HMAS Brisbane... 'The Steel Cat'...

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:59 pm

Update from Kerry Kerr:

BRISBANE will leave Cairncross dock for her final voyage at 1600 Friday 29th July. The Steelcat will be towed into position for scuttling, her stern will positioned at the coordinates, Latitude 26 37.00'South, Longitude 153 10.133 East, her bow will point in an Easterly direction.
KK

Spud · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:19 am

Is there been set a time when exHMAS Brisbane will be laid to rest on that Sunday?

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:13 am

Haven't got a time Spud, why not contact Kerry at k_kerr@bigpond.net.au or 0754921914, or 0412647999... :-k

Seejay · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:47 am

Well, the old girl will travel her final distance straight down tomorrow, marking the end of a once-great time in the navy.

Farewell, Brisbane.

Spud · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:30 pm

Its Sunday 31/7/2005at 0955. Here I was standing at Alexandra Headlands on the Sunshine coast waiting for the Sinking of the exHMAS Brisbane. There were thousands of people at all the coast line vantage points just looking out at sea. What a tribute to a fine old girl in her final hour.

The schedules time to let of blasts to sink the ship was 1000 that day. Come 1000 all eyes focused out at sea towards Brisbane. No go. So while waiting for the show to begin I proceeded to count the number of aircraft above the ship. There were nine helicopters and eleven light planes. I feel that was most aircraft that had ever flown around the ship in its service life. There must have been close on 300 to 500 light water craft in a 1 km radius around the ship. 1017 the time has come, when I could see with my perve glasses the three blasts on the upper deck. This then was followed by the remaining blast at the waterline. The ship took about two minutes to sink, bow first. I was privilege to have witnessed the last moments of a fine old lady make her final trip to the bottom.

Farewell, HMAS Brisbane. May all the divers who dive on her, enjoy her.

bobcat · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 8:54 pm

I shed quite a few tears last night :tear:

as I watched "Proud Mary", No.41, "The Steel Cat", HMAS Brisbane, make her way to the bottom of the sea on the news. Glad to see that she had a good turnout of spectators though. :supz:

Gone ... but not forgotten. The end of an era.

Requiescat in Pace :prayer:

Bobcat

BC · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:03 pm

Yep, truly a sad moment, I must admit it brought a tear to my eye even though it was a DDG.

But Spud, just to be picky, from all the footage I saw it appeared to go down slightly by the stern.

I believe that all our major warships should be sunk to become dive centres instead of being sold for scrap.

Maybe a site similar to Wreck Bay, which was appropriately named for all the failed boat building attempts of our Chippy Ned!! :finga:

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:19 pm

I too shed a tear on watching the grand lady on her final journey. :tear:

I will be diving on my old friend in the next few months. Suzie and I are beginning to plan our trip up to the Sunshine Coast. I intend to get a pic of myself outside the Chippy's workshop.

Farewell "Proud Mary".

Jim Moon · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:47 pm

Hey Ned,
I reckon if your put a diving mask and hose on your bollard, you'd look like the Elephant man... :finga:

Spud · **Posted:** Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:31 am

Go to this site

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/20 ... 426525.htm

If anyone can download the vido clip of the sinking from this site. It would be appreciated by me if a copy be emailed to me. :finga:

HMAS Brisbane... 'The Steel Cat'...

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