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

tafmo · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:44 am

USS Turner Joy was in the US 7th Fleet Task Force in 1981 when Brisbane was in company with the fleet for 5 months. You could see her from miles away, belching clouds of black smoke, bringing up the rear trying to keep up with the rest of the fleet.

She'd apparently been at sea around 10 months when we got there, including a 6 months at sea deployment except for a few days in harbour somewhere. Was supposedly going to be there another 6 months or so after that. Must have had a happy crew. :shock:

Spud · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:27 pm

tafmo: With USS Turner Joy being at sea that much, I don't think the crew were pissed off it's more like they were into each other. :twisted:

Seejay · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:42 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyDd7dnqCqc

Supplied by Pete Cottam

tafmo · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:13 pm

Spud wrote:

tafmo: With USS Turner Joy being at sea that much, I don't think the crew were pissed off it's more like they were into each other. :twisted:

Yeah, I understand they were thinking of changing the name to USS Turnover Joy......... :shock:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:45 am

Seejay wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyDd7dnqCqc

Supplied by Pete Cottam

There's a few Brisbane dives on there SeeJay, this short one (mainly fish) was filmed on 11th January 2006

:type:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcEZttFS ... ed&search=

Another short one posted on December 31st 2006...

:type:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2J3BSqo ... ed&search=

Then this one 2nd January 2007 by the same guy that shot the one Pete Cottam referred you to, shot in October 2005...

:type:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VxwbjfS ... ed&search=

The most recent was this one, the longest, a bit jumpy and of poorer quality, posted on 15th March this year...

:type:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpKcWcQJ ... ed&search=

Interesting to watch them in order from 2005 to now, comparing the build-up of marine growth and the abundance of fish over the past few years... :shock:

I'm sure we'll be seeing many more on YouTube as more recreational divers 'discover' her... :thumbright:

For those who'd rather remember HMAS Brisbane 'The Steel Cat' as she was, (along with our other two DDG's,) someone's put new music to this one that's been doing the rounds...

:type:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bxk1wm-DJw

I still prefer the original version...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wCd8P8h ... ed&search=

Then there's the sinking of HMAS Perth filmed on 24th November 2001...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRmBhizO ... ed&search=

(Looks very much like our Dave 'Charlie' Charlton on the 'baggis'...!) :shock:

And of course 'Majestic' HMAS Melbourne...

:type:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqbGSL8W ... ed&search=

And another, landing Trackers on HMAS Melbourne... :shock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoEElPX8hfQ&NR=1

This one may interest fans of the A4 Shyhawks, taking off from HMAS Melbourne... :shock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh9RFLcr ... ed&search=

The notes on the digital representation state:
"A video made in Third Wire's Wings Over Vietnam flight sim, using a number of mods. This video was made shortly after the release of the fourth service pack for WOV and shows off the new 3D clouds. "

By far the best of the lot was this one, '1000 Miles Away', supplied to me by SeeJay on disc some time back, but at 35MB, too big to load up onto our website... Fantastic that someone has compressed it sufficiently to finally get it up onto YouTube.... :prayer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6YivPji ... ed&search=

Sign up material that one...!!! :jerk:

$\:D/$

Anyone know how to DOWNLOAD from YouTube...??? :dontknow:

And to wrap it up, these (somewhat dated) recruitment videos...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPZnYVU4LbQ&NR=1

And this ripper, promoting the RAN's 'Virtual Fleet' on www.navy.gov.au

One for the 'guzundas', with a Collins sub 'sinking' HMAS Torrens...

:type:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BS-gKZq ... ed&search=

And this great compilation of stills in today's RAN...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WvYHN7V ... ed&search=

Well there goes my evening... ENJOY...! :thumbright:

tafmo · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:57 pm

Hippy Chippy wrote:

Anyone know how to DOWNLOAD from YouTube...??? :dontknow:

Rick,

If you go to http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/ ... _0056_.htm and purchase Clipfisher (US$14.99), you will be able to download (If you download their 30 or 40 day free trial, you will be able to use during that period with full functionality, and they'll generally come back with a discount offer before the end of your review period).

