Australian National Maritime Museum Volunteer Guide...

Ex HMAS Advance Guide Notes

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Ex HMAS Advance Guide Notes Version 1-2012

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Australian National Maritime Museum

Volunteer Guide

Ex-HMAS Advance

Guide Notes


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Disclaimer These notes are for use in guide training sessions at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM). Version 1 -2012 Current as of 1 September 2012 Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia 2012 This publication is available free of charge and the ANMM prohibits any party from selling this publication. This work is copyright. You may not reproduce this material without the express permission of the ANMM. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights contact the ANMM, 2 Murray Street, Pyrmont, NSW, 2009 or by e-mail to [email protected]


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Contents Knowledge level symbols 4 HMAS Advance – background and history 5 Advance at a glance 15 Design and construction details 17 Armament 18 Comparative vessels 21 General arrangement 25 Work, Health and Safety instructions 27 The tour - summary 28 The tour in detail 30 The quarterdeck 30 The flying bridge 35 The bridge 42 The galley & engine room 57 The wardroom flat 64 The wardroom 70 The forecastle 72 Some general features 79 What’s down below? 84 FAQs 85 Detailed chronology 88 Glossary 96 Appendices 97


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Knowledge level symbols In these guide notes and the accompanying workbook, the following numbered “star” symbols indicate what you must and should know. Advanced knowledge is extra information supplied to guides that may be of assistance to them in their role as tour guides at the museum.

Must know/do

Should know/do

Advanced knowledge

Museum guides should read these notes in conjunction with the “ex HMAS Advance Training Activity Workbook”.

HMAS Advance Attack class patrol boat

A Guides’ Guide Prepared by Lindsey Shaw, senior curator Phil McKendrick, fleet manager Peter Wood, volunteers’ manager August 2012 - Version 1


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HMAS Advance – background and history During the 1960s Australia had become closely involved in events in the Asia-Pacific region, and was no longer solely depending on a British strategic presence close to the north in Malaya and Singapore. The effect of this on Australia’s naval strategy was a greater commitment to improving surveillance and control of our enormous coastline, especially the northern approaches. In 1963 the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) requested a preliminary feasibility study for a boat of simple characteristics about 70-80 feet in length (21-24 metres) with a speed of 12 knots and accommodation for two officers, two petty officers and 10 junior rates. A final design was developed for a 100-foot (30.4 metres) 20-knot boat based on US Coast Guard cutters and tank testing. The decision to produce a new patrol boat for the RAN was approved by the Menzies Government in 1964 – initially for nine all-purpose craft, although this was soon increased to 14 and then 20 (five of which were specifically for the Papua New Guinea division). The design for the craft was prepared by Naval Architect Ted Bell at the Navy Office in Canberra. In 1965, contracts were awarded to Queensland shipbuilders Evans, Deakin & Co Pty Ltd of Brisbane and Walkers Ltd of Maryborough. HMAS Advance was the third of the 20 Attack class patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy in these shipyards between 1967 and 1969. The Attack class, named after the first of the type, HMAS Attack, was primarily designed for general patrol and survey work in Australian and New Guinean waters. HMAS Advance was commissioned in 1968 having been built by Walkers Ltd of Maryborough. Along with the other patrol boats, Advance was available to undertake control of illegal fishing, seaward and harbour defence, coast watching duties, smuggling and immigration control, search and rescue, act as a target towing vessel, anti-infiltration and counter insurgency control, servicing of local navigational beacons, occasional inshore survey work, and also to act as a training vessel for Reserve officers and sailors and for general training in small ship handling.


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HMAS Advance – operating out of Darwin

The Attack class reflected a stage in the development of high-speed patrol boat design, which had moved away from short-range, petrol-driven timber craft to medium-range diesel vessels. The hulls were of steel while the superstructures were of aluminium. They were lightly armed for small-scale encounters, with one 40/60 mm Bofors gun and two 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns which could put warning shots across the bows of a suspect vessel. It could also mount a rocket launcher on the after deck for sending lines across to other craft.

Advance, Assail, Attack, Adroit © NT Library

The vessels were originally designated the First Australian Patrol Boat Squadron. In 1972 they underwent reorganisation and were divided into the First, Second and Third Squadrons plus the PNG Division. Their respective bases were Sydney, Cairns, Darwin and Manus Island. Advance was primarily with the Third Squadron in Darwin, where they


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were locally called the ‘Darwin Navy’ and a buffalo head insignia was painted on their funnels.

HMAS Advance – note the ‘3’ (for Third Squadron) and the buffalo head on the funnel

Ship’s complement up north


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Note that when Advance was attached to HMAS Waterhen in Sydney in the 1980s, the buffalo head insignia was replaced with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the red kangaroo. This is the badge you see today. Note: The use of the kangaroo apparently originated during the Korean War. The destroyer HMAS Anzac was repeatedly being mistaken for a British warship, so her executive officer had a brass 'weathervane' in the shape of a kangaroo made and mounted to the ship's mainmast.

These patrol boats drew upon designs from Britain and the USA. They used much British equipment, such as the Paxman main engines, but they also foreshadowed the RAN's increasing swing to US equipment with American generators. An Australian modification was the use of readily available commercial components in some of the fit-out. This was because of their need to operate in remote northern waters far from military bases, where their best supply source might be the hardware store of an isolated coastal town. Five of the boats were built for Papua New Guinea service (with Australian officers in command), and formed the basis of that country’s new navy at independence in 1975. Seven were given to the Indonesian Navy between 1973 and 1985 and are still in operation. They were transferred as part of the Australian-Indonesian Defence Cooperation project for Indonesia’s maritime surveillance capability. Advance served out of Darwin in patrol boat squadrons until 1977. In that time the patrol boat helped shadow a Russian fishing ship suspected of spying, and dispersed large numbers of illegal foreign fishing boats. It weathered Cyclone Tracy in 1974 sustaining damage that required it to be taken to Sydney for repairs. Sister ship HMAS Arrow was lost in that cyclone. HMAS Advance assisted in hydrographic surveys of the north-west coast with HMAS Moresby.


