Esther taken to new depths

10 April 2007

Esther Williams has been taken to new depths by the submariners of HMAS Farncomb.

Esther, or more accurately the trophy named in her honour, has steamed 3957 nautical miles with the submariners - from HMAS Stirling to the island of Guam, where Farncomb (CMDR Mark Hammond) completed the first port visit of her South-East Asian deployment.

The Esther Williams trophy has been a guest onboard Farncomb since November 2006.

For those who don't know, Esther Williams was a movie star from the 1940s and the trophy was first presented by one young Australian naval officer to another in 1943.

It was a consolation prize for missing out on the affections of a woman they had both been pursuing at a club.

Since then the trophy has been "borrowed" by a succession of ships, US, British and Canadian among them.

While catching the sun's rays at the US Naval Station Guam, Esther Williams visited Submarine Squadron 15 for some cross-training opportunities, as well as being guest of honour at a beach-side BBQ attended by the crew of Farncomb and USS Houston.

The Esther Williams Trophy has travelled in many US Navy ships and US Navy personnel were delighted to reminisce and reflect on the significance of the occasion.

Farncomb has completed a two-week maintenance and recreation period, providing opportunity for some crew relaxation prior to the next leg of her deployment.

The trophy has now sailed with the Collins Class sub for her next port visit to Sattahip in Thailand.