In Brief

Early in March, 1962, HMAS QUIBERON proceeded to sea on completion of refit and began the laborious and none-to-popular task of work-ups. Our endevours in this necessary field took place in the waters stretching from Jervis Bay to Broken Bay and our consorts were HMA Ships VAMPIRE, QUICKMATCH, ANZAC and HM Submarine TABARD. The month of April came and passed and at last the ship acquired the characteristics of an effective and efficient unit of the Fleet.

Heeling Trials

In company with HMAS QUICKMATCH the ship sailed for Northern waters bordering the "Sunshine State" and in the latter stages of May and in early June visited Brisbane, Mackay and Townsville. The following is an extract from the Mackay's official records:
"Port of Mackay, June 1962. HMAS "Quickmatch" and "Quiberon" made goodwill visit to Port June 1st to 4th." The record further suggested that the port be 'improved' to attract more visits from HMA Ships.
Other areas of the Barrier Reef were given the privilege of QUIBERON'S visit during this period, Heron Is., Kepple Is., Middle Is. in the Percy Group, Brampton Is. in the Cumberland Group, Lindeman Is., Dent Is., South Molle Is., Lizard Is. (before it was inhabited) and Cid Harbour in the Whitsunday Group.

On June 16th, the ship rendezvoused with HMA Ships MELBOURNE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER and SWAN in Cleveland Bay and then sailed in company to Sydney where a self-maintenance and leave period commenced on 21st June. Mid July found us at sea once more for a hurried shakedown cruise to Jervis bay and on 23rd of that month we sailed to Baie des Dames, Ducon in Noumea in company with HMAS VENDETTA. Due to a 'landing authorisation' hitch, the crew were kept ship-bound, the ships refuled and returned to Sydney with the object of carrying out Anti-submarine exercises with HM Submarines TABARD and TAPIR. On this return journey the ships struck 'extremely heavy weather' (actually steaming through the eye of a cyclone) off the Queensland coast. The impending exercise was abandoned.

(The cyclone was so severe that, on at least one occasion, the Engineer was so concerned he visited the Bridge to speak to the Captain about the situation personally. He stated that, in his opinion, if we were to continue in this state we could pop the ships plating rivets. While we had 7 knots rung on, we were actually moving astern 1 knot. The seas were as tall as skyscrapers and dwarfed the ships.
The ship would topple off the top of an enormous wave, slide down the back of it then bury the bow into the valley of the following wave before the violent shudder would begin as the ship tried to alter vertical direction and climb back up the newly encountered wave. At one point, HMAS Vendetta could clearly be seen with bow hanging over one side of the wave crest and the screws spinning freely on the other before she too plunged down to the windward side. We sustained considerable damage to our life saving equipment, the wooden work boats were smashed beyond repair, the Captains Barge was holed beyond use, many life-rafts were ripped from their moorings and flung to the sea, the Land Rover carried on the Quarterdeck was lost overboard, the divers locker - a steel structure on the upper deck - was ripped open and disgorged of its contents, the main hawser reel was ripped from the superstructure for'ard of the bridge. The ship looked a mess, though most of the damage was superficial. It was a frightening experience, especially to me as a young sailor on the Bridge, where the storm intensity was notably more vivid.)

With HMA Ships MELBOURNE, VENDETTA and ANZAC in company, we sailed on 7th August for Hervey Bay, Qld. and extensive exercises. The ensuing month found us more often than not (and much to the delight of the Ship's Company) in Brisbane refueling or carrying out a self-maintenance period. Admiral's Inspection was completed on Friday, 24th August in Hervey Bay and despite her years, QUIBERON achieved a highly credible result.

Exercise TUCKERBOX TWO was the focal point of all activity during the period 6th - 17th September and with HMA Ships MELBOURNE, VENDETTA, VAMPIRE, QUEENBOROUGH and ANZAC, HM Ships TIGER, CAPRICE CASSANDRA and LOCK KILLISPORT and RFA's WAVE MASTER, WAVE RULER and FORT DUNVEGAN we steamed 3,600 miles pitting our wits against HM Submarines TABARD, TAPIR and AMBUSH in an area stretching from the Coral Sea to Sydney. Unfortunately the proposed Feet Entry into Sydney Harbour had to be canceled because of unfavourable weather.

HMAS QUIBERON, in company with HMAS QUEENBOROUGH, sailed from Sydney on September 19th for Strategic Reserve Service on the Far East Station. After an uneventful passage we berthed in Singapore Naval Dockyard on 4th October. Exercises with HMS CAESER followed a fortnight's self-maintenance and on 20th October we anchored in the lee of the beautiful Island of Pulau Tioman before returning to Singapore.

Though the RAN did not become operationally involved in the Vietnam conflict until 1965, HMA Ships VAMPIRE and QUICKMATCH were the first ships in the area when they made a goodwill visit to Saigon in 1962. They were followed the next year by the Q Class destroyers HMA Ships QUIBERON and QUEENBOROUGH . These were not operational visits: but designed to show Australian government support for the government in Saigon and members of the ships company visited the Vietnamese Special Forces training centre and carried out other 'flag showing' activities. During the 1963 visit the small Vietnamese naval vessel KY-HOA accidentally rammed and holed QUIBERON whilst coming alongside her. (more)

(Don (nutty) Knutsen said "The Vietnamese patrol boat rammed into our port side, right into the stokers bath room, Ernie Barker had just come off watch and was in the shower and I think "dingy" Bell was having a shave, when the anchor of the patrol boat burst through the mirror.")

Whilst on passage to Hong Kong in the latter half of October we were diverted to search for survivors of the ill fated Panamanian freighter S.S. KAWI which reportedly had been abandoned after being swamped by heavy seas. The vessel was sighted but no crew were to be found in the vicinity. After a lengthy grid search, we located a life boat containing the captain and nine other members of the crew. The survivors were later transferred to the BEN VORLICH for passage to Singapore and QUIBERON proceeded to Hong Kong. An attempt to salvage the KAWI was made by another commercial vessel which was on the scene when we arrived however, the KAWI took on water and sank in tow. (see full story)

After Hong Kong we returned to Singapore after skirting around Typhoon "Jean" and sailed for Calcutta on 26th November. After a highly entertaining stay of six days in this "city of contrasts" (see story), we returned to Singapore once more via the islands of Pulau Langkawi and Penang off the West coast of Malaya.

On December 17th QUIBERON once more answered the international call of distress. At high speed we raced 600 miles to the North East of Singapore and there came upon the S.S. TUSCANY, a 10,000 ton freighter "high and dry" on tiny Ladd Reef. A hazardous boat operation succeeded in removing 31 members of the crew and food supplies were left for a small party who remained onboard for possible salvage attempts. QUIBERON then proceeded to Hong Kong with the survivors and to the acclaim of the World's Press, following our second successful rescue operation within two months.

"Q" in Hong Kong - dress ship for Australia Day. (Note the mascot)

Christmas and the New Year were spent amid the "delights" of Hong Kong and in a small way this compensated for the absence of loved ones and friends at home. Now that 1963 is a reality we look forward with increasing eagerness to our return to Sydney on 25th February for the annual refit and five weeks long awaited leave. Before this however, we have yet to visit Subic Bay (Phillipines), Hong Kong yet again, Nha Trang and Saigon in South Vietnam, Singapore, Fremantle and Melbourne.

Sunken ships line the river bank on Saigon River.