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HMAS Advance at speed –

note the lack of an after awning; and shirtless sailors! Advance is probably best known for starring (with HMAS Bombard) in the first series of the popular ABC-TV production, Patrol Boat, as HMAS Ambush. The series was produced in 1979 and 1983 and starred Robert Coleby, Andrew McFarlane, Grant Dodwell and Danny Adcock (among others). It was filmed around Sydney Harbour, Pittwater, Kuringai and the Hawkesbury. This was the first local attempt at a contemporary television adventure series centred on an arm of the defence forces and aimed at a general audience. Sea Patrol starred Lisa McCune and ran from 2007 to 2011; it featured both Fremantle and Armidale class patrol boats but was not intended to be a modern version of Patrol Boat.

Motto: Never Look Back


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Ex HMAS Advance Guide Notes Version 1-2012 of 97

Advance's equipment included high-definition navigation radar Decca Type RM916, HF (high frequency) and UHF (ultra high frequency) radio transmitters and receivers, gyro and magnetic compasses and echo sounders. The patrol boats were fully air conditioned for tropical conditions and there was enough freezer space on board to provide the sailors and officers with quality food, even when at sea for extended periods. Water and victualling stores were generally stored for 14-day deployments. When the Attack class was superseded by the larger Fremantle class patrol boat, Advance became a training ship for the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. Based at HMAS Waterhen at Waverton, Sydney it was used as the training boat for the Sydney Port Division of the RANR. Decommissioned in 1988, the RAN transferred Advance in operational condition to the Australian National Maritime Museum. The Fremantle class patrol boats (which replaced the Attack class) were 42 metres in length with a crew of 24 and reached 30 knots. The Armidale class patrol boats (which replaced the Fremantle class) are 56.8 metres in length with a crew of 21 and can reach 25 knots. Advance is the only one of the original 20 Attack class patrol boats built still in operational condition in Australia. It represents the period in which Australia became closely involved in the Asia-Pacific region. Naval strategy at the time identified a need to improve coastal surveillance with purpose-built RAN vessels. HMAS Advance was acquired by the museum in operational condition as a working naval patrol boat. It is conserved in operational condition and displayed afloat at the museum wharves in Darling Harbour and periodically at other selected venues. It represents the diverse peacetime work of the Royal Australian Navy: Patrol, board and search operations of Australian fishing grounds Coastal and offshore surveillance for illegal immigrants and smugglers Protection of offshore oil rigs Inshore survey work Air-sea search and rescue Target towing Delivery of critical equipment to settlements Transporting patients from remote locations Naval Reserve training Participating in sporting matches (beach cricket, volleyball, cricket, squash, soccer, water polo, basketball, softball, league, union, Australian rules) against other RAN ships and local townships


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Maintaining liaison with outposts including missions, fishery companies, pearl farms, lightkeepers, wildlife rangers, mining companies, coastwatchers, coastal villages and towns (including inviting locals to watch movies) Photographs of some of the fishing boats Advance kept under surveillance, boarded or towed to port for investigation and prosecution


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HMAS Advance also represents the training and routine exercises undertaken by patrol boat personnel including; Action stations Emergency stations Leaving ship stations Boarding party exercises Landing party exercises Anti-infiltration exercises Aircraft smash exercises Towing manoeuvres Night encounter exercises Night infiltration exercises Night anchorage drill Shiphandling Small arms and general weapons shoot Rapid open fire exercises Blind pilotage team drill Helo winching Launch and recovery of commando operatives Man overboard recovery NBCD (nuclear, biological & chemical defence) exercises Heaving line transfers Minor damage control exercises Steering gear breakdown exercises Main engine breakdown exercises Self maintenance


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And then here was always time for fishing to supplement Navy rations!


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Advance at a glance

Length overall

32.76 m

Length between perpendiculars

30.48 m

Beam overall 6.2 m Draught 1.9 m Displacement 148.3 tonnes Armament One x 40 mm single Mark 7 Bofors gun

mounted forward Two x 12.7 mm (50-cal) Browning machine guns, one foreward and one aft Rifles and hand guns One x 50 mm rocket flare launcher

Speed Maximum speed 24 knots; cruising speed of 15 knots for 1,500 nm

Complement 19 (3 officers, 16 sailors) Built Walkers Ltd, Maryborough, Queensland Launched 16 August 1967 by Mrs Frank George, wife

of Rear Admiral Frank Leveson George Motto

Never Look Back

Commissioned 24 January 1968 Decommissioned 6 February 1988 (at HMAS Waterhen) Power Two Paxman ‘Ventura’ YJCM turbo-

charged 16-cylinder, 4-cycle airless injection diesel engines producing over 2,611 kW; twin fixed pitch 5-bladed screws Max continuous rating 1,500 bhp @ 1,250 rpm Four-hour rating 1,730 bhp @ 1,350 rpm


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Engine number portside – 58 684/75 Engine number starboard – 58 804/15 Bore 7.75” Stroke 8.5” Compression ratio 13:1 Injection pressure 3,100 psi Cooling temperature 160-180°F LO pressure 55-65 psi LO temperature 170-190°F Turbo boost 11 psi

Engine gearboxes Zahnradfabrik BW 1200 H22 (H = hydraulically operated; 22 = gear ratio 2.2:1

Fuel tanks Six main tanks; two ferrying tanks; 22.86 tonnes capacity

Fresh water Four main tanks; 7.40 tonnes capacity Generators Two x 50 KVA diesel driven

One x 24 volt/900 watt auxiliary generator attached to each main engine

Sea water system Supply to showers, forward magazine spraying, galley air conditioning heat exchangers

Cold fresh water service To basins, showers, galley and water heaters

Hot fresh water system One supply to forward and amidships; one to after accommodation

Steering gear Operated from either the bridge wheelhouse or in an emergency from the bosun’s store aft

Galley All electric – single oven range, four hot plates, one grill; refrigerator; hot cupboard; hot water urn; portable mixer/mincer; deep freeze storage unit; both mess spaces and wardroom fitted with small refrigerator for ready use

