HMAS Melbourne (R21)

HMAS ''Melbourne'' (R21) was a ''Majestic''-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1955 until 1982, and was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. ''Melbourne'' was the only Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions.

''Melbourne'' was laid down for the Royal Navy as the lead ship of the ''Majestic'' class in April 1943, and was launched as HMS ''Majestic'' (R77) in February 1945. At the end of the Second World War, work on the ship was suspended until she was purchased by the RAN in 1947. At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design, making ''Melbourne'' the third ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck. Delays in construction and integrating the enhancements meant that the carrier was not commissioned until 1955.

''Melbourne'' never fired a shot in anger during her service career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. She was, however, involved in two major collisions with allied vessels; though ''Melbourne'' was not found to be the primary cause of either incident. The first collision occurred on the evening of 10 February 1964, in which ''Melbourne'' rammed and sank the RAN destroyer , when the latter altered course across her bow. 82 of ''Voyager''s personnel were killed, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident. The second collision occurred in the early morning of 3 June 1969, when ''Melbourne'' also rammed the United States Navy (USN) destroyer in similar circumstances. 74 American personnel died, and a joint USN–RAN Board of Inquiry was held. These incidents, along with several minor collisions, shipboard accidents and aircraft losses, led to the belief that ''Melbourne'' was jinxed.

''Melbourne'' was paid off from RAN service in 1982. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold for scrap in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so ''Melbourne'' could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations.

Construction and acquisition

''Melbourne'' was constructed by Vickers-Armstrongs at their Naval Construction Yard in Barrow-in-Furness, North West England.Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 5 The ship was laid down as HMS ''Majestic'' on 15 April 1943, and was launched on 28 February 1945 by Lady Anderson, the wife of Sir John Anderson, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer. Following the end of World War II, the Admiralty ordered the suspension of many British shipbuilding projects, including the fitting out of ''Majestic'' and her five sister ships. Construction resumed in 1946, and major modifications to the design were incorporated.

A review by the Australian Government's Defence Committee held after recommended that the post-war forces of the RAN be structured around a Task Force incorporating multiple aircraft carriers.Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 33 Initial plans were for three carriers, with two active and a third in reserve, although funding cuts led to the purchase of only two carriers in June 1947: ''Majestic'' and sister ship HMS ''Terrible'', for the combined cost of AU£2.75 million, plus stores, fuel, and ammunition. As ''Terrible'' was the closer of the two ships to completion, she was finished without modification, and was commissioned into the RAN on 16 December 1948 as . Work progressed on ''Majestic'' at a slower rate, as she was upgraded with the latest technology and equipment. The ''Colossus''-class carrier was loaned to the RAN from 13 November 1952 until 12 August 1955 to cover ''Majestic''s absence.Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 94

The ''Majestic'' experienced delays in its construction due to labour difficulties, late delivery of equipment, additional requirements for Australian operations and the prioritisation of the construction of merchant ships.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 165 Incorporation of new systems and enhancements caused the cost of the RAN carrier acquisition program to increase to AU£8.3 million. Construction and fitting out did not finish until October 1955. As the carrier neared completion, a commissioning crew was formed in Australia and first used to return ''Vengeance'' to the United Kingdom.

The completed carrier was commissioned into the RAN as HMAS ''Majestic'' on 26 October 1955.Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 84 Two days later, the ship was renamed ''Melbourne'' by Lady White, the wife of Sir Thomas White, the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and recommissioned.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 72–3

Design

As the lead ship of the ''Majestic''-class of light aircraft carriers, ''Melbourne'' was conceived as a modified version of the ''Colossus''-class carrier, incorporating improvements in flight deck design and habitability. ''Majestic''- and ''Colossus''-class carriers were almost identical in hull design and both were considered subclasses of the "1942 design" light aircraft carrier program. These carriers were intended as "disposable warships": to be disposed of at the end of World War II or within three years of entering service.

''Melbourne'' had a standard displacement of , which increased to at full load.Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', pp. 308–9 At launch, the carrier was long overall, but this was increased by during a refit in 1969. She had a beam of , and a draught of . ''Melbourne''s two propellers were driven by two Parsons single-reduction geared turbine sets providing 40,000  shp, which were powered by four Admiralty 3-drum boilers. The carrier could achieve a top speed of , and a range of at or at . The size of the ship's company averaged 1,350 officers and sailors, including 350 personnel from the embarked Fleet Air Arm squadrons.

Modifications during construction

Following the recommencement of construction, modifications were made to the ship, based on wartime experience and Britain's post-war carrier warfare technology and innovations.Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', pp. 5–6 These included an angled flight deck, steam catapult and a mirror landing aid, making ''Melbourne'' the third aircraft carrier (following and ) to be constructed with these features, instead of having them added later.Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 6

The main modifications centred around the need to operate jet aircraft, which were larger and heavier than those propeller-driven aircraft that the carrier was originally designed for.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 13–5 The flight deck was angled 5.5 degrees left of the carrier's centreline, to allow for the simultaneous launch and recovery of aircraft.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 72 Despite an increase to approximately one acre (4,000 square metres, 4,800 square yards) in area, the deck was still significantly smaller than other Cold War era carriers; S-2 Trackers, with their wingspan, had less than a metre's clearance for their starboard wingtip when landing, and pilots from other navies often refused to attempt landing. Water rationing was required in the early years of the carrier's operation, as the ship's fresh water supply was insufficient to freely provide for the steam catapult, propulsion turbines and crew. The flight deck, hangar deck and aircraft lifts were strengthened, and reinforced arrestor cables were installed. Flight direction radar was included, making ''Melbourne'' the only military airfield in the Australasian region at the time capable of operating aircraft at night and in poor weather.

Refits

Early in her career, ''Melbourne'' underwent a series of short annual refits, commencing in September and ending in January or February of the next year. As time passed, the refits increased in duration or were replaced by major upgrades or overhauls.

