Ikara

By: Ja Worsley – 11th September 2004 at 05:44  – Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Jonesy: Yes indeed she was a tough little ship as were all of that class! I remember the RAAF trying to sink our old D.E. HMAS Swan, it took so much to sink her, something like four Harpoons and several unguided bombs, they even straffed it.

Ex-HMAS Swan DE 50 was sunk as a dive wreck. Are you thinking of ex-HMAS Derwent DE 49, used by DSTO for testing before being scuttled? Ex-HMAS Torrens DE 53 was sunk by HMAS Farncomb using a Mk48 torpedo, but no River Class Destroyer Escorts were sunk as targets by the RAAF?!?

https://swandive.com.au/

https://youtu.be/LV8NhBpFNGo

https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2005/09/01/1448475.htm

I was on the Euryalus before she was fitted with Ikaras; joined her in Feb 1970 as killick of outside machinery (LMEM) and drafted off in May 1972 to Victory barracks and discharge. Had some really good times on this ship; excellent seakeeper and a great bunch of oppoes, many of whom I’m still in touch with. Anyone served on her, get in touch and I’ll lash you up to the Euryalus Association website address – or you can google it yourselves. JB, Chairman.

Thanks guys for keeping this one alive, I still haven’t seen the Brazilian systems in use but with the Internet expanding every day I guess it’s only a mater of time before something pops up!

Ikara equipped ship pics can be found at http://www.defenceimagedatabase.mod.uk/fotoweb/

Nice website,

This site http://www.hmsbristol.plus.com/frameindex.htm features a Ikara firing in its photo gallery.

Ikara Resources

I know it is an old thread but if anyone is interested still I am putting together a site on the Ikara here:

Ikara Leanders

Still early days yet so apologies for the rough and ready feel. Have tracked down a missile to a small museum in Bristol and will be visiting soon armed with camera, would appreciate any other info too. Like what happened to the training launcher at HMS Collingwood?

Did the podded Ikara concept ever get off the drawing board?

Oh and using the Ikara Tracker as a TV antenna, yes it was done and word spread to the other ships, unfortunatly it got to the wrong ears also and a nasty threat was made causing hasty disconnecting. The buzz at the time was the jealous after messes ratted on the for’ad messes as the cable could not be run all the way aft.

Seacat directors were also used but not as succesfully since people tended to notice them being pointed.

I think for tales of Ikara though the abortive firing on Naiad in the Carribean Firing Range has to be the best. Mortified that the shoot could not go ahead the Captian took his VIP guests down to the Assembly Room to witness a missile recovery drill once the missile batteries had cooled enough.

The lovely white missile rolled off the launcher and trundled happilly into the assembly room crowded with American and British Brass. Only prior to loading it the handling crew had painted it with comments about the captain, the Navy, our Yank guests and their sex lives, suitably illustrated.

He did not laugh!

Quote:

“Two Ikara Leanders: HMS Galatea and HMS Euryalus

An amusing postscript to these images one of the other Ikara boats, HMS Leander, after decomissioning was sunk as a target in Op Sharp Spear in ’89. She took a Sea Dart missile and no less than 3 MM38 Exocets without going down. Eventually a 1000lb bomb had to be put into her to finish the job. Pretty tough for a little ship!.

Picture credits go to the excellent www.leanders.plus.com site”

well, if a ship isn’t pierced under the waterline, it’s difficult to sink, not? And a sea dart isn’t the rigt stuff to do this.

Kurmitz: That’s cool mate, actually I’ve been just about everywhere so it’s no wonder you thought I was a pom.

Jonesy: Yes indeed she was a tough little ship as were all of that class! I remember the RAAF trying to sink our old D.E. HMAS Swan, it took so much to sink her, something like four Harpoons and several unguided bombs, they even straffed it.

Glenn: Mate what you have there is a pic of the Ikara launcher on board HMNZS Southland. The Kiwi’s didn’t have them for long, HMS Dido being transfered to them in July 83 and she was retired 10 or so years later (just before they got their first Anzac.
HMNZS Southland

Ikara tub, not sure if it is the Leandner class though.

Kurmitz,

I work, from time to time, with a guy who was on Euryalus in that kind of timeframe. Ask your brother if he knows an Ikara tech called Pete Carpenter. He was infamous, for a short time at least, for jury-rigging a TV aerial in the Ikara FC radome. Well thats what he claims anyway!.

Sorry Ja, I thought you were a brit.
A useless bit of information…. my brother served on HMS Euryalas in the late 70’s and 80’s

Two Ikara Leanders: HMS Galatea and HMS Euryalus

An amusing postscript to these images one of the other Ikara boats, HMS Leander, after decomissioning was sunk as a target in Op Sharp Spear in ’89. She took a Sea Dart missile and no less than 3 MM38 Exocets without going down. Eventually a 1000lb bomb had to be put into her to finish the job. Pretty tough for a little ship!.

Picture credits go to the excellent www.leanders.plus.com site

I know about the Aussie ships, I served on them. I’m more interested in the Brazilian and British ships,

Thanks though guys, it’s not an easy system to come by!

HMAS Hobart, along with sisters ships HMAS Perth and Brisbane were all fitted with Ikara

Brazilian Navy website photos http://www.mar.mil.br/Marinha_do_Brasil/menu_fotos.htm

Niteroi class

http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/ikara.htm