Deed of Memorandum between Department of Defence and ANMM

Signed 17 May 1988


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Design and construction details HMAS Advance is an Attack class patrol boat operated by the RAN during the 1970s and 1980s. It was designed for the RAN by Naval Architect Ted Bell who was employed at the Navy Office in Canberra. The design was based on the hull forms used by US Coast Guard cutters and developed with tank testing. It has a steel hull and deck and an aluminium superstructure. As a high speed vessel the hull form is designed to operate at semi-displacement cruising speeds with the capability of reaching a higher speed when required for pursuit. The Attack class were suited to the relatively calm operating conditions for patrol work in the northern waters of Australia’s coastline. However when they were required to patrol in Bass Strait the rough conditions showed they had poor sea keeping abilities. They were difficult to control in following seas, as well as having an uncomfortable rolling motion. HMAS Advance represents a military craft for Australian service that was designed and built in Australia to the standards of the late 1960s. In the long history of the RAN, a relatively small number of vessels that have served have been both designed and built by Australian personnel. As an item of technology HMAS Advance represents a stage in the design evolution of high-speed patrol craft. In this way it is representative of the transition in concept and design from short-range timber craft to medium-range steel vessels, and from the use of petrol to diesel engines as a means of propulsion. The hull of mild steel, all-welded constructed frames, bulkheads and deck beams was built in seven prefabricated sections. The initial use of aluminium as a structural building material in naval architecture is recognised in the construction of Advance, most notably in the superstructure, funnel and masts which are aluminium alloy, all-welded construction bolted to the main hull structure. Following the construction of the Attack class patrol boats the practice of using aluminium as a material became widespread.


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Armament One x 40/60 mm single Mark 7 Bofors gun was mounted forward. The Bofors anti-aircraft gun design dates from World War II and is a single-barrelled, air cooled, hydraulically powered mounting. It was basically used for firing warning shots at illegal vessels. Maximum rate of fire: 120 rounds per minute Maximum horizontal range: 3,500 yards (3,200 metres) Maximum vertical range: 3,500 yards (3,200 metres)


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One x 50 mm (2”) rocket flare launcher mounted aft


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Two x 12.7 mm (50-calibre) Browning machine guns mounted fore and aft. Maximum rate of fire 450-600 rounds per minute Maximum effective range 2,000 yards (1,830 metres)


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Comparative vessels HMAS Advance is the only one of the Attack class patrol boats left in Australia that remains in its RAN configuration. The history of the other vessels is as follows: Eight of the RAN’s Attack class patrol boats were transferred to the Indonesian Navy and are still operational although their configuration and condition is unknown. Acute (P81) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1983; renamed KRI* Silea; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships) Adroit (P82) paid off 1982; sunk as target practice by A-4 Skyhawk aircraft of the RNZAF west of Rottnest Island in 1994 Aitape (P84) transferred to Papua New Guinea Defence Force 1974; paid off 1989; sunk as dive site 1995 south-east of Port Moresby


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Dive site - HMAS/HMPNGS Aitape bridge

Samarai (P85) transferred to Papua New Guinea Defence Force 1974; paid off 1987; used as spares Archer (P86) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1974; renamed KRI Siliman; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships) Ardent (P87) to the Hobart Division of the RANR in 1982; paid off 1994; sold to Britton Marine in 2001 for $150,000; sold to a private company in Singapore and sailed from Darwin to Singapore under its own power where it had a minor refit to convert to a pleasure boat and is currently being used as a pleasure craft in Asia (information from Britton Marine October 2007) Arrow (P88) lost in Cyclone Tracy 25 December 1974 with the loss of two men when it sank at Stokes Hill Wharf Assail (P89) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1985; renamed KRI Sigurot; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships) Attack (P90) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1985; renamed KRI Sikuda; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships)


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HMAS Arrow in Francis Bay, 1975

Aware (P91) to the Adelaide Division of the RANR in 1982; paid off 1993; sold to Sydney businessman as diving, salvage and recreational vessel; it has been structurally altered and believed (but not confirmed) to be moored near Wiseman’s Ferry NSW; Ladava (P92) transferred to Papua New Guinea Defence Force 1974; paid off 1988 Lae (P93) transferred to Papua New Guinea Defence Force 1974; paid off 1988 Madang (P94) transferred to Papua New Guinea Defence Force 1974; paid off 1989 Bandolier (P95) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1973; renamed KRI Sibarau; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships) Barbette (P97) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1975; renamed KRI Siada; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships)


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Barricade (P98) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1983; renamed KRI Sigalu; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships) Bombard (P99) transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 1983; renamed KRI Siribua; still in operation (2011/2012 Jane’s Fighting Ships) Buccaneer (P100) paid off 1984; sunk as target practice 1988 Bayonet (P101) to RANR in 1982; paid off 1988; scuttled 1999 off Mornington Peninsula, Victoria * KRI – Kapal di Republik Indonesia – Navy Vessel of the Republic of Indonesia


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General arrangement The vessel is laid out in a functional manner primarily based around the location of the principal operating items. These include the engines, machinery systems and tanks in the hull, the deck-based armament, rocket launcher, windlass and other items, the magazine and necessary superstructure for the bridge and wheelhouse. The twin engines are located just aft of midships, the twin generators are forward of midships. Fuel tanks are located around this machinery space and extend aft. A fresh water tank is located across the centreline about one-third aft of the stem, and two fresh water tanks are located toward the stern forward of the steering compartment. This is a typical distribution of these items to concentrate significant weights away from the ends and toward midships, and it provided some degree of trim control through tank location, fill level and use. The main single Mk 7 Bofors gun is located on the foredeck, with a windlass, spare anchor and a position to mount a machine gun toward the stem. Aft of the Bofors gun is the wheelhouse which has an outside helm position at bridge deck level to allow the best possible view. On the aft end of the bridge on the centreline is a flag and radar mast. The chart table and radar station is forward of the bridge, and is fitted with a second helm position to port, all located at an intermediate deck level. There are windows all around this enclosed position. The funnel and exhaust are aft of the wheelhouse and bridge. The aft deck has an aluminium outboard-powered runabout on the centreline, with davit to starboard, the aft mast, lockers and rocket flare launchers. Life raft canisters are located port and starboard, and the machinegun can be mounted toward the stern. The stern compartment has stowage space and the emergency steering position. To allow for repair and replacement of machinery components, the engine room casing top and funnel were made portable, and capable of being removed in one piece. The magazine is located on the lower deck below the wheelhouse; the radio room is also on this deck level. There is a dive store below the lower deck and a general store toward the forepeak. The forepeak is void apart from a cable locker. Crew living quarters were located on the lower deck and divided fore and aft around the machinery compartment. Officers and senior ratings were forward with a separate cabin for the commanding officer, a cabin shared by two officers and a saloon and mess cabin for senior ratings. There was one head and shower, and one ladder to the main deck. A


