Tiger-pie

I have been to Croc Creek but I didn?t see any Spitfires, it was well after this event. Didn?t see any crocs either, but that doesn?t mean that those crafty Saurian buggers weren?t lurking around. It is an incredible section of the Australian coast, massive tides, boab trees and rocky escarpments make for a unique, but harsh, landscape. There is a BBQ area there which is adorned with RAN patrol boat and cruise ship/pleasure craft memorabilia. When the tide is high you can get right up to the BBQ area, but when it is low the water drops away and you are left high and dry. The tides can be between 15 to 30 feet in difference and retreat so fast that I have witnessed a small waterfall being created by water rushing out between two rock walls at the inlet of a small basin. Down the coast at Montebello Islands there is abandoned military equipment of various types and I have seen a Spitfire frame there, the body lines are unmistakeable. The Brits tested an A-bomb there and I walked over the island and stood on Ground Zero. If you look back up to the high ground you can see a small ridge or crease in the ground caused by the shockwave from the blast. Regards; Johnsy

Cigar holder complete with cigar stub in an Vietnam era ERDL cam jacket. It stank of body odour and had what looked like a large blood stain just below the collar on the back. It came out of a pile of jackets and trousers, some marked with "Battle Field Recovery" or words to that effect in red lettering, it was a long while ago so I can't be more accurate than that. I know that other than the stain, my jacket was undamaged and unmarked. Regards; Johnsy

He is only third in line for the throne, I sure the Windsors could suck up the loss if he got toe-tagged. Regards; Johnsy

Offload #2

Offload from an LCH onto a ramp at Darwin Naval Base.

Easy...

Onto an LCH.

Coming up from the vehicle deck.

I have seen it done with a Leopard, and now with the Abrams. These are the sea trials to check for the feasability of transfering the Abrams from one platform to another, and to check that they didn't fall through the deck... From the wharf onto an LPA.

Sorry I can't be any more specific, not my field. I had a cast around on the net for Soviet art prizes and medals hoping to stumble on something, but didn't really know what I was looking for. Regards; Johnsy

Damn right, he couldn't care less. He was quite obviously overwhelmed with emotion when he received his medals back, for him I think it was enough. Regards; Johnsy

Yes, now its right. The overseas chevrons were worn on the right hand sleeve just above the cuff. The Gunlayers badge was worn on the right upper arm. The good conduct stripes were worn on the left upper arm along with a rank badge, if any, i.e. Leading Seaman or above. See this thread for more on RN/RAN badges: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16476 Sorry Igor, the enamel badge, it doesn't ring any bells. Regards; Johnsy

Unfortunately I have Paul, though at least he wasn't passing himself off as a war hero. I was at a UN bash in Canberra and a gent who claimed to have served in the British and Australian army collared me. He probably thought that because I was a sailor I wouldn't know my medals. He was wearing shop bought commemorative miniatures, but trying to pass them off as government issue. When I questioned this he made excuses and legged it. I reported it to the Servicemens club manager, though I don't know if they took action. We have similar laws in Australia, but they have turned out to be a bit of a toothless tiger. Regards; Johnsy

The badges are from the top left; Overseas service chevrons (upside down). Chevrons of two colours were approved. The first chevron if earned on or before 31st December 1914, will be red; if earned on or after 1st January 1915, it will be blue; and all additional chevrons after the first will be blue. Each indicated 6 months service. Gunlayer First Class (which is upside down here). Good Conduct chevrons, each stripe indicating 4 years, so a total of 12 years of "undetected crime" i.e. he was never charge under military law for any minor or major infraction. Regards; Johnsy

Australian Navy Cadets extinguished 15 lanterns that represent each of the FCPB's. Very moving stuff that. Regards; Johnsy

A decommissioning ceremony was held at Trinity Wharf in Cairns signaling the official end of the Fremantle Class Patrol Boats. The last two operational boats, HMAS Townsville and Ipswich, lowered the White Ensign for the last time.

Err...we live a long way a ways, but I think the local filth may have seen an episode or two of CSI... Regards; Johnsy

It might be a medal for artistic work. A "G. Marchenko" was one of the painters who helped on the panorama "Defeat of the Facist Army under Stalingrad" started in 1961. And right next to the medal are what appears to be art supplies, and the style of clothing and hair in the four portraits would place them in the 60's or 70's era. Regards; Johnsy

Hi all; Good news. Mr Tesoriero's medals were found disgarded in a plastic bag in a street in inner Sydney and handed to the police. The police then returned the medals to him. He is still recovering from being bashed, but he was very happy to receive his medals back. They have as yet not located the person and/or persons involved and have not recovered his wifes jewelery. It is likely they realised that the medals would be too hard to off-load and ditched them. I would say that it is very unlikely that they had a pang of conscience that led them to leave them where someone could find them. Regards; Johnsy

#4

Screeching round a corner.

"Warrie" turn.

The current version prior to refit. They have added VLS missles modules to the weapons suite, which you can see in front of the MK13 GLMS Launcher. The refit they have just come out of was an upgrade to extend the life of the platform.

The three previous ships to carry Sydney's name. The first (with four stacks) was a Chatham Class Light Cruiser. The second (with the Gucci paint job), was a modified Leander Class Light Cruiser. And last, Sydney 3 was a Majestic Class Aircraft Carrier / Fast Troop Transport.

Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) The RAN has six of these multi-purpose warships divided between its two main bases; Fleet Base East in Sydney and Fleet Base West in Perth. Currently there is only one in the West and five in the East. The FFG is based on the US Navy Oliver Hazard Perry class design. Originally they were the same configuration as the US Navy, but have since been heavily modified for Australian use. Not the prettiest of ships, those of us who served on other classes had plenty of disparaging remarks to make. To make matters worse, in our view, they were the first warships to have messing provided for female sailors. Thus the name"Fag-boat" has stuck and is commonly used terminology when referance is made to the FFG. Also described as a looking like a "shoebox sitting in a canoe". I have used HMAS Sydney to represent this class, because it is our most premier Naval Base's location, the history attatched to the name and as much as it raises the ire of Canberra resisdents, it is considered our unofficial capital city. This is the fourth ship to carry this name and she is the proud inheritor of eighth "battle honours", more than any other RAN unit. Notable actions of former ships include the sinking of the German light cruiser SMS Emden by Sydney I in World War I. In World War II, Sydney II sank the Italian light cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni and two Italian destroyers. On 19 November 1941, Sydney II was lost with all hands in battle against the German Raider Kormoran, which was also sunk. This loss of 645 sailors represented over a third of the RAN's casualties during WWII. Sydney III, a light carrier, operated with distinction in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Statistics Displacement 4100 tonnes Length 138 metres Beam 13.7 metres Ships Company 186 (210 with helicopter crews) Propulsion Two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving a single controllable pitch propeller Speed 30+ knots Weapon Systems 76mm rapid fire gun. Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Standard surface to air missiles. Vulcan Phalanx close in weapons system. Two triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes for Mk 32 torpedoes. Aircraft Up to two Sea Hawk helicopters