''Melbourne''s first major refit started in December 1967 and continued until February 1969, during which she was upgraded to operate S-2 Tracker and A-4 Skyhawk aircraft. The modifications cost A$8.5 million, and included an overhaul of the hull and machinery, strengthening of the flight deck, improvements to the catapult and arrestor cables, modification of the aviation fuel systems and flight control arrangements, and upgrades of the navigational aids and radar.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 174Coulthard-Clark, ''Breaking free'', p. 61 Air conditioning systems and a liquid oxygen generation plant were also installed. ''Melbourne'' re-entered service at the conclusion of the refits on 14 February, and performed sea trials in Jervis Bay from 17 February until 5 May. This was the largest project undertaken by Garden Island Dockyard to that date.

The next major refit was required in 1971 for the scheduled rebuilding of the catapult, which was only possible after components were sourced from and .Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 213 The flight deck was again reinforced and strengthened, and attempts were made to increase the effectiveness of the air conditioning system installed in 1969. ''Melbourne'' had been designed to operate in North Atlantic and Arctic climates, and the original ventilation systems were inappropriate for her primary operating climate, the tropics.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 16 The 1969 and 1971 refits did improve conditions, although there was little scope for upgrade, and the system was still inadequate: temperatures inside the ship continued to reach over , and on one occasion a hold reached . The refit took seven months to complete, and cost A$2 million.

More large-scale refits occurred throughout the rest of the 1970s. ''Melbourne'' was back in dock from November 1972 until August 1973, with further work done to her catapult. The next major refit ran from April 1975 to June 1976, and was intended to increase the operational lifespan of the carrier to at least 1985.Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 86 The refit was lengthened by industrial action at the dockyard. ''Melbourne'' underwent another refit from late 1978 until August 1979.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 89, 91 A refit scheduled to begin in late 1981 was postponed in September until a decision regarding the new carrier was made, then cancelled in January 1982, after the announcement that the RAN would be acquiring HMS ''Invincible''.ANAM, ''Flying Stations'', p. 251Wright, ''Australian Carrier Decisions'', p. 168

Armament

''Melbourne'' carried a defensive armament of anti-aircraft guns and an air group comprising both attack and anti-submarine aircraft. As the ship was never directly involved in a conflict, her weapons and embarked aircraft did not fire a shot in anger.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 9

Weapons and systems

''Melbourne''s initial armament included 25 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns: six twin and thirteen single mountings.Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 22 The radar suite consisted of three Type 277Q height-finding sets, a Type 293Q surface search set, and a Type 978 navigational set.Bishop and Chant, ''Aircraft Carriers'', p. 62 Between entering service and 1959, four of the single Bofors were removed.

During the 1967–1969 refit, thirteen Bofors were removed, leaving four twin and four single mountings. The three 277Q radars were replaced with updated American and Dutch designs: a LW-02 air search set and a SPN-35 landing aid radar. A TACAN aerial and electronic countermeasures pods were also installed during this refit. The four Bofors twin mountings were removed in 1980.

Aircraft

''Melbourne'' carried three Fleet Air Arm squadrons. Initially, she had up to 22 planes and 2 helicopters embarked at any time. The number of aircraft gradually increased until 1972, when the air group peaked at 27 aircraft. Approximately 350 Fleet Air Arm personnel were stationed aboard the carrier.

Initially, two types of fixed-wing aircraft were operated from ''Melbourne''. de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.53 fighter aircraft were flown by 805 Squadron RAN and 808 Squadron RAN, while Fairey Gannet anti-submarine strike aircraft were operated by 816 Squadron RAN and 817 Squadron RAN. At the time of their arrival, the Sea Venoms were the only radar equipped and all-weather combat aircraft in the Southern Hemisphere. At ''Melbourne''s commissioning, the standard air group consisted of eight Sea Venoms and two squadrons of eight Gannets, with two Bristol Sycamore search-and-rescue helicopters added shortly after the carrier entered service.

These aircraft were due to become obsolete in the late 1950s, and the RAN considered purchasing modern aircraft of French or Italian design, which were better suited to light carrier operations than equivalent British aircraft, or replace ''Melbourne'' with a larger carrier. Instead of pursuing either alternative, the Australian government announced in 1959 that ''Melbourne'' would be reconfigured during her 1963 refit to operate as a helicopter carrier.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 187 The fixed-wing aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm were marked for replacement by 27 Westland Wessex anti-submarine helicopters.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 193 A reduction of embarked plane numbers to four Sea Venoms and six Gannets, along with regular rotation and careful use of the aircraft, extended their service life until the mid-1960s, while the size of the air group was maintained by carrying up to ten Wessex helicopters. The decision to retire the fixed-wing component of the Fleet Air Arm was rescinded in 1963, and on 10 November 1964, a AU£212 million increase in defence spending included the purchase of new aircraft for ''Melbourne''.Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 7Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 88

The RAN planned to acquire 14 Grumman S-2E Tracker anti-submarine aircraft, and modernise ''Melbourne'' to operate the aircraft. The acquisition of 18 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bombers was also suggested, but these were dropped from the initial plan. A separate proposal to order 10 A-4G Skyhawks, a variant of the Skyhawk designed specifically for the RAN and optimised for air defence, was approved in 1965.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', pp. 193–4 Both aircraft types entered RAN service in 1968, with the Trackers operated by 816 Squadron RAN and 851 Squadron RAN, and the Skyhawks by 805 Squadron RAN and 724 Squadron RAN.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 194 The aircraft did not fly from ''Melbourne'' until the conclusion of her refit in 1969. In 1969, the RAN purchased another ten A-4G Skyhawks, instead of the proposed seventh and eighth ''Oberon''-class submarines. ''Melbourne'' operated a standard air group of four Skyhawks, six Trackers, and ten Wessex helicopters until 1972, when the Wessexes were replaced with ten Westland Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopters and the number of Skyhawks doubled. Although replaced by the Sea King, up to three Wessex helicopters could be carried as search-and-rescue aircraft.