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wardroom for the officers is fitted in the forward lower (main deck level) area of the wheelhouse. Junior rating crew quarters were aft, based around a saloon or mess cabin with table, settees and berths. The 12 berths are arranged in stacks of three, all on the port side. A head, shower and laundry were fitted. Escape hatches to the main deck are fitted for the forward, aft and engine room compartments. An awkward compromise was that the galley was located under the bridge on the main deck, so meals had to be prepared and then taken down the steep companionway ladders to the two saloon or mess areas. The senior crew members were able to access this internally through the wheelhouse, but the junior ratings had to carry meals across the deck. The cold storage area was located in the aft compartment, so food supplies had to be taken up and across deck to the galley at regular intervals. The arrangement for the crew is typical for naval vessels of the period. There was little privacy except for the officers, space was very restricted, fit-out was relatively spartan, headroom was just sufficient and ladder-ways very steep. Air-conditioning was fitted for the living spaces because the boats were designed to work in the tropics. It was also noted that the transverse weight distribution had two areas with significant weights, the magazine and galley, located to port of the centreline, and this induced a slight heel to port of one or two degrees in most operating conditions.


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Work, Health and Safety instructions Access is available to the bridge, the flybridge, the wardroom and the main deck fore and aft. No access is currently available to the mess areas or engine room due to WH&S concerns ANMM Volunteers Make sure you have your hat and water with you Visitors Sensible footwear must be worn; no sharp heels are permitted on board. No bags are permitted on board (other than handbags and small bags that can be slung over the shoulder) There is some climbing involved; you must supervise visitors on ladders at all times. Women in dresses should be advised of this before they board the vessel and care taken to be respectful when they are climbing the ladders. Make sure the visitors go backwards down the ladders No food and drink; no eating or drinking on board; bottled water is acceptable No smoking on board the vessel or on the wharf HMAS Advance is in fully operational condition. All instruments, drawers, cupboards, lockers, hatches and equipment have been isolated from public interaction through the addition of Perspex coverings and locks. Do not allow your visitors to touch equipment or instruments; you must not touch anything either. Visitors are permitted to sit in the following areas only Wardroom lounge Captain’s chair on the fly bridge, starboard (right) side only Captain’s chair on the bridge, starboard (right) and port (left) sides Photographs are permitted in all parts of the vessel. Tour times You should be aiming to complete a tour in 15-20 minutes so we get people through; in busy times (when there is a queue) you should complete the tour in 10-15 minutes. If it is very slow then you can take as long as you like!


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The tour – a summary Tours will leave the gangway between the hours of 10.00 and 4.00 seven days per week, weather permitting. Departure of the tours is at the discretion of the volunteer but no more than three tours are to be on board the vessel at any one time; that is, no more than 21 persons on board Advance at any one time. Preferably there will be only two tours operating at any one time. There must be a volunteer guide at the gangway at all times. Tour numbers are limited to a maximum of six persons per tour; children under the 90 cm height restriction are not permitted on the vessel; children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The tour begins at the gangway on the South Wharf where you give the visitors a safety briefing: This is a working vessel, please do not touch the controls Watch where you step Mind your head Take care when using the ladders In brief the tour is to follow this route: 1. Quarterdeck 2. Flybridge 3. Bridge 4. Galley 5. Wardroom flat 6. Wardroom 7. Forecastle 8. Back to Quarterdeck and disembark

Forecastle

Bridge Flybridge

Quarterdeck

Wardroom Galley


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Beware of trip hazards

Clothes and bags could get caught here.


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Beware of steep companionway ladders like this

Beware of narrow companionways like this


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The tour in detail The quarterdeck

Beneath here: Storage Steering gear Armament stores locker Fresh water tanks Diesel tanks Junior rates’ mess

8-person liferaft

Rocket launcher

Fender stowage

Watertight hatch to steering compartment & bosun’s store

Sounding points for tanks below

Petrol stowage


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Transom rungs (sea ladder) – used for access to the boat when it is anchored or at a buoy

Hatch to steering compartment

Flag truck on ensign jackstaff – stops the flag flying off the top


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Beneath here: Junior rates’ washroom and toilets (access hatch on the other side) Diesel tanks

Companionway ladder to flybridge

Funnel

Ship’s boat – carries up to six; used for transfer of personnel, man overboard and inspections/boardings of suspect vessels; 14-foot de Havilland

Fixed kingpost used during stores transfers; antennae array above


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Watertight hatch to steering compartment and bosun’s store

50-calibre machine gun mounting

Liferafts – pull the rope to jettison overboard where it automatically opens; 8-person capacity. If the liferafts go down with the ship there is a pressure release set at a certain depth which means the rafts then shoot to the surface and opens.


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Boat davit for launching the ship’s boat; also used for bringing stores on board from a lighter. Beneath here: Engine room (part of)


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The flying bridge

Flybridge – used in fair weather


Ladder used to access the radar array and to remove the funnel covers

Funnel


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Access from flybridge to enclosed bridge below


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Pyrotechnics locker where safety flares are kept; always locked; key with XO and Captain

Captain’s chair

Azimuth repeater (starboard side)

Signal lamp would be mounted here (starboard side)

Raised wooden grating (so you can see!) Compass (starboard

side)


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General purpose locker – mostly rope

The helm – from where the ship is steered – there is another helm in the bridge below. Only one in use at any one time

Voice pipe

Engine controls


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Compass (port side)

Captain’s chair (port side)

Alternative position for signal lamp (port side)

Raised wood grating for captain to stand on and see

General purpose locker


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Signal lamp mounting

Flag locker Mast


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Seven men on the bridge: Left to right – XO, commanding officer, buffer (PO or CPO) on throttles, leading hand on helm, lookout, plus two others. This many on the bridge during entering or leaving harbour; at sea, the bridge would be manned by the XO, helmsman and a lookout.


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The bridge

Wardroom behind here

UHF whip antennae

Access door to wardroom

Enclosed bridge

Air conditioning ventilation louvres

Open flybridge

General purpose locker, mostly fire fighting gear

RM 916 radar

Deck light


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Ship to shore telephone used when in port

Gyro compass

Helm

Throttles for port and starboard engines

Engine room control indicators – replicated in the engine room but not on the flying bridge Helm indicator


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Engine controls - throttles

Safety hand rail

Emergency stop button

Engine room control indicators

Water to windscreen wipers

Fuel chart – what fuel to be used at a particular speed


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Power supply (fuse box)

Ship’s intercom

Master Gyro compass

Fire suppression system to engine room

Power supply (fuse box)


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Fire suppression system to engine room

Power supply (fuse boxes)

Voice pipe to Commanding Officer’s cabin beneath

Down to wardroom flat


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Master Gyro compass Power supplies


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The gyro alarm goes off when the gyrocompass stops working. It is an audible alarm.


