HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions. The ship was laid down for the British 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 World War II, 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 career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. However, she was involved in two major collisions with allied vessels. On the evening of 10 February 1964, Melbourne collided with and sank HMAS Voyager when the Daring class destroyer altered course across her bow. Eighty-two of Voyager's crew 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 collided with and sank the Allen M. Sumner class destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in similar circumstances. Seventy-four United States Navy (USN) 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 reputation 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 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. HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned on 30 June 1982, having spent 62,036 hours underway and having steamed 868,893 nautical miles. 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.The pictorial history of HMAS Melbourne with rare photos. Now a scarce title and highly desirable title that is now long out of print. Has provenance history of all ships movements from 1955 till decommissioned.HMAS Melbourne 25 YearsOn the front page is a picture of HMAS Melbourne with the words at top "H.M.A.S. Melbourne. At bottom are the words in orange, '25 Years'. In white, are the words 'by Ross Gillett' then 'Forward by Rear Admiral G.G.O. Gatacre C.B.E. DSO. DSC & Bar, RAN'. On the rear page is a list of all the Captains that served on the HMAS Melbourne between 1955-1980.hmas melbourne, aircraft carrier, royal australian navy, australian navy, westland whirlwind, sea venom, fairy gannet, bristol sycamore, westland wessex, douglas skyhawk, grumman tracker, westland sea king, fleet air arm, hmas albatross, nowra

HMAS Sydney was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy. She was built for the Royal Navy and was launched as HMS Terrible in 1944, but was not completed before the end of World War II. The carrier was sold to Australia in 1947, completed, and commissioned into the RAN as Sydney in 1948. She completed two tours of duty in Korean waters. She was relieved in January 1952, after taking the Australian contingent to the U.K. for the Coronation, returning home on 16 N0vember 1952. she finished in Korean waters on 4 May 1953.HMAS Sydney was paid off into reserve in January 1958 and was recommissioned in 1962 as a troop transport. She completed more than 20 trips to Vietnam and was known by the nickname of 'Vung Tau Ferry'. HMAS Sydneys last trip to Vietnam was completed on 12 March 1972 and was paid off for disposal on 12 November 1973. She was sold for breaking up in Korea on 30 October 1975 and left Sydney in tow on 23 December 1975. Rectangular shaped booklet with blue plastic spine and clear cover.hmas ships, aircraft carrier, troop transport ships, lara r.s.l.

Diggers & Mining. Getting the Gold. Slide: others would purchase limited supplies of water from water carriers; Picture from Mitchell Library (by S T G) shows miners of the gold field. Markings: 66 994.LIF:4. Used as a teaching aid.hanimounteducation, tertiary, goldfields

Yields information about the Gold tram of 1951 and of the railway level crossing in Lydiard St North.Negative and Digital image of the Wal Jack Ballarat Negative file of No. 23 as the gold tram crossing the level crossing in Lydiard St North, during 1951 on its way to Lydiard St North. In the background is the signal gantry and the Kennedy Murray Pty Ltd General Carriers. trams, tramways, lydiard st nth, level crossings, ballarat railway station, gold tram, tram 23

A black and white photograph of Armoured Personnel carriers (APC's) in Long Kahn Province roll past a group of Vietnamese children returning from collecting vegetables and herbs from their gardens ouside the local village. The children waited to see if the Diggers would throw any goodies their way.photograhp, digger, apc, long khanh province, vietnamese children, gibbons collection catalogue

Jack Hirst owned a property on Paternoster Road, Emerald, where this photograph was taken. He was a general carrier of goods for the district. One of the boys in the photograph is his son. The girl is a member of the Nobelius family.The photograph is a record of prominent families in the Emerald district.B/W photograph of three children standing beside a truck belonging to Jack Hirst at a rural property.FRONT: Truck registration plate VIC FU 947 REAR: Jack Hirst's truck (Jack obscured). John Richardson, Alan Hirst and Elaine Nobelius. 1937 Truck soursed [sic] from Canada. Kodak Print 1215nobelius family, emerald football club, hirst