On 5 December 1976, a fire at the Naval Air Station destroyed or heavily damaged 12 of the Fleet Air Arm's 13 S-2E Trackers."12 RAN Aircraft Burnt"
''The Canberra Times'' – 6 December 1976, p.1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015"Nowra Air Station Fire"
''The Canberra Times'' – 6 December 1976, p.1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015"Court Martial After Nowra Base Fire"
''The Canberra Times'' – 14 April 1977, p.9 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015 The carrier was sent to the United States in 1977 to transport back 16 S-2G Tracker aircraft as replacements."18 Trackers in service soon"
''The Canberra Times'' – 18 March 1977, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015

Over the course of her career, over thirty aircraft were either lost or heavily damaged while operating from ''Melbourne''.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 218–9 The majority of the aircraft ditched or crashed over the side, but some losses were due to catapult or arrestor cable failures. After ''Melbourne'' was decommissioned, the Fleet Air Arm ceased fixed-wing combat aircraft operation in 1984, with the final Tracker flight saluting the decommissioned carrier.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 302

Role

''Melbourne'' was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to operate with the RAN. Following the first decommissioning of sister ship in 1958, ''Melbourne'' became the only aircraft carrier in Australian service.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 247 ''Melbourne'' was unavailable to provide air cover for the RAN for up to four months in every year; this time was required for refits, refuelling, personnel leave, and non-carrier duties, such as the transportation of troops or aircraft. Although one of the largest ships to serve in the RAN, ''Melbourne'' was one of the smallest carriers to operate in the post-World War II period. A decision was made in 1959 to restrict ''Melbourne''s role to helicopter operations only, but was reversed shortly before its planned 1963 implementation.

As well as an operational aircraft carrier, ''Melbourne'' was Flagship of the RAN, a role she received almost immediately following her 1956 arrival in Australia, and fulfilled until her decommissioning in 1982. During her service, the carrier was deployed overseas on 35 occasions, visited over 22 countries, and was seen as the physical and psychological centrepiece of the RAN fleet.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 250

As ''Melbourne'' was the only ship of her size (both in dimensions and ship's company) in the RAN, the carrier underwent a regular rotation of commanding officers to give them experience.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 20 Commanding officers were changed on average every fifteen months, with few remaining on board for more than two years. The majority of ''Melbourne''s commanders later reached flag rank. The carrier was also called on to perform underway replenishments and command and control functions.

Operational history

1955–1964

Following a working-up period in British waters, ''Melbourne'' departed Glasgow on 11 March 1956 on her maiden voyage to Australia via the Suez Canal. Aboard were the 64 aircraft of RAN squadrons 808, 816, and 817, as well as the racing yacht ''Samuel Pepys'' (named after the English naval administrator and diarist), which was a gift to the RAN Sailing Association from the Royal Navy.''HMAS Melbourne (II)'', Sea Power Centre The ship visited Gibraltar, Naples, Malta, Port Said, Aden, and Colombo, before arriving in Fremantle on 24 April 1956.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 21–2 ''Melbourne'' sailed east via the Great Australian Bight, meeting sister ship near Kangaroo Island a week later.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 73 After visiting Melbourne and Jervis Bay, where the aircraft were offloaded and sent to Naval Air Station , the carrier concluded her maiden voyage in Sydney on 10 May.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 74 The role of flagship was transferred from ''Sydney'' to ''Melbourne'' three days later. The carrier immediately underwent a two and a half-month refit, allowing for the inspection of machinery and repair of defects detected during the maiden voyage. ''Melbourne'' spent from September to November in Southeast Asian waters, during which she participated in Exercise Albatross and received an official visit by Philippines president Ramon Magsaysay.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 22 On return to Australia in mid-November, the carrier visited Melbourne for the 1956 Olympics, where 200 of ''Melbourne''s complement were provided to work as signallers, event marshals, carpenters, and medical workers.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 234

In February 1957, ''Melbourne'' was sent to the Royal Hobart Regatta.Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 309 Following this, she travelled to New Zealand, where she participated in exercises with HMNZS ''Royalist'' and visited several New Zealand ports. The first of several annual three-month deployments to Southeast Asia as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve began in April, with ''Melbourne'' returning to Darwin at the end of June.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 25 The carrier spent the rest of the year visiting Australian ports for open inspections by the public.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 26 During the visit to Port Adelaide, on 28 October 1957, ''Melbourne'' was slightly damaged when she was struck by MV ''Straat Lanka''—the first of several minor collisions the carrier would experience throughout her career.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 217 Operations for the year concluded with participation in Exercise Astrolabe off Lord Howe Island, with ships from the RAN, Royal Navy, and Royal New Zealand Navy, before returning to Sydney on 13 December.

From February until July 1958, ''Melbourne'' was deployed on a flag-showing cruise. During this cruise the carrier participated in four inter-fleet exercises and visited Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Pearl Harbor and Fiji.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 27 On return to Sydney, ''Melbourne'' entered a short refit, which concluded on 13 October and was immediately followed by a visit to Port Phillip, where the carrier was displayed to Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force officer cadets before the carrier returned to Sydney. At the start of 1959, ''Melbourne'' spent four days in her namesake city, where she was used for the filming of ''On The Beach'', based on Nevil Shute's post-apocalyptic novel of the same name.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 237 After filming concluded, the carrier participated in a demonstration exercise off the coast of Sydney before embarking on a Far East Strategic Reserve deployment from March until May.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 29 The rest of the year was spent visiting Australian and New Zealand ports.

The following year, 1960, was a bad year for the carrier's air group, with four Sea Venoms and two Gannets damaged in separate incidents aboard ''Melbourne''. All four Sea Venom incidents occurred in March, with three attributed to aircrew error and one to brake failure.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 35 The year began with exercises en route to Adelaide, followed by a visit to the Royal Hobart Regatta.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 33 The carrier's Strategic Reserve deployment ran from April to June, and was followed by manoeuvres along the east coast of Australia until September. In the lead up to ''Melbourne''s 1961 deployment to the Strategic Reserve, the carrier visited Bombay, Karachi, and Trincomalee.Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 310Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 37 It was the first time a flagship of the RAN had entered Indian waters. ''Melbourne'' returned to Australia in June, and on 15 June led several ships in a ceremonial entry to Sydney Harbour to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the RAN. In August, ''Melbourne'' was called upon to lead Exercise Tuckerbox, in the Coral Sea. Following the conclusion of Tuckerbox, the carrier visited several New Zealand ports before returning to Sydney for demonstration exercises and public relations activities.

