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

bobcat · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:21 am

Great pics cupcake! Must have been a heart-wrenching, emotional experience for you. Better she lies there for us to enjoy, than be sent off to become razor-blades. She is still home ...

Cheers,
Bobcat :cat:

tafmo · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:39 am

Chippy Ned wrote:

What can I say folks ...THREE BEAUTIFUL BOLLARDS ... Two with barnacles and one in pristine condition. :finga:

The only reason that third bollard is in pristine condition Nude Nut, is that it's never been used. #-o

Dog · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:42 pm

Speaking of all things Brisbane, do any of you out there, remember a rather large CPO COXN by the name of Noel Collins? He started life as a birdie, paid off in early '80's. We are both doing casual work for the same bus company at the moment.

DirtyDiesel · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:01 am

Ned

I am bloody jealous of you all living there. :snakeman:

As to the missing hatch. :-#

Well they had to let the water get inside somehow. :twisted:

If and when I ever have the funds to revisit the east. :finga:

One stop I will be making is the dive on the old Lady. :heart:

cheers and Tears :partyman:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:56 am

Something fishy about "the Brisbane"

Six months after the ex-HMAS BRISBANE was scuttled, the artificial reef around the wreck is blooming and dive business is booming, Environment Minister Desley Boyle said today.

Ms Boyle said the ship and artificial reef was exceeding expectations as a tourism drawcard for the Sunshine Coast as its reputation as an excellent dive continued to grow.

The ship was scuttled by Premier Peter Beattie on 31 July 2005.

"All three commercial dive operators working on the BRISBANE have enjoyed great business since the ship was scuttled," Ms Boyle said.

"The ship is averaging 800 dives a month, and tourism operators are fielding bookings from international and interstate divers intending to holiday on the coast."

Ms Boyle said the most exciting aspect was the prolific growth and colonisation of the artificial reef - making the ship an underwater paradise.

"Growth of the reef has happened a lot faster than even we expected," she said.

"The ship's exterior is almost completely covered in brightly-coloured young corals, so much so that the ship's famous number '41' can hardly be made out on the bow," she said.

"The ship's structure, the depth of water, the amount of light, water temperature and the mixing of ocean currents are combining perfectly, as planned, to create a magnificent reef."

Ms Boyle said people were seeing new marine species moving in, almost on a weekly basis.

"A pod of dolphins are regular visitors to the wreck," she said.

"Huge schools of baitfish have made the wreck their home. Large schools of long toms and whiting have been hanging around the wreck, as well as deep water fish such as kingfish.

"Crabs and crayfish, squid, sea slugs, cuttlefish and seasnakes are regularly seen there and a university researcher has reported a possible new species of sea slug that has moved in."

Ms Boyle said that in most cases, assets depreciated over time, but not the BRISBANE.

"Its value as an artificial reef, a marine habitat and breeding ground for local fish stocks, plus as a diving destination will grow over time," she said.

"The feedback from divers is absolutely fantastic - they are full of praise for the BRISBANE."

Ms Boyle said it was vital that everyone who enjoyed the BRISBANE worked to protect the growing ecosystem and divers who explored it.

"There have been reports of illegal fishing and trolling over the wreck, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is conducting regular patrols of the site," she said.

"Due to the risk to divers posed by hooks, line and discarded fishing materials, general boating access and fishing is prohibited in the conservation park surrounding the ship.

"To avoid a $300 fine, a good rule of thumb for boaties is to stand-off approximately 300 metres from the BRISBANE site. This will ensure you are outside the conservation park."

Club and private divers wishing to obtain permits to dive the BRISBANE and book two-hour timeslots should contact Maroochy Tourism on (07) 5479 1566 or 1800 882 032.

People wishing to book through commercial dive operators, should contact either Sunreef Mooloolaba, (07) 5444 5656; Scuba World Mooloolaba, (07) 5444 8595; and Noosa Blue Water Dive (07) 5447 1300.

The BRISBANE is open seven days a week for day and night dives.

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:38 am

As I have stated in previous posts, when I dived on "our girl", my mate Matt Saarikko, whose Uncle Ian runs Scuba World Mooloolaba, (07) 5444 8595, extended me the greatest hospitality.