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Voice pipe to CO’s cabin

Access to wardroom flat

CO’s chair on the enclosed bridge

Radar screen


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Power supply

Key box

Power supply

Isolation switch to power boards

Radar screen

Power supply Voice pipe

UHF radio


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Sonar depth sounder

UHF radio Power supply (light dimmer)

UHF radio handset


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Storage cupboards and drawers for charts, binoculars, stationery, pencils etc


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Engine room air supply fans – controls

Bridge equipment switches (radar, helm, repeaters, etc)

Power supply Wakeup board – when you had to be woken up for your watch

Red light for night illumination


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Intercom

Pigeon holes for signals for the officers

Window lock


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Access from the bridge to the engine room and galley, both on the right Go down backwards and make sure your visitors follow.


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The galley & engine room

Power supplies – isolation boards to the engine room

Self-contained breathing apparatus


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The original maker’s plate for the patrol boat. Walkers Limited started life as the Union Foundry in 1863 when John Walker and three friends set up the company in Ballarat. In 1867 a second company was set up in Maryborough which was changed to Walkers Limited in 1888 – manufacturing machinery for various industries most notably the Queensland sugar mills. Their shipbuilding business started in 1884 with hopper barges and soon progressed in World War II to frigates and corvettes. After the war they built landing craft and 10 of the Attack class patrol boats. The Maryborough yard closed in 1974. For more information on Walkers Limited see Shipbuilding at Walkers Limited by J A Concannon, published by Maryborough District Family History Society, 2009


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Maker’s plates for the auxillary machinery in the engine room – put here for ease of access for the information held on them. Smaller plates are fixed to the relevant machinery.


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Pressure controls for fuel. No access to the engine room as it is fully operational.


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Light fixture

Power supplies

This rope was used to get drums of oil etc down into the engine room; it is also used by the engine room staff for access and egress

Cover hiding cabling


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The galley where there was one cook preparing three meals plus snacks every day. Officers and men alike had to come and get their meals and take them back to their messes. This photograph shows the hot water urn, sink and preparation area and a 15 cu-foot refrigerator


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Storage Hot plate Stove Oven


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The wardroom flat

Water cooler

Hatch with Zulu watertight markings

Access to bridge

Cupboard

Access hatch to air conditioning space


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Railing around ladder to lower mess

Damage control locker

Fearnought suit locker

50-calibre machine gun locker

Door sill – note height to prevent water coming in


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Noticeboard for daily orders, general notices and what the galley is preparing

Ladder to lower decks where you would find the radio room, ammunition locker, CO’s cabin, XO’s cabin senior sailors’ mess, heads x 2, showers x 2, storerooms x 2


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Power supply General noticeboard


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Privacy curtain for wardroom

24-volt power supply for horn and radio

Some of the miles of cabling in the boat


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Main keyboard

Power supply for main broadcast system

General storage cupboard

Storage for wardroom cups, saucers, glasses


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The wardroom

Storage cupboard Storage for

wardroom cups, saucers, glasses

Bar

Mini fridge – 5 cu-foot


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Wardroom for the three officers – where they would eat their meals, receive visitors (when alongside), have meetings, use as an office and relaxation area; there is stowage beneath the cushions.


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The forecastle AN 1/1 Mod 40/60 Bofors gun See appendix 1 for details on how the Bofors is operated

Barrel Mount

Loader platform

Trainer and pointer seat

Power supply

Ammunition clip loader

Raised breechblock


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Elevating sight

Training sight Hand operating lever


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Firing pedal

Direction control


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Spent cartridge chute

Elevating mechanism


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Bollard

Access hatchway to cable locker

Power supply for anchor winch motor

Electric anchor windlass

Red line marks the arc of the Bofors barrel

Anchor stop for spare anchor (200-lb Danforth anchor)

Senior sailors’ escape hatch


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Winch drum for ropes

Anchor cable – goes down hawse pipe

Anchor winch motor

Brake

Power supply control box for winch

Ventilation hatch


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Damage control lockers with fire fighting and repair equipment in order to effect temporary repairs as required, for example cyclone damage, running aground, hitting a wharf too hard, ruptured pipes, damage from an explosion etc; the wardroom is behind here. Some ammunition stowage too.


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Some general features

Vent – from galley

Vent – fuel Vent – from mess deck


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Signal yard for pennant flags and signals RM 916 radar

scanner UHF TX / RX wideband dipole

TV aerial


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Draft marks – stability markers that show how much water the boat is drawing – how full or how empty in terms of fuel and equipment


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Forward draft marks


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Man overboard marker – attached to a lifebuoy – both thrown in to assist with the recovery

Advance’s official pennant (pendant) number in the Royal Australian Navy


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What’s down below? Aft Junior Ratings Mess with Three-tier berths x 4 = 12 bunks Coat locker x 1 Settee x 2 around a central table Bookrack x 1 5 cu-ft refrigerator x 1 Three-compartment kit lockers x 4 = 12 lockers Ironing board x 1 Shower x 1 WC x 1 Sinks x 2 Washing machine x 1 Deep freezer (for galley use) Provisions storage (for galley use) Forward Officers & Senior Ratings Mess with Commanding Officer’s cabin with ship’s safe and pistol locker, desk and chair, bookshelves x 2, filing cabinet, wardrobe, settee which becomes his berth, strip heater Officer’s accommodation for two including desk and chair x 1, bookracks x 2, double wardrobe x 1, settee which doubles as upper and lower berths, strip heater Senior sailors’ accommodation for four including table and 2 chairs, settee x 2 doubling as upper and lower berths, 5 cu-ft refrigerator x 1, bookrack x 1, storage cabinet, shower x 1, sink x 1, WC x 1 Opposite CO’s cabin is shower x 1, sink x 1, WC x 1 Radio office Ammunition magazine Beneath the Officers & Senior Ratings Mess are Sullage pump Fresh water tank Dry provisions storage Diving gear store Central storage The engine room in the centre of the ship runs from about the boat davit (aft) to where the ship’s name plate is and abuts the officer’s mess.