In 1962, ''Melbourne'' began the year's activities at the Royal Hobart Regatta, before sailing to her Strategic Reserve deployment, by way of Adelaide and Fremantle.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 39 After Strategic Reserve duties were completed, the carrier visited Japan, Guam, and Manus Island before returning to Sydney in late July. In September, ''Melbourne'' reprised her role as the leader of Exercise Tuckerbox II. The 10,000th catapult launch from ''Melbourne'' occurred in late 1962. The carrier's annual refit began in Sydney on 1 October. At the beginning of 1963, ''Melbourne'' again visited to the Royal Hobart Regatta, which was immediately followed by a deployment to the Strategic Reserve, including involvement in SEATO Exercise Sea Serpent. The 20,000th landing on ''Melbourne'' was performed in April by a Gannet, and in September, ''Melbourne'' participated in Exercise Carbine near Hervey Bay, Queensland.

''Voyager'' collision

On 10 February 1964, ''Melbourne'' was performing trials in Jervis Bay under the command of Captain John Robertson, following the annual refit.Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 8 The ''Daring''-class destroyer was also present, undergoing her own trials following refit, under the command of Captain Duncan Stevens. The trials involved interactions between both ships, and when ''Melbourne'' performed night-flying exercises that evening, ''Voyager'' acted as the carrier's plane guard escort. This required ''Voyager'' to maintain a position 20° off ''Melbourne''s port quarter at a distance from the carrier of .Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 11

Early in the evening, ''Voyager'' had no difficulties maintaining her position during the manoeuvres both ships performed. Following a series of turns intended to reverse the courses of both ships beginning at 8:40 pm, ''Voyager'' ended up to starboard of ''Melbourne''. At 8:52 pm, ''Voyager'' was ordered to resume the plane guard station.Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 12 The procedure to accomplish this required ''Voyager'' to turn away from ''Melbourne'' in a large circle, cross behind the carrier, then take position off ''Melbourne''s port side. Instead, ''Voyager'' first turned to starboard, away from ''Melbourne'', then turned to port without warning. It was initially assumed by ''Melbourne''s bridge crew that ''Voyager'' was conducting a series of tight turns to lose speed before swinging behind ''Melbourne'', but ''Voyager'' did not alter course again.Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 13 At 8:55 pm, with ''Voyager'' approaching, ''Melbourne''s navigator ordered the carrier's engines to half astern speed, with Robertson ordering an increase to full astern a few seconds later. At the same time, Stevens, having just become aware of the situation, gave the order "Full ahead both engines. Hard-a starboard.", before instructing the destroyer's Quartermaster to announce that a collision was imminent. Both ships' measures were too late to avoid a collision; ''Melbourne'' hit ''Voyager'' at 8:56 pm.

''Melbourne'' struck ''Voyager'' just aft of the destroyer's bridge, rolling the destroyer to starboard before cutting her in half.Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 1 ''Voyager''s forward boiler exploded, briefly setting fire to the bow of the carrier before it was extinguished by seawater. The destroyer's forward section sank quickly, under the weight of the two gun turrets. The aft section did not begin sinking until half an hour after the collision, completely submerging just after midnight. Messages were immediately sent to the Fleet Headquarters in Sydney, although staff in Sydney initially underestimated the extent of the damage to ''Voyager''.Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 5 ''Melbourne'' launched her boats to recover survivors, and the carrier's wardroom and C Hangar were prepared for casualties. At 9:58 pm, ''Melbourne'' was informed that search-and-rescue boats from , helicopters from , and five ''Ton''-class minesweepers had been despatched to assist in the search.

''Melbourne'' arrived in Sydney with the survivors on 14 February, and after spending time alongside at Garden Island, was moved to Cockatoo Island Dockyard on 25 March, where repairs were undertaken; the damaged section of the bow was cut away and repairs to the ship's internal structure were undertaken in drydock, while a 40-ton prefabricated bow was constructed. Once this was completed, ''Melbourne'' was removed while the new bow was put in place in the drydock. The work was completed on 27 April, with the shipyard receiving a commendation.Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 311Jeremy, ''Cockatoo Island'', p. 135

Of the 314 personnel aboard ''Voyager'' at the time of the collision, 14 officers, 67 sailors, and 1 civilian dockyard worker were killed, including Stevens and all but two of the bridge team.Frame, ''Where Fate Calls'', p. 72 A Royal Commission into the events of the collision was held in 1964, and found that while ''Voyagers crew was primarily at fault for neglecting to maintain an effective lookout and awareness of the larger ship's location, ''Melbourne''s bridge crew was also at fault, for failing to alert ''Voyager'' and not taking measures to avoid the collision. Robertson was posted to the training base —a move that he and the Australian media saw as tantamount to a demotion—but resigned instead. The Royal Commission and its aftermath were poorly handled, and following pressure from the public, media, and politicians, combined with revelations by ''Voyager''s former executive officer that Stevens may have been unfit for command, a second Royal Commission was opened in 1967. This is the only time in Australian history two Royal Commissions have been held for a single incident. The second commission found that Stevens was medically unfit for command and that some of the findings of the first Royal Commission were therefore based on incorrect assumptions. Robertson and the other officers of ''Melbourne'' were absolved of blame for the incident.

1964–1969

''Melbourne'' spent ten weeks at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, having her new bow fitted. Following the repairs, ''Melbourne'' was involved in Strategic Reserve deployments and exercises in Southeast Asia from June until September 1964. During this deployment, the carrier visited Subic Bay, where the RAN performed flight deck trials with S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft and A-4 Skyhawk attack fighters. The success of the trials, along with the discovery that ''Melbourne'' was able to operate both aircraft with relatively minor modification, led the Australian Government to approve the purchase of these aircraft.

