The weather has put me off this week and I have not been a good mood for some reason, age I suppose.  I have had a job offer and I think that this has been playing on my mind.  I do not want to take it, but the hammering my investments and super are taking make it an attractive proposition.  Trouble is I would have to relocate to Sydney, a definite no-no!

My email and phone has run hot again this week on the upcoming Sunday show on Channel 7 which is scheduled for 1830, Sunday the 29th.  I hope that the producers live up to their promise that the show will not be a witchhunt.

I am pissed .............. my computer crashed this afternoon and i have had to redo 80% of the entry.  I am starting to wonder if the Log is still needed and if it would be missed at all if I shut it down.

Again, not much to write about this week, so I will go and do some weeding in the garden. Please remember, we are always after dits for the log, please take some time to send me some.

See you next week.

This week the Association's National committee agreed to make a small donation to Finding Australia's First Submarine Incorporated and received the following from John Foster OAM. "Thank you very much for the good news. We of course look forward to all the help we can get and whilst your $500 seems small to you, to us it means a 10 minute Helium dive to us and every little bit helps.

If we are successful, any surplus will go into trust for a commemorative memorial in a public place and the fight to have the AWM place the Royal Navy loan personnel lost on the Roll of Honour as well as ours. I hope we can bring back good news for you and please thank the Submarines Association for us."

THE 'EVEREST CHALLENGE'
I have joined the Everest Challenge. The idea is to walk 10,000 steps per day (or more) between 23rd March and 5th April. Team Members have been supplied with a pedometer to count our steps. Each day we log onto the link below and add our steps which takes the team up Mt Everest. The team does not have to be together to walk.  You may like to sponsor either the whole team or specific individuals by logging onto the link. 

I was a little disappointed that my request last week for donations fell on deaf ears,  not one donation from the submarine community.  Surely you can spare $5 out of Rudd's pocket money to help the cause. Make a donation on behalf of me (team member Norm Williams) or the Team.  If it is too hard to do online (go to the link), send a cheque or money order to me at Box 63 Bauple,  4650.  Official receipts will be issued and it is tax deductible.

Carol Wilson, the Team Leader for the Everest Virtual Challenge wrote  "I would like to thank SAA members, Norm (Chief Stoker), Ken, John, Possum and Vicki, family members, Sue, Fran, Sonia and Drew and Dennis from Beenleigh for joining "The Team for 2009" to scale Mt. Everest with me.

As it is only days before the anniversary (April 2nd) of Bob's (Tug) death this Everest Challenge should serve as a reminder that the amount raised in the 2008 Walk for Kid's with Cancer was $74128.39. This years "Team 2009" are not doing this for themselves (except to get fit, or to raise that amount of money) but for the young children that this event is aimed at and also to remember all SAA members, family and friends who have in the past and present suffered due to this insidious disease sometimes referred to as "The big C" in whatever form it manifests itself.

Just think what the cost of a cup of coffee, a beer, a glass of wine, a soft drink or any other indulgence would do to help these researchers to come up with a cure for this disease. So if you can please go on line via the direct link below and sponsor the team or any individual member of the team. The Challenge starts on March 23rd (Monday) and finishes on Sunday 5th April. I don't know if we will make the top but it will only be because of loss of oxygen. Thanks in advance, Carol."

Paul 'Blue' Hartridge 's love for (and in) the USofA continues. "Just letting you know of my latest exploits. I am in the USA for 7 weeks ( Prison life is good huh? ) I am staying with Kathy in Illinois, we went to California for 6 days and now I am currently in Washington DC. Today I attended the funeral of Ron 'Warshot' Smith, a USN WWII Submariner and a Torpedoman to boot. I met him on my 2004 trip across the USA. The funeral was at Arlington Cemetery, an amazing and moving event for sure. This was of course followed by a 'wake'. The Yanks can sure spin some good warries, especially another WWII Vet, Art Smith another Torpedoman who earned the Silver Star, and most of his were about women, which just proves us Fore-Endies are the same world wide. It's now 0200 and we have finished drinking for the night. I head back to Illinois for 4 weeks with Kathy before heading back home to Perth. Wishing everyone well, Blue *_*."

Ray 'Tug' Wilson wrote "It is rapidly approaching the Easter Season and for us here in Sydney that means the Royal Easter Show with its usual attractions of crowds, animals, crowds, side shows, crowds and show bags or as I knew them in my youth sample bags. This reminded me of the nickname of a bloke at work which is "Show Bag" only because he is full of shit."

Peter Smith, SAA's Historian, asked "I have had some communication from Scotland on their request of the decanter with the inscription "The No10 Saturday Morning Club". As you are aware a member of HMAS J 7 was a member of this club possibly in Chatswood, NSW during 1919-1922 or down in Geelong, VIC, circa 1922-24. I have tried to research this item, but at the moment I have hit a brick wall, there is too much information out there to figure what this is all about. Hopefully, a reader of this site may recognise the attached photo and point me in the right direction."

Jim Joyce does not seem to be sympathetic to the plight of today's submariners "I see the pay today's Submariners are getting, but I also see that they have to spend such a long time away from home on deployments and I also see that some of them don't even like each other......Well F##k My Old Tall Hat. Did they think 'Boats' was all 'Sunshine and Lollipops'. There were people in Boats that I didn't like and I am sure they didn't like me. But we did the job and learned to live with one another. It's called being a 'Professional Submariner'.  Something obviously some People need to learn. Sad Indeed." 

Former Training Authority - Submarines, CMDR John Renwick, has moved to Sydney to take on the role of Commander Test and Evaluation at RANTEAA.  John's not a bad hand for a Scot and we had a great relationship at the submarine school in WA. john, a Collins submariner,  said "I took my brother through ONSLOW on the weekend - after our Freedom of Entry march. The boat looks good and still impressive....don't know how you did it!"  It was easy John, they kept us pissed.

Georgie Barrass is trying to locate a bloke nick named 'Big Red' who was in Chatham Dockyard in 1969 on HMCS Okanagan.  Can you help?

Paul 'Bulkhead' Newman wrote "Been a while between entries...so I though that I might contribute....Have been playing "Pg Pig" for the past couple of years working 28 day rotations and now have settled back into the life at Jervis bay...working At DMS as the Business Unit Engineer...... couldn't ask for a better work location as you can see on the pic's (Farncomb at JB), anyway I was off to work yesterday morning and there in the distance was this "sleek black machine". Anyways when I was enjoying a cuppa before work a work boat showed up and off climbed 20 odd "Middies" and one in number CPO Darren Thompson looking as glamorous as ever giving the hard sell line to join boats, good to see the there still some crusty old hands still around and enjoying the mob. Bumped into a lot of ex submariners in the oilfield its a good life and an eye-opener."

PM Kevin Rudd is talking to 3 armed forces personnel; 1 from each of his fighting forces. He asks each one what they would do if they woke up and found a camel spider in their tent on deployment?

The Army Sergeant says, "I'd reach over, grab my bayonet and stab it to death!"

The Navy PO says, "I'd reach over, grab my boot and batter it to death !"

The RAAF Sergeant says, "I'd reach over, pick up my phone, call reception and ask who the f*** has put a tent up in my hotel room?"

While on the subject of RAAF chappies I have discovered another submariner that moved across to join the men in purple, LAC Angus Wilkie.  Some people will do anything to avoid working for a living..

Sandy Freeleagus wrote "I think I read somewhere in Up Periscope that it was mooted that the Submarine Squadron should be brought back to the east coast and away from the Skimmers and forge their own identity again.

Problem is with that line of reasoning, is that our boats are stationed in the west as that is closest to potential trouble spots and "areas of interest" where reaction time is a minimum. If they were back on the east coast, their transit lines (and times) were way too prohibited. This was discussed in meetings and forums that I attended in Navy Office and the obvious solution of our lengthy transit routes was (dare I say) nuclear boats with the appropriate turn of speed and virtual unlimited endurance. Naturally whilst the design people were delighted with this reasoning, politics (and the counter reaction from the dockyard unions and splinter green groups) would cause too much trouble. Besides, the Mob could have 6 diesels for 1 nukie pooh cost wise. (Nukes were discussed in length as a replacement for the Oberons).

This was one reason why the Dutch Walrus Class was so desirable - it had a diesel-electric drive component and whenever (if ever) it were required, a rather large soft spot could be removed from the hull and a complete pre-designed nuclear reactor and propulsion system be dropped in in situ.

I can see why the Submarine Squadron have no choice (operationally) but to stay over the west, but I wish the Collins boys (and girls) had their own separate base (and were allowed to grow their hair long - well the boys ones anyway)."

True Sandy, but I have heard some interesting buzzes and they include some way out ideas, watch this space for future developments.

YOUR CHOICE...........
Mobile Phone Numbers Go Public next month and all mobile phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies. 

Which numbers can I list on the Do Not Call Register? - You can list your Australian fixed line and mobile numbers on the Do Not Call Register, provided the numbers are used primarily for private or domestic purposes.
How does the register work? - Under the Do Not Call Register Act 2006, telemarketers can check their calling lists against the Do Not Call Register. If a telemarketer calls a number on the Do Not Call Register, they may be in breach of the Act, and may face penalties.
Why has the Do Not Call Register been set up? - The Do Not Call Register has been set up in response to increasing community concern about the growth in unsolicited telemarketing calls.

This link is where you can enter your phone numbers online to put an end to telemarketing calls.

HEALTH & WELFARE MATTERS

Never give up - a member's case history
I read with little wonder that different members are getting different results from Vet Affairs. The whole process is very subjective and open to the whims of those doing the review. There are however a few basic steps the member should take. viz:

• a. Get ALL your naval health records, mine even included getting treatment for acne at HMAS Nirminba in 1972 ( a good dodge for divisions), these are available free upon written request from Russell offices (check the navy website for current address),

• b. Find a GOOD advocate, the first I had was not worth a hip pocket in a singlet even though he was a paid RSL Advocate, (how do find a good one, good question, ask him/her lots of questions, ask your friends, ask around) Find one that has a working knowledge of Vet Affairs and talks to them regularly (the old boy network), my second one was an Army Major (Rtd).

• c. Lodge a claim with Vet Affairs listing ALL your current medical conditions whether or not you believe they are service related, (they have graphs now which figure out how many ladders you went up and down etc for knees etc)

• d. When Vet Affairs finally get back to you, they will probably have selected specialists for you to go to. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO ANY SPECIALIST THEY NOMINATE. You can go to any specialist who will do a report for Vet Affairs. Ask around, ask your GP who you should see.

I put down depression, alcoholism (non practising) and lumbar injury. They sent me to a child psychiatrist who after 30 minutes having never seen me before said my alcoholism etc was due to my childhood. The second psychiatrist i chose and he stated that the navy was responsible for sleep disorder, alcoholism (pain management) and chronic low moods (due to pain).

The "specialist" orthopaedic surgeon they sent me to said that I would get 20% (how did he know), go home, be happy and shut up. I asked him about the pain in my right hip and right leg. He said it had nothing to do with my accident; even though I fell horizontally onto the fore-ends lower deck on my right side and burst my hip bursitis sack. My "Advocate" said I was lucky to get 20% and to go home and shut up.

• e. DON"T under any circumstances let Vet Affairs do your Lifestyle Questionnaire. Do it yourself on a worst case basis, i.e. your worst days.
  I let Vet Affairs do it twice under my

• f. Use the SOPs (Statement of Principals) on the Vet Affairs web site.

• g. Use the Oberon Class Health and Safety Report. The federal government has decreed that it was up to Vet Affairs to disprove these findings rather than the other way round.

• h. If you have to, pay to see a specialist yourself. I went to Brisbane and saw one who finally unravelled what was wrong with my spine. It really helped in subsequent claims as I went from 30 to 90% in one hit. (That is too big a jump for my health to have deteriorated; answer, WE (me, my advocate and Vet Affairs specialists) got it wrong).

• i. If you are unhappy at any stage, seek help.

• j. Be prepared for the long haul, it took me six years to have all my conditions recognised.

I enclose my current health status not to big note myself but to demonstrate what a good team (yourself, advocate, GP and specialists) can do. It got me from 20% (Go home and shut up) to 100%. Remember, at first they only recognised my Lumbar Spondylosis!!!!!!!!

Current Medical Conditions

Alcoholism (non-practising)
Lumbar Spondylosis *
Thoracic Spondylosis *
Thoracic Scoliosis
Ousteo Arthrosis * (joints worn out, neck, hands, ankles, knees, elbows, lumbar area)
Acute Pain Syndrome *
Acute Insomnia *
Acute Dysthymia * (constant low mental state)
Right Leg Atrophying *
Right Hip Pain *
Right Hip Bursitis Sack broken
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D) (from childhood)
Constant headaches from lack of sleep and pain killers * (morphine, codeine and valium)

* = Veterans Affairs Covered

In providing this the contributor hopes that it will give others the resolve needed to deal with DVA.

Eternal Patrol
It is with regret that I announce the death of Michael (Mike) Walter Norton in Victoria on the 19th March after complications resulting from surgery.

