HMAS Voyager Disaster, 10 Feb 1964

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Casualties 1.2 Survivors 2 Sources

Biography

On the night of Monday 10 February 1964, HMAS Melbourne (II) was engaged in night flying exercises off the New South Wales coast. Voyager (II)’s role was that of plane guard, involving the rescue, if necessary, of aircrew personnel from the sea. Since both ships had just completed refits, this was the first time they had been involved in close quarters maneuvering for almost six months. Both the carrier and destroyer were ‘darkened’ with only navigational/operational lighting in use.

At approximately 20:56, some twenty miles south east of Jervis Bay, the two ships were in collision. Melbourne (II) struck Voyager (II) at the aft end of her bridge, heeling her over to an angle of about 50 degrees. A flash appeared to come from Voyager (II)’s ‘A’ Boiler, and she emitted high pressure steam and black smoke. Debris, including the revolution table from Voyager (II)’s bridge, and a pair of binoculars, was thrown onto Melbourne (II)’s flight deck.

The impact pushed Voyager (II) bodily through the water for a few seconds, and then she broke in two. Her forward section passed down Melbourne (II)’s port side, and the stern section down the starboard side. The forward section sank soon afterwards and the after section about three hours later. The disaster resulted in the loss of 82 lives (14 officers, including the Commanding Officer, 67 sailors and one civilian dockyard employee). There were 232 survivors. Melbourne (II) was damaged but sustained no casualties.

The wreck of HMAS Voyager (II) lies some 600 fathoms deep, twenty nautical miles off Cape Perpendicular on a bearing of 120 degrees.^[1]

Casualties

Categories to add to profiles of casualties when they are created
[[Category:HMAS Voyager Disaster, 10 Feb 1964]]
[[Category:Died in Military Service, Australia]]
[[Category:HMAS Voyager (1957)]]
[[Category:Australia, Needs Profiles Created]] *only if required

Stickers to add to profiles of casualties when they are created
{{Roll of Honor|category= Died in Military Service, Australia|image= Military_Badges_and_Insignia-1.jpg |description=killed when his ship, HMAS Voyager, went down|war=}}
{{Veteran Recognition|badge-image = Military_Badges_and_Insignia-1.png|nationality =Royal Australian|branch =Navy|start-year =|end-year =1964|text =}}

List of Casualties ^[1]

Noel John Ashwell (1930-1964), Leading Mechanical Engineer
Errol Stanford Beavis (1928-1964), SBLT, RAN
Peter Wayne Bermingham (1946-1964), Ordinary SMN (UC)
Max Anthony Brokate (1941-1964), Ordinary SMN (Writer)
Edwin Arthur Brooks (1922-1964), LEUT, RN
BROWN, NJ, AB
Warren Jackson Butts (1944-1964), Cook
Peter Robert Carr (1941-1964), AB
Bruce Lees Carrington (1930-1964), LCDR, RAN
Barry Edmund Castle (1943-1964), Ordinary SMN (CO)
Peter Leo Clarke (1943-1964), Electrical Mechanic
John David Clayton (1946-1964), Ordinary SMN (CO)
Gerrard Frederick Cobban (1940-1964), Stores Assistant (V)
William Joseph Condon (1932-1964), Electrical Mechanic
Harry Dean Cook (1935-1964), LEUT, RAN
Kevin Vincent Cullen (1930-1964), Communications Yeoman
John Henry Curgenven (1944-1964), Engineering Mechanic
John Sydney Davies (1941-1964), ASLT, RAN
Kevin John Davis (1941-1964), Steward
John Charles Gordon Deans (1944-1964), Electrical Mechanic
Robin Adrian Denham (1936-1964), Radio Operator
Nicolaas Gerrit Diepenbroek (1945-1964), Engineering Mechanic
James Laidley Dowling (1941-1964), LEUT, RAN
EARL, JN, Assistant Steward
FENWICK, J McG, Leading Electrical Mechanic
FITZALLEN, GD, Ordinary SMN (CO)
FLEMING, LB, Ordinary SMN (ME)
GARRETT, LJ, Engineering Mechanic
GLENNIE, NC, AB
GUY, JB, AB Electrician
HALE, S, AB
HARCLA, EK, PO
HARRIS, PL, Tactical Operator
HENDY, RW, Ordinary SMN (Tactical Operator)
KEDDIE, KS, Engineering Mechanic
KELLY, GJ, Ordinary SMN (ME)
KINGSTON, NE, Leading Steward
LAMBERT, UJ, AB
LEESON, LJ, Engineroom Artificer
LEGG, CG, Leading Mechanical Engineer
LEHMAN, LC, Ordinary SMN (Cook)
LINDSEY, BC, Midshipman, RAN
MACARTNEY, DR, PO Engineering Mechanic
Donald Eric MacFarlane (1940-1964), Leading Radio Operator
MACGREGOR, IAG, LCDR, RAN
Kerry Francis Marien AM (1944-1964), Midshipman
MAUNDER, RW, MIDN, RAN
MCDONALD, PE, Engineering Mechanic
McLEAN, GE, AB
MILBOURNE, PD, Assistant Cook (O)
MORGAN, FJ, MIDN, RAN
MULLER, KL, Ordinary SMN (TO)
NUSS, GC, Ordnance Artificer
O'LEARY, EJ, Ordinary SMN (ME)
OWEN, ER, Ordinary SMN (Radio Operator)
PARKER, Mr HS, Technical Assistant, Williamstown Dockyard
PARKER, RW, AB
PERRETT, GE, Engineering Mechanic
PRICE, DHM, LEUT, RN
REID, DW, Ordnance Artificer
[[Rogers-39986|Jonathan 'Buck' Rogers GC DSM (1920-1964), Chief Petty Officer
SCHMIDT, BM, Leading Airman
SCOTT, BA, Ordinary SMN (Writer)
SHARKEY, F, LS
SMYE, WJ, Leading Cook
SOLOMON, AJ, AB
SPARROWHAWK, JE, LS
Duncan Herbert Stevens (1921-1964), Captain
STOCKER, PG, AB
SYARANAMUAL, AVW, Ordinary SMN (EM)
TAIT, KC, Leading Cook
TAPP, EW, CMDR, RAN
TAYLOR, FT, AB
TAYLOR, RA, Engineering Mechanic
TEAPE, AW, Leading Tactical Operator
THOMPSON, AW, Assistant Steward
TRAUTMAN, JB, Ordinary SMN (Radio Operator)
VINCENT, LD, CPO Cook
WALKER, GS, Radio Electrical Mechanic
WEST, RA, Ordinary SMN (CO)
WILLIAMS, J, AB
WOODWARD, REW, Ordinary SMN (ME)

Survivors

Categories to add to profiles of casualties when they are created
[[Category:HMAS Voyager Disaster, 10 Feb 1964]]
[[Category:HMAS Voyager (1957)]]
[[Category:Australia, Needs Profiles Created]] *only if required

Stickers to add to profiles of casualties when they are created
{{Veteran Recognition|badge-image = Military_Badges_and_Insignia-1.png|nationality =Royal Australian|branch =Navy|start-year =|end-year =|text =}}

List of Survivors

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Royal Australian Navy 2022, HMAS Voyager (II), Navy.gov.au, viewed 3 April 2022, <https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-voyager-ii#VoyagerCollisionWithMelbourne>.