I found Scuba World to be very professional and friendly. They also made the dive easy as their general attitude to the diver put me at ease.

We had a Pommie bloke on the dive who was very apprehensive about diving in confined spaces throughout the ship, so the dive staff assured him that he could set his own pace and they would help him through the dive. I spoke with him on the trip back to Mooloolaba and he sang the praises of the dive staff and reckons that it was the greatest dive he had ever had. A statement with which I agree entirely.

If you wish to have a dive on the Brisbane I recommend that you go and see Scuba Dive and talk to Ian.

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:02 am

Take the plunge inside a killer

The Sun Herald, February 12 2006

It's an underwater freak show as Stephen Walsh discovers maritime history.

IMAGINE peering over the side of the ship, watching a swirling ball of baitfish glinting in the sunlight. Now imagine looking up and seeing a school of kingfish eyeing them off hungrily.

Yes, "up".

That's the view from the deck of the former HMAS Brisbane, the destroyer sunk off Queensland's Sunshine Coast as a dive wreck.

Although "the Steel Cat" has been on the seabed only since last July, it is already home to an amazing amount of marine life. Its hull and decks are covered growth - so much so that the huge "41" designation on the bow is barely visible.

But there's plenty to see inside the ship. The most exciting way to enter is to drop down one of the funnels to the boilers, which supplied the huge engine. It had to be big to push the Brisbane, which displaced about 4500 tonnes fully loaded, at 35 knots.

You can also enter at the stern where the missile launcher used to be, or go in forward over what's left of the bridge.

Sadly the bridge is gone - it is now at the Australian War Memorial - but a safe remains on what was the back wall. The dial still works, but I couldn't crack the combination to see if it contained some leftover secret orders - or maybe the captain's top-shelf rum supply. Beside the safe is the entry to the command centre, which still has the equipment used to co-ordinate and launch attacks. It's surprisingly clunky, but there's no doubt the Brisbane was a ship of war: buttons on a display board are labelled respectively "Intercept", "Kill", "Kill" and... "Kill".

Below decks are remnants of daily life at sea for the ship's company of more than 330. Sinks and cupboards in a galley, cramped bunks, ironing boards and, of course, "the head". In another room, the dial on a huge cooling unit was set to 100 degrees

Fahrenheit; I hope for the crew's sake it wasn't the air-conditioner.

The first dive on the Brisbane is an orientation around the outside. Dropping down the bow to the sand at 26 metres and looking up, you can take in how huge the ship is - it's about 12 metres (or four storeys up to the deck. Swim aft 130 metres and you can duck between the stern and the huge rudders (the propeller was also snaffled by the War Memorial).

The Brisbane was a guided missile destroyer commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1967. It served in Vietnam and the first Gulf War and was the first navy ship into Darwin after Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

A wreck qualification is recommended for diving it, but isn't compulsory. Holes cut into the hull

mean you can always see a way out, some parts of the ship have been sealed for safety. Dangerous objects and chemicals were removed before it was scuttled.

Back up on deck, you can circle the turrets which carry the five-inch guns that pounded targets in Vietnam, earning the ship the nickname "Five¬mile Sniper". One of the barrels is plugged, while the other is not-the perfect home for octopuses.

There are plenty of other spots that have become home to marine life, too. Indeed, the critter highlights read like an underwater freak show.

A large prickly leatherjacket, with spikes all over its body, sat next to a thick rope at the stern, while large, red nudibranchs (sea slugs) are dotted inside and outside the ship. Another sea

slug, the less colourful sea hare, lives on deck. They don't usually do much but sit still, but one we spotted got up and swam off after squirting a jet of ink

Speaking of ink, small octopuses can be found tucked away in nooks and crannies, while crabs can be seen scurrying around, too. A blue swimmer scuttled - sideways, of course = the length of a laundry room as I passed through it. Tall, thin batfish float around the superstructure, while blennies poke their horned heads out of holes in the railings nearby. And those hungry kingfish like to hang out near the funnels, keeping an eye on everything else.