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FAQs – frequently asked questions When was the boat built? 1968 Where? At the shipyards of Walkers Ltd in Maryborough, Queensland How many men served in Advance? 19 (3 officers, 16 sailors) Did women ever serve in Attack class patrol boats? No How many were on the bridge at any one time? Five for entering or leaving harbour; two at other times Where did they eat? Officers – the wardroom; senior sailors – senior rates’ mess (forward); junior sailors – junior rates’ mess (aft) Where did they sleep? Crew living quarters are located on the lower deck. Officers and senior ratings lived forward with a separate cabin for the commanding officer, a cabin shared by two officers and a saloon and mess cabin for senior ratings. Junior rating crew quarters were aft, based around a saloon or mess cabin with table, settees and berths. The 12 berths are arranged in stacks of three, all on the port side. How long were the deployments? An average of two weeks How fast can it go? Maximum speed 24 knots; cruising speed of 15 knots for 1,500 nm What are the bathroom facilities like? Two heads (toilets) and two showers - one each for officers plus senior ratings and one each for junior ratings Where did Advance serve? Home ported to Darwin in the first instance and later to Sydney Harbour for RAN Reserve training


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Why was it decommissioned? Had reached the end of its working life and the class was being replaced by the newer, faster, bigger Fremantle class patrol boats (which have since been replaced by the Armidale class) When did it come to the museum? 1988 What is Advance used for today? A visitor attraction at the museum; to promote the museum on occasion at festivals and regattas and for use as a museum VIP vessel Can I book a trip on Advance for me and my friends? The short answer is no. Advance is not surveyed for commercial use and is a museum ship whose role is to inform visitors of one part of our naval heritage. Is there any asbestos on this vessel? No, it has been removed.


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Detailed chronology 1967 March – laid down at Walkers Ltd, Maryborough, Queensland

16 August – launched by Mrs Frank George, wife of Rear Admiral Frank Leveson George

1968 23 January – completed trials to the satisfaction of the Principal Naval Overseer (Queensland) 24 January – commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy alongside Walkers Ltd wharf, Maryborough; service conducted by Canon Grayson and Monsignor Lyons 25 January – hit a sandbank during speed trials in Hervey Bay at the north end of Big Woody Island but floated off on the high tide 28 January – slipped at Walkers Ltd to inspect for underwater damage – none found 30 January – course set for Sydney 1 February – arrived Sydney; refuelled at Bradley’s Head dolphins; moored at HMAS Waterhen 12-25 February – trials in Sydney Harbour; exercises with Klepper collapsible canoes and No. 1 Commando at Jervis Bay 28 February – exercises with HMAS Hobart, Jervis Bay March – exercises and trials completed in Sydney, Broken Bay and Jervis Bay April – course set to take up station in the North Australia Area and arrived Darwin 20 April (via South Molle Island, Mourilyan, Cairns and Thursday Island) and berthed at Inner Stokes Hill Wharf May – general fishery patrols and surveillance; from Derby assisted Army Survey Unit with island surveys June – continued to assist Army Survey Unit; visited radio beacon keepers, coastwatchers and lighthouse keepers July – rendezvous with SS Iron Wyndham to take four survivors from sunken landing barge back to Darwin; proceeded to Dili on 17 July for PR visit August – relieved HMAS Attack monitoring the activities of the Russian stern trawler Van Gogh in the prawning grounds of the Gulf of Carpentaria September – continued surveillance of the Van Gogh; completed fishery patrols in the Gulf of Carpentaria October – Participated in Exercise Coral Sands off Mackay; open for public inspection at Mourilyan; participated in Cairns’ Fun with the Sun Festival; fishery patrols in the Gulf of Carpentaria including the investigation of Japanese trawlers inside the 12-mile limit; went to the aid of 19-foot cruiser Vesta (assistance not required as cruiser was being towed by the trawler Melville). November – transported Department of Shipping technician to Browse Island to repair radio beacon; Remembrance Day observed at Derby; lost an anchor in King Sound due to width of the anchor shackle compared with anchor shank; general fishery surveillance


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December – placed Australian trade- marked cans around East, West and Cartier Islands to show continued sovereignty (as per instructions); recovered propeller from crashed Beaufighter for Alice Springs RSL Sub-Branch; Departmental and Annual Inspections undertaken of patrol boats at Darwin; Christmas at Darwin – leave granted on public holidays only as Advance was duty patrol boat (had to be ready within one hour)

1969 January – familiarisation cruise around Darwin harbour for personnel from HMAS Melville, WRANS from HMAS Coonawarra, Army and RAAF; undertook North West Coast patrols; transported Department of Shipping technicians to Adele and Lacepede Islands February – general fishery surveillance; transported sick member of trawler Bathurst T to Darwin; Squadron cocktail party held at Darwin on Attack, Advance and Assail; invited guests taken on Exercise ‘Shopwindow’ around Darwin harbour March – undertook fishery surveillance around the Gulf of Carpentaria; gun-functioning trials held off Beagle Gulf April – with HMAS Assail to Dili to participate in memorial presentation by Australian 2nd/2nd Commandos to the people of Timor; took part in Darwin’s ANZAC Day parade; general fishery surveillance May – general fishery surveillance; transferred Customs officers, RAN personnel and mail to HMAS Sydney and transferred HMAS Sydney personnel to Darwin June – carried guests to watch the Australian Catamaran Championships in Darwin; acted as air raid reporting ship for combined air exercise; transferred naval architects and mail to HMAS Supply July – general fishery surveillance August – general fishery surveillance; steamed to Sydney for major refit September – tank cleaning at Garden Island; refit at Cockatoo Island December – refit completed and sea trials and exercises undertaken

1970 January – sea trials and exercises undertaken off Sydney and Jervis Bay; steamed to Darwin February – search for survivors of oil rig tender vessel Sedco Helen which foundered in Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, north-west WA, 31 January 1970 (nine lives lost); general fishery surveillance; assisted with repair of Red Bluff Light; Australian trade marked cans placed around various islands to show continued sovereignty (as per instructions) March – Annual Inspection at Darwin; general fishery surveillance April – general fishery surveillance; annual sea inspection May – general fishery surveillance; recreation time at Mission


