Hi Merget,

This is a true story and I thought you might be able to use it in the newsletter (if you think it is suitable).

Regards,
Denis Brunswick (dennisb)

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Over the years and across the miles the sounds of agony remain clear in the memory.

Location....South China Sea
Dateline...June 3rd, 1969
Time...0300

Imagine cruising on a truly magnificent night, a brilliant full moon with every rift and valley clearly discernable...a canopy of stars blinking in a sable sky...gentle breezes, from the ships forward motion, brushing the skin...threads of phosphorescence trailing in the ships wake like millions of tiny lights dancing away forever.

But now is not the time for relaxation..War Games are in progress...

An Aircraft Carrier of checkered history is the flagship of the "Blue Fleet"...Her Majesties Australian Ship "Melbourne"..

She is protected from a threatened submarine attack by destroyers fanned out ahead and aircraft ranging far and wide seeking the elusive enemy lurking below...waiting to fire their deadly torpedoes.

Gradually the carriers speed increases, and a sense of urgency, with the knowledge that aircraft would soon be returning to refuel and a new flight readied to take off.....starting a chain of events that would change so many lives...forever!!!

For an aircraft to land on this floating airfield a smaller ship, usually a destroyer, is stationed astern and to port to act as 'plane guard'...her role is to pick up aircrews in the event of an aircraft ditching during the landing operations.

A signal was sent to one of the 'fanned' destroyers to take up 'plane guard' duties. The order was instantly obeyed and from her position forward and to starboard she turned and reversed course towards and paralleling the capital ship...

The destroyer was the United States Ship "Frank E Evans".

A true greyhound of the sea...she steamed toward the carrier at 30 knots...with pride and confidence she approached the "Melbourne" to carry out her assigned task.

Then...for some unknown reason...she turned ACROSS the bows of the speeding carrier !!

It was like the inadvertent meeting of two wild animals...the larger intent on destruction and the smaller, suddenly realising it's disastrous error, trying to escape.

The inevitable happened !!!

The looming bow of the Melbourne struck the Evans amidships...cleaving the fragile destroyer cleanly in half...as positive as a surgeons stroke.

The impact was mortal blow for the small ship..her bow section sinking very quickly...taking with it so many shipmates...the agony of their cries forever etched in the memories of those who heard.

These were men not personally known... But known as only the men of the sea know each other... 'The Brotherhood of Mariners'

A sense of ice cold control swept through the carries crew..each man carrying out his assigned role for the urgent task of search and rescue...instanteous reactions honed to perfection by practice.. Rescue boats manned and launched... Helicopters clattering into the air... Searchlights sweeping the ocean..in search for survivors.

The Evans stern section stayed afloat and was secured, temporarily, to the carriers starboard side and many men were rescued by this close association.

An order was given "Lt take the CPO with you and carry out a search for anybody left before we cast her off"

Armed with powerful torches the two men clambered aboard the silent hulk...probing lights lit the scene of devastation..crushed equipment and wreckage strewn everywhere. The eerie feeling of doom quickened their steps and heightened their sense of urgency...each darkened passageway and compartment was searched...no more men were found...

Nothing more could be achieved...duty done the ties were cut...the two hulls drifted apart..

In the gray light of dawn the remains of the "Frank E Evans" still floated...motionless..in her sadness still proud and defiant...as if she were saying..."I will never recover...but you will ALWAYS remember me and my 74 men who died this day !!"

Peril is always the partner...when men...go down to the sea in ships.

Vale EVANS and so many unknown friends.

This account is accurate...the Lieutenant was Lt Vickeridge and the CPO was...CPO Denis Brunswick.

Click Here To See A Picture Of The Ship:1. Ship's Picture.... |