Publication:The Trade December 2003/HMAS DECHAINEUX
Every year spent in the Navy is a journey of growth and self-discovery and this year for the men and women of HMAS DECHAINEUX it was no exception. The year commenced with a 40 percent crew change, which is never easy. With safety shakedowns and workups starting almost with the downing of the last beer on New Years, it was time to exchange Christmas carols for combat coveralls and get our new team ready for the years upcoming events.
The safety shakedown and workups proved to be a 'realll-ly' productive experience, with our team pulling together to get the shakedown and workups completed so DECHAINEUX could commence making preparations to deploy in April for SE Asia. The first operational test for Tiger 76 was an SSX with the Los Angeles attack submarine USS Honolulu which once again proved that Australian submarines, and moreover the Collins, are war fighting machines with the series of submarine verse submarine exercises drawn at one kill each. This led DECHAINEUX into her next test, safety workups which proved to be an invaluable experience, when exercise was exchanged for safeguard and Emergency operating procedures and our hard learnt experience were put to the most real of tests.
It was a typical February day in the WAXA, blue skies, 35 degrees and DECHAINEUX cruising around at deep diving depth unaware of what was about to happen. A flexible hose linking the sea to the seawater cooling pump decided that wet on the outside and dry on the inside was no longer the way things were going to be in the Motor room and when the hose burst it trapped PO Rocker Bunting underwater in DECHAINEUX's new Motor room spa and jacuzzi. The raising of the alarm must have almost been instantaneous and the quick reactions of all of the Ships Company most probably saved the crew, along with the shut all hull valves function. Fifteen ton in 8 seconds is the latest list of figures, which really indicates how very lucky we are. On our return to Fleet Base West an investigation commenced and meant all of the crew could continue making preparations for operational workup and assessment.
After workups were completed, we came back alongside again and marched with our sister submarines in Perth for Anzac day. A fantastic day was had by all, but it wasn't long before Tiger 76 would have to be ready for departure on our South East Asian deployment
The deployment started with a run in Singapore:
Once ashore in Singapore the ships company utilized its time in some serious R and R. I know for a fact that almost all of first watch had a pretty early night first night, but there are always exceptions. After 4 days of relaxation we left Singapore in high spirits thanks to a Queensland trouncing by Team Andrew Johns at Lang Park and headed back to sea. Our two trainee submariners, Lieutenant Rutherford and Able Seaman Zorzetto, obtained their submarine qualification during this period at sea.
Our next port of call, Darwin, was another great run for the Ships Company. Armed with freshly painted tiger stripes we headed out to settle old scores and quench our thirsting for Australian sport. The crew seemed to rendezvous at the Pub bar. In typical Australian spirit we all rallied around the wallabies to get our team over the line but to our disappointment the wallabies didn't have the goods and the Springboks won a tight encounter.
The next day dawned and DECHAINEUX's crew was all excited with the arrival of HMAS WALLER, who berthed outboard. All of DECHAINEUX had a really great time in Darwin. It was a much-needed break but, there was just one job left to do on our deployment.
We sailed from Darwin in high spirits with a course set to rendezvous with the USS Carl Vinson carrier battle group. The carrier group consisted of one Ticonderoga class cruiser, an Olivier Hazard Perry class FFG, a logistic support ship and the carrier Carl Vinson. Our objective was to get past the screening warships and sink the carrier. This, of course, was a slow process. The carrier sent out Viking anti submarine aircraft, the Cruiser launched its Lamps 3 Seahawk and both the Frigate and the cruiser transmitted on their powerful active sonars, all in the hope of finding this lonely little Australian submarine. However, the best laid plans, of mice and men, can sometimes go awry. It took about seven hours for DECHAINEUX and her crew to penetrate the screen but, once past the two opposing "Warries", Carl Vinson didn't stand a chance. Warner picked her up and then sonar classified a new contact as a possible Carrier and we set a course to close. It was 0210 when we reached CPA, which was at a range of about 3000 yards. A succession of five green grenades were launched, just to make sure the job was done completely. Once again DECHAINEUX and her faithful crew had done the job and now it was time to set a course for home.
The transit down the Western Australian coastline proved to be an invaluable opportunity to exercise our trainee Petty Officers of the Watch. We surfaced off the Montebello Islands to use the tight navigational waters of the Mary-Anne passage. Petty Officer Lee and Leading Seaman Riley both passed out and many of the other trainee POOWs got great exposure to tight navigation for extended periods of time. PC9 aircraft from the RAAF Pearce aviation school welcomed us, as we surfaced of Lancelin, on our return to STRILING.
For the next four months DECHAINEUX is high and dry at Henderson conducting mid cycle docking, before returning to sea in November, to welcome our new Commanding Officer and get ready for next years deployments.
The crew of HMAS DECHAINEUX would like to say farewell to our former fearless Commanding Officer, Commander Scott and wish him all the best for his next endeavor and welcome our new Commanding Officer, LCDR Rusiti to the fleet's most fearless friend and ferocious foe.
