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

beartoo · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:45 am

Okay you Brisbaneites, I have no stories from Brisbane for my book of dits, although I have stuff from lots of other ships and establishments. Anyone got a good warrie about the old girl? I've PMd Viv to ask if I can use his jackstay transfer story and hope to hear from him soon.

On another note, I went down to Normanville to watch the Hobart when she was scuttled. I wish I hadn't. While I never served in a DDG, it made me feel incredibly sad to see one of the ships of my era sink beneath the waves. It was almost a mercy that smoke obscured her final moment for the many hundreds or maybe thousands of us on the rocks watching.
Okay, so I'm an old softie. I admit it.
Now dip those thumbnails in tar. I've already got some great stories from blokes on this site.
I thirst for more!
Regards to all

saarikko · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:59 am

For the first time in my life (according to my dear wife) I am SPEECHLESS.
Pete, my sincerest thanks for your incredibly generous offer. Look forward to meeting you in person. Enjoy your stay on Fraser. Cheers, Matt

saarikko · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2005 8:38 am

My period of Speechlessness has come to an end, I have been asked to find out the link to the HMAS Brisbane and "Proud Mary". At the tender age of 48 I can only recollect the Creedence Clearwater Revival Song Lyrics, How did the 'anthem' come about? By the way: I have found a link between me and the RAN - I believe my father-in-law Alan O'Neil served on the Quiberon during WWII (now I am clutching at straws)

Stroppy Chippie · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2005 11:46 am

SeeJay,

Was BRISBANE the ship that did the run to Macquarie Island (injured civilian) and naval personnel became helo tiedowns?

Seejay · **Posted:** Thu Aug 18, 2005 8:33 pm

No Brian, that was Hobart.

saarikko · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:47 am

Another day in paradise with a boatload of people paying their respects to this great vessel. This morning I had the opportunity to explore the ship in detail with Steve who is the AquaLung representative in Australia. We descended down the forward stack to the darkness below right to the boilers. Whilst the rest of the divers explored the exterior and the top decks I gave Steve a private tour of the forward engine room and marvelled at the sight of the gears and shafts, valves and gauges, then we wound our way through various corridors and levels to the stern, occasionally dropping down to keel level and peering into several small areas now barred from public access. At the depth of 26 metres the allowed bottom time is consumed rapidly, so we ascended to the aft deck and then swam forward along the starboard side at deck level. The most obvious change over the two weeks is that there are now hundreds of fish around the ship. Large schools of mullet around the stern, pufferfish between the rudders, small goby like fish around the topsides. The sea-life seem to have accepted this massive newcomer as their own. Today there were 3 vessels full of excited divers in near perfect conditions of sunny sky, warm morning, 19C water and 15M visibility. Purr-fect!!!! (Tried to light a durrie in wildcat flat but the matches wouldn't burn)

Seejay · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2005 3:00 am

Matt, the wildcat flats on all 3 of our DDG's were popular spots for a bit of 'contact counselling' for those sailors requiring a bit of 'redirection' in their career. :axe:

Cheers

CJ

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:34 am

Bugger you Matt, I am salivating, after reading your description of the dive.

My life of diving is probably nearing an end as I am now 59 years old, but I have an incredible excitement building inside me, regarding seeing a favourite ship/home of mine as she rests peacefully on the ocean floor.

I will give you a buzz when I can get away from the sunny mecca of the south coast, to visit the sunshine coast. Be prepared to shout me a bacardi and coke as I will be extremely thirsty after the dive. :drinkers:

Cheers, Ned.

tafmo · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:32 am

I can just picture it Ned.............................. :-k

All the divers in their scuba gear getting ready to dive on the Steel Cat, and then a concerted "What the f&*$'s that?????" from the group as you stagger forth (well, probably tenth) in a pair of pink bermuda shorts and diving sandals #-o

. Sitting on top of your head like a deep sea diver's helmet is your SCUDABAR helmet (that stands for Self Contained Underwater Drinking And Breathing Apparatus - Red). This comprises thirty wine bottles in concentric rings; every bottle (except for 4 which are full of cheap red) has been lovingly emptied by the wearer :partyman:

(probably just before the dive) and are all connected to the chippy-designed breathing air regulator, a plastic bulb that is squeezed when air is needed. Another tube connects the 4 full bottles, which in turn is attached to the emergency reserve switch #-o

.

Strapped to one leg is a corkscrew, and on the other. a vacu-vin pump. Hanging on your waist is a weight belt with lead weights replaced by several full bottles of wine which are clanking loudly as you swagger........sorry, stagger.........across the deck towards the ladder.

Everyone is wondering who the dildo is with the Halloween mask on, but all they can see through the bottles is your bloodshot eyes, and of course the tufts of hair sprouting out of your ears :butthead:

. You trip just before the ladder and plunge over the side head first, and disappear down towards the ship streaming bubbles and long tendrils of ear hair, looking like a huge Portugese Man-o-war. :finga:

What a sight! :supz:

Seejay · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:58 pm

Good one Tafmo!!! :finga:

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

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