One morning a man came into the church on crutches. He stopped in front of the holy water, put some on both of his legs, and then threw away his crutches.
An altar boy witnessed the scene and then ran into the rectory to tell the priest what he had just seen. "Son, you have just witnessed a miracle," the priest said. "Tell me where is this man now?"
"Flat on his arse over by the holy water," said the boy.

This photo of Peter Clark and Matt Young, taken at my farewell morning tea at the submarine school, is freaky. As you may be aware, both have had serious health problems recently, and this photo may explain why they are still with us. There is no light behind Matt, is this his natural halo? Is this man challenging Chief Stokers for the title of God?

The submarine community has a new member, in spite of Defence Force Recruiting (DFR). You may recall that last year I raised the issue of DFR making it difficult for some to join or rejoin.  I am happy to hear that one of those trying to re-enlist has had a win.  He reports "After shoveling a ton of shit uphill, it's finally happened! I re-enlist on the 6th of August direct to the STSC and fingers crossed I'll be heading for an AWA course in September. It's been a mongrel of a road and I've created many waves along the way, none of which I'll back down from. Cheers again and fingers crossed we might be able to catch up before you depart." Well done mate, I know that the submarine community will be much better off with you in it.  Although I am now in retirement I will drop in to the school to say g'day before I fly out on the 8th.

In an email to Squadron PR person Ruth Carter and I LCDR Brendan McHarg RANR said "First off Ruth, as a Submariner currently serving on Thursday Island I particularly look forward to getting my copy of the Trade, so keep sending them. I note in the latest edition there's a good article on the J Class Boats, and that they stopped in Thursday Island on 29 June 1919. Now I don't know if it's related, and this is were you come in Norm, I've found a grave in the Thursday Island cemetery (photo's attached). His name is Stoker H. Haggis (definitely not a local name - sounds like a Brit to me ) he died on 13 Jan 1919 and his tomb stone reads "Submarine 7", his plot number in the cemetery is 1109. I've contacted the local council for information but there records only go back to 1940. They've put me in contact with the local Anglican Church to see what records they might hold. Though you might find this of interest, Norm let me know if you know anything about this guy." Can anyone help?

Richard Taylor of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Secretary of the Naval Historical Collectors & Research Association has ephemera that once belonged to the late submariner Max Winterburn (died 2006). Richard would like to make contact with anyone who can give me info about him and would be grateful for any help.

Two Irish nuns have just arrived in USA by boat and one says to the other, "I hear that the people of this country actually eat dogs." "Odd, her companion replies, but if we shall live in America, we might as well do as the Americans do."  As they sit, they hear a push cart vendor yell "Get your dogs here" and they both walk towards the hot dog cart. "Two dogs, please!," says one. The vendor is very pleased to oblige, wraps both hot dogs in foil and hands them over. Excited, the nuns hurry to a bench and begin to unwrap their 'dogs'. The mother superior is first to open hers. She begins to blush and then, staring at it for a moment, leans to the other nun and whispers cautiously." What part did you get"?

Garry Coombe has waded in on the question "who was Otway's host boat"? Otway was a strange boat full of even stranger people and I am not surprised at the confusion.  Rumour has it that the boat was supposed to be exercising off New Zealand but got lost and ended up in Hawaii for RIMPAC instead. Even the CO, Peter Horobin, looks confused (or panic stricken) in this photo taken on the casing with Milly in one of his more informal rigs.

"I would like to add my two bob’s worth to the debate raging around Otway’s host boat at Pearl Harbor in 1975, as I was on the boat at the time. USS Seadragon was intended to be our host boat but certain events occurred which saw her relinquish that role. She had been in dry dock undergoing an overhaul but was taken out of the dock some days prior to our arrival and was scheduled to be alongside the submarine base when we arrived. Unfortunately she was involved in a collision of some sort on the way across the harbour and was returned to the dry dock. USS Swordfish was then designated as our host boat but they were in the middle of a work up and could not spend too much time with is. The guys from USS Bonefish and USS Sargo, which were alongside at the time, filled the void and showed us a good time. Swordfish arrived back in Pearl before we sailed and hosted us on a run to Pearl City and the Primo brewery. They referred to the Seadragon as the Shoredragon as she spent so much time alongside.