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Bay when the ship’s cinema projector and films were landed and shown for civilians and sailors alike June – grounded on way to Keys Inlet; refloated following day (no damage); general fishery surveillance; ship’s company immunised against influenza July – general fishery surveillance; transferred Army personnel for island surveys August – Inter-ship sports day at Darwin; survey work with HMAS Moresby (North-West Australian Survey) September – slipped at NT Port Authority Slipway in Frances Bay (2-15 September); 24-26 September – Kupang where films, sport, formal meetings and general socialising took place; 27-30 at Dili for formal meetings and social events October – North-West Australian Survey with HMAS Moresby November – maintenance period at Darwin December – general fishery surveillance Won the Kelly Shield – most operationally efficient patrol boat (Minewarfare and Patrol Forces Proficiency Shield)

1971 January – self maintenance period; gun practice; general fishery surveillance; film night for locals at Mission Bay February – general fishery surveillance March – general fishery surveillance; tropical low off Gove resulted in flooding and damage to the vessel April – Intermediate Docking at Frances Bay; general fishery surveillance during which XO (Lieutenant Gibson) was injured in heavy seas May – routine exercises in Darwin harbour with other patrol boats; general fishery surveillance June – general fishery surveillance; film night for locals at Cygnet Bay July – general fishery surveillance; visited Port Moresby: transported sick patient from Dauan Island to Thursday Island August – general fishery surveillance September – gun functioning trials; transferred sailors from Darwin to HMA Ships Swan and Sydney October – general fishery surveillance November – deployment to Sydney for refit (departed 4th ; arrived 20th) December – in refit at Cockatoo Island

1972 January – in refit at Cockatoo Island (delayed due to Painters and Dockers dispute) February – unslipped and secured to Sutherland Wharf to complete refit March – refit completed; trials commenced April – sea trials off Sydney and Jervis Bay; deployment to Darwin to recommence patrol duties (departed 14th; arrived 28th) May – workup exercises in Darwin harbour and Beagle Gulf; participated in RAAF Exercise Top Limit in Joseph Bonaparte


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Gulf – provided early warning of air strikes, acted as target for anti-shipping strikes; took two groups of nine sea scouts on one-day familiarisation tours June – fishery surveillance and coastwatcher visits July – fishery surveillance and coastwatcher visits; Divisional Inspection August – fishery surveillance and coastwatcher visits; slipped at NT Port Authority Slipway in Frances Bay (10-25 August) September – deployment with HMAS Moresby for survey work October – deployment with HMAS Moresby for survey work November – deployment with HMAS Moresby for survey work December – fishery surveillance patrol; patrol boat exercise program; standby vessel for Christmas period

1973 January – fishery surveillance patrol; Squadron Family Day held on 20th in Beagle Gulf February – fishery surveillance patrols March – Squadron exercise in Beagle Gulf; fishery surveillance patrol; intercepted PNG licensed prawn trawler Bulolo I and accompanied it to Weipa where it was handed over to the Fishery Department; warned Darwin-based vessel Larrpan to stay away from WWII sunken submarine (protected site) April – ‘Foreign Visit’ with HMAS Attack to Indonesia (Ambon, Ternate, Bitung) which included cocktail parties, official visits, ceremonies May – slipped at NT Port Authority Slipway in Frances Bay; fishery surveillance patrol; exercises with RNZAF Skyhawks June – Annual Inspection; fishery surveillance patrol July – fishery surveillance patrol August – fishery surveillance patrols; escorted 51 Indonesian sailing fishing boats clear of the DFZ in York Sound September – self maintenance period (two weeks); fishery surveillance patrol; 13 Indonesian sailing fishing boats warned away from DFZ October – North-West coast patrol and Sovereignty patrol; first aid given to injured Indonesian fisherman November – fishery surveillance patrol; slipped at NT Port Authority Slipway in Frances Bay December – fishery surveillance patrol; Squadron exercises in Beagle Gulf

1974 January – fishery surveillance patrol February – slipped at NQEA (North Queensland Engineers and Agents) Slipway, Cairns March – refit continuing at NQEA including removal of engines April – contractor’s sea trials and workups; participated in Townsville ANZAC Day March May – Operational Readiness Evaluation; returned to Darwin for general fishery surveillance; operated as flagship at Gove Regatta; 25th – Lieut Breeze assumed command of the Third


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Australian Patrol Boat Squadron June – general fishery surveillance; transferred mail and stores to HMS Ariadne, part of RN task group 317.1 July – fishery surveillance patrol; Annual Inspection; to Benoa Harbour (Bali, Indonesia) August – ‘Foreign Visit’ to Jakarta, Indonesia with HMAS Attack –official calls, cocktail party, tours and shopping organised for crew, sports matches; to Ujung Pandang (official calls, cocktail party, press conference) September – conveyed seriously ill fisherman from prawn trawler N R Palmer from Abbott Shoal to Darwin; fishery surveillance patrol; eight Indonesian fishing boats boarded, searched and ordered to leave; ship opened for Navy Week in Darwin (>1,000 visitors) October – slipped at NT Port Authority Slipway in Frances Bay; fishery surveillance patrol; acted as flagship for Gove Regatta; transported ill sailor from Indian-registered MV State of Uttar Pradesh (off Melville Island) to Darwin November – fishery surveillance patrol December – Squadron participated in Squadex 74; Family Day on 20th; rode out Cyclone Tracy off Darwin although some damage was sustained; employed in cleaning up the ship, searching harbour for bodies and assisting search and clean-up teams in Darwin city ‘Operation Navy Help Darwin’

1975 January – slipped at NT Port Authority Slipway in Frances Bay to effect repairs to cyclone damage (crew took two weeks’ cyclone leave) February – slipped at NQEA (North Queensland Engineers and Agents) Slipway, Cairns for Intermediate Docking and cyclone repair March – Intermediate Docking and cyclone repair completed; sea trials resulted in damage and Advance went up on slips again; deployed back to Darwin (left 28th , arrived 2nd April) April – Operation Trochus 75 – monitoring (with Australian and Western Australian fisheries inspectors on board) illegal fishing boats and unauthorised landings in WA Declared Fishing Zone (DFZ) waters; arrested one Indonesian fishing boat and towed to Broome for prosecution, which did not proceed and the boat was set free; part of the duties also included checking automated lighthouse, shipwreck survivor supplies and weather stations; participated in Broome ANZAC Day March May – fishery surveillance patrol (Operation Trochus) June – slipped at NQEA (North Queensland Engineers and Agents) Slipway, Cairns to effect installation of new port main engine July – fishery surveillance patrol (Operation Trochus); helicopter winching demonstration with RAAF Iroquois in Darwin harbour August – fishery surveillance patrol (Operation Trochus); formed


