On 14 September 1960, Tobruk was performing gunnery exercises with sister ship HMAS Anzac off Jervis Bay. A malfunction in Anzac’s gun direction equipment negated the deliberate 6° mis-aiming of her guns, with the resulting shell hitting Tobruk and doing enough damage to the destroyer to require lengthy repairs. Temporary repairs were made to Tobruk in Jervis Bay before the ship limped back to Sydney, where she was placed into reserve on 29 October 1960. Two of Anzac’s crew were charged over the incident. Repairing the destroyer was considered uneconomical, and she remained moored until the ship was marked for disposal on 14 May 1971. Tobruk was sold for scrap to Fujita Salvage Company Limited of Osaka, Japan on 15 February 1972, and departed Sydney under tow on 10 April 1972.
Naval Historical Review: June 2007
The painting of HMAS Warramunga reflects a major article in this edition which provides a potted history of the RAN in the Korean War. The images of HMAS Adelaide reference the article about Adelaide’s Boarding party. It was only resourceful action by the ship’s helicopter, directed by the Flight Commander, that enabled the Boarding Party to be safely recovered, thereby averting an international incident.
Articles from this Edition
- Book Review: The Royal Australian Navy – a History
- Further Reflections on the Sydney/Kormoran Battle, 1941
- Gascoyne to the Rescue On Christmas Day 1944
- HMAS Adelaide – Boarding Party, Persian Gulf 2004
- HMAS Quickmatch – Medical Rescue – 1944
- Korean Waters – Tribal Class Destroyers
- Leadership: Admiral of the Fleet Isoroku Yamamoto
- Letters: Followup on Singapore Naval Base