From March 1965 until mid-1967, ''Melbourne'' underwent a regular pattern of deployments to Southeast Asia, exercises, and flag-showing visits to nations in the Asia-Pacific region. Several of the Southeast Asian deployments were related to the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, and involved participation in show of force exercises off the coast of Malaysia. During 1965 and 1966, ''Melbourne'' escorted sister ship , which had been recommissioned as a troop transport, for short periods during the latter's first, third, and fourth transport voyages to Vietnam.Nott and Payne, ''The Vung Tau Ferry'', pp. 169–71 Despite the carrier being the centrepiece of several plans to involve Australian forces in the Vietnam War, the escort runs were the extent of ''Melbourne''s participation in the conflict, and the carrier remained outside the Market Time area while ''Sydney'' and her other escorts proceeded to Vũng Tàu. As the carrier was optimised for anti-submarine warfare, there was little need for her at the start of the war. Utilising the carrier was suggested again by RAN officials in March 1966, when the United States Seventh Fleet was having difficulties maintaining anti-submarine patrols around Yankee Station, but ''Melbourne'' could only remain on station for a single, ten-day period, a third of the time that US carriers were operational for on rotating deployments.Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 86 Seventh Fleet staff suggested in April 1967 that ''Melbourne'' deploy in the anti-submarine role, but nothing came of these talks. Consideration was also given to using ''Melbourne'' as a floating helicopter base, but only ten Wessex helicopters could be provided, and modifications were required for them to operate as troop carriers.Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 80–1 Both options were made more prohibitive by the need to supply at least two escorts for the carrier at a time when the RAN was having difficulty meeting deployment commitments with the available destroyers and destroyer escorts.

In September 1967, ''Melbourne'' travelled to the United States to collect new aircraft: 14 Trackers and 10 Skyhawks. To operate the new aircraft, the carrier received a major refit on her return to Sydney, which began in December 1967. In May 1967, it was proposed that while ''Melbourne'' was out of service, A-4 Skyhawk pilots and maintenance personnel could be attached to a United States Marine Corps Skyhawk squadron in South Vietnam.Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 88–92 Australian aircraft were not to be provided, as the A-4G Skyhawks used by the RAN were optimised for air defence, not the fighter-bomber role performed by the Marines, and would have suffered heavy losses from North Vietnam's heavy anti-aircraft defences. This deployment did not occur; the Skyhawk pilot training program was experiencing delays because US squadrons were being shipped training equipment and replacement parts in priority to the RAN, and sending qualified pilots overseas would have caused further holdups with the program, while also disrupting ''Melbourne''s post-refit reactivation. ''Melbourne'' re-entered service at the conclusion of the refit on 14 February 1969. She performed sea trials in Jervis Bay from 17 February until 5 May, then sailed for Subic Bay, Philippines, to participate in SEATO Exercise Sea Spirit.Gillett, p. 59Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 126

''Frank E. Evans'' collision

''Melbourne''s commanding officer during the SEATO exercise was Captain John Phillip Stevenson. Rear Admiral John Crabb, the Flag Officer Commanding Australian Fleet, was also embarked on the carrier. During Sea Spirit, ''Melbourne'' was assigned five escorts: US Ships , , and , HMNZS ''Blackpool'', and . Stevenson held a dinner for the five escort captains at the start of the exercise, during which he recounted the events of the ''Melbourne''–''Voyager'' collision, emphasised the need for caution when operating near the carrier, and provided written instructions on how to avoid such a situation developing again.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 175 Additionally, during the lead up to the exercise, Admiral Crabb had strongly warned that all repositioning manoeuvres performed by the escorts had to commence with a turn away from ''Melbourne''. Despite these warnings, a near-miss occurred in the early hours of 31 May when ''Larson'' turned towards the carrier after being ordered to the plane guard station.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 176 Subsequent action narrowly prevented a collision. The escorts were again warned about the dangers of operating near the carrier and informed of Stevenson's expectations, while the minimum distance between carrier and escorts was increased from .

On the night of 2–3 June 1969, ''Melbourne'' and her escorts were involved in anti-submarine training exercises in the South China Sea.Hills, ''Muddied Waters'' In preparation for launching a Tracker, Stevenson ordered ''Evans'' to the plane guard station, reminded the destroyer of ''Melbourne''s course, and instructed the carrier's navigational lights to be brought to full brilliance.Smith and Lancaster, ''USS Frank E. Evans: Disaster in the South China Sea'', p. 1 ''Evans'' had performed the manoeuvre four times over the course of the night. ''Evans'' was positioned on ''Melbourne''s port bow, but began the manoeuvre by turning starboard, towards the carrier. A radio message was sent from ''Melbourne'' to ''Evans'' bridge and Combat Information Centre, warning the destroyer that she was on a collision course, which ''Evans'' acknowledged.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 178 Seeing the destroyer take no action and on a course to place herself under ''Melbourne''s bow, Stevenson ordered the carrier hard to port, signalling the turn by both radio and siren blasts. At approximately the same time, ''Evans'' turned hard to starboard to avoid the approaching carrier.Sherbo, ''Death of a Destroyer'' It is uncertain which ship began to manoeuvre first, but each ship's bridge crew claimed that they were informed of the other ship's turn after they commenced their own. After having narrowly passed in front of ''Melbourne'', the turns quickly placed ''Evans'' back in the carrier's path. ''Melbourne'' hit ''Evans'' amidships at 3:15 am, cutting the destroyer in two.Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 127

Seventy-four of the 273 personnel from ''Evans'' were killed in the collision, with the majority of these believed to have been asleep or trapped inside the bow section, which sank within minutes. ''Melbourne'' deployed her boats, life rafts, and lifebuoys, before carefully manoeuvring alongside the stern section of ''Evans'', where both ships' crews used mooring lines to lash the ships together. Sailors from ''Melbourne'' dived from the flight deck into the water to rescue overboard survivors close to the carrier, while the carrier's boats and helicopters collected those farther out. All of the survivors were located within 12 minutes of the collision and rescued before half an hour had passed, although the search continued for fifteen more hours. After ''Evans'' stern was evacuated, it was cast off, while the carrier moved away to avoid damage.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 185 The stern did not sink, and was later recovered, stripped of parts, and sunk for target practice.

