I'm in Sydney for a couple of days. Saturday Carol and David took me to the National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour. We took a ferry from Rose Bay to Circular Quay where we changed to another ferry to Darling Harbour.
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| We sailed past Sonya's old workplace 'The Sydney Opera House' |
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| Then under the Sydney Harbour Bridge |
After lunch at the Museum Restaurant 'Yots', we boarded the 'Onslow', an Oberon type submarine, open to the public.
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| HMAS Onslow is anchored next to HMAS Vampire, a destroyer |
The Onslow was commissioned during the Cold War, a tense time that called for a submarine to watch, listen and collect information without detection. The most secretive work was tracking Soviet submarines moving into the Arabian Gulf from Vladivostok via the Coral Sea and the Great Australian Bight.
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| The sub was steered by the Coxswain, usually a NCO |
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| A very impressive engine room |
On the way out of the HMAS Onslow, we explored the Destroyer HMAS Vampire, Australia's largest museum vessel, which is the last of the country's big gun ships. After this, Australia's fighting ships were equipped with missile weaponry. The Daring class were the largest destroyers built in Australia. These powerful, fast ships were designed principally for the machinery and weapons of war. One look at the cramped living spaces onboard and you will see that comfort came a poor second!
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| Control Panels |
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| Full Steam Ahead, Coxswain. |
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| Able Seaman Dave and Able Seaman Bill |
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| Point the Guns at the City |