Mike also known as "Lofty" volunteered for Royal Navy submarines in 1952, on completion of his initial training, he joined HMS Astute in January 1953 and completed his part three in March. Later that month Mike joined HMS Totem for four months, leaving the boat in July.

In August 1953, Mike found himself drafted to HMS Token, he spent his time in this boat until March 1954. On leaving the boat Mike was sent to HMS Sentinel, this was to be his last submarine. Mike drafted off the boat in December 1955.

Mike retired from the Royal Navy as an Acting LEM. He migrated to Australia and chose to live in Victoria. Mike joined the Association in May 1990 and was an active member in the Victorian Branch, having served on the committee during 2008.

Compiled by Peter Smith - SAA Historian

A card has been sent to the Norton family on behalf of the President and Members of the Association.

Funeral arrangements: Tuesday 24th March at 1000, Private Cremation, no flowers by request

W.D. Rose Chapel
221, Charman Road
Cheltenham

Relaxing the replacement of Australian Defence Force (ADF) medals policy for disaster victims
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, today announced the Government is relaxing the replacement of Australian Defence Force (ADF) medals policy so that any medals lost during the devastating Victorian bushfires and Queensland floods can be replaced. "The policy does not presently allow ADF medals to be replaced and released to family members, but given these difficult circumstances I have agreed to relax this policy," Dr Kelly said.

"All Australians are deeply moved and affected by these disasters and it is fitting that victims are extended every possible assistance to help them restore what little they can. "This offer demonstrates that Defence can not only assist by providing people and equipment in the affected areas themselves, but also help in other ways at a more personal level.

"Family members who have, through the devastating bushfires and floods, lost the medals of loved ones who served in the Defence Force may now make application for replacements. "They should use the application form and statutory declaration located on the Defence Honours and Awards website," Dr Kelly said.

The Defence Honours and Awards website is at: www.defence.gov.au/medals. Enquiries may also be directed to Defence Honours and Awards toll free on 1800 111 321.

Completed applications should be submitted to:
Directorate of Honours and Awards
T-4
Department of Defence
PO Box 7952
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610

Prime Ministerial Advisory Council Meeting
On Thursday and Friday this week the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on ex-service matters gathered for its third meeting. Details of PMAC can be found at its website: http://minister.dva.gov.au/PMAC/index.htm

There is now a facility available which enables submissions to be made direct to the Council at that site. If you are interested in matters affecting the Defence community the site is quite informative.

Come on Boof and Nigs, let's nap before we mow the lawn.............

Cyclone Hamish has been and gone, leaving Bauple very damp indeed.  I could not do much outside so it gave me little reason not to continue painting inside, I hate painting!!!

It also gave me an opportunity to continue updating the Association's membership database, if I have not been in touch with you yet, I soon will.  There are still a lot of you out there that we either have no (or an incorrect) email address for.  If you do not receive email from me please let me know, it means that yours is not on record.

Not much to write about this week, so I will go and finish the March edition of In Depth. See you next week.

Members should be aware that, in accordance with the Association's Constitution, the incumbent CANSG shall be invited to be our Vice Patron. I am pleased to announce that Commodore Steve Davies RAN has accepted the position and has also joined the Association.  Welcome Aboard Steve.

Members may have heard rumours that the Channel 7 'Sunday Night' programme will be doing a segment on the Onslow accident and Christopher Passlow's death.  Many of the main players have been interviewed and and the segment will be aired on the 29th March (not 22nd as originally reported). It is understood that DCN is likely to be interviewed to explain Navy's current response to critical incidents and how the RAN support our members today.

When I was contacted by the director I expressed my concerns that the show would sensationalise the incident and become a 'blame and shame' story.  The director was quick to ally my concerns and promised a balanced view. I am not sure there is anything to gain after 30 plus years, but I have since talked to many involved and was (not) surprised to hear that many had been poorly treated by DVA and if this in anyway helps them it may be worthwhile.

I have also heard through the grapevine of an announcement that will be made soon on future manning solutions for the Collins Class and if correct is a positive (but short term) move to man (woman) the boats.  Desperate times call for desperate solutions  Watch this space for further developments.

Acting National Secretary

Western Australian Branch
If you have not yet registered for SUBCON 2009 here in Fremantle this June please consider doing so. Invite your mate from the East to stay with you to reduce the costs. You only need to charge him half the price of a room at the Esplanade and then you are both quids in front.

Don't forget the BBQ in Kings Park on 22 March, Map of BBQ Area Attached, it is all BYO including wives, children, food and drinks, hope to see you there.

ANZAC Day March now in Fremantle with two up and pints down at Rosy O'Grady's. We have a number of Car Park Permits so contact a member of the Executive if you want to car pool.

It would be appreciated if you would contact Secretary Paul Meakin and inform him of your attendance at any or all of the above activities.

Queensland Branch
Rob Woolrych has received responses from about 60 who have indicated interest/non-interest in attending the AGM/Dinner Dance on the weekend of the 1st/2nd August 2009.

In an email to Members Rob explained "The reason why we have asked for you to indicate early if you would be interested, is that last time we cancelled a gathering at the last moment due to apparent lack of interest we were inundated with complaints about the cancellation. This time we are “testing the water” and support is good BUT we would like to have some input from those other 130 to see if they and their partners would like to join us. If there are any more of you who are interested in joining us for the Dinner Dance/AGM then we would like to hear from you. All submariners and ex-submariners are welcome."

New South Wales Branch
Do not forget the Sunday 22 March BBQ on Spectacle Island. Let Ken Williams know if you can attend and he will add you to the list.

"Jock" Hutchison has been the victim of political correctness and never knew it. He wrote

Join Carol Wilson's team in the “Everest Challenge” for the Royal Brisbane Children’s Hospital Foundation. She has registered a team to take the “Everest Challenge” and so far members of the team are Carol Wilson, Ken Chilvers, John O’Brien, Susan Cutler, Dennis Wey, Vicki Atkinson and Peter (Possum) Adams. Carol can have up to 15 members so if you want to join and raise funds for this worthwhile cause you can log onto the website and register (has to be done by Tuesday) and costs $25.00. The idea is to walk 10,000 steps per day (or more) between 23rd March and 5th April. You will be supplied with a pedometer to count your steps. Each day you then log onto the link below and add your steps which takes the team up Mt Everest. The team does not have to be together to walk, you can walk wherever you wish. If you cannot join the team you may like to sponsor either the whole team or specific individuals by logging onto the link.  I have joined the team and Boof says "Join up or make a donation on behalf of team member Norm Williams or I'll come after you!!  If it is too hard to do online, send a cheque or money order today"

Jim Moon, shown here wearing a tea cosy, got involved in a verbal slanging match between  Boot Hatfield and I and joined in with "Pssssssssssst. Hey Boot, Go easy on the SPO. Bung was in his pit the whole time I was on the 'Burner. He also didn't know shit cos he was only a (spit) PO Stoker - not even a real tiffie-type. I actually thought that he had died on one trip because he wasn't in his pit. I checked the fwd tubes for body bags but someone had moved him. I later found out that was because they needed to get to a spare gear locker and his rotting torso was in the way..."  I asked Jim which week of his seatime this incident occurred, the first or second, but as yet no response.

Lloyd Blake found this description of the Australian SAS… same applied to Submariners ……..once upon a time!

They live an intimate lifestyle, deploy together, train together, live together, eat together, go outside the envelope together…..they trust and depend on each other."

Lloyd also sent the following: The Collins Submariner report:
Would appear the modern Navy tried to do the impossible - Absorb Submarines in to the skimmer fleet as submersible frigates painted the wrong colour. Recall 40 years ago when Oberons arrived on station at Platypus the RAN did not know what to make of us. The Submarine Force did not take long to become (and enjoy) being outcasts in our own Navy. Entering harbour Naval ships passing within a few hundred yards are required to salute each other…. particularly low ranking Submarines – On one occasion the big ships alongside GI sent a complaint to Plats regarding a Submarine that transited the harbour & failed to salute a senior ship ! The Submarine CO told the NO to plot a track clear of GI……so we can legally ignore the bastards !

Having our RADM Ian MacDougall appointed Chief of Navy must have rocked the boat – they sure need him back now.

Terry 'Coyote' Wyatt found this photo of Orion's Crew, tit was taken, the day they joined 3rd Squadron in Faslane where it remained for some time.  He came across it while trying to help out Wayne Donnelly who lost a all of his memorabilia in a fire some time a go. select image for full size.

The chief woman “Greenie Tree-Hugging Activist”, who was responsible for getting horses banned from National parks and State forests, was climbing a tree to have a look out over the forest, when a Tawny Frogmouth Owl attacked her for invading its nesting site. In a panic to escape, she slid down the tree, getting a great number of splinters lodged in her crotch area. In considerable pain she hurried to the nearest doctor, told him she was an environmentalist and how she got all the splinters.

The doctor listened with great patience and then told her to go into the examining room & he would see if he could help her. She waited for 3 hours before the doctor reappeared, Angry, the woman demanded “What took you so long?” “Well…” replied the doctor, “…I had to get permits from the Environmental Protection Agency; the Forestry Service; the National Parks & the Wildlife Service; The Wilderness Society & the Department of Conservation & Land Management before I could remove ‘old growth timber from a ‘recreational area’…I’m sorry but they all turned me down.”

Possum Adams wrote "Just read this week's Chief's Log - Can I say once again it's spelt prosTate - no need for the extra "R" - but I'd like to add to the rest of the contributors about "O" Boats - When are the Upper Crust going to listen to those of us that served in them and bring them back to the Eastern States, don\'t they get it - people don't and will not "uplift and disrupt" their families and then leave them "Dumped" in a "Strange State" where they have "no family or support or FRIENDS."  Why not split the Squadron (or whatever they call it now) and call for people from "Skimmers" that are "Sea Trained" and ready to go to sea and serve their country without all this B.S. they're being fed now. by" crap they\'re getting now!!!!! Just a thought."

Phillip Skinner is trying to make contact with GJ "Taffey" Gwyne who was also on the same Mech's course as Ron Bucci and himself, 1980-1982. He is trying to find as many of that group for a possible reunion. He asked "If Taffy is one of your members, can you please ask him to contact me at home on 02 6629 1254 OR email me. Cheers Phil Skinner ex CPOMTP4." Can anyone help, I do not have his contact details.

Garth Schmidt has advised me  that Claude (Rob) Roberts is in the Ingham hospital at present and has been coming down to Townsville for tests. Rob has been diagnosed with prostrate and bone cancer. He is in a good frame of mind and despite his obvious discomfort, looks well. Garth added "He is so positive that he is already talking of marching again this Anzac Day, something which he has always done, which is not a bad effort for an 86 year old."  He can be contacted at the Ingham hospital on (07) 47762000.

I was talking to a few ladies at a cocktail party the other night and someone mentioned there might be a hung Parliament after the state election! Sounds great said a young blonde beauty, the last politician I met had such a little dick!  Obviously not referring to the Premier!

Veteran and War Widow Pensions Rise

Indexation will deliver Veteran and War Widow pensioners up to an extra $14.10 a fortnight, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin announced today.  Some 365,000 veterans, their partners and war widows will benefit. Minister Griffin said pensions will increase from 20 March, paid from pension day 26 March. “For the first time, the Special Rate (TPI) Pension is more than $1,000 a fortnight at $1,011.90,” Mr Griffin said.

The increases are based on a movement of 0.9 per cent in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and a top-up of $2.60 per fortnight to bring the single Service Pension rate to 25 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE).  All disability pensions are indexed by reference to both CPI and MTAWE.  This resulted in a 1.4 per cent increase.

Pension	Old fortnightly rate	New fortnightly rate
Special Rate (TPI) Pension/ MRCA Special Rate Disability Pension	$997.80	$1,011.90
Extreme Disablement Adjustment	$550.70	$558.50
100 per cent General Rate of Disability Pension	$354.50	$359.50
Intermediate Rate Disability Pension	$677.00	$686.60
Service Pension – single	$562.10	$569.80
Service Pension – couples	$469.50 each. $939.00 couple	$475.90 each. $951.80 couple
War Widows/ers Pension	$598.70	$607.00
Income Support Supplement	$167.80	$170.20

 For more information on the new pension rates visit www.dva.gov.au or call 133 254.

Love story
An elderly man lay dying in his bed.  While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favourite scones wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning on the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort, gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs. With laboured breath, he leaned against the door-frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favourite scones. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his devoted Irish wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in rumpled posture. His aged and withered hand trembled towards a scone at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked by his wife with a wooden spoon.....

'F*** off' she said, 'they're for the funeral.

DEFENCE NEWS

Hainan high noon shows why subs are the sharp end
The Great Recession is having at least one positive spin-off for the navy: recruitment is up and meeting targets.

Which is just as well. The submarine HMAS Farncomb that came into Sydney Harbour as part of the fleet yesterday is one of just three of the navy's six Collins Class subs that currently can be crewed at any one time, despite hefty pay bonuses.

The submarines are the long-range sharp end of the defence forces, with a potential offensive role that will become even more important when the F-111 strike bombers are retired next year.

