Upon retirement of the current Fremantle Class Patrol Boat, HMAS Wollongong, plans are being drawn up to scuttle her off the coast of Wollongong (the city I live in which is 95Km South of Sydney).
HMAS Wollongong (206) entering Wollongong Harbour on Australia day 2005
Wollongong was the third ship of the class built by NQEA of Cairns in Queensland, She is the second ship to bare the name with the first being a Bathurst Class Mine Sweeper of WWII. The current Wollongong will be the eight ship of the class to decommission with the name carring over to the new Armidale class Patrol Boats of which HMAS Wollongong will be the tenth in the class.
The Crest of HMAS Wollongong, battle honours include;”Indian Ocean 1942-45″, “Mediteranean 1943”, “Sicily 1943”, “Pacific 1942-45” and “Okinawa 1945”.
She is to become the latest in a series of former naval vessels that have been or will be sunk as dive wrecks. But given the size of her one is forced to ask if this is possible. At only 42m in length and after having served on two of the class, I can testify that this class as a dive wreck does pose many hazards especially in the form of the tight spaces you can move around, they were hard enough on the top of the ocean let alone underneath it. But the benefits to the local ecconomy can not be denied, those cities that currently host dive wrecks of former naval ships both here and over seas, have all reported a substantial growth in money coming in thus improving local living.
HMAS Armidale, this is how the new HMAS Wollongong will look upon entering the fleet
By: Ja Worsley - 19th February 2006 at 11:54
It is of interest mate and thanks for posting it, I did some of my training on the old A boat “Buccaneer” (ACPB 100), She was for so long tied up along side at HMAS Cerberus as a rusting hulk used only for SAS (Survival at sea) training.
As a matter of interest, we were also shown many episodes of the ABC series “Patrol Boat” which featured predominantly around the life aboard the A boats.
By: knocka - 19th February 2006 at 09:59
40 years of RAN Patrol Boats
Thought this might be of interest. The Attack class sure were midgets.
By: Ja Worsley - 19th February 2006 at 00:46
Are you an ex-pusser mate?
Sounds like you and I could spin a few warries over the rations 😉
I was on Geraldton and Gawler a couple of times for various reasons myself
By: Unicorn - 19th February 2006 at 00:33
While its a shame to see Wollongong go, a dive wreck is a better fate than many ex-warships see.
I served on here in a strictly interesting capacity 🙂 and have built a radio controlled 1/72 model of her which gets several outings a year.
I will probably end up building the next Wollongong I suppose, but don’t have the same attachment now I am out.
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February 18, 2006 at 2:42 am