The PCF-12 reached the scene as Point Dume was pulling the two badly wounded survivors aboard. The events of that night have doubtless raised much discussion it was the RANs costliest day of the entire war and Australian navy history books mention unusual atmospheric conditions over the DMZ, insect swarms or bird flocks as possible sources of the sightings, but were they unidentified flying objects? Share this page. [4] On 15 October, Hobart departed from Sydney with HMASSupply for a five-week tour of Australian and New Zealand ports. Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 2002, Australian historic shipwrecks with a protected zone. Hobart served out three tours of duty in Vietnam, however it seems after 1968 she had an extra crewman. Hyder. Amid the confusion, the Australian destroyer HMAS Hobart sat ready to engage the enemy. During the 1968 tour, the destroyer was attacked by a United States Air Force aircraft. The lights turned seaward and came under fire from various ships in the area. HMAS Brisbane (D 41) was one of three Perth class guided missile destroyers to serve in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Rockingham Naval Memorial Park, Commemorative plaque for HMAS Hobart (D 39) (Vietnam War), March 2020.jpg 4.469 3.348; 7,93 MB Rockingham Naval Memorial Park, Commemorative plaque for HMAS Hobart (D 39), March 2020.jpg 4.608 3.456; 5,22 MB The Royal Australian Navys role in the Vietnam War is sometimes overlooked by comparison with the Armys larger numerical involvement. HMAS 'Hobart' was one of several Australian destroyers that operated on the gunline in the South China Sea with the US 7th Fleet. Navy ship HMAS Hobart hit during Vietnam UFO encounter? The Perth served alongside elements of the United States Seventh Fleet during the Vietnam War and received commendations for her service.. HMAS Hobart II (DDG-39) was a Charles F Adams class guided missile destroyer that displaced 4526 tons (full load) on a 133 x 14 x 4.6 metres (437 x 47 x 15 feet) hull. are left or (electrical effect, heat) are felt, AUFORN Special Report, Issue 34, April 2003. Guy GRIFFITHS R.A.N. As dawn broke, we could only see the shoreline and the Point Dume., Steffes concluded: We continued to monitor and track these lights for several weeks after this up until September I know what the official story is, but this is mine as true and complete as I can remember.. After the sightings, Allied Command, fearing another Tet Offensive-style build-up, rushed more anti-aircraft guns to the border, and placed Phantom fighter-bombers at Danang Air Base on standby, and it also asked available Allied warships to patrol the DMZ coast. [1] Personnel awards included a Distinguished Service Order, a British Empire Medal, a Mention in Despatches and 25 Naval Board commendations. HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), acted as bait to draw the fire of North Vietnamese batteries near Cap Lay, Vietnam. Access to Deck Logs of 1956-1970 (via Lloyd Balch & Frank Olderr. citrus county sheriff jobs near hamburg; hmas hobart vietnam 1968 crew list. Built in the United States of America to a slight variant of the United States Navy (USN) Charles F. Adams class, she was commissioned into the RAN in 1965. Modified LEANDER-Class cruiser ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport on 1st March 1933 and laid down on 15 August that year for the Royal Navy. This series comprises the Reports of Proceeding (ROPS) created by the units of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from the Second World War until the 1970s. Jim Steffes Vietnam Photo Album website found at http://www.bcres.com/river/steffes.htm Australian ambassador to the United Nations, Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War, Australian military commitment to the conflict, Non-U.S. recipients of U.S. gallantry awards, "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours", "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours", "Disaster Relief Cyclone Tracy and Tasman Bridge", "Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database: View Shipwreck - Hobart", Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, "AWD, Hobart, MFU or DDGH What's in a name? Officially, the Hobart Incident occurred during a night operation against enemy helicopters, But officially, we called UFOs enemy helicopters. The evidence is very intriguing, and to find out why lets go to the beginning. The IFF (Identification Friend of Foe) system indicated it was friendly and the ship was attempting to establish further identity when a Sparrow air-to-air missile struck her amidships on the starboard (right) side. Left: HMAS Hobart (II)s tactical operators and anti-aircraft control crews closed up at action stations on the upper deck. 11. [57] Although