Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2006/25 years old - and still thriving - HMAS Tobruk
Talking with 25-year-olds in HMAS Tobruk at sea
Words by LCDR Dave Jones, pics by ABPH Brenton Freind
Two members of the Tobruk ship's company turn 25 this year, sharing their 1981 birth year with the ship. While Tobruk is considered by some to be elderly and in her latter years, ABATV Mason and ABCK Ryan Kuipers, are in their prime, or so they say! They were interviewed shortly after the ship's birthday during Tobruk's SE Asian/SW Pacific/Op Astute deployment. Their comments are open and honest regarding their 25-year-old 'sister' and are unedited in order to give you an insight into the way Navy personnel think and feel in everyday circumstances when on deployment at
- Name
- Don Mason
- Rank/category
- ABATV
- Birthday
- 5 Mar 1981
- Home town
- Taree, NSW
- Joined Navy
- Jun 99
- Joined TOBRUK
- Feb 05
- Favourite place on the ship
- Gun Direction Platform (deck above the bridge)
Describe a typical day in your life at sea on Tobruk
Wake up before 'Wakey' to beat the rush to the showers. Brekkie and turn to work at 7.40 for DSOTs to make sure all our gear is working. Then I've got a few jobs that come up routinely on a weekly basis, do those, when we don't have an aircraft, I help out the 'dibbies' keeping watches with them on the helm and lifebuoy and look out. I enjoy that actually, it's a good change from working on aircraft. Then the movie at night, go to the gym, crash out and go read a book.
When you have an aircraft on board?
I don't keep watches with the 'dibbies' when there is an aircraft on board and it can make it a bit more difficult to get to the gym. It's good having an aircraft on board - bit of fun and excitement seeing the different types of aircraft like Pumas and Iroquois ... love the Iroquois.
What is the best thing about being in Tobruk?
The friends the mates even if some are higher rank than you they are all pretty friendly... and travelling and seeing so many interesting places.
What is the worst thing about being in Tobruk?
Duty or cleaning.
What's bad about duty?
Six hours is a long time to stand on a gangway in a foreign port when your mates are out having a good time, but it's a necessary evil I suppose.
Describe in a sentence or two the difference between Tobruk life and home life?
At home when you are hungry you can eat you don't have to eat to a schedule. Everything's to a schedule. Routines and more routines. At home I have my 'other half' and my dog.
If you were Captain of Tobruk what is the first thing you would do?
'Beer issue' No - I have no idea.. (With exaggerated emphasis straight into the microphone) I- think- he- is- doing- a- great- job- and- he- should- not- change- a- thing.
What advice would you give someone who was considering putting Tobruk on his or her posting preference form?
Do it. Tobruk's great. The people on here are all friendly. The old girl might not be as flashy or ritzy as a warship but it's also a bit more relaxed and the accommodation's pretty good too.
If you were Minister of Defence and had a spare $1million what improvements would you make to Tobruk?
Communications I think, fix the radios maybe put in a few more computer work stations - maybe one in each mess.
How is Tobruk different to other ships or establishments you have served in?
It's very friendly and there are a lot more out-of-work activities. This is more what I thought I was joining when I joined 'the puss', and it's very different to Albatross.
After 25 yrs how are you holding up compared to TOB?
I've got less rust I hope! The old girl's coming to the end of her life but she's still got a few miles left in her and hopefully my miles are going to last a bit longer than this. I'm definitely on the way up but she's on the way down!
- Name
- Ryan Kuipers
- Rank/category
- ABCK
- Birthday
- 3 Nov 1981
- Home town
- Port Macquarie
- Joined Navy
- Jul 02
- Joined Tobruk
- Nov 04
- Favourite place on the ship
- Gallery deck
Describe a typical day in your life at sea on Tobruk
Wakey, tubs, brekkie, start work 7-7.30 work through till 2.30 prepping salad, duff and cooking for the next day. We always cook for the next meal ahead. Cleaning, we probably do half prep half cleaning to break it up. We usually have a couple of hrs off in the afternoon then we'll do stores, start dinner once dinner's completed, clean down the galley and the line, get out of there by about 9- 9.30 and do it all over again the next day.