The Queensland Government created a conservation park around the Brisbane, which means pilfering souvenirs from the wreck is illegal, as is fishing over it. And that's why you'll pay $20 park tax to dive the wreck

The Brisbane joins three other former navy ships on the ocean floor - all sunk by friendly fire to be used as dive wrecks. The HMAS Hobart now lies near Adelaide, while the Swan and the Perth were scuttled off Western Australia. The former HMAS Canberra, decommissioned last year, is up for grabs, with Victoria showing interest in acquiring it for dive tourism.

> TRIP NOTES

· The Sunshine Coast is 90 minutes' drive north of Brisbane.

· Three charter boat operators are licensed to dive the ex-HMAS Brisbane: Sunreef, Mooloolaba (07 5444 5656; www.sunreef.com.au); Scuba World, Mooloolaba (07 5444 8595; www.scubaworld.com.au); and Noosa Blue Water Dive (07 54471300, www.fishinqnoosa.com.au/ divenoosa.htm).

· Prices are the same: $130 per double dive with own gear to $195 with all gear supplied. Includes $20 wreck tax.

· Jetstar (www.jetstar.com.au; 131538) and Virgin Blue (www.virginbiue.com.au; 136 789) fly from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast daily.

· Accommodation: see www.tourismsunshinecoast.com.au

Chippy Ned · **Posted:** Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:25 am

For your information.

Good Morning All,

Yesterday afternoon I spoke with the Maroochy Council convenor for the BRISBANE Mast Memorial dedication & a date has been chosen.

Monday 28th August is the day for the dedication.

Invitees include the Prime Minister, Governor General, Defence Minister, DVA Minister, Chief of Defence, Chief of Navy, Premier Beattie, as well as other notable politicians, including Clem Jones (former Brisbane Mayor). Representatives from the HMAS BRISBANE Association, along with the Navy Association, & the RSL are also on the list.

The Council has gone to some expense to construct this memorial & I am sure a big turn out of former crew will be on hand at the dedication. The top section of the mast is awaiting erection on site & when it is in position I will send photos.

For those of you that have questions please be patient if my replies are a bit slow, my wife is undergoing 'chemo' at the moment & my time to answer emails are limited. I will update everybody as things advance.

Please pass this email around to former shipmates & other ex-service people who might be interested.

Regards
Kerry Kerr (HMAS BRISBANE Association)
0412647999

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:52 pm

Received the following from Peter Maher, Secretary of the HMAS Brisbane Association...

Book - "HMAS Brisbane Vietnam and Gulf War Veteran"

RADM Ken Doolan RAN (Rtd). The then CAPT Doolan was a CO of HMAS BRISBANE in 1984.
-----------------------------------------

------ Forwarded Message
From: <Kdoolanbooks>
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 06:04:55 EDT
To: <ralmeg>
Subject: Book - "HMAS Brisbane Vietnam and Gulf War Veteran"

As a follow on to my book HMAS Tobruk - Warship for Every Crisis, brief details of which are at www.grinklepress.com, I have started work on a similar tome about DDG 41 with the title HMAS Brisbane - Vietnam and Gulf War Veteran.

This work will not be a history in the traditional sense - not least because the intention is that it will include anecdotal stories by and about those who served in the Steel Cat.

The draft outline of the book at this early stage is:

The DDG Project
Building HMAS Brisbane
Delivery to Australia
First Deployment to the Vietnam War
Second Deployment to the Vietnam War
Cyclone Tracy
The Silver Jubilee Deployment to the UK
Serving the nation in the 1980s
Deployment to Operation Damask (Gulf War 1)
Serving the nation in the 1990s
Living on at the AWM
Living on as a Dive Site in Qld.

Members of the HMAS Brisbane Association may be interested in the project - and I hope some may wish to supply anecdotal material. They can do so by contacting me at grinklepress@aol.com

Thanks for your advice during our telephone conversation. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards
Ken Doolan

Seejay · **Posted:** Sun Jun 24, 2007 11:28 pm

The Brisbane continues to be the best dive site in Queensland, according to The Sunday Mail (the Sunday version of The Courier Mail for you mexicans), attracting divers who previously would have travelled to Townsville to dive the 'Yongala' wreck, and others around the state.

The pics showed the entire ship covered in marine growth, and said that almost 300 species of fish now inhabited the old girl.

Almost like the 333 species that used to inhabit her before she was paid off, eh?

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

Who is online