Following the collision, ''Melbourne'' travelled to Singapore for temporary repairs to her bow, arriving on 6 June.Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 312 ''Melbourne'' departed Singapore on 27 June and arrived in Sydney on 9 July, where the carrier underwent almost identical repairs at Cockatoo Island Dockyard as in 1964 (primarily the installation of a new bow section). However, an industrial dispute amongst the shipyard workers meant that, although the work was completed in early September, the ship remained in the drydock until 11 October.

A Joint RAN-USN board of inquiry was established to investigate the incident, and was in session over June and July 1969. The board found ''Evans'' partially at fault for the collision, but also faulted ''Melbourne'' for not taking evasive action sooner, even though international sea regulations dictated that in the lead-up to a collision, the larger ship was required to maintain course and speed. It was learned during the inquiry that ''Evans'' commanding officer was asleep in his quarters at the time of the incident, and charge of the vessel was held by Lieutenants Ronald Ramsey and James Hopson; the former had failed the qualification exam to stand watch, while the latter was at sea for the first time.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 200 Subsequent to the inquiry, the three USN officers and Stevenson were court-martialled by their respective navies on charges of negligence, with the three USN officers found guilty and Stevenson 'Honourably Acquitted'.Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 129 Despite the findings, Stevenson's next posting was as a minor flag officer's chief of staff, seen by him as a demotion in all but name. In a repeat of the aftermath of the ''Voyager'' collision, ''Melbourne''s captain resigned amid accusations of scapegoating.Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', pp. 130–1 In December 2012, Stevenson announced that he had received a letter from the Minister for Defence, apologising for his treatment by the RAN and the government of the day.

1970–1976

During the 1970s and early 1980s, replacing parts became an increasing problem.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 12 Components were failing due to wear and age, but the companies responsible for manufacturing the parts had gone out of business during the previous twenty years, sometimes immediately after World War II ended. The carrier's engineers often resorted to making replacements from scratch. The ship's catapult was replaced with parts from the decommissioned HMCS Bonaventure in 1970.

In 1970, ''Melbourne'' participated in three major inter-navy exercises: Sea Rover with SEATO forces in the South China Sea, Bersatu Padu with British Commonwealth forces off Malaysia, and Swan Lake with the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy off Western Australia. During this year, the carrier also visited Japan to participate in Expo '70, and was hit by Manly ferry '' South Steyne'' while alongside at Garden Island, causing minor damage to both vessels. ''Melbourne'' was out of service for most of 1971 while she underwent refits, which concluded in early August.Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 313 In mid-1971, the Australian military's Joint Planning Committee considered using ''Melbourne'' as a transport to help complete the withdrawal of the Australian Task Force from Vietnam before the end of 1971.Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 96–8 While the Army supported this proposal, the Navy successfully argued against its implementation, claiming that transporting troops and cargo would be misusing Australia's only active aircraft carrier, and would prevent ''Melbourne'' from participating in several major multi-national exercises. The refit concluded in late 1971, with the carrier participating in the first RIMPAC exercise, RIMPAC 71, before the end of the year.

Operations in 1972 commenced with a three-month deployment to Southeast Asia. During this deployment, ''Melbourne'' led a fleet of 17 ships from the RAN, Royal Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, US Navy, Philippine Navy, and Royal Thai Navy in Exercise Sea Hawk. This was followed by goodwill visits to numerous Southeast Asian ports, including Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, and Surabaya, before ''Melbourne'' returned to Sydney at the end of April. The carrier spent May performing exercises off the New South Wales coast, during which she was called on to rescue three fisherman who had been stranded at sea for the previous two days. In August, ''Melbourne'' sailed for Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC 72. At the conclusion of this exercise, ''Melbourne'' proceeded to Japan on a diplomatic visit, then sailed to the Philippines to exercise with SEATO ships. During this deployment, a fire ignited inside the ship's main switchboard. The carrier returned to Australia on 27 November after 101 days at sea, and underwent a seven-month refit. On 24 August 1973, ''Melbourne'' returned to Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC 73. She returned to Australia on 12 October, but sailed out ten days later to participate in Exercise Leadline off Malaysia, before reaching Sydney again in December.

''Melbourne'' began 1974 by transporting 120 Australian soldiers to a temporary assignment with an American infantry battalion based in Hawaii. She then sailed to San Francisco to collect 12 new Chinook and five UH-1 Iroquois helicopters for the Royal Australian Air Force, arriving in Australia with her cargo in April. In June, the carrier took part in Exercise Kangaroo in the Coral Sea, before returning to Sydney in July. On 11 July, the passenger liner SS ''Australis'' hit and damaged ''Melbourne'' in Sydney Harbour. In November, the carrier took part in disaster relief exercises. These were prophetic, as on the night of 24–25 December 1974, Cyclone Tracy destroyed the city of Darwin. ''Melbourne''s ship's company was recalled immediately from leave, the ship was loaded with supplies, and the carrier departed Sydney on 26 December in the company of .Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 289; Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', pp. 8–9 ''Melbourne'', ''Brisbane'', and eleven other ships were deployed as part of the largest peacetime rescue effort ever organised by the RAN: Operation Navy Help Darwin. ''Melbourne'' remained off Darwin until 18 January 1975, acting as operational headquarters and a helicopter base. During this operation, the seven Wessex helicopters embarked on ''Melbourne'' performed 2,493 flights, carrying 7,824 passengers and 107 tons of cargo.

Following Navy Help Darwin, ''Melbourne'' participated in RIMPAC 75, then returned to Sydney for a fourteen-month refit, which was delayed by industrial action at the dockyard. While moored in Sydney Harbour, on 24 July, ''Melbourne'' was struck by Japanese cargo ship ''Blue Andromeda''.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 218 While working up following the refit, ''Melbourne'' and provided assistance to MV ''Miss Chief'' off the coast of Bundaberg, Queensland on 16 August 1976.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 291 In October, ''Melbourne'' participated in Exercise Kangaroo II, before sailing to her namesake city for the carrier's 21st birthday celebrations, then returning to Sydney on 5 November.