At least until the navy gets its new Spanish-designed air warfare destroyers, they are Australia's only combat asset that the Americans see as useful in the war scenario that everyone hopes will not happen - a fight with China in defence of Taiwan.

In the preliminary lobbying before the Rudd Government's imminent defence white paper, the navy is signalling that it wants to stay in the submarine game by starting work on a new generation of ultra-quiet and otherwise capable boats to replace the Collins subs in a decade or two.

While a lot of attention has focused on the plans of the Chinese and Indian navies to build their naval air capabilities, events last Sunday at a point in the South China Sea about 75 nautical miles south of Hainan suggest the navy's new recruits should think underwater about their career path.

According to the US Navy, the auxiliary ship Impeccable, manned by a civilian crew, was carrying out "routine operations" in international waters. These operations, it emerged, involve towing passive and active sonar arrays to pick up and record the acoustic signatures of submarines, detect mines and other obstacles, and generally get to know the seabed topography. The ship is one of five specially designed vessels used to assist the navy in this task.

The waters around Hainan are of special interest in two ways. Satellite images have recently confirmed the building of a big new submarine base at Yulin on the island, including a cave-dock. Where the Impeccable was sailing is right in the vast stretch of the South China Sea that China has long claimed as territorial waters, regardless of the UN Convention on Law of the Sea and claims by other littoral states.

Five Chinese-flagged vessels - including three government patrol boats and two trawlers - came close to the Impeccable, cutting across its bows. When the Impeccable's crew responded with fire hoses, Chinese crewmen stripped to their underpants to keep up the close-range jostling.

Compared with the hijacking of the US Navy spy ship Pueblo by the North Koreans in 1968, or the jostling by Chinese fighter aircraft of the American EP-3 electronic spy plane in April 2001 - also over the South China Sea - it was history repeated as farce, with no harm done. But the incident has analysts all around the Asia-Pacific region worried about its portents for a more serious challenge.

It followed several incidents in previous days where Chinese coast guard planes buzzed US surveillance ships. It came shortly after the first visit to Beijing by the new US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, where she said worries about human rights would not halt co-operation in dealing with the economic crisis. And it came just a few days before the visit to Washington of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, where he prepared for President Barack Obama's first meeting with the Chinese President, Hu Jintao, at the G20 summit in London next month.

Hu is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, the top command of the People's Liberation Army. Either he is trying to test the new President's mettle, or the Chinese military is doing it off its own bat.

"The reporting points out that the Chinese party involved included one PLA navy vessel and four civilian vessels from different bureaucracies, which strongly suggests that this was not a rogue military operation, but a well-orchestrated joint civil-military undertaking," says Tai Ming Cheung, an expert on the Chinese military at the University of California, San Diego.

"The use of fishing trawlers and civilian patrol vessels … harks back to the People's War at Sea approach to naval defence when you mobilised civilian assets to overwhelm the enemy."

The motive appears to be to claim territorial sovereignty over the entire 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, giving China the right to control activity in this zone. Chinese domestic laws and maps assert this, but have no standing internationally, according to experts on the Law of the Sea. Chinese territory extends 12 nautical miles from shore, like that of every other nation.

Up to that boundary, foreign navies can manoeuvre and listen as much as they like, and the US Navy shows every intention of wanting to exercise that right to the full.

According to US Navy literature, 30 planned Virginia-class submarines "will expand on the ability of submarines to operate inside an enemy's defences not only for surveillance, but to deliver powerful precision weapons to targets on land or sea". New systems "will build on our robust deep-ocean capabilities to provide even greater sensitivity to slow, quiet targets in shallow, coastal waters".

In the EP-3 incident, one Chinese pilot died after colliding with the bigger and slower American plane, which then limped into Hainan itself for an emergency landing. The crew was returned after President George Bush's administration sent a letter now known to the Chinese as the "two sorries" expressing regret for "the entering of China's air space and landing without permission".

To the Americans, that meant an apology for the flight into Hainan. To the Chinese, it meant an acknowledgement the plane was in Chinese air space when the interception occurred. The Impeccable incident suggests the Chinese are returning to the issue.

"This appears like an early Chinese effort to establish strategic maritime bastions in which its submarines and naval forces can operate without interference from the US," says Cheung.

"The US is adamant not to allow this as it has enjoyed command of the high seas in the Asia-Pacific for such a long time.

"So these increasingly competitive strategic impulses from the two navies points to much more friction in the future."

Hamish McDonald Asia-Pacific Editor, March 14, 2009

Toxic SCOGS on HMS Tireless
The oxygen generator that caused a fatal explosion on the submarine HMS Tireless might have been "recycled" from a toxic dump an inquest as heard. Two sailors were killed when a self-contained oxygen generator (SCOG) exploded aboard the Tireless in March 2007 near Alaska. The coroner's inquest has heard that many of the SCOGs had been contaminated by oil making them unsafe to use.

In testimony before the inquest yesterday, a naval engineer confirmed that 20 tonnes of SCOGs on Tireless had been recovered from a hazardous waste dump in Plymouth. Reusing old SCOGs that had been deemed toxic would have run the high risk of contamination and ultimately an explosion, Navy engineer Chris Clark said.

The Royal Navy knew of the source for recycled SCOGs and and was made aware of the threat of contamination, but proceeded with the SCOGs anyway.  Buying new SCOGs would have been more expensive and taken longer to deliver.

Navy engineers later determined that 90 of the 294 SCOGs on Tireless were contaminated. Clark testified that he was under immense pressure to equip the submarine with as many workable SCOGs as possible at "value for money." "All civil servants are charged with getting value for money and therefore eliminating waste. What I saw was an indication we might be wasting
money." Clark said in testimony. The inquest in Sunderland continues.

Come on Boof and Nigs, let's have dinner.............

Sunday, 8^th March 2009

Cyclone Hamish is on it's way and we are starting to get some wind and rain as a consequence.  The rain will be good for us down South but let's pray it causes little damage up North.  Why would you live there???

I have had an extremely busy week and have not been home much, hope next few weeks are a little less stressful. 

In January the doctor warned me that my sugar levels were creeping up and unless I did something about it I was heading for Diabetes 2.  I purchased a monitor and have been recording  my levels, hate the little prick needed to draw blood. I have managed to lose 10 kilo since January.  Still a long way to go before I will be happy with results.  I am starting to look like canned fish and the baked beans are having an effect, Boof no longer sleeps beside me, choosing to move closer to the window.  Niggs on the other hand likes farts.

I am pleased to say my grass and gardens are starting to look good, the effort has been worthwhile.  Have not made any progress inside though, I promised myself I would re-start the painting next week.

Congratulations are in order for Roy 'Jumper' and Maria Cross who celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary today.  This day 40 years ago in Scotland members of Ovens' engineering crew attended a most unusual wedding in England.  Love you both......... shown here are Dave Hodder, Ray Clarke, Jumper, Bob Marsland, Chief Stoker, Tom Johnson and Brigham Young.

We had a shooting incident in Bauple this week. A 93-year-old woman who was particularly despondent over the recent death of her husband decided that she would just kill herself and join him in death. Thinking that it would be best to get it over with quickly, she took out his old Army pistol and made the decision to shoot herself in the heart, since it was badly broken in the first place. Not wanting to miss the vital organ and become a vegetable and a burden to someone, she called her doctor's office to inquire as to just exactly where the heart would be on a woman. The doctor said, 'Your heart would be just below your left breast'. Later that night the woman was admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her knee.

There are a lot of retirees in Bauple and I've often been asked by visitors 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired?'  I reply "Well...I'm fortunate to have a few friends who have chemical engineering backgrounds, and one of the things we enjoy most is turning beer, wine, scotch, and gin into urine.  And, we're pretty damn good at it, too!

SALE - 10% off all marked prices on DVDs and Books in the Slops Van

SAA NEWS  

Western Australian Branch
Sid Czabotar reports that sponsorship for SUBCON 2009 has been slow and to date we have enough to cover costs and overheads. We are relooking at the prices and putting on drinks where we can as money rolls in.

Fund raising activities being organised to reduce costs may include the sale of Rum Crocks, Photos of Ovens and maybe SUBCON serviettes. We will also be holding a Raffle (to be sold over the SUBCON weekend) with a number of prizes. We have been promised a Western Force Jumper signed by which we will Auction maybe on E-Bay for maximum Dollar.

Admiral Rank sponsors - Raytheon and ASC
Captain Rank Sponsors - WA Maritime Museum and Babcock INTEC (formerly (Weir Strachan and Henshaw)
Lieutenant Rank Sponsors - Compuroom

Anyone out there that wants to see their Logo here by sponsoring with cash or in kind, give Sid a call, it will be appreciated.

WA Museum – Maritime

A full update and indicative costs are now available at the SUBCON 2009 website.    

Comatose Branch
Nothing to submit thus far. Thanks for updating our events calendar date and due to that fact that our 1st meeting, ANZAC Day and SUBCON being the only other events on the calendar, "In Depth" contribution / input from us crow eaters for this month is again lacking, P$#@ poor, nadda, diddly, zip, zilch etc.

Victoria Branch
Boot Hatfield reports "As far as we are aware, all members have come through the bush fires unscathed. I personally checked on a couple of them who may have been involved and all is well. Any update, I'll let you know. Thanks for the thoughts".

AROUND THE TRAPS

"Jock" Hutchison has been the victim of political correctness and never knew it. He wrote "Until recently nobody knew my full name. I was talking to my brother in Scotland and found out that it is politically incorrect to call Scots "Jock" , Irish "Paddy " or Welsh "Taffy". Seemingly this came about when a certain member of the "Royals" pretending to be a soldier called another soldier a "Paki". I think this is a lot of claptrap, but I'll give you permission to call me "Jock", and I'm sure that many other "Jocks" will agree."

Bill Hosie, shown here with another elder statesman of the submarine communiyt jim Moon,  asked "I have a retreaded stoker lives nearby and he is trying to contact Ron Bucci. They did the Mechs course together, could you contact Ron and tell him Phill Skinner is looking for him. I wish I were more computer literate as I should be able to get this info from your magic web site, but I can't. After all I was only a dib dab and couldn't even get a Coxswains course."  I understand why they would not give you a Coxswain's course mate, you were intelligent, a nice guy and had the ability to get promoted on merit.

Michael Russell reports that he is now off the streets after his 3 ½ month holiday! He writes "I have been appointed the Shutdown Manager for Tiwest Northern Operations, at a Mineral Sands operation 60 kilometres north of Perth. The role that has a finite life, and as such, will be in the market for a new position July 2010. The maintenance shutdown is scheduled first half 2010, and will be quiet a challenge."

A very loud, unattractive, hard-faced woman walks into Kmart with her two kids in tow, screaming obscenities at them all the way through the entrance.  The door greeter says, 'Good morning and welcome to Kmart, nice children you've got there. Are they twins?'  The fat ugly woman stops screaming long enough to snarl: 'Of course they bloody aren't! The oldest is nine and the youngest is seven. Why the hell would you think they're twins?..... Do you really think they look alike, you d*ckhead?'  'Absolutely not,' replies the greeter, 'I just can't believe anyone would shag you twice!'

Derek Lilliman wrote "I have just had a quick look at your ‘The Mob, then and Now’ and found it very appropriate in both our navies. I reckon the a copy should be posted on every notice board in Russell Officers, Canberra in a very large font and a hundred run off and sent to MOD (Navy). The Admiralty, London. Not that I think it would do any good as it seems to me that the most important qualification to be an Admiral or Politician is to be as thick as a plank of wood (short planks, at that!). I liked some of the comments by the crew of the Collin’s Class Boats, I wonder how they would have got on in the Fore Ends of a ‘U’ or ‘V’ boat. All seamen & stokers living together with NO bunks!"

Dave (Goldie) Horne is putting last years health problems behind him and is heading off on 20th March to Vietnam for a 15 day tour starting in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) then up to Hanoi, also an overnight train trip to Sapa on the Chinese border and return. Pictured is Goldie on his last trip on the QE2.

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"I have just finished reading the March Log, and I have to say that going by the reports today's submariners are the biggest pack of whingeing sooks that God ever shovelled guts into. Chronic sleep deprivation, working up to 11 hours a day! For heavens sake! It just goes to show that you reap what you sow. The powers that be were told back in the early 90s that manpower was going to be critical over the next decade, but the dropkicks with management degrees knew better than the people at the coal face. Well, its come back to bite them on the arse now. And CN obviously has not a clue how to deal with the situation. Promising local area networks and email alongside! Does any real submariner need that shit?  Better by far to remove the soulless, but ever so touchy feely politically correct ethos and replace it with the proper submariners esprit de corps and the right people will be attracted to the job – problem solved. End of rant – perhaps I should not have read this after several beers!"  This was the sentiment of quite a few but I have not divulged the name of this author to avoid him being slagged. Unfortunately today's sailor is from a different era. And yes, without the internet and mobile phones they would be lost.

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Sandy Freeleagus commented "I read with interest in latest Log about the replacement for the Collins Class. Talk about déjà vu, as this was my last job in Navy Office (that great inland Bermuda Triangle where reports and personnel go - then are lost forever) before I paid off.