The guys who organized a lot of the entertainment at the time were Charlie Eichel and Chief “Tiger” Lyons. (He could never understand why we called him Tiger – my name is Lyons, goddammit!) Tiger arranged for a beer machine to be moved from the Laundromat on the ground floor of the BEQ to the third floor where we were billeted. The beer delivery man constantly complained about having to lug crates of beer up three flights every day! He calmed down somewhat when Porky Porzuczek met him at the top of the stairs and gave him a tip, albeit in a variety of coins from all nations he had collected from the crew.

Shorty Carroll was the UC1 and entertained everyone with his heart rending version of Old Shep – three or four times each day!

Sandy Freeleagus wrote and illustrated a terrific article for the Navy News called The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Otway with regard to the visit and all associated dramas. I seem to recall we received a letter from the president of the Santa Fe railway, one Louis Cena, who wanted to know where we got the Santa Fe locomotive from!

From there we went to Subic Bay and into the floating dock. It was April 1975 and the Vietnamese government had just capitulated. As a consequence there were thousands of Vietnamese refugees housed at the base and there was no room for us. It was a terrible situation as we had to be billeted in a hotel out in Olongapo. It was hell.  Sorry to see you go Norm. All the best for the future."  

While looking in Otway's album I found this photo of Otway's rugby team, a fine body of men that look like they could have been world beaters.  I understand that the only win they had was against a team from Canterbury Ladies College in New Zealand, although it is understood that the girls claimed that their oranges were spiked. It is interesting to note that Billy Clayton seems to have more hair today than he did in this photo, has he been to Ashley Martins?  And who is that wiping his nose on his sleeve, Mum would be proud!

Bob Emery (for SAOC West) advises that the Submariners Association of Canada West on-line Newsletter is now available for your perusal ...

Boot Hatfield responded to the photos in last week's Log entry of Gary Ross and John Rankin. "Bungy, the pic published was taken in “Kangaroo Valley”, London, when we stopped there before departing for Aus. As you can see, both Rosco and Rankin had a belly full and we – like good mates – looked after them. It was assumed that they were good close buddies so we ‘married’ them. From memory amongst the others there was George Schmidt, a stoker called Dennis, Maaarrrnnney (don’t call me Mahoney), Pee Wee Petherick, Terry Jecklin and a few others. What a stop over that was."  I think I was there, Rip Maaarrrnnney insisted on eating raw mince for dinner if my memory hasn't failed me.

Be a Lert
The current fiasco with our terrorist roundup in Queensland is a reminder that there are those out there that want to do us harm and vigilance is critical. I have done some research to see the alert level around the world. The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved" Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the English and French that are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels and taking their cash with them.

Unfortunately, the Dutch have been too spaced-out on drugs to realise anything has changed, so their alert level remains at "mellow"

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Looking for a career?
Do you have a can-do attitude, effective verbal and written communication skills, a Team player and looking for a new challenge? ASC's training manager at Training Authority - Submarines, Peter Bullock, is looking for a people previous RAN training development experience and ex Navy technicians (MT/ET) interested in a training career to join his team. Good pay and conditions are offered for those that join this group of professionals. Why not contact Peter, these positions will not last.

Warning for NSW Motorists
The M5 and the M7 are now equipped with Point to Point speed devices. Once you enter the M7 for instance you pass the etag and it beeps. At the same time a camera takes a photo of your car and records the exact time. For those who have exited the M7 they would be aware that upon exit the etag system beeps again as you leave. At the same time another camera at that point takes a photo of the car and the time. Then the computer calculates the time it has taken you to travel between the two points and calculates you speed. If you have completed the clocked journey too fast you are given a speeding ticket. At the present time the speed limit is 100K.P.H. and you have a tolerance of 102 and no more. One fraction over that speed and you are issued with a fine automatically.

Remember that school zone camera's are not speed tolerant. Anything over, even 41, is a fine. This means people will be doing 38 to avoid any differences in their speedo readings.

This is going to be a very costly experience for some drivers. It is also going to mean vehicles will be travelling at 95 in order to ensure that no ticket is issued. What a shock some drivers are going to have when they have used this roadway for a week and get a weeks tickets BOTH WAYS. Of course your license will also be recalled for three months and you know the rest.

The Pacific Highway has a set and these are recognised as large steel frames over the lanes with a speed camera and some distance up the road is another large metal frame with a speed camera.
These new point to point systems are being put onto any expressway or highway where vehicles are not able to exit between those points.

With the new legislation, fighting a speed camera fines is almost impossible. You must prove the device is faulty and if you are not a technician working on them, you have no chance of beating the fine. Take the advice and if you ignore it remember this email when you pay all those fines.

Australia new customer for Boeing P-8A submarine hunter
Australia has given preliminary approval to become a partner in Boeing's program to turn commercial 737 jets into submarine-hunting naval patrol aircraft. If the Down Under government gives it's final approval, the Australians will spend $3.5 billion to buy 20 P-8A patrol aircraft to replace the country's aging AP-3C Orion patrol aircraft. The new deal is the first substantial spinoff of Boeing's contract to build P-8As for the U.S. Navy.

Russia downplays submarine blast
Russia says one of its nuclear submarines has been damaged by a surge in air pressure, downplaying earlier reports of an explosion.  A ballast tank aboard the submarine was damaged in what a navy official described as a minor incident, according to the Interfax news agency. The incident took place as the submarine was being repaired.  No casualties were reported and radiation levels at the White Sea port of Severodvinsk are said to be normal.

According to the Reuters news agency, the Russian navy usually shuts down reactors and removes nuclear fuel during repairs to its submarines.  The management of the dockyard considers the accident as minor.  An environmental official in Norway, near the port of Severodvinsk, told Reuters there was no sign of increased radioactivity as a result of the accident.

Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio earlier reported that an explosion had damaged more than 20sq m (215sq ft) of the submarine's hull.  Russia's ageing fleet of nuclear submarine has a history of deadly accidents.  In one of the worst recent incidents, the Kursk submarine sank to the floor of the Barents Sea after two explosions on board, killing all 188 crew.

The War Against Training - Save the Whales
The American National Resources Defense Council has declared war on the U.S. Navy's request for a new permit that will give it five more years to test the SURTASS-LFA sonar system. This campaign has been going on for over five years, since the NRDC got a court order forcing the Navy to accept restrictions on the use of the system. At risk is the ability of the United States to survive in war time, and could render the U.S. Navy more vulnerable to enemy submarines.

The NRDC has also expanded its campaign offensive to include attacks on medium-frequency active sonar like the SQS-53 used on cruisers and destroyers and the SQS-56 used on frigates. The Navy, in the five years of tests, has done research on the effects of SURTASS LFA.

Locating hostile submarines sooner is more important now because of how deadly modern torpedoes have become. These torpedoes (like the Mk 48 ADCAP) use magnetic fuses, which are designed to have the torpedo detonate underneath the ship, causing the ship to break in half, and sink. Older torpedoes, used in World War I and World War II, often used impact fuses since the magnetic fuses were unreliable. The impact detonations were much more survivable since they only punched holes into the side of a ship. Anti-ship missiles like the C-802 (with a range of 120 kilometers), Harpoon (140 kilometers), Yakhont (120 kilometers), or Exocet (the missile made famous in the Falklands, with a range of 65 kilometers) could also be launched before they are detected. Those missiles could ruin any surface ship's day.

Thus, the stakes are high for sailors and marines on U.S. naval vessels. New non-nuclear submarines like the Amur from Russia, the French Scorpene, and the German Type 212 are entering service. Unlike past non-nuclear submarines, which used diesel-electric plants, these submarines also come in variants that use fuel cells or other forms of air-independent propulsion. While diesel engines can be loud enough to permit passive sonar to detect them soon enough to deal with a hostile submarine before it can fire its torpedoes, fuel cells are much quieter, and that makes active sonar a necessity. The quieter a submarine is, the closer it can get to a ship using passive sonar. An active system negates this by bouncing sound waves off of the hull of a submarine. How quiet a submarine is does not matter when an active sonar has located it.

But the capabilities do not matter if the training is not there. Just having the tools in time of war is not enough. Sailors need to train with these tools. American training tends to be very extensive and intense. Often it is intended to be tougher than the actual combat. While the Navy makes every effort to keep whales and other marine mammals from being caught up in the exercises, it is impossible to avoid that sometimes. A lack of sufficient training can be deadly. In essence, the NRDC is playing Russian roulette with the lives of sailors and Marines – in the name of saving the whales.  This article by Harold C. Hutchison appeared in the Strategy Page website, always worth a visit.

Rolls-Royce signs £1-billion submarines contract for Royal Navy
Rolls-Royce has signed a £1 billion contract with the UK's ministry of defence to maintain nuclear power plant systems on board the Royal Navy submarines' current and future fleets for the next 10 years. Rolls-Royce has designed, manufactured and maintained nuclear propulsion systems for the Royal Navy for more than 40 years.  The contract covers technical support, management of spares, the provision of plant safety cases and product development capability, for the Royal Navy's current submarine fleet that comprises 13 Swiftsure, Trafalgar and Vanguard class along with the new Astute class submarines.

Rolls-Royce is part of a team providing support to four Royal Australian Navy amphibious and afloat support ships for seven years with options for a further five.

Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Develop New Submarine Technology
Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded funding by the U.S. Navy for research and development of advanced technologies for current and future submarines. Northrop Grumman's Newport News sector is the prime contractor for the work, which is valued at approximately $16.9 million. An additional $5 million funding option could also be awarded in the next 12 months.

The contract supports the assessment and development of future submarine technologies such as external torpedo launchers, electric ship systems to replace current hydraulic systems and other potential improvements. Design work may also be performed on the Large Scale Vehicle, Cutthroat (LSV2), a scaled-down submarine test vehicle used to evaluate new concepts.

House Vote Buoys EB's Prospects
Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman in Newport News, Va., are the only two companies that make military submarines, and they split the contract for Virginia-class nuclear subs evenly, each company building only half a submarine a year. The low workload has meant layoffs at Electric Boat in recent years, and officials there have bemoaned the difficulty of keeping highly specialized workers with an unsteady, cyclical work schedule.

The Navy has promised to increase its procurement contract to two subs a year in 2012, but recent congressional action may move that date closer. Inclusion of the $588 million in spending puts down some cash to start buying components for a second submarine, such as the nuclear propulsion system. Also, a report from the House defense appropriations subcommittee that wrote the bill calls for the Navy to settle a contract to start building two subs a year before 2012.

The report pointed out that the country's shipbuilders struggle because of the "low ship quantities that the Navy is ordering," so the subcommittee set aside money for more ships, including the $588 million to "provide the Navy an opportunity to accelerate the procurement of two submarines per year."

The report also praised the submarine builders, calling the Virginia-class program "one of the few Navy shipbuilding programs that appears to be on the right track."

Ottawa heads to Federal Court to appeal submarine decision
Ottawa is appealing a Federal Court decision that cleared the way for a judicial review of the federal government’s decision to award a $1.5-billion submarine maintenance contract to a West Coast firm. Halifax Shipyards who challenged the decision earlier this year to award the tender for the in-service support contract for Victoria-class submarines to Canadian Submarine Management Group of British Columbia.

But Halifax Shipyards and Fleetway Inc. — part of a rival consortium led by the British defence giant BAE (Canada) Systems Inc. — challenged the government’s decision by calling for a judicial review. The two Nova Scotia-based subcontractors stood to receive $750 million in subcontract work had their group won the bid.

£4bn carriers feature in UK Defence Budget
A major defence spending programme that will secure the Royal Navy's future was announced by the Government yesterday. Two large aircraft carriers that will become the "jewel in the crown" for the Navy will cost the taxpayer almost £4 billion. The 65,000-ton carriers, the Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales, will give Britain a highly potent platform far from home.

In a unique joint venture, four sections of the carriers will each be built in Portsmouth, Rosyth in Fife, Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and the Clyde before being floated on huge barges to be assembled.

The ships will carry 40 of the advanced F35 Joint Strike Fighters or 25 Chinook helicopters and will be crewed by 1,500 sailors.

The carriers will be built by rival companies, including BAE Systems and VT Group, forming business alliances. However, there was early controversy as the initial date on which the Queen Elizabeth was to come into service slipped by two years to 2014. The Prince of Wales will follow two years later.

The carriers will have a service life of 40 years. The announcement was made as the Government decided to bring forward the comprehensive spending review that determines the defence budget from 2008 to 2011. More money would have to be built on creating a dock big enough for the carriers.

It was also confirmed that £1 billion will continue to be spent on the replacement to the Trident nuclear deterrent. There had been a possibility of the Navy losing one of its three major bases following a review. But Faslane on Gare Loch off the Clyde, Plymouth and Portsmouth will remain, although the latter could suffer job cuts.  It also appeared that the Navy will receive all eight of the advanced anti-air Type 45 destroyers that will be vital in protecting the carriers, defence sources said.

Israel Navy submarine training contract awarded
Acorn Factor Inc. will supply a tactical training system for Dolphin submarine crews. The system is for the three Dolphin submarines that Germany built for the Israel Navy in the late 1990s. The training system will simulate the submarines’ sonar and weapons systems in tactical conditions resembling those found at sea. The company’s Naval Solutions Division has been working with the Israel Navy for many years.

Slops Van shutting down soon for relocation - order now

Visit the Slops Van  - easier to sellem than movem

Most popular polar fleece fabric in a most popular colour combination. A great buy at $35 plus postage

The Long Line Jacket has a micro fibre outer, micro fleece lining, creating a perfect warm wind block! Ideal for these cold winter days.   $65 pp.

Rug up for winter now.  All items sold with or without the Australian Submarines logo. Visit the Slops Van now Can be ordered with the logo of your choice, just ask for details.

New Polo shirt range, old price $27.50   Cool Dri shirts embroidered with the Submarines Australia logo. Blue/white or white/blue panels or other colours by request (see colour range).

New Dole Test
I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to earn that pay cheque, as I work on a mine site or a Kalgoorlie construction project, I am required to pass a random urine test, with which I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Shouldn't one have to pass
a urine test to get a welfare cheque because I have to pass one to earn it for them??

Please understand - I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet. I do on the other hand have a problem with helping someone sit on their arse drinking piss & smoking dope. Could you imagine how much money the government would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance cheque????? 

I agree with the sentiments expressed by the writer of the above, but can you imagine the uproar from the civil libertarians for infringing civil rights!!! 

SUBCON 2007 Photos
There were lots of photos and video taken during the course of the three days. To make it convenient for everyone, the SA Branch has placed all the photos taken at the Dinner Dance by the professional photographer onto a DVD as .jpg files. They have also produced a DVD slide show which covers all events over the week-end. This can be played on any DVD player and goes for about 25 minutes.

These two DVD are presented in a souvenir case and will be posted any where in Australia. The cost is $15.00 which also covers postage and handling.

If you should want a souvenir copy of these DVDs, please send a cheque or money order made payable to the Sub Association, SA Branch and post it to  Bill Hollas, 11 Powell Drive, Gawler East, South Australia, 5118

Overdue SAA Annual Subscriptions
Our National Secretary is trying to follow up on annual subscriptions that have not been paid although they were due in April. Because the amount is only small it is easy to overlook, so if you are overdue (notices have been sent by mail and email) we ask if you could please arrange payment.

If you believe that you are current or do not intend maintaining your membership (which would be a disappointment, it is important that we grow so that submariners voice is heard by associations such as ours) could you please advise Peter so that the records can be amended.

A few payments were made by direct debit earlier this year but no reference given so we do not know who made these payments, if you are on this list and have paid by EFT let me know the details (date and amount) please.

Subscription rates continue to remain at $10 per year or $40 per five years, a second option of 25 years for $175 is also available, and it would be appreciated if you will consider one of the latter two options to help keep administration requirements to a minimum. The Association also accepts Direct Debit, please ask for details.

For those using snail mail your cheque/money order should be made payable to the Association and forwarded to: John Rana, 5 Mirror Cove Waikiki WA 6169

Submarine Community Ball - tickets selling now

• Where: Burswood Grand Ball Room, Perth

• When: 26 October, 1900- 0001

• Dress: Formal (Mess Dress or Dinner Suit)

• Ticketing: $95, available for purchase from 1 July (full details to follow). Ticket prices include a three course meal and five hours of drinks 

The small print:

• Priority seating to be allocated to serving submariners and support staff. Seating allocated once payment has been received - strictly no IOU.

• Groups to be arranged prior to booking, maximum 10 people per table.

• Submariners that want to be booked in the SAA group are to contact Norm Williams.

• 10% discount for accommodation off best price at time of booking, available at Burswood Intercontinental Hotel and the Burswood Holiday Inn. Bookings to be made on an individual basis direct to the hotel.

Ruth Carter
Corporate Communications Officer, Submarine Force Element Group
Telephone: (08) 9553 3064 Mobile: 0401 999 943 E-mail: ruth.carter@defence.gov.au

  Come on Boof, lets go and replace the shockies in the car........

Sunday, 22^nd JUly 2007