Hobart was asked to rotate Sea Dragon duties on 2 August to relieve a destroyer experiencing gunnery faults, nine days early, the destroyer's captain refused, as he wanted more time to prepare the ship after the repairs, particularly as the air warning radars were yet to become operational, and the gun mounts were experiencing minor problems. Now having said that, the captain of one of the American ships told me later at Subic Bay that he thought there were helicopters there, but the fact is he didnt report, and if he believed there was a helicopter it was his duty to report it at the time, but there was no report.. HMAS Hobart was one of three Perth lass DDG guided missile armed destroyers purchased from the USA in the mid-1960s to better equip the RAN. [4] While in her namesake city, Hobart was visited by Charles, Prince of Wales; the first time the royal had boarded an Australian warship. Navy in Vietnam: A record of the Royal Australian Navy in the Vietnam War 1965-1973 by Denis Fairfax (Australian Government Publishing Service 1980) pps.59-60, 5. All furniture and equipment obstructing access or not secured was removed. [40] The ships were unsuccessfully shelled by coastal artillery on 22 and 23 April, then spent the next three days attempting to attract attention from shore batteries so they could be bombed by aircraft. [4] In June 1974, the destroyer was involved in the Exercise Kangaroo One. HMAS Hobart. [66] Hobart resumed gunline operations on 6 June; these continued until 28 June, when she sailed to Subic for rebarrelling. The Sinking of PCF-19 as seen from PCF-12 by Jim Steffes, ENC, USN Retired, found at www.gunplot.net/vietnam/hobartvietnamandpcf19.html, 11. HMAS HOBART (D39) was scuttled in Yankalilla Bay, South Australia. A Swift Boat is sunk by two rockets from an unidentified aircraft near the border between North and South Vietnam. UNK the , . Jim Steffes Vietnam Photo Album website found at http://www.bcres.com/river/steffes.htm, 12. The Sinking of PCF-19 as seen from PCF-12 by Jim Steffes, ENC, USN Retired, found at www.gunplot.net/vietnam/hobartvietnamandpcf19.html [63] On 21 April, the ship moved north to near the DMZ. HMAS Vendetta was the only Australian-built warship to serve in Vietnam and was the first Australian Daring Class destroyer to see active service. 2. The best available source for crew details is the ships' ledgers. Paranormal Postscript: "The following morning [21 October] at 06:05 HMAS Australia (II) was hit by a Japanese suicide aircraft. 8. 2nd Deployment: 30th September 1968 30th March 1969. HMAS Hobart 2nd Deployment: 22 March 1968 - 11 October 1968. [4] In 1989, the destroyer's Ikara launchers were removed during a refit. HMAS HOBART - attacked by US Air Force June 1968 Vietnam Hobart on Station Vietnam 1968 Hobart returned to 'The Gunline' on 20th May 1968 for her 2nd Deployment. [4] The ship returned to Hawaii for RIMPAC 94, and was assigned command of one of the exercise task groups. return to Contents List. Jon Wyatt is a Melbourne freelance writer and editor. Categories: new smyrna beach police active calls. [39] Five days later, she began Sea Dragon operations with USSCollett. At approximately 0030 hours the PCF-12 received a flash traffic that PCF-19, the first friendly fire target, had disappeared in a flash of light. Service aboard HMAS Australia in World War 2. [1] Based on the United States Navy's Charles F. Adams class, Hobart had a displacement of 3,370 tons at standard load, and 4,618 tons at full load, a length of 440feet 3inches (134.19m) overall and 420 feet (130m) between perpendiculars, a beam of 47feet 1inch (14.35m), and a maximum draught of 15feet 3inches (4.65m). 3. HMAS Hobart & HMAS Perth 'handing over' in Subic Bay, Philippines - 1968 Gunline Deployment. Then on 17 June 1968, Hobart II was in the vicinity of Tiger Island off Vietnam when she detected an aircraft approaching her from the vicinity of Cap Lay. [1], As a guided missile destroyer, Hobart's main armament consisted of a Mark 13 missile launcher firing Tartar missiles and two Ikara anti-submarine missile launchers. Straight into heavy action in 1 Corps around the Da Nang vicinity saw her heading for Subic in early June for a barrel replacement for her two 5" Guns. Left-profile portrait of a crew member on HMAS 'Hobart', off the North Vietnam coast. Oordinary Seaman Quartermaster Gunner Raymond John Butterworth RAN, R66558, off Cap Lay, Vietnam, 17 June 1968 Chief Electrican Weapons Radio Raymond Henry Hunt RAN, R54257, off Cap Lay, Vietnam, 17 June 1968 HMAS Vendetta. [33] On 23 June, Hobart rotated to Sea Dragon. General George S Brown, USAF Chief of Staff, Department of Defense transcript of press conference in Illinois, 16 October, 1973, found at: http://gamegene.com/ufo.htm, 7. 