- Author
- Letter Writer
- Subjects
- Letter to the Editor
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Platypus (Shore Base)
- Publication
- December 2017 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Dear Editor,
The article “HMAS Platypus– a Submarine Naval Base “ in the September 2017 edition of the NHR brought back memories of an earlier problem with the local residents in Neutral Bay. On page 2, it states that: Others [residents] complained that noise from the submarines had already cracked walls, brought down plaster from ceilings and rattled windows.
In February 1955, the navy caused much more disruption to the residents. HMAS Queenboroughwas carrying out acceptance trials having just been converted to a Type 15 A/S frigate and being the first RAN warship to be fitted with the Type 170 sonar and mortar mark 10 combination. The following is a quote from her February 1955 report of proceedings. On Tuesday 15th February calibration of the A/S Mortar Mark 10 [Limbo] took place, consisting of firings from the dolphins at Shell Cove. The residents overlooking the ship were apparently quite alarmed at the noise and shock at the firings.
I was the navigator of Queenborough at the time and can vividly recall the day. My principal memory is of young ladies in flats looking out on Neutral Bay coming out onto their balconies in their nightwear – it was early in the forenoon!
Yours aye
John Smith