh

environment as well as the Second World War Tribal Class Destroyer, HMAS Warramunga (I).

HMAS Warramunga is currently undergoing the Anzac Mid-Life Capability Assurance Program

(AMCAP) upgrade at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia. The

upgrade is being performed by the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA) Alliance

and will include the replacement of the Long-Range Air search radar, IFF (Identification, Friend

or Foe) and secondary surveillance radar capabilities. Anzac will also undergo a platform systems

obsolescence program to improve platform reliability and maintainability. Work will also be

done to improve the ship’s habitability for the crew. Also, an upgrade to the ship’s

communications systems will resolve a number of obsolescence issues.

18

PICTURE FUNNIES

19

NAVAL TERMS

Skyyscraper:

A small triangular sail set above the skysail in order to maximise effect in a light wind.

The bitter end:

The end of an anchor cable is fastened to the bitts at the ship’s bow. If all of the anchor cable has been

payed out you have come to the bitter end.

Toe the Line:

When called to line up at attention, the ship’s crfew form up with their toes touching a seam in the deck

planking.

Back and Fill:

A technique of tracking when the tide is with the ship but the wind is against it.

Overhaul:

To prevent the buntline ropess from chaffing the sails, crew were sent aloft to haul them over the sails.

This was called overhauling.

Slush Fund:

A slushy slurry of fat was obtained by boiling or scaping the empty salted meat storage barrels. This

stuff called ‘slush’ was often sold ashore by the ship’s cook for the benefit of himself or the crew. The

money so derived became known as a slush fund.

Bear down:

To sail downwind rapidly towards another ship or landmark

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20

NAVAL TRADITIONS

Naval uniforms cont:

Another practical introduction followed in May 1950 when a new short-sleeved white bush jacket was

introduced for officers of captain’s rank and above for use in tropical climates. Bush jackets remained

an optional item of kit until 30 July 2009, at which time they were removed from the approved RAN

clothing list. Today it is an optional piece of kit.

With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 the RAN again found itself on active service. For

those who served throughout the conflict it is often remembered for its freezing winter temperatures

which saw many personnel resort to wearing warm civilian apparel in conjunction with their uniforms

in an effort to keep warm, a lament of sailors since they first put to sea.

On 6 February 1952 King George VI died and Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne. The change in monarch marked the end of over fifty years of rule by successive British kings, all of whom had adopted the Tudor crown as the symbol of their authority. After Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in June 1953, the St Edwards Crown was adopted, replacing the Tudor Crown on badges, insignia, buttons and accoutrements of the Commonwealth’s armed forces.

After HM Queen Elizabeth's coronation in June 1953 a revised pattern naval officer's cap badge was

introduced incorporating the St Edwards Crown. Know colloquially as the 'Queen's Crown' it also

replaced all existing Tudor Crowns on badges, buttons and accoutrements.

21

May 1952 saw the establishment of the Clearance Diving (CD) category and from September 1954, the

letter ‘C’ was added below the diver’s non-substantive rate badge to indicate the CD qualification. The

1950s saw the demise of officer’s distinction cloth (with the exception of the medical and dental

branches) and the abandonment of waved lace for officers of the reserve forces. They instead adopted a

small letter ‘R’ which was centred in the loop of the executive curl. This too was done away with in

1986

With the 1960s came the missile age and the beginning of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

Between 1965 and 1972 elements of the RAN undertook continuous service in Vietnam as sea, ashore

and in the air. Once again it was the environment in which RAN personnel were serving that influenced

changes to uniforms, placing practicality ahead of appearance. Both clearance divers and aviators of the

RAN could be found serving ashore in Vietnam dressed in army style ‘jungle greens’, while in ships on

the gun line, officers serving in the RAN’s destroyers adopted the khaki uniforms worn by their

counterparts of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet. The 1960s also saw the RAN band shift out of their

Royal Marine styled uniforms and into traditional naval rig.

Members of the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam arming a gunship prior to a mission.

Integrated with the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company it was designated an 'Experimental

Military Unit' adopting the badge and unofficial motto see here.

Left: A gold wire example of the attractive ordinary musician’s badge incorporating the basic device of

a lyre embellished with a laurel wreath. This combination appeared on all other musician non-

substantive rates. Far right: An example of a qualified musician’s badge. Prior to January 1960 RAN

musicians were dressed in a derivative of Royal Marine Band uniforms.

To be continued: