Eternal Patrol - CMDR Peter Earlam RAN (rtd)
It is with great sadness that we learned of the death (in UK on 22nd July - from complications related to cancer of the lung) of Peter Earlam, a former RAN submarine CO and Association Member. As a LCDR, Peter commanded HMAS Oxley from May 1989 until November 1990.  Peter was only 50 years of age.

Peter and wife Kate had moved to temporary accommodation in preparation for their return to Australia from UK (where Peter had been working for Computer Associates for about 3 years).

Peter's Funeral service will be held at Wymondham Abbey, Norfolk on Wednesday 30 July 2008. A private family service will follow.

Our sincere condolences go to Kate and all his family."

Sunday, 27^th July 2008

We lost another good one this week, and another is recovering after surgery.  Cancer appears to be the biggest problem facing members of the submarine community as we get older.  And DVA says we have no larger percent of sufferers than the civilian community.  I cannot recall many of us dying of old age.

There has been a changing of the guard at HMAS Stirling and the Submarine FEG.  CDRE Steve Davies, former CO of HMAS Stirling has taken over from CDRE Rick Shalders as Commander Australian Submarine Group.  Rick retires after a 34 year naval career.  We all wish him well.  See the story in Navy News.

It is good to see DVA is putting money into ex service organisations (ESO's) and the building of our Men's shed in Bauple is underway, thanks to a grant of over $60,000 from ‘BEST’ funding.  I was glad to hear from Queensland President, Barry McKeown, that the Branch recently  funding for it's Welfare Officer Ian Sinclair to purchase a laptop computer and printer. They are also looking at funding for re-imbursement of costs. I hope that other Branches and the National executive take note, it may be hard to get funding, but not impossible.

A quiet week on the home front, cold and wet still, but a change due in next week.  I hope so, I finally have a tradie coming in to finish the pool surround and fencing.    Decided to do the right thing by the neighbours and mow their lawn.  All went well till I encountered the hose that was in the long grass, it is amazing how many pieces a ride on can get out of 15 metres.  I tried to clean up and hide the evidence before they noticed, but she sprung me.  To make matters worse, she was watching when the blades picked up a bit of rope, unfortunately it was connected to one of those 'gazebo' type shelters and it soon was dragged down.  I think I can straighten up the legs, but I will wait a day or two to ler her calm down a bit.  I wonder where I can get driving lessons?

Boof and I were walking past the Retirement Village in Gympie the other day, and all the oldies were shouting,'13....13....13'  The fence was too high to see over, but I saw a little gap in the planks and looked through to see what was going on.  Some bastard poked me in the eye with a stick.  Then they all started shouting '14....14....14'...  

SUBMARINE ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA News

Victorian Branch
We are now preparing ourselves for the upcoming VP Day Service to be held at the ESU/Naval Association House, South Yarra, Sunday 17th August. The Service will commence at noon but please be in attendance by 11:30 to get seated. Our usual arrangements will be in place and everyone will be greeted at the door by our Hon. Treasurer, Joan Jones.  Please make an effort to attend this function, a lot of work goes in by the committee to keep this unique service going and your attendance makes it even more worthwhile.

A couple of notes from our worthy Treasurer, our "Members Christmas Raffle" price has been increased to $15 for 5 tickets. We always have worthy prizes and your 'donation' to the cause certainly helps us to keep things going. Please consider purchasing your tickets.

ACT and Southern NSW Branch
President Andrew 'Blue' Galley reports that photos of SUBCON 2008 on now on their website. You can acquire these photos by clicking on the picture to see the large view, and then you should be able to right click "Save As" and have the picture for your own album.

Secretary, Geoff Burns, wishes to remind Members that the AGM is being held on Sunday, 17th August 2008 at the Canberra Services Club, Manuka commencing at 1100, and followed by a BBQ lunch. A good turnout would demonstrate your support for the Executive and the Association.

Queensland Branch
Members are  reminded that the next meeting of SAA Qld Inc will be held at the Coorparoo RSL (Galaxy Room) at 1100 - 3rd August 2008. This Meeting will be our AGM and Secretary Rob Woolrych asks as many of you as possible to come and have your say. Also to all those of you who are non-supporters of SAA Qld Inc but whom are diligently included in our correspondence when it is sent out, are asked to come to this gathering and support us and join the Association. 

Western Australian Branch
Secretary Paul Meakin reports a good turn out for their AGM and lunch after. "Same Office Bearers elected for another year. positive vibes.  Our host club the Swan Yacht Club Commodore accepted a large set of Dolphins from Lloyd Blake, Vice President in gratitude for the use of the Club House facilities over these past years. The Commodore noted the appreciation and said that there would be a place for the SAA WA in the New Clubhouse to be built shortly.

Lloyd Blake reported "Vic Borg was a welcome not often seen member at the SAA WA AGM 20th July. Forgiven for non payment of membership fees Vic was quickly corralled by Treasurer John Rana. Sustaining his role as the One Man Submarine Museum Vic displayed his latest museum pieces. He was not telling where he obtained Oxley’s Control room SSE state board. He did however admit whilst in a Bali market recently, he snapped up the gyro from a Russian Torpedo. We believe there is a room in Vic’s house resembling an O Boat at Harbour Stations.  Unable to locate a much sought after Yellow Submarine, Vic has settled for a Yellow car called Submarine - Welcome back Victor."

Around the Traps

Mailbag

Alan Mooney asked for Dave Luck's email, he was the Engineer at Auburn Hospital some time ago (about 25 years) where Alan is the Manager of Maintenance Operations (Engineer). Alan said that here are some members of the maintenance department who know Dave and want to contact him.  The truth is, they want to know what he did with all the tools from their ERUS!

I have been asked by Sid Czabotar to dispel the rumour that this photo taken during the Pope's visit is NOT him.

Queensland member Ted Aitchison sent a quick note to say Hi. He is now living in Tambo, working as an Overseer for NRW Forest Products. He said "I can relate to the isolation of Bauple. I have to see the Dentist, I managed to get an appointment for in August but I have to travel to Longreach and back a round trip of 720kms.  I really enjoy the job and Tambo is a good little town to live in. Hope to catch up soon."

Ted should worry about isolation, I think Steve Boyd can black cat him....  "I have been gone for a year now and what a year, I left the navy and went to Namiba to do the Southern African field guide course with my wife Lynn who had lived here for ten years in the safari industry. Had the most amazing time living in the bush in Namibia learning hands on all the flora and fauna and walking with dangerous animals which gave me some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. After the course and having passed the exams, which where as hard as any I have done in the Navy, we where picked up by a company in east Africa managing Luxury Safari camps in the Masi Mara Kenya and Norrongorro and Serengeti Tanzania. We did this for nine months and you can imagine all the things we got to see. Back in April we got a call from the GM at Nomad Tanzania to come in for an interview which really took us by surprise as they are the premier safari company in East Africa. We where asked if we would like to manage Sand Rivers Selous the most outstanding lodge in the Selous and in East Africa we were blown away.

When I Left the navy I was a bit worried that my skills would not transfer to this industry however it matches the years of doing heaps with nothing and needing to make a plan and managing people are so very important. We are just about to finish our firs four months here in the Selous and are going on leave. The work is 24 / 7 and very demanding, but a do get to live in the most amazing game reserve in Africa at the best lodge. Having done ok with the guiding side of the industry I also run all the guides here and I am doing guiding when I can which is a thrill every second. If you want to check it out go to the web, the Sandrivers is a real isolated lodge we are 3.5 hrs from the nearest tiny town which at best I can by a few eggs."  Sounds great, I have always wanted to go to Africa, maybe one day...

Peter 'Arab' Clark sent the following, but make sure you have had breakfast before reading it! "With all the doom and gloom of our shipmates that are proceeding on Eternal Patrol, at breakfast this morning it brought back memories. In my early days in boats I was up early to have a meal before relieving in the donk shop. The UC1, was sleeping in the top bunk aft inboard in the mess as I sat myself down to some mince meet on toast with a couple of eggs (shit on a raft).

Whilst enjoying my meal, the UC1 (Charlie) awoke in a startle and realised he had an urgent appointment with trap 2, now as we all know, getting out of that bunk is not an easy task, however, Charlie managed the formal part by lunging from his bunk with amazing speed, left hand on the 'handle' and right hand on the mess table, this became a state of paralysis as his appointment with trap 2 was brought forward to immediate, in the pose of top bunk to mess table Charlie's 'jocks' failed to retain his last meal and in his position of head down 45 degrees and hand on mess table, he managed to do personal domestics in that pose. The 'jocks' failed their pressure test, discharged the contents down his back which made it's way down his right arm and onto the table next to my breakfast, again I say, 'shit on a raft',

After a few quick expletives, I was a good mess mate, left him to his own desired and relieved in the donk shop early, and I never completed my breakfast, !!!!!"

Dan Jordan sends some good advice "After experiencing mercury poisoning some years ago I studied heavy metal poisoning as an interest and in the process found a lot of information that could help in achieving good health . This link (I have no commercial interests in this site or business) connects to an article on the subject of toxic metals and may be of value to members. It may be worthwhile subscribing to the newsletter for ongoing reports on health issues as some of the most deadly diseases have common avoidable causes, not least Alzheimer’s." 

If you wish your name to be added to the database please complete the form at Salt Central

A wealthy old lady decides to go on a photo safari in Africa taking her faithful aged poodle named Cuddles along for the company. One day the poodle starts chasing butterflies and before long, Cuddles discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

The old poodle thinks, 'Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!' Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap, the old poodle exclaims loudly, 'Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here.'

Hearing this, the young leopard halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. 'Whew!' says the leopard, 'That was close! That old poodle nearly had me!'

Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the entire scene from a nearby tree figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he goes, but the old poodle sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up. The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard. The young leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, 'Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!'

Now, the old poodle sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, 'What am I going to do now?', but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old poodle says:

'Where's that damn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!'

Moral of this story....  Don't mess with old farts .. Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill! Bullshit and brilliance only come with age and experience.

HMAS Waller the first submarine to successfully fire new heavyweight torpedo
The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, today congratulated the crew of the Australian submarine, HMAS Waller, for being the first submarine to successfully fire a new heavyweight torpedo that has been jointly developed by Australia and the United States (US). The firing occurred during the Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 08) exercise, involving multiple navies off the coast of Hawaii between June and July. This controlled exercise resulted in the planned sinking of a retired US warship. “This represents the first new heavyweight torpedo warshot to be fired by either Navy. Just as significant is the fact that the warshot torpedo was assembled in Australia,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

The MK 48 Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) torpedo is the latest enhancement for the MK 48. Considered the world’s premier submarine-launched torpedo, the MK 48 Mod 7 represents a superior capability against both surface ships and submarines with sonar enhancements that make the torpedo an effective weapon in shallow water and in a countermeasure environment.

The development of the CBASS torpedo has been achieved under an Armaments Cooperative Program between the United States Navy (USN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). This partnership has established common requirements, interfaces, configurations and maintenance standards enabling any Australian or US submarine to load torpedoes prepared by any Australian or US torpedo maintenance facility.  This submarine partnership has also led to co-development of a new replacement combat system, which is being progressively integrated into USN nuclear submarines and RAN diesel-electric submarines.

This successful live fire exercise underscores the maturity of the joint torpedo and submarine combat system programs for the RAN and USN. “For Australia in particular, this exercise has been a successful demonstration of the ongoing capability of the Collins Class submarine,” Mr Fitzgibbon said. Video

Navy Petty Officer Mike Monsoor
PO2 (EOD2) Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq , giving his life to save his fellow SEALs.

During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego , as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of twos, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.  The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.

The email in which I received this said "This should be front-page news instead of the crap we see every day. Since the media won't make this news, I choose to make it news by forwarding it onto you guys. I am proud of our military and the men and women who serve in it. They represent the highest and finest values of this country." I think all ex servicemen and women echo that sentiment.

Interesting web sites
Peter Nielsen reports that you will find a handfull of photographs of OZ Submarines on this site.
This Advert was Banned in NZ. Funny That!
Indexation Review Submission by DFWA in conjunction with the RSL, NAA & RAAFA.
Your fortnightly online copy of Navy News is now available.