One of a collection of 25 model aircraft made by Brian Anthony DOWD. The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. Bearcat F5F. Dark blue with white stars, writing & markings. G8model airplanes, bearcat, ww2

In 1961, 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was equipped with Humber trucks to fulfil an Armoured Personnel Carrier Role. A troop comprised 3 vehicles each with a 2 man crew, commanded by a sergeant.Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and white photograph of seven soldiers beside Humber truck." Cpl. Roberts, Sgt. Hartung, Tpr. Doyle, Tpr. McCluskey, Tpr. Vincent, Tpr. Cameron, Tpr. Madjeric, 2 Tp. "

The D-shaped mess tin was designed for the British Army in 1916 for WW1 soldiers. The back metal loop was designed for attaching to the greycoat carrier harness. It is possible that this item was then reused as a crib tin in the mines. A semi- circular container with a lid in a canvas bag that has a two centimetre diameter ring attached and two three centimetre wide leather straps attached. The lid can be completely removed from the tin, both have handles attached inside.crib tin, food container

Items issued Geoff Murray No 3411521, refer Cat No 638P for his service details..1) Water bottle Australian, plastic , green with screw top lid, Kidney shape. .2) Water bottle carrier Australian , green webbing, felt lined with 2 steel clips on rear. .3) Mug, steel, Australian, Kidney shaped, has fold out steel handle..1) " 8465-71-10808703" .3) "8645-50-242-7843"uniforms, male, military equipment, contiainers

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Friday, February 11, 2005. Hard at work: in this photograph, taken in the late 40s-early50s, general carrier and wood merchant Eric Finch cuts wood on a saw bench. The wood yard was on the corner of Union and Harvy streets, West Bendigo.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

A coloured Photograph of a specially constructed 'up armoured' Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) being used to explode anti personnel mines buried in the 'Barrier' minefield from the village of Dat Do to the sea, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. Each driver only spent and hour in the APC.photograph, apc, 3rd cavalry regiment, dat do, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of the forward air controller for HMAS Hobart, on the "Gunline" Tonkin Gulf, North Vietnam, a U.S. Marine pilot, on board the U.S. Aircraft Carrier, USS Hancock, prepares to take off and observe and report the fall of shot as HMAS Hobart engages North Vietnamese targetsphotograph, hmas hobart, tonkin gulf, uss hancock, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of a 5 RAR digger, guards the Binh Ha plantation owners car, while an Command Armoured Personnel Carrier parks nearby, as plantation villagers file into a compound to await interrogated and identidy checks, during the cordon and search Operation Bondi. (30/12/1969)photograph, duc trung "gallia" rubber plantation, 5 rar, binh ba, operation bondi, gibbons collection catalogue, digger, apc, armoured personnel carrier

A black and whitie photograph of Armoured Personnel Carriers from the 1st Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam ferry infantry elements across a swollen river whilst conducting search and destroy operations South East of the Task Force Base.photograph, apc, 1st australian task force, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue, infantry

On 1 April 1991, ‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles linked with 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment to form a new regiment of two squadrons: VMR Squadron and PWLH Squadron. The 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse title was retained, but the VMR Squadron continued to wear the VMR hat badge.Colour photograph of Technical Support Troop (TST) of VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse carrying out major repair to disabled M113 Carrier during Annual Camp, Puckapunyal, September 19992. Staff Sergeant R Wells is supervising lift of power plant.military, vmr, puckapunyal, repair, carrier, training, wells

Hand-held kerosene lamps were introduced in the late 1800s for lighting homes prior to the introduction of electricity. This lamp was used in the Bridge Hotel during early European settlement and migration to the area.This lamp is the only example of domestic lighting within the collection. It belongs to the objects relating to the interpretation of Echuca's Bridge Hotel, built by European founder Henry Hopwood.Ornate pressed metal base (4 sided) with floral design. Featuring a ribbed blue glass fuel fount, a four-pronged metal carrier (that would hold a flat cotton wick) with small circular knob (a mechanism for adjusting the wick) and a bulbous clear glass chimney with decorative scalloped edge.lamp, glass, blue glass, kerosene, flat wick, 1800s