1976–1983

On 5 December 1976, a fire deliberately lit at by a member of the Fleet Air Arm damaged or destroyed all but one of Australia's S-2 Trackers.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 19 Following participation in RIMPAC 77, ''Melbourne'' was sent to San Diego to collect replacement aircraft.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 83 Arriving back in Sydney on 5 April, the carrier was sent on a five-month deployment to the United Kingdom on 28 April, accompanied by and .Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 231 En route, ''Melbourne'' lost a Sea King in the Indian Ocean on 9 May, with the aircrew recovered by ''Brisbane''. A Tracker from ''Melbourne'' located the disabled Dutch vessel ''Impala Princess'' in the Gulf of Aden on 25 May and directed a French destroyer to assist.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 293 Two Bofors naval guns were deposited by ''Melbourne'' at Souda Bay, Crete on 2 June, marking the first visit of an Australian warship to Crete since June 1941. These weapons were donated to the Australian War Memorial at Stavromenos, in Crete's Rethymno regional unit. The highlight of the deployment saw the three ships represent Australia and New Zealand at the Silver Jubilee Naval Review on 28 June 1977. A two-seat Harrier jump jet demonstrator undertook a series of trial takeoffs and landings aboard ''Melbourne'' on 30 June: a trial organised as part of the project overseeing the ship's potential replacement. Following the Jubilee Review and participation in Exercise Highwood in July, ''Melbourne'' and her escorts returned to Australia, arriving in Fremantle on 19 September and Sydney on 4 October. ''Melbourne'' was docked in Garden Island's drydock on arrival, where she remained until January 1978.

At the end of March 1978, ''Melbourne'' left Sydney for RIMPAC 78.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 89 During this exercise, ''Melbourne'' acquired the nickname 'Little M' after working with 'Big E' —the smallest and largest aircraft carriers (respectively) in operation at the time. On return in July, the carrier entered a major refit, which continued until 3 August 1979. During this refit, on 3 March, a boiler explosion caused minor damage to the carrier. The remainder of the year involved participation in three exercises, Tasmanex off Wellington, New Zealand, Sea Eagle I in the Tasman Sea, and Kangaroo III in the Coral Sea. During Tasmanex, ''Melbourne'' lost her LW-02 radar aerial and a Skyhawk (N13-154907), both of which fell overboard during heavy seas.

During February and March 1980, ''Melbourne'' participated in RIMPAC 80, as the flagship of Battle Group Two. This was immediately followed by a visit to the Solomon Islands in early April.Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 95 The carrier was in Sydney from mid-April until mid-August, during which the 25th anniversary of ''Melbourne''s service in the RAN was celebrated on 15 August with a cocktail party aboard the carrier, popularly referred to as 'The Night of the Admirals'. On 18 August, ''Melbourne'' sailed for Fremantle to participate in Exercise Sandgroper 80. On 8 September, ''Melbourne'', accompanied by , , , , and deployed to the Indian Ocean as the Australian Squadron for a flag-showing cruise.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 297 During this cruise two Skyhawks were lost: on 2 and 21 October. On 24 October, a Tracker from ''Melbourne'' observed Soviet warships ''Storozhevoy'' and ''Ivan Rogov'' shadowing the squadron. The squadron's return in November 1980 concluded the largest and longest RAN deployment since World War II.

Following her return, the carrier spent six months in Australian waters, before a two-month deployment to Southeast Asia. During this deployment, on 21 June 1981, ''Melbourne'' rescued 99 Vietnamese refugees from a disabled fishing vessel in the South China Sea. The carrier's deployments for the second half of the year consisted of two exercises, Sea Hawk and Kangaroo 81. A major refit scheduled to begin in late 1981 was postponed pending the decision on a replacement carrier. After docking at Garden Island in December, the carrier was accidentally flooded by an officer who was impatient to commence leave.Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 15 In his haste to shut down the carrier, he failed to deactivate the water pumps, and over 180 tons of fresh water were pumped in before a maintenance party discovered the flooding the next day. ''Melbourne'' remained in dock at the start of 1982, and did not leave before the decision regarding her replacement was made.

Replacement

A replacement for ''Melbourne'' was under consideration as early as 1956, and the question was revisited on several occasions until the 1980s. In every situation, a new aircraft carrier was turned down due to the increases in manpower and operating costs required to operate the ship when compared to ''Melbourne''.

Between 1956 and 1959, the RAN considered acquiring a larger carrier to replace ''Melbourne'', as the Fleet Air Arm was becoming obsolete and the RAN did not believe the ship could be modified to operate newer, heavier aircraft. Under consideration were British carrier and a ship of the United States' ''Essex'' class. Both options were turned down, and it was instead proposed to operate ''Melbourne'' as a helicopter carrier.

In 1960, the United States Navy offered an ''Essex''-class carrier to the Australian government, in the interest of improving relations between the two nations and their navies.Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 101 The only cost to the RAN would have been the modifications required to make the carrier operationally compatible with the RAN's primarily British-designed fleet. In the late 1960s, the British made a similar offer, following a 1966 review indicating that was a superfluous naval unit.Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 9 In 1968, ''Hermes'' took part in a combined exercise with the RAN, during which the carrier was visited by RAN and Australian government officials, while RAN Skyhawks and Trackers practised landings on the larger carrier. Both offers were turned down due to operating and manpower costs.

The need to secure a replacement for ''Melbourne'' grew as the carrier's age caused the operating costs to increase to over A$25 million per year. In June 1977, the Defence Force Development Committee approved an investigation into acquiring a STOVL/helicopter carrier. By August 1979, the decision was limited to three ships: a modified American ''Iwo Jima''-class amphibious assault ship, an Italian ''Giuseppe Garibaldi''-class carrier, and a Sea Control Ship design that later became the Spanish Navy's ''Principe de Asturias''.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 226 By February 1981, the ''Iwo Jima'' class was the preferred option.Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 227

HMS ''Invincible''

Plans to replace ''Melbourne'' changed in July 1981; the British 1981 Defence White Paper had marked the recently commissioned as surplus to requirements, and she was offered to the RAN for the 'bargain' price of GB£175 million (A$285 million). The ''Invincible'' class had been considered and discarded during the investigation, but the decreased price and the fact the already-constructed carrier would be ready for RAN service in 1983 prompted the Australian government to announce its intention to purchase ''Invincible'' on 25 February 1982 and close the carrier acquisition program. The government also announced that the ship would be renamed and operated as a helicopter carrier, and that a decision on the purchase of fixed wing aircraft would be made after acquisition.