Being the DSMR's first Warrant Officer, I was given the grand title of "Special Projects Officer" (a term invented just for me as they didn't know what to do with me or what I was supposed to do). I was given the "New Submarine Construction Project" as one of my tasks. So all operational and technical data came to my desk from all the contenders, that I had to sort out (in longhand as there were no such things as PCs in those days). It was interesting stuff. What was interesting was when I paid off, the Mob was down to the final three contenders - the Vickers 2400 (that became the UPHOLDER Class), the German ILK 1400 (considered too cramped for further equipment expansion) and the Dutch WALRUS Class - a goer in all respects, only the seaman officers didn't like the 4 tubes instead of 6. (What was the ultimate boat was the Japanese 3rd generation version of the Yank BARBEL Class, but because they lost the war, they weren't allowed to export any military equipment).

Some months after I paid off, I read that Kockums got the nod from the then Labor government. Up until then they hadn't even put in a quote. So I guess if things remain the same, let's cut the paperwork crap and get the government to select the new boat for us regardless of (envisaged) performance and RAN input right from the start.

I also read where the COLLINS Class poppets are suffering from sleep deprivation. Let them wait until they have paid off for 28 years and still suffer from sleep deprivation. Then I'll feel for them.

They also said they were bored at sea. That is easily fixed in two parts: (1) let them fix their own defects and (2) ditch the electronic consoles and go back to things like the CEP where you could draw all over it and pass a pleasant watch defacing the graph paper or (if you were game) the chart. I remember one bored watch, I penciled in a coffee stain on the chart. I gave it contour lines, roads, townships, rocky coastline and even named points and towns. Only trouble was I forgot to rub it out when I went off watch. Jesus, didn't I get reamed over that one!!!

Our (OBERONers) saving grace was that we were "banned" and segregated from the rest of the navy and referred to as "McHale's Navy" - which we were. These poor sods in the COLLINS Class are integrated into the surface navy and don't feel "apart" or someone special. And how they can say the money is insufficient is beyond me.

Thank God I was in OBERONs (pre SWUP) where I wore overies and steamin' bats that left little oil rings on the administration building polished deck whenever I was required to report there (generally to explain my part in something or other of which I was totally innocent). I would not like to be in today's navy."

Sandy was a SAP and asks "Would today's psychologists allow the navy to call me a SAP ? It might scar me for life)."

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John 'Boot' Hatfield was another that commented  "I couldn't agree more with your 'aside' comment on diesel dinosaurs on Up Periscope. Political correctness and the move away from the 'old way' of submariners has - in my opinion - done a lot of damage. Submariners will always be submariners, no matter what class of boat we're on. Why can't 'gen's' get it - we ARE different, thank goodness, that's what makes us submariners.. We all have that bit of a twist and we all matter to each other, I'm afraid 'gen's' will never get that from us. That's why they probably want submariners to assimilate with the skimmers - so THEY can get what we already have.  Wear Them With Pride."

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Tim McCombe, National President of the Vietnam Veterans' Federation, said members of the federation assisted in the making of a music video for a new version of ‘I Was Only 19’ by a group called ‘The Herd’. The music video went straight to number 1, staying there for many weeks, so that many hundreds of thousands of young people viewed it. A documentary on the making of that video, including the VVF input, will be shown on TV ABC2 at 10pm on Monday 16th March.

An Irishman applying for a job as a blacksmith was asked if he has any experience shoeing horses. He said no but he had told a donkey to piss off once.

Rod and Pat Peters are still enjoying their NZ odyssey as the three email will attest "Only 3 days to go, we went whale and dolphin watching today but only the dolphins turned up but it was a great day. Tomorrow we are in the Bay of Islands and have nothing planned so we will go ashore and play it by ear. Pat has taken a million pictures to bore every one to death with when we have our slide night."  This was followed up with "Well the last day ashore and instead of the bright sunny Bay of Islands its raining, but we suppose two wet days of the holiday isn't to bad. We still managed to have fun, went on a fast adventure boat ride, around the bay and out to the hole in the rock, and yes we got soaked to the skin again even though they gave us supposed wet weather gear. We got some more good photos to add to the showing. Sailing for home tonight, will be sad to see the trip end." And finally "Well its our last day, the sun is out, but the sea is running at about 5 metres, we will survive. Its been a great trip, we will be doing another cruise to the pacific islands and Hawaii next year."

Peter 'Cheggers' Chegwick wrote "One thing about moving means some things come to the surface. I hope that you are able to use them in the log. The Onslow crew photo was taken after the Onslow engine run on accident. Ben Benevante was Coxn and I took over from him a week later."

Select to enlarge

Recent visitor to Oz, Kevin Errington wrote "Just back from my trip Downunder and we had a great time. I visited the museum in Sydney and spent a happy hour or so on the Onslow. The guides were very helpful etc but sadly non were ex boats. I did end up talking to the other visitors about life on an O boat and the guides thanked me for the info and dits etc.  I gave 2 models to the museum admin guys and said they could do with them what they wanted, the model maker there said they might knock a few out and see how they fare selling them.  I saw the Ovens in Freemantle but didn't go on it as it was closing.
Nice to see both boats in such good nick, unlike the Alliance sadly."

Wine rack empty?  For this week's specials go to GetWineDirect and save enough to buy heaps more, you can never have enough wine.  Please visit the website and when you place your order be sure to include the CLUB ID number to go onto your order so the SAA can claim the 5% of sales. SAA ID Number is 3558 or for WA Members  the ID Number is 9375.  Peter Johnston-Hall noted "Cheers and 'Here's to good wine!' I have been using Get Wines Direct for over a year now and find they have a lot of good wine at very good prices. They are also very reliable and easy to deal with, and they get the wine up to Airlie Beach in less than a week.

This weeks specials included:

HALF PRICE POSSUMS SHIRAZ. WINE ESTATE'S 'BEST WINES OF 2008' ISSUE.  PREVIOUS VINTAGES WITH HALLIDAY RATING OF 95 AND 90 PTS. THIS WILL FLY OUT THE DOOR.

ANGOVES ART SERIES BUY A CASE GET A CASE FREE. SUPERB VALUE. EQUATES TO LESS THAN $5 A BOTTLE.

THE PERFECT SAUV BLANC QUAFFER. BUY A CASE GET A CASE FREE, OVER $380 OF VALUE FOR LESS THAN $120.

HOUGHTON SPARKLING ROSE, BUY A CASE GET A CASE FREE. OVER $380 OF VALUE FOR LESS THAN $120.

YARRANAVALE STATION "LIMITED RELEASE" WINES, BUY A CASE GET A CASE FREE. EQUATES TO LESS THAN $5 A BOTTLE.

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Welcome to World's Greatest Shave -12th to 19th March 2009
The Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave is one of Australia’s biggest fundraising events. 100,000 people across the country will shave or colour their hair. The funds raised will help the Leukaemia Foundation to continue providing practical care and support to patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. It will also fund research into better treatments and hopefully cures.  the following are participating, please consider contacting them with a donation:

Vicki Atkinson

Everest Virtual Challenge
Carol Wilson still needs members for her team in the Everest Virtual Challenge. She said "It is not like last year where we walked together. The idea is that we are each supplied a pedometer from the organisers and we walk where we like then go on line and add our steps to our team on a daily basis. If you aren’t able to join the team then would you like to sponsor/donate to the team members that include myself, John O’Brien, Ken Chilvers and Possum and a local Beenleigh identity Dennis Wey."   I know things are tight, but this IS a good cause.  Please consider joining the team or making a small donation.

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Andy Rooney on sex
1. When I was born, I was given a choice - a big dick or a good memory....I don't remember what I chose.
2. Your birth certificate is an apology letter from the condom factory.
3. A wife is a sex object. Every time you ask for sex, she objects.
4. Impotence: nature's way of saying, "No hard feelings..."
5. There are only two four letter words that are offensive to men - 'don't' and 'stop', unless they are used together.
6. Panties: not the best thing on earth, but next to the best thing on earth.
7. There are three stages in a man's life: Tri-Weekly, Try Weekly and Try Weakly.
8. Virginity can be cured.
9. Virginity is not dignity, it's lack of opportunity.
10. Having sex is like playing bridge - if you don't have a good partner, you better have a good hand.
11. I tried phone sex once, but the holes in the dialer were too small.
12. Marriage is the only war where you get to sleep with the enemy.
13. Question: What's an Australian kiss? Answer: The same thing as a French kiss, only down under.
14. A couple just married were happy with the whole thing. He was happy with the Hole and she was happy with the Thing.
15. Question: What are the three biggest tragedies in a man's life? Answer: Life sucks, job sucks and the wife doesn't.
16. Question: Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact? Answer: Breasts don't have eyes.
17. Despite the old saying, 'Don't take your troubles to bed', many men still sleep with their wives!

HEALTH MATTERS

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease. This means that it lasts for a long time, often for someone's whole life. For our bodies to work properly we need to convert glucose (sugar) from food into energy. A hormone called insulin is essential for the conversion of glucose into energy.

In people with diabetes, insulin is no longer produced or not produced in sufficient amounts by the body.

So when people with diabetes eat glucose, which is in foods such as breads, cereals, fruit and starchy vegetables, legumes, milk, yoghurt and sweets, it can’t be converted into energy. Instead of being turned into energy the glucose stays in the blood. This is why blood glucose levels are higher in people with diabetes.

Glucose is carried around your body in your blood. Your blood glucose level is called glycaemia.

Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people with diabetes. While it usually affects older adults, more and more younger people, even children, are getting type 2 diabetes.  In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes some insulin but it is not produced in the amount your body needs and it does not work effectively.

Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although there is a strong genetic predisposition, the risk is greatly increased when associated with lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure, overweight or obesity, insufficient physical activity, poor diet and the classic ‘apple shape’ body where extra weight is carried around the waist.

Type 2 diabetes can often initially be managed with healthy eating and regular physical activity. However, over time most people with type 2 diabetes will also need tablets and many will also need insulin. It is important to note that this is just the natural progression of the disease, and taking tablets or insulin as soon as they are required can result in fewer complications in the long-term.

There is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes.

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Color test . . . Not so Easy
These are the things we're supposed to do to remove the cholesterol from around our brains and try to slow up Alzheimer's. I think it took me several times before I finally got this brain of mine to concentrate. A great test. Do it until you get 100%! Bet you can't get 100% on the first try! But I'm rooting for ya. It takes an average of 5 tries to get to 100%. Follow the directions! It's harder than it seems, as it should be. A brain waker-upper for today!  Click Here: >> The Color Test

Doctors' Opinion of Financial Bail Out Package
The Allergists voted to scratch it, and the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the
Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve, and the
Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception.
The Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted;

The Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the
Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness,
The Radiologists could see right through it, and the

Surgeons decided to wash their hands off the whole thing.
The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the

Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the

Urologists felt the scheme wouldn't hold water.
The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the
Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists left the decision up to some assholes in Canberra.

ITEMS FOR THE MARCH EDITION OF 'IN DEPTH' ARE TO BE WITH THE EDITOR BY THE 10th

VETERAN'S AFFAIRS

The first issue of e-News from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs now available online

In this issue:
Dunt mental health and suicide reports handed to the Government
Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study – Army Personnel 1962–75 sought
Deeming rate reduction for veterans with investment income
Changes to the Partner Service Pension
Training Information Program 2009 course schedule
Heart Health program starting up in 2009

E-News is a monthly electronic newsletter service keeping you up-to-date with information from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. If you, a friend or colleague would like to receive e-News, you can subscribe by sending an email to e-news-subscribe@dvalists.aaa.net.au with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject field. Once joined, they will receive a confirmation by email.

New Deeming Rate for Veterans
Many veterans will benefit from the Australian Government's decision today to further reduce deeming rates. Minister for Veterans' Affairs Alan Griffin said the deeming rate will drop from 3 per cent to 2 per cent for the first $41,000 of a single pensioner's financial investments ($68,200 for a couple). It will also reduce from 4 per cent to 3 per cent for the balance of financial investments over these amounts.  "The Government has taken action to reflect the unique economic environment Australians are facing, ensuring pensioners and social security recipients who rely on own-source income receive some financial relief," Mr Griffin said.  "The lower deeming rates will assist veterans during these difficult financial times."

The changes are effective from 20 March and will be included in payments made from 26 March 2009.

Department of Veterans' Affairs payments affected by the deeming rate include service pensions and the income support supplement.

This is the third reduction in the deeming rates since November 2008.  Deeming rates are now half what they were for much of last year and are at their lowest since 2004.

The lowering of the deeming rates means that part rate pensioners paid under the income test, with financial investments mainly in term deposits, shares, managed investments and other accounts, may receive an increase in their pension payments, to reflect the reduction in their assessable income. Veterans already paid at the maximum rate are not affected by the deeming change.  The value of listed shares and securities will also be re-valued from 20 March.

The impact of these changes is dependent on the person's individual circumstances. DVA pensioners who would like further information should contact the Department on 133 254.