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starting line with HMAS Adroit for the Darwin to Islands yacht race; participated in Shinju Matsuri Festival (Festival of the Moon), Broome; erected Wildlife Sanctuary signs on Lacepede Islands on behalf of WA Department of Fisheries and Wildlife September – fishery surveillance patrol (Operation Trochus); located and photographed baobab tree marked by Captain Philip Parker King, HMC Mermaid, 1820; Annual Inspection November – survey work with HMAS Acute in Bunbury-Cape Naturaliste area December – coastwatching patrol around the Bathurst and Melville Island area; slipped at NT Port Authority Slipway in Frances Bay for Intermediate Docking

1976 January – fishery surveillance patrol; helicopter transfer winching exercises held with RAAF Iroquois helicopter (and 20 RAAF Cadets) in Darwin harbour February – fishery surveillance patrol; helicopter transfer winching exercises held with RAAF Iroquois helicopter in Darwin harbour; weapon direction exercise with RAAF DC3 March – fishery surveillance patrol April – fishery surveillance patrol; boarded and apprehended Taiwanese fishing boat Fong Ta No. 1 and escorted it to Thursday Island May – fishery surveillance patrol; boarded and searched 23 Taiwanese fishing boats June – fishery surveillance patrol; boarded and searched 26 Taiwanese fishing boats July – fishery surveillance patrol; annual Squadron patrol boat exercises August – fishery surveillance patrol; transported NT Historical Society for survey of Fort Victoria, Port Essington; transported 26 Army personnel (SAS) to Cambridge Gulf for Exercise Swampfox; Annual Inspection September – official visit with HMAS Attack to Indonesia (Sorong, Jayapura) for official calls, cocktail parties, sporting events; slipped at Madang for repairs to damaged port propeller; deployed back to Darwin via Rabaul, Milne Bay, Samarai Island, Port Moresby October – slipped at NQEA (North Queensland Engineers and Agents) Slipway, Cairns for annual refit November – refit at Cairns continued December – harbour and sea acceptance trials; workup exercises and drills

1977 January – Operational Readiness Evaluation completed; deployed to Darwin; fishery surveillance patrols; participated in Squadex 77 with HMA Ships Barricade, Bayonet, Barbette and Cairns February – fishery surveillance patrol


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March – fishery surveillance patrol; boarded, apprehended and escorted Fong Kuo No.82 to Weipa; expelled Hidup Bahagia from DFZ; boarded and towed seven Indonesian craft from DFZ April – fishery surveillance patrol; rescued three people (plus luggage and 14-ft dinghy) from Cascade Bay and transported them to Koolan Island; cricket at Koolan with locals (Navy lost) May – survey work with HMAS Moresby in Yampi Sound area June – survey work with HMAS Moresby July – fishery surveillance patrol; participated in Exercise Long Vigil (Commandos); Annual Inspection August – Squadron Exercises; fishery surveillance patrol; Intermediate Docking at Darwin September – Intermediate Docking at Darwin; fishery surveillance patrol October – fishery surveillance patrols; scriptwriter (E Roberts) from ABC-TV embarked to observe patrol boat activities for television series November – fishery surveillance patrol; production manager (James Davern) from ABC-TV embarked to observe patrol boat activities for television series; deployed to Sydney arriving 18 November – based at HMAS Waterhen, Waverton until March 1978

1978 July – Brisbane November – Southern Patrol (Tasmania) December – Sydney

1979 January – Port Alma (Rockhampton), Cairns May – Sydney June – Port Alma, Great Keppel Island, Sydney July – Cairns, Sydney August – Sydney October – Cairns Filming ABC-TV series Patrol Boat – based out of Sydney

1980 August – Welshpool, Vic Patrolling Bass Strait oil rig (BSORS – Bass Strait Oil Rig Surveillance) and fishing grounds

1981 January – RANR operational patrol ‘Seaship’ 1982 13 February – transferred from RAN operational duties in Cairns

to Sydney Port Division RANR operational duties, having undertaken an Intermediate Docking at the shipyards of the North Queensland Engineers and Agents Pty Ltd (NQEA), Cairns 21 February – sailed for Sydney via Townsville, Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour 7 March – arrives Sydney May to June – Bass Strait oil rig patrols (BSORS – Bass Strait Oil Rig Surveillance) as part of RAN contribution to the Civil Coastal Surveillance Routine Program

1986 Took part in the RAN 75th Anniversary Naval Review on Sydney Harbour


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On Cairns slipway Nov 1986 © Warwick Thomson

1987 29 May – ceremonial escort for Queen of Raratiju visit May-June – COMAUSMINPAB ‘Seariders’ (Commander Australian Mine Warfare and Patrol Boat Forces) 5 June – inspected by Chief of Naval Staff

1988 6 February – decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy 17 May – Deed of Memorandum between Department of Defence and ANMM transferring HMAS Advance to Museum ownership


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Glossary Buffer Chief boatswain’s mate; senior seaman sailor CO Commanding Officer Fearnought A heavy woollen cloth; used in the navy as outer clothing in rough cold weather but mainly for fire fighting protection as the fabric is flame retardant Flying bridge also called the flybridge; the open area above the bridge. Used during fair weather and for harbour manoeuvres when good visibility is essential. On cruise ships you can see them as the area that juts out from the enclosed bridge. Gyrocompass a non-magnetic compass used to find navigational direction Helmsman the person who steers the vessel. Radar RAdio Detection And Ranging – radio waves are used to determine range, altitude, direction and speed of an object. The radio waves bounce off the object and are received by the antennae. Used for navigation and search XO Executive Officer X, Y, Z Watertight markings on doors and hatches. X = x-ray = keep closed at all times; Y = yankee = keep closed when ship is in condition yankee or zulu otherwise can be left open, although are generally closed; Z = zulu = keep closed when ship is in condition zulu, otherwise generally kept open. Condition zulu = action stations


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Appendix 1 How does the Bofors gun operate?

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