The deal was put on hold in April 1982, following the outbreak of the Falklands War. The performance of ''Invincible'' and other Royal Navy aircraft carriers during the conflict showed that the report which suggested reductions in the size of Britain's carrier fleet—with the follow-on effect of making ''Invincible'' available for sale—was flawed, and both sides withdrew from the deal in July. The RAN was again offered HMS ''Hermes'', and again declined due to the carrier's age and manpower requirements. The Australian government began to reconsider the previous contenders for replacement, as well as considering requesting the United Kingdom or United States to build a simple carrier capable of operating F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters, but the issue was suspended at the commencement of the 1983 Australian Federal Election.Wright, ''Australian Carrier Decisions'', p. 173 On 14 March, following the election of Bob Hawke's Labor Government, the announcement was made that ''Melbourne'' would not be replaced.

Decommissioning and fate

Following the decision to replace ''Melbourne'' with HMS ''Invincible'', the postponed refit was cancelled outright. The Australian carrier was prepared for disposal, and was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 30 June 1982. She was towed to the mooring dolphins near Bradley's Head, where she remained until 1985. ''Melbourne'' was capable of being reactivated as a helicopter-equipped anti-submarine warfare carrier within 26 weeks, but was never required to do so. A Sydney-based group proposed in 1984 to purchase ''Melbourne'' and operate her as a floating casino moored in international waters off Eden, New South Wales, but nothing came of this.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 301 ''Melbourne''s air wing was disbanded at HMAS ''Albatross'' on 2 July 1982, with the transfer of 805 Squadron's Skyhawks to 724 Squadron and 816 Squadron being absorbed into 851 Squadron.''851 Squadron'', Sea Power CentreWilson, ''Phantom, Hornet and Skyhawk in Australian Service'', pp. 171–2 The Skyhawks remained in service as fleet support aircraft until 30 June 1984, while the Trackers were withdrawn from service on 31 August 1984 after being used as land-based maritime patrol aircraft.

The carrier was initially sold for breaking up as scrap metal for A$1.7 million, although the sale fell through in June 1984. She was sold again in February 1985 to the China United Shipbuilding Company for A$1.4 million, with the intention that she be towed to China and broken up for scrap. Prior to the ship's departure for China, the RAN stripped ''Melbourne'' of all electronic equipment and weapons, and welded her rudders into a fixed position so that she could not be reactivated. Her steam catapult, arresting equipment and mirror landing system were not removed.Hemmingsen, ''PLAN for action'', p. 15 At this time, few western experts expected that the Chinese government would attempt to develop aircraft carriers in the future.Hemmingsen, ''PLAN for action'', p. 14 The carrier departed Sydney on 27 April 1985, heading for Guangzhou, under the tow of tug ''De Ping''. The journey was delayed when the towing line began to part, requiring the carrier and tug to shelter in Queensland's Moreton Bay, on 30 April.Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 304 The towing gear broke a day later, requiring a second tug to secure the carrier while repairs were made to ''De Ping''. Three days later, ''Melbourne'' ran aground while still in Moreton Bay. ''Melbourne'' arrived in China on 13 June. The Australian government received a Telex on this day, reading:

The ship was not scrapped immediately; instead she was studied by Chinese naval architects and engineers as part of the nation's top-secret carrier development program.Storey and Ji, ''China's aircraft carrier ambitions'', p. 79 It is unclear whether the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) orchestrated the acquisition of ''Melbourne'' or simply took advantage of the situation; Rear Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong, a staff member at the National Defence College, has stated that the Navy was unaware of the purchase until ''Melbourne'' first arrived at Guangzhou. ''Melbourne'' was the largest warship any of the Chinese experts had seen, and they were surprised by the amount of equipment which was still in place. The PLAN subsequently arranged for the ship's flight deck and all the equipment associated with flying operations to be removed so that they could be studied in depth. Reports have circulated that either a replica of the flight deck, or the deck itself, was used for clandestine training of PLANAF pilots in carrier flight operations. It has also been claimed that the Royal Australian Navy received and "politely rejected" a request from the PLAN for blueprints of the ship's steam catapult. The carrier was not dismantled for many years; according to some rumours she was not completely broken up until 2002. A 2012 article in '' Jane's Navy International'' stated that the large quantity of equipment recovered from ''Melbourne'' "undoubtedly helped" Admiral Liu Huaqing secure the Chinese government's support for his proposal to initiate an aircraft carrier development programme.

''Melbourne''s service is commemorated with a stained-glass window at the Garden Island Naval Chapel. One of the ship's anchors is incorporated into a memorial to naval aviation at Nowra, New South Wales.Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 91 Another anchor and the starboard side ship's bell are on display at the RAN Heritage Centre at Garden Island. Memorabilia from ''Melbournes voyages with the Fleet Air Arm embarked, and examples of all the types of aircraft deployed on ''Melbourne'', are on permanent static display in the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS ''Albatross''.

Following an overhaul of the RAN battle honours system completed in 2010, ''Melbourne'' was retroactively awarded the honour "Malaysia 1965–66" for her service during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.Royal Australian Navy, ''Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours''Royal Australian Navy, ''Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours''

See also

* ''Canberra-class''
** HMAS ''Adelaide'' (L01)
** HMAS ''Canberra'' (L02)
* ''Majestic class''
** HMAS ''Sydney'' (R17)

Notes

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External links

HMAS Melbourne Association

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melbourne (R21)
Majestic-class aircraft carriers of the Royal Australian Navy
Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness
1945 ships
Cold War aircraft carriers of Australia