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Commenting on Discharge Certificates Bill Krause said "There are those among you who don’t have one or need to update. Certificates given today are worthy of framing and are a big improvement on the "Certificate" that most of us received, a piece of paper with our enlistment details. As many of you have received medals since discharging you should apply for an updated Certificate that lists your Awards. The address for details is available at the Navy website.

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Ray Kemp has received a letter from Warren Snowden via Annette Hurley re the upgrade to the ASM fo SM Special Operations. Ray said "After putting in my submission I wrote to all SA federal members and Senators. I have very few replies from nearly 2 dozen letters. I must say the members for Port Adelaide has been very good and is in regular contact. He is also in contact with 2 other members of the Association."  The letter was similar to all those that have been received before....... being looked at by Defence with high priority etc etc etc.

Here is an actual sign posted at a golf club in Scottsdale , Arizona:

1. BACK STRAIGHT, KNEES BENT, FEET SHOULDER WIDTH APART.
2. FORM A LOOSE GRIP.
3. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!
4. AVOID A QUICK BACK SWING.
5. STAY OUT OF THE WATER.
6. TRY NOT TO HIT ANYONE.
7. IF YOU ARE TAKING TOO LONG, LET OTHERS GO AHEAD OF YOU.
8. DON'T STAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
9. QUIET PLEASE... WHILE OTHERS ARE PREPARING.
10. DON'T TAKE EXTRA STROKES.

WELL DONE. NOW, FLUSH THE URINAL, GO OUTSIDE, & TEE OFF.

 

DEFENCE NEWS

As Congress prepares budget, sub suppliers look to secure funding
Washington - It was hard to miss the victorious mood at Thursday's Submarine Industrial Base Council breakfast, where submarine builders and suppliers from across the country mingled with members of Congress to kick off a day of visits to members' offices on Capitol Hill. Last year's record-breaking $14 billion contract for eight new Virginia-class submarines, to be built in part by Groton's Electric Boat, was cause for celebration and record-breaking turnout at the council's 17th annual meeting, organizers said. ”The feeling in the room was definitely much more upbeat,” said Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, who spoke to the nearly 200 attendees.

But there wasn't much time to rest on their laurels. With President Barack Obama's proposed budget still vague on defense spending - and with more-immediate priorities looming in the midst of the economic crisis - industry representatives came to Washington prepared to push for two new priorities: increased funds for research and development and a program to design a replacement for the aging Ohio-class Trident submarine. ”Even though awards have been made … the new administration has put a hold on everything,” said the council's co-chairman, Dan DePompei of DRS Power Technology in Fitchburg, Mass. “Block 3 funding [for the Virginia-class subs] is pretty safe, but R&D could be questioned.”

Obama's budget outline would set the Defense Department's basic budget, which excludes war costs, at $533.7 billion - a 4 percent increase over this year that barely keeps pace with inflation. By contrast, George W. Bush increased the department's budget by 74 percent from 2001 to 2008. After an era of heightened spending and ambitious defense projects, council members said, they must now market their services as long-term investments in the country's economic prosperity and national security.

”There is an economic impact across the country for what we do, and we need to reinforce that message with Congress,” Electric Boat President John P. Casey said in an interview.  He said Congress and the Navy need to start thinking now about replacing the Ohio-class submarines, the first of which is set to be retired in 2029. ”We're not early, we're not late, but we need to start now,” Casey said.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., stressed the urgency of keeping research-and-development funding levels high to keep pace with emerging naval powers like China. ”If you have any doubts about whether this is Cold War technology, just ask other nations that are eager for this technology,” Dodd said after speaking to the council. “It would be awfully shortsighted to find out the whole world was right and we were wrong.”

Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla., the senior Republican on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, assured the council audience that Navy procurement programs would not face the chopping block when Congress starts debating the budget in April. ”The Appropriations Committee will be supporting these programs, and we're looking forward to that Trident submarine,” Young said to applause.

Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., cautioned that as the Navy falls behind in the number of submarines in its fleet, the submarine industry must work even harder to ensure that Congress will pay for the “complex engineering and precise craftsmanship” necessary for an updated fleet. ”We can't take it for granted that other members of Congress are as passionate and knowledgeable as we are about submarines,” said Langevin, co-chairman of the Congressional Submarine Caucus.

France Builds A U-Boat
French submarine builder DCNS is now selling a new coastal boat, the Andrasta class. This is an 855 ton, 153 foot long sub, with a crew of 19 (plus 8 passengers, usually commandos). The boat can stay underwater for up to five days. Surfaced, it can travel up to 5,400 kilometers, at slow (170 kilometers a day) speed. There are sufficient supplies on board to keep the boat out up to 30 days. Most missions are expected to be more like two weeks. The boat has six forward firing torpedo tubes, which can also carry mines or anti-ship missiles. There are no reloads, all the weapons are stored in the torpedo tubes. There is a special chamber for letting divers exit the boat while underwater.

The Andrasta is similar in size to the 769 ton German World War II Type VII boat, which was the most widely used (700 built) sub during the Battle of the Atlantic. The Type VII was longer (220 feet) and thinner, and didn't have all the electronics of the Andrasta, or all the automation. Thus the Type VII had a crew of 50 and carried 14 torpedoes (used in five tubes), plus an 88mm deck gun (and 220 shells). Moreover, the Type VII could only spend about one day underwater, although it had a surfaced range of 15,000 kilometers.

The Andrasta is built to be quiet, and use its powerful passive sonar to detect surface ships or subs, and use its heavy torpedoes to destroy them. The Andrastas cost less than $200 million each (half the price of most normal size subs), and are attractive boats for nations wanting to use submarines mainly as defensive weapons.

1,000th Trident Patrol
The Navy's top leaders and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were among senior officials who paid tribute to the crew of the USS Wyoming Trident strategic missile submarine during at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Feb. 19.

The USS Wyoming finished its 38th patrol on Feb. 11, marking the 1,000th completed patrol of a Trident submarine since the first, the USS Ohio, embarked on its initial patrol in October 1982. The Wyoming was commissioned in July 1996 and began its first patrol in August 1997.

Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter said he was honored to participate in the commemoration of the 1,000th Trident patrol, noting the occasion "is a great day for our Navy and our nation." U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) also attended the ceremony.

Although the world has experienced many conflicts since the end of World War II in 1945, Winter said, America's strategic deterrent "has ensured that none of them became major wars."

Some peopl thought the Trident mission would end with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. However, the world continues to be a dangerous place, noting that the missions of the Tridents and other submarines "are as equally important today, as they ever were during the height of the Cold War."

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Eternal Patrol
LCDR Mike Cordner RAN lost his battle with cancer and passed away early February. His funeral was held on the 10th February , at the Naval Air Museum, HMAS Albatross, Nowra.

John Horlock also lost his battle with cancer in Victoria on Monday, 9th February at 0900.  John left the Royal Navy as a Telegraphist and migrated to Australia to settle in Victoria. He joined the Association in May 1988.

Note:  Apologies for delay in reporting in the Log, data mislaid in PC malfunction. An obituary for John Horlock appears later in this edition of the Log.

 

Come on Boof and Niggs, let's nap before the rain comes.............

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Sunday, 1^st March 2009

Another week without my computer, thanks Lenovo.  I actually had to void my warranty to get it fixed, there are no accredited IBM service agents within a thousand mile of Bauple................ As a result I am miles behind with my email and SAA business.  With luck I will catch up next week.  If you sent an email that requires a response and you do not get one this week, please let me know.

My new lawn is looking great and the new trees and plants are still alive (for now) so I am a little happier with all things green. 
Things brown is another matter.  This week a smell started to permeate the air and turned out to be the new septic tanks. I could not track down where it was coming from as it was as if someone had farted in a lift, the smell filled every inch of my yard.  After three days the plumber turned up and discovered that a seal in the holding tank was missing.  All fixed now and i can return to the yard.....

As I mentioned last week Channel 7's Sunday show will soon air a segment based on the HMAS Onslow incident that resulted in the death of Christopher Passlow and long term health problems for many of the crew.  I personally do not agree that, after nearly thirty years, that airing this is would be of any benefit to anyone.  I had many calls from ex crew that had been approached and suggested that the show would proceed with or without them and that the involvement with the crew may ensure that a balance is given to the story. 

What did surprise me was the stories that surfaced and it seems that the DVA has not been consistent with it's dealings with  the crew and some have not been compensated for problems that others have received a benefit.  Maybe the story going to air may help with their claims?

This has taken ages to compile and I have not used all the information in my email in box, so forgive me if something you sent me still has not appeared, I will get around to it as soon as possible.

SAA NEWS  

National

Not having access to a computer again this week really slowed things down and it is going to take a few days to catch up.  If you have something urgent that i have not addressed please contact me.

I will resume updating our records as we have a long way to go before i have captured all the information that I want, stand by to receive an email from me requesting information.

Both the president and I received requests to talk about why there is a shortage of submariners from Radio 2UE in Sydney this week, but declined and referred them to the SMFEG so that they could talk to 'the new breed' that are so unhappy, poor little things, not us Oberon dinosaurs that seemed to be happy with our lot most of the time.  But then again, we served before the political correctness police took over and the boats moved to the west and had to 'assimilate' into the real Navy!

SAA Membership applications have slowed down, where is YOURS?  You know it makes sense, get in while we have vacancies.

The March issue of In Depth is currently been compiled and in line with our new policy I am requesting articles of interest for inclusion.  Send me yours now.

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CAPT Chris Skinner RAN (rtd) reports that a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] is in advanced stages of negotiation between Defence and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust [SHFT] for the HMAS Platypus site covering the decontamination and other public works. If federal funding is made available in the May budget than work should start in 2009/2010.

The Trust Defence History Committee has noted a proposal to erect on the site a memorial to submariners who have lost their lives while serving in Australian submarines. An Oberon anchor has been offered to form part of the memorial but there is still need for the location within the site and design of the memorial to be developed and agreed. There may need to be some fundraising to complete the memorial

Chris said "I would be grateful if the SAA would decide to take a leading role in this activity and beyond that to make further suggestions on which matters of historical and personal history from Platypus should be displayed to the general public. I would expect a wealth of photographs collected by members of the SAA and I hope that some of them might be copied for the displays.

The Trust has agreed to consider the holding of a weekend ceremony on the 42nd anniversary of HMAS Platypus commissioning and the arrival of HMAS Oxley (2) on 18 August 1967

I am happy to be the point of contact for this although the SAA should feel very welcome to engage with the Trust directly at any time. The SAA is well known to the Trust Community Liaison staff who acknowledge the interest and efforts of the SAA. So over to you"

Watch this space for further developments.

Acting National Secretary

Visit the Events page regularly to see what is on in your state.  Try and turn up for at least one function or meeting this year, visitors always welcome.

Western Australian Branch
A full update and indicative costs are now available at the SUBCON 2009 website.

Victoria Branch
Boot Hatfield reports "As far as we are aware, all members have come through the bush fires unscathed. I personally checked on a couple of them who may have been involved and all is well. Any update, I'll let you know. Thanks for the thoughts".

AROUND THE TRAPS

R 252354Z FEB 09
FM CN AUSTRALIA
TO ALL SHIP ALL SHORE ALL OVERSEAS
SUBJECT: SUBMARINE WORKFORCE REFORMS
1. RECENT MEDIA REPORTING HAS FOCUSED ON CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH SUSTAINING AUSTRALIA'S COLLINS CLASS SUBMARINE CAPABILITY. IN PARTICULAR, THIS REPORTING NOTES THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH RECRUITING AND RETAINING PEOPLE IN OUR SUBMARINE
FORCE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
2. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO TELL YOU WHAT I AM DOING TO PUT THE SUBMARINE FORCE BACK ONTO AN EVEN KEEL SO THAT IT CAN SUSTAINABLY DELIVER CAPABILITY INTO THE FUTURE.
3. LAST YEAR MY PREDECESSOR COMMISSIONED REAR ADMIRAL MOFFITT TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY REVIEW OF THE SUBMARINE SERVICE. I ACCEPTED ADMIRAL MOFFITT'S REPORT AND HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO IMPLEMENT SEVERAL OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS IMMEDIATELY. THESE INCLUDE:
A. NEW CREWING ARRANGEMENTS FOR OUR SUBMARINES. THESE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN HMAS FARNCOMB AND WILL BE ROLLED OUT IN COLLINS AND WALLER LATER THIS YEAR. RELATED TO THIS WILL BE A MORE EFFECTIVE SHORE SUPPORT GROUP TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS.
B. INSTALLING A LOCAL AREA COMPUTER NETWORK IN EACH SUBMARINE SO THAT CREW MEMBERS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO EMAIL AND WEB SERVICES WHEN THEIR SUBMARINES ARE ALONGSIDE IN PORT.
C. INVESTIGATING MOVING THE SUBMARINE COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE FROM ITS PRESENT LOCATION IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA TO FLEET BASE WEST.
4. I HAVE APPOINTED THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
COORDINATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVIEW’S RECOMMENDATIONS, AS PART OF HIS LEADERSHIP OF WIDER NAVY REFORMS UNDER MY NEW GENERATION NAVY INITIATIVE. MANY OF THE REFORMS WE WILL INTRODUCE TO OUR SUBMARINE SERVICE ARE APPLICABLE TO THE WIDER NAVY.
5. SPECIFIC REFORMS WILL SEEK TO IMPROVE SUBMARINER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, ACCOMMODATION STANDARDS FOR DEPLOYED CREW MEMBERS, AND TRAINING AND CAREER MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUBMARINERS. THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN WHO CREW OUR SUBMARINES ARE WIDELY REGARDED AS AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND MY AIM IS TO PROVIDE WORLD CLASS SUPPORT FOR THEM.
6. THESE REFORMS WILL TAKE TIME TO IMPLEMENT AND WILL REQUIRE ALL OF US IN THE NAVY, NOT JUST OUR SUBMARINERS, TO WORK TOGETHER PATIENTLY TO ACHIEVE RESULTS.
7. I THANK RADM MOFFITT FOR HIS REPORT AND I ESPECIALLY THANK THE MANY PEOPLE WHO TOOK THE TIME AND EFFORT TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR IDEAS TO SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IN - A FIRST CLASS AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINE.
BT

I owe Graeme 'Klepo' Klepzig an apology, I stuffed up badly. He wrote "Hey mate just read the Log, you must have stoker's disease, it was my father that passed away. My mum is only 62 and still firing on all cylinders and more, many more years ahead of her. Thanks again mate, as I said you know whom your friends are at these times and to all that suffered in the last few weeks my thoughts are with them all."