Select for full size

A visitor to The Log, Drew West,  has an Oberon class boats, HMA Submarines Teaspoon Set consisting of Six Silver Plated 'Cameo' spoons (made in Australia) that he intended posting on Ebay, but before he does he is offering them to the highest bidder through our website. He wants to give our visitors first chance and has put a small reserve price on them. Each spoon measures approximately 112mm long x 25mm wide. These spoons are in excellent condition. They do need cleaning. These are collector pieces for those interested in submarine memorabilia and could be yours, just send your bid to Drew by next Saturday.

I went to the cemetery yesterday and there were 4 pall bearers walking around with a coffin. 3 hours later they were still walking around with it. I thought to myself : "These buggers have lost the plot."

Extra $4.42 million for more than 220 ex-service organisations across Australia
The Government has provided a further $4.42 million for more than 220 ex-service organisations across Australia to directly support the needs of local veterans and their families. The Government had continued to show its strong commitment to the valuable work of ex-service organisations (ESOs), particularly advocates, pension and welfare officers who do a great job in helping Australia’s veterans, war widows, widowers, dependants and current serving members access their entitlements.

This round of grants builds on the $2.24 million in grants for capital equipment announced last month which helped ESOs purchase equipment and resources such as printers, computers and internet access and met an election commitment to provide additional capital funds for ESOs. More than 480 ESOs have benefited from more than $6.66 million in BEST funding nationally in 2008.

In addition to funding through BEST, this year around 3000 people have been trained through the Department’s Training and Information Program (TIP). While BEST funds people and equipment, TIP trains the people who support veterans.

Mr Griffin encouraged all ESOs and community organisations interested in applying for funding to support projects for veterans to contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, phone 133 254 (metro callers) or 1800 555 254 (non-metro callers), or visit www.dva.gov.au.

Run Silent, Run Cheap
For over a decade, the U.S. Navy has had an internal feud going on over the issue of just how effective non-nuclear submarines would be in wartime. In an attempt to settle the matter, from 2005 to 2007, the United States leased a Swedish sub (Sweden only has five subs in service), and it's crew, to help train American anti-submarine forces. This Swedish boat was a "worst case" scenario, an approach that is preferred for training. The Gotland class Swedish subs involved are small (1,500 tons, 200 feet long) and have a small crew of 25. The Gotland was based in San Diego, along with three dozen civilian technicians to help with maintenance.

For decades, the U.S. Navy has trained against Australian diesel-electric subs, and often came out second. The Gotland has one advantage over the Australian boats, because of its AIP system (which allows it to stay under water, silently, for several weeks at a time). Thus the Gotland is something of a worst case in terms of what American surface ships and submarines might have to face in a future naval war. None of America's most likely naval opponents (China, North Korea or Iran), have AIP boats, but they do have plenty of diesel-electric subs which, in the hands of skilled crews, can be pretty deadly.

It's only a matter of time before China gets lots of AIP boats. Meanwhile, China is rapidly acquiring advanced submarine building capabilities. One new Chinese diesel electric sub design, the Type 39A, or Yuan class, looks just like the Russian Kilo class. In the late 1990s, the Chinese began ordering Russian Kilo class subs, then one of the latest diesel-electric design available. Russia was selling new Kilos for about $200 million each, which is about half the price other Western nations sell similar boats for. The Kilos weigh 2,300 tons (surface displacement), have six torpedo tubes and a crew of 57. They are quiet, and can travel about 700 kilometers under water at a quiet speed of about five kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched underwater from the torpedo tubes.) The combination of quietness and cruise missiles makes Kilo very dangerous to American carriers. North Korea and Iran have also bought Kilos.

The Chinese have already built two Yuans, the second one an improvement on the first. These two boats have been at sea to try out the technology that was pilfered from the Russians. A third Yuan is under construction, and it also appears to be a bit different from the first two. The first Yuan appeared to be a copy of the early model Kilo (the model 877), while the second Yuan (referred to as a Type 39B) appeared to copy the late Kilos (model 636). The third Yuan may end up being a further evolution, or Type 39C.