3rd Deployment: 28th September 1970 29th March 1971. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. Officially, the Hobart 'Incident' occurred during a night operation against 'enemy helicopters' - but was it in reality a UFO story? [36] On 29 July, a fire aboard the carrier necessitated the carrier's removal from the operational area; Hobart was one of the ships assigned to escort and assist with casualties. [22] The deployment of Hobart in March 1967 began a pattern of six-month deployments for RAN destroyers, with a constant RAN presence with the Seventh Fleet. Then, when he reached the flag deck and entered the Signalmans Shelter, he sensed someone in there with me and could hear them breathing as though they had been running or working hard. The Officers below joined HMAS Hobart midway through its 1st Deployment then transferred to relieving ship Perth for this deployment. [76] From August until December, the ship, accompanied by Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney, visited ports in Indonesia and South-east Asia. [32], After delays caused by monsoonal conditions, the ship returned to the gunline on 18 June. why did they fly around for hours with their lights on, why werent they shot down, and why was no helo wreckage ever retrieved? Note: Number in brackets refers to the year when the vessel was lost or deliberately sunk. 15th September 1969 -11th April 1970. [50][51] At 03:30, Edson reported coming under fire, and Hobart's captain ordered the three destroyers to take up anti-aircraft formation. Built in the United States of America to a slight variant of the United States Navy (USN) Charles F. Adams class, she was commissioned into the RAN in 1965. If you were a member of either ship at this time please contact the Nominal Rolls team, with your Service number and full name, at nominal.rolls@dva.gov.au or telephone 1300 780 133 (local call charge). 5 x 21 inch torpedo tubes (quintuple mount) (removed in late 1960) Li-mbo triple barrelled anti-submarine mortar. It was always reported in official messages as enemy helicopters. [4] The destroyer underwent refit in 1984. Use this login for Shop items, and image, film, sound reproductions, Crew members, HMAS 'Hobart'; resupply at sea in demilitarised zone off the coast of Vietnam. June 1968 Vietnam. HMAS Hobart II. General George S Brown (1918-1978) was commander of the 7th US Air Force and deputy commander for Air Operations, Military Assistance Command Vietnam from 1968 to 1970 and so was in command of the Phantoms involved in the snafu. HMAS HOBART HIT DURING VIETNAM UFO ENCOUNTER? Photographed by PH3 D.R. The guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth (D38) underway, on 27 November 1991. of and in " a to was is ) ( for as on by he with 's that at from his it an were are which this also be has or : had first one their its new after but who not they have Thanks to Sea Power Centre Australia. As he and the crew peered into the darkness, the moon sometimes behind clouds, we spotted two aircraft hovering on our port and starboard beams. Although the aircraft was evaluated as friendly it continued to close and fired a missile that struck Hobart amidships on her starboard side. hmas hobart vietnam 1968 crew list; hmas hobart vietnam 1968 crew list. Hobart served out three tours of duty in Vietnam, however it seems after 1968 she had an extra crewman. [76], Hobart paid off on 12 May 2000. HMAS Hobart (D 39) was a Perth class guided missile destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Our guns opened up and I ran back to my position as the loader on the after gun. [40] Hobart's participation in Sea Dragon ended in late April, and after maintenance in Hong Kong and Taiwan from 1 to 20 May, resumed gunline duties. Hobart was one of three Perth-class guided missile destroyers built for the RAN. George Filer, today Director of the Mutual UFO Network Eastern, USA, served as a USAF intelligence officer under General Brown during the Vietnam conflict, and he has also said, In 1968, I briefed General Brown the USAF Chief of Staff most mornings on the intelligence situation in Vietnam a lot of times wed get UFO reports over the DMZ. HMAS Derwent - DE-49 (1964) Swift and Deadly: Sources differ on whether this is her nickname, or motto. The Incident On the night of June 16, 1968, unidentified . Crew List HMAS Brisbane 1st & 2nd Deployments Crew List HMAS Vendetta 1 Deployment Crew Lists R.A.N Fleet Air Arm Vietnam R.A.N. 77. 5. Vendettas cruise book mentions the look of joy on the faces of the crew of Brisbane (II) as we steamed alongside in Subic Bay to relieve them. Reports of Proceedings (ROPs) are the official record of activities of the Royal Australian Navy's commands, vessels, shore establishments, administrative authorities and installations.