Downloads and also allows you to convert to wmv, and also increase viewing size to 800 x 600 whilst retaining quality.

They have a lot of other software on there, some of it very good and very inexpensive. Their Uninstaller program and Magic Security are great. They also have a site where you can offer them a price for their software for significant discounts. :supz:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:40 am

Thanks Tafmo, I'll let you know how I go... :thumbright:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:26 am

'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...' :bigsmurf:

No doubt the photo above will bring back memories for a selct few, sent in by
Nigel Baird-Orr, this unusual view of the fo'csle of HMAS Brisbane in Boston,
Mass. in December, 1967... Probably the one and only time 'The Steel Cat'
ever saw snow on her uppers...! :shock:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:38 pm

And while we gaze upon that particular perspective of HMAS Brisbane, (i.e., the gun and the bridge,) I just received thie following press release... :evil3:

HISTORIC WARSHIP BRIDGE ARRIVES AT MEMORIAL

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bruce Billson, today welcomed the arrival of the bridge section of the HMAS Brisbane, one of Australia’s greatest warships, to the Australian War Memorial.

Mr Billson said the arrival of the bridge, along with the gun section of the warship that was installed in 2001, would be the major feature of Australia’s naval history at the Memorial’s Post-1945 Conflicts Gallery.

“The Brisbane exhibit is a fitting tribute to the long and distinguished service of the Royal Australian Navy. The display will highlight Brisbane’s long operational history and tell the stories of its crew and that of its sister ships HMA Ships Perth and Hobart,” Mr Billson said.

“For the first time visitors to the Memorial will also be able to stand on a real ship’s bridge that saw active service in major recent conflicts.

“I am pleased that the Australian Government was able to support the incorporation of the bridge and gun sections of Brisbane to the Memorial with $2.1 million in funding through the 2006-07 Federal Budget.”

Mr Billson said Brisbane served during the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War before being decommissioned in 2001 and sunk about 5 kilometres off Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in 2005.

“In Vietnam, Brisbane was one of three Australian destroyers, on rotation, to serve with the US 7th Fleet on the ‘gunline’ where they delivered naval gunfire support for ground forces,” he said.

“During December 1990 and March 1991 she operated in the Persian Gulf and served as part of a defensive screen for US Carrier Battle Groups, provided anti-aircraft and anti-ship protection, and controlled fighter combat air patrols.

“Honouring Australia’s wartime heritage remains a key priority of the Australian Government. This commitment has seen significant funding allocated to expanding and redeveloping the Australian War Memorial during the past 10 years, including $12.5 million to help improve visitor access, and $11.6 million towards the CEW Bean building and Post-1945 Conflicts Galleries.”

Media inquiries: Cameron Hill 0408 239 521

tafmo · **Posted:** Fri Mar 07, 2008 1:14 am

The NCDS System Chief on one of my stints on the Steel Cat, and a good mate of mine, was Ken Hughes.

I spoke to his wife Amy tonight and heard that he has been in hospital for over 2 months with brain damage following a bike accident.

Ken has ridden bikes for many years, of the 750 - 1200cc variety, and last year decided he wanted to try dirt bike riding with his son, who had been doing it for some time. Unfortunately he came off and did himself some serious damage, despite having all the right safety gear on. He had swelling and numerous tears of the brain, and had to have 2 shunts put in to drain fluid from the brain. Also suffered a collapsed lung and had a tracheotomy so he could breathe properly. Following that got a blood clot in the leg and has since drifted from little recognition of what goes on around him, to limited recognition.

Amy is now considering the prospect of having to put him in a Nursing Home until he recovers.

If that wasn't enough, shortly afterwards her son Wayne got cleaned up on her bike by a little old lady zipping through an intersection. Her bike was a writeoff, but luckily Wayne got his legs out of the way and didn't suffer any serious injury. She's sure had a rough trot lately.

Ken's currently in Bunbury Regional Hospital and Amy would love any of his old mates to drop in and see him if they're in the area.

Hopefully Ken will continue his recovery, even if it is going slowly. He has remained fit since getting out of pussers, and that has helped.

If anyone wants to send an email to Amy, PM me and I'll send you the address.

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

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