The Type 39, or Song class, also had the teardrop shaped hull, but was based on the predecessor of the Kilo, the Romeo class. The Type 39A was thought to be just an improved Song, but on closer examination, especially by the Russians, it looked like a clone of the Kilos. The Yaun class also have AIP (Air Independent Propulsion), which allows non-nuclear boats to stay underwater for days at a time. China currently has Song class, 12 Kilo class, one Yuan class and 32 Romeo class boats.

Based on the experience with Australian and Swedish subs, the U.S. Navy has been developing new anti-submarine tactics and equipment. In secret, obviously. But now there is another complication. Animal rights groups have succeeded in getting courts to rule that the navy use of their anti-submarine training center near San Diego is illegal, and use of sonar must be limited (because of possible harm to marine animals). The navy keeps fighting the lawsuits, but it now faced with the prospect of abandoning the training site, for one somewhere the lawsuits can't reach. The training site is expensive because it is wired, with under water sensors that enable training or test results to be precisely recorded, and changes made to equipment or tactics. The center also enables sonar operators to get realistic training. There is no opportunity to get trained on the job, as mistakes can get your ship quickly sunk.

Meanwhile, potential enemies build more of their cheaper, and higher quality, diesel-electric boats, and train their crews by having them stalk actual warships (including U.S. ones.) The subs are getting more numerous, while U.S. defenses are limping along because of the sheer technical problems of finding quiet diesel-electric boats in coastal waters, and the inability to train and test enough because of lawsuits.

This item appeared in StrategyPage, a free, almost daily summary of current news articles related to Antisubmarine Warfare, selected from various public domain sources and provided without editorial comment. July 22, 2008.

Independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, today announced the appointment of the inaugural Chair and members of the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal.  “The establishment of the Tribunal is the fulfilment of a Government election promise, and is an important step in ensuring that Defence Honours and Awards issues are considered independently of both Defence and Government.”

Emeritus Professor, Denis Pearce AO, has been appointed Chair of the Tribunal. Professor Pearce is a distinguished Australian academic, lawyer and former Ombudsman and Defence Ombudsman, who will make an outstanding contribution to the role of Chair, and the ongoing establishment and integrity of the Tribunal. The inaugural members of the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal are:

* Mr Adam Bodzioch, former senior state public servant, SA;
* Brigadier Gary Bornholt AM, CSC (Retd), former senior Army Officer, ACT;
* Vice Admiral Don Chalmers AO (Retd), former Chief of Navy, NSW;
* Dr Jane Harte, psychologist, QLD;
* Ms Christine Heazlewood, lawyer, VIC;
* Ms Sigrid Higgins, barrister, NSW;
* Professor David Horner, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, ACT;
* Mr John Jones AM, former HR manager, NSW;
* Air Commodore Mark Lax CSM (Retd), former senior Air Force Officer, ACT; and
* Warrant Officer Class 1 Kevin Woods, CSC, OAM, former Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army, ACT.

ARE YOU FINANCIAL - 2008 SAA SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW OVERDUE

Salvage teams raise sunken Russian Sub
Military salvage teams used hydraulic pumps and pontoons Friday to raise a Russian submarine once featured in a Hollywood film that sank in the Providence River last year during a storm.

The 282-foot-long submarine, known as Juliett 484, had been used as the floating Russian Sub Museum until April 2007, when it was swamped after a powerful nor'easter.

The team raised the front of the submarine around 6 p.m., said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Lippmann, a salvage team spokesman. It could take until late Friday night or Saturday morning to elevate the rear of the sub and stabilize it. The salvage effort was complicated by the river's poor visibility and the 30 feet of water and 15 feet of mud under which the sub is buried.

The sub, alternatively designated as K-77, was launched in 1965 as part of the Soviet Northern Fleet. The Juliett class was initially planned as a nuclear missile platform for strikes against the United States and later tracked U.S. aircraft carriers.

The sub was used in the 1990s as a restaurant and vodka bar in Helsinki, Finland, and as a set for the 2002 Harrison Ford movie "K-19: The Widowmaker" before being acquired by the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, a private, nonprofit group. It opened as a museum in Providence in 2002.