How many of you are doing that?
At the moment five of us because we have two extra seariders, normally three.
How many are you cooking for?
Crew is 217. We just got 192 Army on so that's going to bump it up a bit.
What do you do after 9.30?
Pretty much go straight downstairs have a shower, jump in my rack, read for half an hour that's it.
What is the best thing about being on TOB?
The crew. It's a good crew. They are a good bunch of people all friendly and get along well. Good to 'step' with.
What is the worst thing about being in Tobruk?
The conditions that we work in in the galley. Just the heat and not enough ventilation ... and the equipment is always breaking down.
How hot does it get?
Forty degrees plus
Describe in a sentence or two the difference between Tobruk life and home life.
Conditions at home are a lot more comfortable. You can do what you want whenever you want at home. Bit restricted on the ship. If you need privacy you can't always get it. It's good to always have someone there. I suppose that's a positive ... always people around so that's always a good thing if you need that sometimes.
If you were Captain of Tobruk what is the first thing you would do?
I'd put a request in for a long refit to get everything fixed on board, all the bits and pieces - washing machines and dryers. It would probably take about a year though. Once that was completed I'd look at a good trip, without exercises, up top somewhere.
What advice would you give someone who was considering putting Tobruk on his or her posting preference form?
Initially when I first posted on I would have said 'don't even think about it' but in my time since I've been on here, it grows on you and it feels like home now. If I got 'back to back' postings on here it wouldn't faze me at all. I like it on here now.
If you were Minister of Defence and had a spare $1million what improvements would you make to Tobruk?
I'd start with the galley, ventilation and equipment. I'd put some new equipment in and then it would definitely be the heads and showers and the washing machines and dryers. The taps are always broken and the showers the water goes everywhere and not really good pressure. For the whole 2 deck STBD side - that is about 90 people - we've got one washing machine and a drier that works sometimes. So it's a bit temperamental the equipment down there. It gets a bit of rough use but it's to be expected I suppose.
How is Tobruk different to other ships or establishments you have served on?
It's a lot older. I was on Ballarat for a few months and I really enjoyed my time on there. It is a minimum manned ship so it was an easy crew to cook for. The living conditions are a bit better because they are newer; Air conditioning in the galley, 16 degrees coming out of the vent which was good. Yes it was just a newer ship so doors close better.
After 25 yrs how are you holding up compared to TOB?
I think I'm holding up a bit better than the old ship.
The consistent theme of the interviews seems to be the pride that these sailors have in their ship and their appreciation for the friendliness of their environment despite the frustrations of everyday inconveniences. It is interesting to note the importance that is placed on the seemingly small domestic items. The money spent recently on accommodation upgrades seems to be appreciated. The constant battle to keep up with ageing and wearing domestic fittings is a huge overhead in both administrative and mechanical terms. Dollars budgeted for washing machines, dryers, taps, shower roses and more computer terminals will be well spent.
Tobruk forges ahead through the 25-year barrier with a strong people-centred culture overcoming daily the many challenges that the ship brings, and ensuring that the many capabilities Tobruk brings with her are delivered as effectively as ever: 25 years and still faithful and strong.
Sailor's language:
- duff
- dessert
- DSOTS
- Daily systems pperability tests
- wakey
- tune played on main broadcast with the traditional bosuns whistle that rouses the ship
- dibbies
- Bosun's mate category = seaman sailors
- crash out
- go to sleep
- rack
- bunk
- beer issue
- occasional dispensing at sea of two cans of beer per person 'opened' for those not on duty.
- birdie
- aviation category
- The puss
- the Navy
- GDP
- Gun direction Platform = open deck above the bridge
- gallery deck
- open deck on Tobruk aft, one level below the flight deck.
- to step
- to step ashore - to go off the ship for 'relaxation' usually with a group of mates
- run ashore
- the noun form of 'to step'
- warry
- warship, a comparative term in this context referring to the focus that other ships have on direct contact with an enemy.
- seariders
- personnel on board who are not in a billet position, usually borne to complete their training requirements.