SA Member Mike Bell is one of a number of SAA Members that has been deployed toVictoria with the CFS/CES to do his bit fighting the fires in Victoria.  We owe mike and all other members of volunteer organisations a huge vote of thanks for their efforts.  I volunteered to join our local brigade but was advised that they had enough problems already!

Victorian Member Angus Bartlett-Bragg reported "I disembarked in Sydney on Thursday from the Queen Mary 2 and in submarine parlance it is a damned big target! The Commodore informed us that her own displacement is just a touch greater than the combined displacements of the Queen Mary and the QE2. Amazing what they build these days.  I greatly enjoyed a two and a half week voyage transiting the Pacific in the very best of company. Interestingly I found two members of the SAA on board the QM2 and we became very good friends. One was Mick Dunne, a navigator I think, of Brisbane, the other Tony Maddock, P.O. Tel., of Sydney. I lost Mick in the last stages of the voyage, perhaps he absconded with one of those charming Samoan lovelies, whilst Tony and I had many brief encounters."  Yes, the QM2 looked very impressive entering Sydney. 

Angus continued "I see that the Vanguard/Le Triomphant incident was far more serious than first thought. Admiral Jonathan Band (I sat at his table at the 2005 Trafalgar Bi-Centenary Dinner at Greenwich) has the inquiry underway. Perhaps we will learn more, perhaps not!"

Stu 'Milly' Milburn sent this photo and wrote "I came across an old photo taken when Fred Fisher, Terry Code, Bob West and I went to Forbes, NSW for "Pommy" Walters wedding in May 1984. It feels like an eternity ago. Now I have swapped the booze and dolphins for antidepressants and part time Buddhist robes."

Neil Wallace has gone jet setting, not to Bali or some other holiday Mecca for the plebs, he will be on leave in Europe from 28th Feb to Sunday 29th March inclusive.  Enjoy it mate!

I received the following from Rod Peters, it confused me a little as I was not aware that they had 'sailed' away... "Day 3 and its a bit choppy in the Tasman but us sailors can handle a bit of a rough sea Pat has not thrown up yet but she looked a bit green on the first night, but it might have been a reflection from the water. We are having a great time, this is the way to take a holiday you can do as little or as much as you like. It is a bit on the cool side at the moment but it should get warmer as we travel up the coast, more news as it happens." 

SALE - 10% off all marked prices on DVDs and Books in the Slops Van

On receiving Rod's email I sought further details and it turns out that they are cruising on the good ship Dawn Princess around NZ. "Went jet boating and it was magic and yes we did get wet. In Wellington yesterday and saw more rain than we have seen in 3 years, so we walked in it. In Napier today and the sun was out again and we had a good look round at a really lovely city."

Terry Coyote Wyatt (shown hear listening intently to Fred Butcher) has surfaced after having surgery. "Tell Helen about computers, they run when she goes into the shop, we have lost then recover work etc, I think we know the feeling. Lucky you talk nicely to the dogs and not put fists thru machine. I was in Dock Yard hands for six days. Having had two emergency Dockings, my doc finally got down to removing a Synovial Cyst, then back filling with bone from my Left Hip.  Today I had the dressing removed for the last time, I have been fortunate to have walked with in hours of the Op, but will now go into a long slow Work Up, NO Driving till end April. Nurse Helen has been a tower of strength.  I woke up after the 21/2 Op to be faced with an Evil Little Part Three who I gave no more a hard time than most,  ABROESSM (later POROSESM) Wayne (Shorty ) Donnelly, he was one of the recovery team. On Saturday we went over to his house during my couple of hours up time, it was great, it more than 25 years since we seen each other."

Idiot of the trip award goes too............. Brett Hinton recalls "Just before we dived to go on patrol, it was decided to have a BBQ on the casing. Well, the Coxswain got out the tinned sausages he had procured in Greece a couple of years ago, but that is not the subject of this story. We were having a couple of beers when a young greenie (electrician) asked the wicked XO of the west if he could bring up some "gashies" (spare beer).  Give the XO his due he tried to ignore the young greenie but the greenie kept pestering. The XO finally asked "What gashies" to which the answer was "There are 23 in our mess but only about half drink (hard to fathom I know). That means we get 46 cans per day but only drink about 2/3 of them. The rest we "store" for Ron (later on)."  The next day, both junior messes were searched and an enormous quantity of "gashies" were found hidden in all sorts of unlikely places. These were confiscated. The greenie was duly awarded the idiot of the trip award as nothing could top that effort."

Charlie walks into his bedroom with a sheep under his arm and says: 'Darling, this is the pig I have sex with when you have a headache.' His wife is lying in bed and replies: 'I think you'll find that's a sheep, you idiot.' The man says: 'I think you'll find that I wasn't talking to you.'

It is good to hear from names from the past and many of you that stood by submarines in Scotland may recall that of Campbell Conn.  He wrote to advise of an updated email address and said  "Thank you for all your update emails. From the 80 year old ex engineer submarine manager of Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Greenock. Good old O Boats."

Can you help?
Ray Andrews passed a message requesting a picture of one of the O class subs from Donna Reggett, as her dad has Alzheimer's and she is making a montage for him before he completely forgets who he is (click image for larger image).  Her dad's name is Malcolm 'Jock' Campbell ex CPOMTPSM. She remembers him mentioning Otway and Onslow and thinks they were in UK from 1966 to 1969, the last two years in Beresden Dumbarton then Helensborough Scotland.

Donna said "My dad is just 72 years old and has Alzheimer's. Curiosity has me wondering if the Submarine environment could have had anything to do with this. (I am sure his alcohol consumption would have contributed) Just how often did you guys hit your head?? How many submariners get dementia?  It wont make any difference to my dad now as he is stuck in the UK and will die there now, DVA benefits are of no use there, but maybe it could help others with dementia here."

Ray said "Donna was very young at the time and the reason I feel she needs help with this is Donna is an amazing young woman that sits on the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council. Her Partner is a long serving RAAF veteran. She is the current State Secretary of Aust Peacekeeper and Peacemakers Veteran Association and a member of the National Treatment Monitoring Committee (NATMOC).  Donna is also a Level 3 Advocate for veteran and ex-service community as a pensions and welfare advocate. She has put herself though Uni to do all she can to help veterans and their families These are only a few of the things Donna does to help the veteran community. I feel we could help her do this for her dad."  Can you help? I recall Jock but my memory has let me down. If anyone has any information (or photos) of Jock could you please contact me.

Greg Peake asks "I have been looking for an old mate of mine, Boots Dagg. We were PO greenies together on the old Supply in 72-74 when he decided he wanted a change of life style and joined you lot. The last I saw of him was he was on the Otway (I think) in EnZed in 75. Thanking you very kindly, any info would be greatly appreciated."  Can you help?

Finding Australia’s First Submarine Incorporated
Commander John Foster OAM, RAN (Rtd) is seeking financial assistance on behalf of Finding Australia’s First Submarine Incorporated for the forthcoming expedition that will hopefully conclude the long search for HMA Submarine AE1.

The April expedition, now in its final stages of planning, has a very good chance of success. The site to be examined was reported by Mr George Tyers nearly 40 years ago but has been dismissed over the years as George’s credibility about being able to scuba dive to well over 100 metres was very much in question. Furthermore, operations of the day pointed towards the submarine returning to the anchorage HMAS Encounter was in for the bombardment of the Toma ridges.  The old cruiser had the necessary workshop support required by AE1 to effect repairs on her return from patrol.

After many years of pressing National Archives, the original Deck Logs of Encounter have now been located and they show that she actually returned to Rabaul Harbour at sunset. It is now assumed Lt Cdr Besant would have known this and shaped course to her changed location. The submarine’s passage there was likely to have passed over the Tyers position.

Naturally there is some considerable expense involved with airfares, accommodation, boat charter and the important freighting of expensive dive equipment. This amounts to nearly $40,000 dollars, including $4000 set aside for contingencies. We have raised nearly $26000 so far through personal contributions of the team members themselves and some donations from interested members of the public. The National Geographic magazine has agreed to sponsorship of $5000.

If anyone out there wants to make a small personal contribution or a contribution on behalf of their Association or Company I am sure that it will be appreciated.  Contact CMDR Foster if you can help.

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Carol Wilson has signed on for the on-line Everest Challenge happening this year, and she says that it might be something our Members would be interested in participating in. After walking from from Coolangatta to Canberra it was thought she might want to climb to the top of Mount Everest!! The way the Challenge works is you get together a team of up to 15 people (or Time Warp dancers??). Registration is $25 per person, and the organisers supply you with a pedometer to keep track of the amount of steps you take. You then walk 10,000 steps per day between March 23 and April 5, 2009. Other exercises like gym sessions or swimming can also be included. Each team member then enters their steps on the website and can track the team’s progress on the online map. You can race other teams to the ‘virtual’ top of the world or register two teams and race against each other. The website is up and running at the moment, so you can check it out by clicking on this link: The Everest Virtual Challenge

Carol has registered the team name “Tug’s Walk for Kids With Cancer 2009” so if any of you want to register and join the team please do so. I need 14 other members to make up the team. Please let Carol know if you are interested.

Trains, Planes and Submarines festival at Holbrook
NSW, ACT and Victorian members are advised that here will be a Trains, Planes and Submarines festival at Holbrook, NSW during weekend 21 and 22 Mar 09. WO Des Byrne, in HMAS Harman, is coordinating Navy/Defence involvement in the Festival and I am assisting/running interference on an occasional basis and are attempting to secure a Navy helicopter for the Sunday as well as representation from nearby RAAF Wagga. It is hoped that the SM Force Element Group will provide a contemporary SM display. Defence Force Recruiting will be present on both the Saturday and the Sunday.

Eternal Patrol - John Horlock
John joined the Royal Navy when hostilities with Germany commenced on 3 September 1939 in the Boys’ Service, during which time he underwent communications training.

In 1941, John chose the submarine service, and after training at Blyth, on 23 August was drafted to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS Cyclops where he joined the training boat HMS H34 in November. Although old and small the boat was pressed into service to maintain a patrol over the Christmas period outside Brest harbour to try and intercept the German battleships as it was expected that Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen would attempt a breakout. On return to Scotland, John left the boat in February 1942.

John’s next billet was in the US of A, the boat S.24 one of many old USN ships and submarines made available to the British Government under the Lend/Lease scheme had been offered and John joined the troopship SS Letitia along with the rest of the commissioning crew to bring her back as HMS/m P.555 Having repaired many mechanical problems, P.555 arrived in Rothesay, via Bermuda in September 1942. With the arrival of the boat in the UK, John was granted leave, which also saw him with a new billet HMS/m Severn, which he joined in January 1943.

Having completed a long refit in the United States and a period of repairs and adjustments in Scotland and after a thorough work-up, Severn joined several other boats on 1 April to patrol in Northern waters, for Severn this proved uneventful and with a variety of defects was forced to return to Glasgow on 11 April.

On completing repair, Severn was ordered to proceed to the Mediterranean to join the 8th Flotilla in Algiers in June 1943. While crossing the Bay of Biscay the boat was attacked by a Coastal Command Sunderland flying boat which bombed the boat while it was diving. Luckily for the boat no damaged was caused, however on arrival in Algiers it was learnt that the RAF had claimed they had discovered and destroyed a U-Boat.

As targets in Mediterranean were becoming scarce Severn was used to land and withdraw special parties in Sardinia in Operation Hawthorn. In an extension of the operation, on 27 June another army party was successfully landed on the south-west coast and another on the central west coast. A party for the north-west was not landed due to ongoing defects in the boat. Severn returned to Algiers on 14 July. After repairs Severn returned to Sardinia to re-embark the earlier parties, but had to withdraw as the embarkation beach had been compromised and the following night the boat had to withdraw as the port engine was out of action. After her defects were made good the boat went on to the 1st Flotilla based at Beirut and subsequently to the Eastern Fleet Flotilla.

