- Author
- Zammitt, Alan
- Subjects
- History - general
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Sydney IV, HMAS Sydney III, HMAS Sydney I, HMAS Sydney II
- Publication
- July 1992 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
The third HMAS SYDNEY was an Aircraft Carrier commissioned in 1948 and partly paid for from funds donated by the public to replace the second SYDNEY lost in 1941.
During the Korean War the third HMAS SYDNEY was the first Light Fleet Carrier to fly off 89 sorties in a day. Three of her pilots were killed, one wounded and eleven aircraft lost.
Later converted to a troop transport, SYDNEY completed 23 voyages to Vietnam. In close to 25 years of service SYDNEY steamed 70,000 miles.
Rear Admiral David Holthouse, AO, RAN, took part in the Memorial Dedication at both Bradley’s Head and in Western Australia and was one of many old SYDNEY III hands at the HMAS SYDNEY Memorial Services.
The fourth SYDNEY is a Guided Missile Frigate completed in 1983. The FFGs are the first RAN Warships to be powered by gas turbines. SYDNEY IV took part in the liberation of Kuwait and at the time of the Memorial unveiling was on its second tour of duty in the Persian Gulf.
Captain Brian Robertson, RAN, who commanded HMAS SYDNEY IV in 1990 when the FFG visited Gallipoli on its circumnavigation of the world brought a signal from the Frigate to the Memorial Service at Bradley’s Head.
During November in Western Australia on the cliff tops north of Carnarvon the Naval Association of Australia, Carnarvon Sub-Section, held a Service and Rear Admiral Holthouse with Mr W R (John) Ross, President of the HMAS SYDNEY Association in WA, unveiled a HMAS SYDNEY Wall of Remembrance with a Roll of Honour of the 645 sailors who paid the supreme sacrifice. The monument at Quobba Station is not far from where two of KORMORAN’s lifeboats landed on November 24, 1941.
An Australian led search for the wrecks of SYDNEY and KORMORAN is being planned and if the ships are found they will be dedicated as War Graves.