After the invasion of Sicily Severn was used to deliver war materiels in the form of guns, ammunition, and fuel to various spheres of war on the invasion islands.

In March 1944, John was drafted off the boat and joined the net layer HMS Guardian for transit to Malta to join spare crew. It was not long before John joined his last submarine HMS Unsparing. John’s first patrol in Unsparing was on the 2nd April in the Aegean via the Kaso Strait arriving there on the 6th. Whilst there an intelligence report was received stating that a German ship Anita was making its way from Rhodes to either Leros or Piraeus.

The ship was spotted with a heavy air escort and three destroyers accompanying her. Unsparing was able to get herself into a good firing positing and a salvo of four torpedos were fired. After firing the boat went deep and three explosions were heard. After a half-hearted counter attack, periscope depth was regained only to find that the explosions were the torpedoes hitting cliffs and that Anita and her destroyers had escaped. With no further action the submarine was recalled on the 19th and returned to Malta via the Anti-Kithera channel on the 22nd.

The next patrol was in May when Unsparing was sent to the north coast of Crete where no targets were found, however instructions were sent to make the submarine’s presence be known by bombarding Kaneliusa and Kamara Bay, in Kos. Later, intelligence reported that an enemy convoy was in the vicinity, however, no ships materialised, so the boat was recalled to Malta on the 27th and arrived on the 30th.

Unsparing’s second to last patrol commenced on 16 June in the south Aegean via the Anti-Kithera channel. On the 21st, off Cape Malea a convoy consisting of a small steamer, a Siebel ferry escorted by a UJ-boat and a lone Arado aircraft was confronted. Having obtained a good firing position four torpedoes were fired at the ships. Having gone deep, two explosions were heard, when periscope depth was regained it was found that two torpedoes had sunk UJ.2106 (ex-Tenedos of 450 tons) and that the ferry had moved in to pick up survivors, which enabled the submarine to reload torpedoes and fire at the ferry. One torpedo fired was seen to run on the surface and strike the ferry right aft, which did not cause it to sink; the coup de grace was fired an hour later and Siebel Ferry No 284 was no more. However, the steamer Sybille was able to escape. With no further action encountered the submarine was recalled and the boat arrived in Malta on 29 June.

The 12th and last patrol for Unsparing was in the Melos area leaving Malta on 9 July, this patrol was an uneventful week. Although targets were spotted unforeseen events caused the attacks to be called off. The boat was recalled back to Malta, arriving there on 23rd.

With the sea war in the Mediterranean being scaled back, and Unsparing being unsuitable for war in the Far East she was ordered back to the UK in late 1944. After a minor refit at Tilbury, Essex, in the new year, the boat was ordered to Tobermorey, Isle of Mull in Scotland. Later the boat was laid up at Milford Haven.

With the decrease of submarines, John left boats and continued to serve his time in the General Service. John left the Royal Navy as a Telegraphist.

John migrated to Australia and settled in Victoria, he joined the Association in May 1988.

Compiled by Peter Smith, Hon Nat Historian.

HEALTH MATTERS

Message from the Ambulance Service
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As mobile phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' (In Case Of Emergency). The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents there were always mobile phones with patients but they didn't know which number to call.

He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognised name for this purpose.  In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE'.

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc

The Dangers of Masturbation

I was sent a warning about the dangers of masturbation this week and it alarmed me, not only can it send you blind, it can have a serious detrimental effect on muscle tissue, as the photo shows.  Note: I have been advised that the model was NOT a well known senior naval officer.

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VETERAN'S AFFAIRS

New Department of Veterans' Affairs e-News service.
E-News is a monthly electronic newsletter service keeping you up-to-date with information from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The first issue will be sent in March.  If you, a friend or colleague would like to receive e-News, you can subscribe by sending an email to e-news-subscribe@dvalists.aaa.net.au with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject field. Once joined, they will receive a confirmation by email.

Restoration of DFRDB Widow's Pensions cancelled on remarriage
From the inception of the contributory DFRB/DFRDB Superannuation Schemes until mid 1977 widows or widowers of Australian Defence Force Personnel who were killed in Australia or overseas were granted a pension from the contributory Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefit Fund. Until 1977 the Commonwealth Government Legislation required that if a spouse remarried the pension be cancelled.

In 1977 a Federal Government policy change meant that widows/widowers pensions were no longer cancelled on remarriage. However, those spouses who had lost their partners before this date did not have their pensions reinstated, unless there was a compelling case of financial hardship.

Following strong representation to and subsequent support from senior Government Ministers of the last Coalition Government [The Hon Mal Brough, The Hon Nic Minchin and The Hon Bruce Billson], the Pre 1977 DFRDB Spouse Pensions have been reinstated prospectively, on application, with effect 1 January 2008.

The term used by the present Government through Comsuper is ‘Reversionary Pensions’. Regrettably, it is a term that not many understand.  The reinstatement of the DFRDB Widows [Spouse] pensions needs wide dissemination to all Military Associations of the three Services and the wider community.

This initiative covers the widows of all Australian Defence Force personnel who contributed to the DFRB/DFRDB Scheme and who died as a result of natural causes, accidents, disease or in other circumstances in peace in Australia or overseas as well as all those who lost their lives on Active Service.

It is stressed that the reinstatement of DFRB/DFRDB pensions will only be made prospectively from the date of application.

Contact: Comsuper Mrs Sara Ferguson and DFRDB Scheme Major General David Ferguson AM, CSC [R]
PO Box 22 Tele: 07 5497 5519
Belconnen 2616 Email: dfer6755@bigpond.net.au
Tele: 1300 001 887

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DEFENCE NEWS

Head of Future Submarine Program named
The Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, has today announced the appointment of Rear Admiral (RADM) Rowan Moffitt, AO, RAN, to the new position of Head Future Submarine Program in Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).  “The early stages of the program require large amounts of Government to Government and Navy to Navy interaction which makes RADM Moffitt an excellent choice to lead the program in its early years,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

The future submarine is planned to replace the Collins class submarine commencing in 2025. This highly complex project is a high priority for the Rudd Labor Government.

“The appointment of RADM Moffitt meets the Government’s commitment, at the last election, to ensure that preliminary work on Australia’s next generation of submarines is progressed,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

RADM Moffitt will report to the Chief Executive Officer of DMO, Dr Stephen Gumley, and will lead a combined Navy, DMO and Capability Development Group Future Submarine Project Office, commencing duties on 23 February 2009.

$25 billion, and possibly up to $35 billion, will be spent on New SM project.

In an exclusive, the ABC has learnt that the Defence White Paper due in April will confirm more than $25 billion, and possibly up to $35 billion, will be spent on the project.  That is likely to allow the current fleet of six Collins submarines to be doubled.

The first of the submarines is due in the water sometime after 2020, so they are in service when the Collins fleet is retired in 2025.  Former submarine commander Peter Clarke says the expanded fleet will put Australia in the race in a region that is investing heavily in submarines.  "Twelve is many, many times better than six because of the greater flexibility it gives you," he said.

European-designed hulls will house US combat systems in the new submarines, which will be capable of running for weeks without surfacing.

The Navy will be the biggest winner of the multi-billion-dollar Defence shopping list to be released with the White Paper, which reflects the priority the Prime Minister gave to sea power last year.

The Minister has appointed Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt to ensure sonar, combat and design secrets make it to Adelaide where American technology and European hulls will again be combined at the Australian Submarine Corporation shipyard.

The original fleet of Collins Class submarines was part of an ambitious plan to take Australia's Navy well into the 21st Century, replacing the Oberon class submarines.  However, the Collins Class have not been without their problems, with the project experiencing significant design and construction delays.

Although originally a fixed-cost contract, because of later upgrade specifications, the submarines' total cost snowballed to over $6 billion as of 2000, compared to the $3.9 billion stated in June 1987 by then prime minister Bob Hawke's government.

Defence Minister admits 'challenge' manning Collins-class submarines
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has admitted there are serious problems in manning the Collins-class submarines and says the government is working hard to retain the crews it already has. Mr Fitzgibbon was speaking after The Australian revealed warnings contained in a confidential defence report which said the submarine fleet was in danger of becoming unsustainable because of a chronic shortfall of qualified sailors.

"Our people and skills shortage is the single biggest challenge facing the Australian Defence Force in the coming decades,'' Mr Fitzgibbon told ABC Radio. "We've initiated a range of bonuses - up to the $60,000 annually - in order to keep those much-needed people ... in our submarine workforce.''

A psychological study of the submarine arm, obtained by The Australian, reveals almost half of all submariners intend to abandon the navy as soon as they can, at a time when it is already so short of crews that it can barely put three of its six Collins-class boats to sea.

The report questions the sustainability of the current Collins-class fleet at a time when the Government is preparing plans, revealed in The Australian in 2007, for a future fleet of up to 12 submarines in the forthcoming defence white paper.  It finds that morale has crumbled, with submariners saying they are overworked, underpaid and unappreciated. They feel alienated from the navy.

Officers are bitter about being exempt from the navy's submarine retention bonuses, which has led them to be paid less than the junior sailors they command.

The study found a quarter of the navy's submarine crews suffer chronic sleep deprivation and believe their job of roaming the world's oceans is meaningless.  "The career intentions results raise serious concerns about the sustainability of the submarine fleet," according to the report on a survey of navy submariners by the Defence Force Psychology Organisation.  "With between 34-48 per cent of submarine respondents reporting an intention to leave the navy in the short term the (submarine service) seems to be facing a possible crisis.

"All submarine crews report fairly low levels of commitment to the navy, suggesting many are beginning to lose a sense of esprit de corps with the wider organisation."

The report, written in July last year, was commissioned to gauge attitudes within the submarine service at a time when severe manpower shortages have placed pressure on existing crews.

The recent mining boom in Western Australia caused many technically skilled submariners to leave the navy for better-paid jobs on land.  The navy has tried to attract more submariners by offering $60,000 bonuses for non-officers who sign on for an extra 18 months and by reducing time spent at sea. But the survey shows these measures have had little impact, with most submariners saying salaries are still not high enough to justify spending so much time away from their home and families.

"The results indicate general agreement amongst submarine crews that their pay and conditions are not sufficient compensation for the work they do," the report says.

The survey of three submarine crews - HMAS Rankin, HMAS Waller and HMAS Collins - found that almost a quarter of them worked an average of 11 hours a day, with a similar amount reporting five hours sleep or less a night.  "These results indicate that up to a quarter of submarine crews appear to be experiencing chronic sleep deprivation," the report says. This affected safety levels and morale.

There were some positive findings, with 60 per cent of crews reporting that they liked the kind of work they did and had faith in their senior officers.

"Respondents reported high levels of teamwork, high confidence in their immediate commanders and a general feeling of being valued and cared for at the unit (submarine) level (but) these positive ratings did not translate into high job satisfaction of higher commitment to the navy," the report says.  It warns there will be an exodus of senior officers - and therefore experience - unless the bonus system is changed to include them.

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They might be the saddest boats in the Royal Australian Navy. When the crews of submarines HMAS Rankin and HMAS Waller were asked to write down their innermost feelings to Defence psychologists, they did not hold back. Of Waller's crew, 37 per cent said their job was "meaningless" and only 16 per cent were satisfied with their work-family balance. Worse, they don't even seem to like each other.

"HMAS Waller respondents are also the least likely to socialise with each other outside work, suggesting something is amiss on the boat," says the report by Defence's Psychology Organisation.

"HMAS Waller respondents reported the lowest teamwork (and) lower confidence in the performance of their supervisors and leaders. They do not feel as valued or cared for by their superiors."

One crew member said: "While I am at sea, I am bored beyond belief  sitting for hours in front of a screen is mind-numbing."

Another said: "The poor state of the submarines is demoralising."

One sailor complained that submarine life was too serious, with no ways to release stress. "The all-permeating attitude to have a totally professional workplace in navy has sucked any and all fun out of being at sea and doing what we do."

Aboard the Rankin, the mood was even more dire, with psychologists reporting the lowest morale in the fleet and the most grumbling about pay and conditions: 70 per cent of the crew said the job required them to be away too often, and almost half said they felt under-trained.   "Most troubling of all, 48 per cent of these respondents report a desire to leave the navy either as soon as possible or in the next couple of years, and only 7 per cent report a desire to stay in the navy as long as they can," the study says. "HMAS Rankin seems to be the most dissatisfied group in the submarine force," it concludes.

'No chance' $20bn submarine wish list will be passed by Government
A Defence wish list for a $20 billion submarine fleet has virtually no chance of making it past the Government's razor gang.  Defence wants to buy 12 new submarines when the current fleet of six Collins boats retires after 2020.

That would value the new vessels at about $2 billion each and make them the most expensive conventional submarines in history.

However, sources have told the Herald Sun the global financial crisis and a lack of crew numbers for the current fleet means the plan will run aground. Just three of the six Collins boats are deployable due to the lack of qualified or willing crew members.

Navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Crane yesterday confirmed he could man only three subs with the navy's 420 qualified submariners. He also revealed plans to rotate crews between boats rather than attach them to individual vessels for a tour of duty.

According to insiders, the wish list will face major hurdles from Finance and Treasury when it goes to the Government for final approval as part of the 2009 budget process.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said even large financial bonuses were not enough to attract crew. "We've initiated a range of bonuses - up to the $60,000 annually - in order to keep those much-needed people," he said.

The Opposition has supported the project but questioned the magnitude of the plan.  "The Opposition would be very willing to support a new generation of world-class, conventionally powered submarines," defence spokesman Senator David Johnston said.

A survey of submarine crews has uncovered serious morale problems on board subs HMAS Waller and HMAS Rankin.  It says 37 per cent of Waller's crew believe their job is meaningless.

Economic downturn sinks sale of ASC
The government on Thursday dropped plans to sell its defence ship builder, (ASC), saying the global economic downturn may affect a successful sale. Analysts had said the ASC, which built and maintains Australia's fleet of six Collins-class submarines, was worth about A$300 million ($194 million). The company also has a contract to build the navy's three air warfare destroyers.

'It is unfortunate that the current economic climate presents significant risks to a successful sale of ASC,' Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said in a statement. 'In addition, a sale in the short term could complicate the operations of the company given ASC is currently building the Royal Australian Navy's air warfare destroyers and likely to be considered in any future submarine build programme,' he said.

ASC has been in government ownership since 2000 when the Commonwealth exercised its pre-emptive rights to ensure full Australian ownership of the company after the exit of Swedish submarine builder Kockums. The Howard government originally planned to sell ASC three years ago but then shelved the idea in the run-up to the 2007 election.

Since then ASC has been preparing itself for an eventual sale with the Government setting tight restrictions on any new owner including a foreign ownership ceiling of 15 per cent.  The sale process is complicated because the ASC has access to high-technology U.S. weapons systems. That means any buyer would need U.S approval to access sensitive technology.

Defence industry sources say keeping ASC in government ownership indefinitely could complicate the Government's future naval procurement strategy, hampering the emergence of a truly world-class naval shipbuilder.

Australia may build up to 12 new submarines, at a cost of up to A$25 billion, under a new defence strategic review to be outlined in April, according to local media reports. The Adelaide-based ASC may win some of those contracts.

Montenegro to give submarines to Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia
Chief of Staff Dragan Samardzic said that Montenegro will give away its Tisa submarines to Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. Samardzic explained that Podgorica (the official commercial and cultural centre of Montenegro) currently has four submarines of this kind and would like them to become museum pieces.

He added Montenegrin officials have held talks with counterparts from Serbia's and Slovenia's submarine associations, as well as with Croatian military officials.  Each country would receive one submarine, while the fourth would remain in the Tivat nautical museum of Porto.

'Lessons to be learnt' after nuclear submarine collision in the Atlantic
Britain's Defence Secretary John Hutton said lessons would have to be learnt 'pretty quickly' following the mid-Atlantic collision between British and French nuclear submarines. HMS Vanguard, which was refitted at Devonport Dockyard, and French sub Le Triomphant – both believed to have been carrying nuclear warheads – were damaged in the crash earlier this month in the Atlantic.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Hutton said: "The First Sea Lord has made clear there is a very careful investigation going on to explore exactly how this event happened and what conclusions we should draw from it.  "I don't want to pre-empt the First Sea Lord's inquiry but clearly if there are any lessons to be learnt, and I suspect there are, we need to learn them pretty quickly."

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The collision is thought to have happened on February 3 or 4, when both submarines were submerged and on patrol.

Despite being equipped with sonar to detect other vessels, neither submarine's crew apparently realised the other vessel was in the same part of the ocean.  A senior Royal Navy source said the potential consequences of such a collision were 'unthinkable'.

Both vessels made their own way back to base, and on February 7 the French Navy published details of a collision. At the time, they thought their submarine had struck a sunken container.

In Britain, the Ministry of Defence initially refused to confirm the incident, saying it was not policy to comment on submarine operations, but on February 16 the Navy issued a statement saying the two vessels hit each other while travelling at very low speeds and no one was injured.

The MoD said the Vanguard returned to its base in Faslane, Scotland, with only 'scrapes'.

Submarine USS Toledo redelivered to the Navy
After spending 27 months at Northrop Grumman's Newport News shipyard, the submarine USS Toledo is finally ready to head back to sea. Northrop said Tuesday that the sub was redelivered to the U.S. Navy on Saturday, more than eight months after its original schedule.

The Los Angeles-class sub, which arrived in Newport News in December 2006 for a $178.5 million maintenance and modernization project, was supposed to be completed and returned to the U.S. Navy last June.

But since the original contract was signed, the shipyard has incorporated more than 2,000 project changes that have contributed to the extended schedule, said Jennifer Dellapenta, a Northrop spokeswoman.

"It is common for the work scope to increase on these types of maintenance availabilities once additional inspections are performed throughout the ship," she said. "The resulting additional work must be planned and scheduled; required materials must be procured; and the work must be executed in coordination with the original work, which can lead to schedule extensions."

Last April, the shipyard and the Navy said additional required repairs would push back the sub's delivery. At the time, yard General Manager Matt Mulherin said the boat should be completed by the end of 2008.

During the Toledo's time in the yard, its sonar, combat and weapons systems were upgraded. Workers performed maintenance work on the propulsion, auxiliary and habitability systems, and preserved the sub's ballast and internal tanks, Northrop said.

After a change-of-command ceremony in Norfolk on March 5, the Toledo will return to its home port in Groton, Conn., said Cmdr. Kevin Copeland, a Navy spokesman. The boat is scheduled to be deployed in summer 2010.

The Toledo was the 26th Los Angeles-class sub built in Newport News. It was commissioned in 1995.
 

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The Russian Navy Crawls Out Of The Cellar
The Russian Navy has not only shrunk since the end of the Cold War in 1991, but it has also become much less active. In the last three years, only ten of their nuclear subs went to sea, on a combat patrol, each year. Most of the boats going to sea were SSNs (attack subs), the minority were SSBNs (ballistic missile boats). There were more short range training missions, which often lasted a few days, or just a few hours. But the true measure of a fleet is the "combat patrol" or "deployment." In the U.S. Navy, most of these last from 2-6 months. In the last three years, U.S. nuclear subs have carried out ten times as many patrols as their Russian counterparts.

Currently, Russia only has 14 SSBN (nuclear ballistic missile sub) boats in service, and not all of them have a full load of missiles. Some lack full crews, or have key systems in need of repair. Russia has only 14 modern, 7,000 ton, Akula SSNs (nuclear attack subs) in service. These began building in the late 1980s and are roughly comparable to the American Los Angeles class. All of the earlier Russian SSNs are trash, and most have been decommissioned. There are also eight SSGN (nuclear subs carrying cruise missiles) and 20 diesel electric boats. There is a new class of SSGNs under construction, but progress, and promised funding increases, have been slow.

Currently, the U.S. has six of the new, 7,700 ton, Virginia class SSNs in service, four under construction and nine on order. The mainstay of the American submarine force is still the 6,100 ton Los Angeles-class SSN. Sixty-two of these submarines were built, 45 of which remain in front-line service, making it probably the largest class of nuclear submarines that will ever be built. The Seawolf-class of nuclear attack submarines stopped at three from a planned class of twenty-nine. The 8,600 ton Seawolf was designed as a super-submarine, designed to fight the Soviet Navy at its height. Reportedly, it is quieter going 40 kilometers an hour, than the Los Angeles-class submarines are at pier side.

The peak year for Russian nuclear sub patrols was 1984, when there were 230. That number rapidly declined until, in 2002, there were none. Since the late 1990s, the Russian navy has been hustling to try and reverse this decline. But the navy budget, despite recent increases, is not large enough to build new ships to replace the current Cold War era fleet that is falling apart.

The rapid decline of Russia's nuclear submarine fleet needed international help to safely decommission over a hundred obsolete or worn out nuclear subs. This effort has been going on for nearly a decade, and was driven by the Russian threat to just sink their older nuclear subs in the Arctic ocean. That might work with conventional ships, but there was an international uproar over what would happen with all those nuclear reactors sitting on the ocean floor forever. Russia generously offered to accept donations to fund a dismantling program that included safe disposal (of the nuclear reactors).

Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, most of the ship building money has gone into new nuclear subs. Six Akulas have been completed in that time, but the first of a new generation of SSBNs, the Borei class was delayed by technical problems, a new ballistic missile that wouldn't work, and lack of money. The first Borei class boat, after many delays, is finally ready for service, and ended up costing over two billion dollars.

The Russian admirals made their big mistake in the early 1990s, when the dismantling of the Soviet Union left the second largest fleet in the world with only a fraction of its Cold War budget. Rather than immediately retire ninety percent of those ships, Russia tried to keep many of them operational. This consumed most of the navy budget, and didn't work. There were too many ships, not enough sailors and not enough money for maintenance or training at sea. The mighty Soviet fleet is mostly scrap now, or rusting hulks tied up at crumbling, out-of-the way naval bases.

While Western nuclear subs can last for about thirty years, Russian models rarely get past twenty. That means two new SSN or SSGN has to be put into service each year to maintain a force of forty boats. Unless the sub construction budget get billions more dollars a year, that is not going to happen. Right now, the priority is on producing a new class of SSBNs (11 more Boreis are planned or under construction). These Boreis are critical, because they carry SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles) that provide a critical (they are much harder to destroy in a first strike than land based missiles) portion of the nuclear deterrent. The rest of the Russian armed forces, like most of the navy, is in sad shape, and unable to resist a major invasion. Only the ICBMs and SLBMs guarantee the safety of the state. So the way things are going now, in a decade or two, Russia will end up with a force consisting of a dozen SSNs and a dozen SSBNs.

The current fleet of nuclear subs is tiny, and the Russians would rather keep them tied up at dock most of the time. The crews can do a lot of training at dockside, and only go to sea a few times a year to check on their state of training. Given the number of accidents their subs have had in the past decade, the training the crews are getting now is not sufficient.

The Mob, then and now...............
Then: If you smoked, you had an ashtray on your desk.
Now: If you smoke, you get sent outside and treated like a leper
Then: Mail took weeks to get to the ship.
Now: Every time you get near land, there's a mob on the flight deck/quarterdeck checking to see if their mobile will work.
Then: You had one hat for stepping and one hat for Divisions. Usually it was one and the same.
Now: You have a selection of hats to wear, ball cap, sailors cap and an AKUBRA.
Then: The dress of the day was Number 10a's optional shirts and sandals. The Stokers were the only ones to wear "overies".
Now: Everyone wears grey overalls. Commonly know are either "ralls or CC's" (Combat Coveralls) not allowed to call them overies anymore, now that women are on ships.
Then: The ships office had a typewriter on a desk for doing daily reports.
Now: Everyone has a computer with Internet access and they wonder why there is no work going on.
Then: Your girlfriend was at home praying for your safe return.
Now: She is on the same ship as you, praying that the condom worked.
Then: If you got drunk off duty, your mates helped you back onboard and made sure you were up in the morning.
Now: If you get drunk off duty, they counsel you and then send you to rehab and ruin your career
Then: Our top officers were professional sailors first. They commanded respect.
Now: Our top officers are politicians first, they beg not to be given a wedgie.
Then: They collected enemy intelligence and analysed it.
Now: They collect our urine and analyse it.
Then: If you didn't act right, they'd put you on chooks until you straightened up.
Now: If you don't act right, they start a paper trail that will follow you forever.
Then: Medals were awarded to heroes who saved lives at the risk of their own.
Now: Medals are awarded to people just for turning up for work most of the time.
Then: You ate in the Scran Hall, it was free and you could have as much as you wanted.
Now: You eat in the Dining Facility and you get one serve and you pay for it.
Then: If you wanted to relax, you went to the Wets and played pool, smoked and drank beer.
Now: You go to the Community Centre and maybe you can play pool, but no smoking or drinking.
Then: If you wanted to get on the turps, you went to the Wets and had as much as you wanted at a good price and generally had a good time.
Now: The beer will cost the same as ashore, and someone will be watching to see how much you are drinking.
Then: The Canteen had bargains for sailors who didn't have much money.
Now: You can get the same things ashore for a better price.
Then: If an Admiral wanted to do a presentation, his Secretary scribbled down some notes and had a Subby or Mid produce some charts for him.
Now: Sixteen people spend a week preparing a PowerPoint presentation, that is probably wrong and the Admiral doesn't understand what is in it.
Then: we called the enemy things like "Commie Bastards, Gooks and Slopes " because we didn't like them
Now: We call them things like "Opposing Forces and Aggressors" so that we won't offend them.
Then: We declared victory when the enemy was dead and we had destroyed all his things.
Now: We declare victory when the enemy says he is sorry and won't do it again.
Then: A Commander would put his butt on the line to protect his crew.
Now: A Commander will put his people on the line to protect his own butt.

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