This book gives details of armoured fighting vehicles in service with the British Army of the eighties. Included are tracked and wheeled reconnaissance vehicles such as Scorpion, Scimitar and Fox, armoured personnel carriers, command, engineer and signals vehicles, bridge layers and others. Specifications and performance details are accompanied by constant-scale plans and photographs.ISBN 0-85059-836-2photographs, armour, armoured fighting vehicles, british army, specifications, terry gander, photographs, armour, armoured fighting vehicles, british army, specifications, terry gander

Note by T.H. Kneen 5 February 1992, "Note caps worn by the young men and the sharpening tools (whetstones) in carrier on hips of the operators." and on 26 February 1992, "Location is probably in the east orchard looking in the direction of Hawthorn." Black and white photograph. 2 male students using scythes cutting wheat ? in the East Orchard.wheat, sharpening tools, whetstones, students working outside, east orchard, caps

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2001. Home of the trophies: in about 1873, the Eaglehawk fire station was built. The sum of 2 pounds was given to the water-carrier who arrived first at the scene of a fire. 1 pound went to the second and 10/- to the third. Photo circa 1928. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

This tool kit was purchased by Bob Gardiner in the 1950s to maintain his bicycle when he used to ride to work in ringwood.Bicycle Repair Kit enclosed in a canvass carrier which has four slots for the tools and two straps with buckle to secure it when it is rolled up. Includes two tyre levers, block spanner, screw driver, cone spanner with a hex shaped spanner in centre and a centre bracket shifting spanner at the end.Deelandtransport, bicycles

Black and white photograph of a long line up of trams in the storage roads at Preston workshops, including works tram No. 20, and ex VR54 with visitors looking at them. Taken by Chris Phillips during a tour 9/2/1969. Ballast wagon No. 24, and possibly the tram behind is the sleeper carrier tram.On the rear in red ink "VR 54 Preston Workshops 9/2/69"trams, tramways, mmtb, preston workshops, vr, tram 54, tram 20, tram 24

Port of Portland Authority archives. The Baron Ardrossan was a geared bulk carrier completed by Haugesund Mekaniske Verksted, Haugesund (Yard No. 37) for H. Hogarth & Sons Ltd., Glasgow. Scottish Ship Management Ltd., Glasgow, managers. Decommissioned in 1986.Front: (no inscriptions) Back: (no inscriptions)baron ardrossan, bulk carrier, cargo

The Uebergang family lived at Tooram Park, Allansford from 1912 until 1992. The projector is part of a collection of toys given into the care of Cheese World Museum.Tin toy projector mounted on a wooden base. A box shape with a lens on the front has a removable lid with a fluted edge. In front of this is the film holder which has a carrier for the film, a winding mechanism, and a protruding lens at the front. This projector was lit by a candle inserted in the body. A baseplate with the manufacturer's name is on the front of the wooden mount.Fairymark/Made in Japantin toys, projectors, film, allansford, uebergang, fairymark, audio visual appliances, photography

Water colour painting in gold frame and cream matt. The painting depicts a centurion tank, an armoured personnel carrier, two Huey Helicopters and a Chinock Helicopter. There are two army personnel on top of the APC, one behind the tank one walking towards the tank and a couple to the right.Two more centurion lie to right of picture.APC.Blue Bell in Action Signed K.C. Mc Fadyen 72painting, centurion tank, armoured personnel carrier, hueycobra (helicopter)

Us manufactured Browning machine guns were introduced to Australian Army in 1950s.The. 30 calibre replaced 7.92 mm Besa in Centurion tanks equipping 8/13 VMR in 1957. The. 50 calibre was mounted on some M113 carriers as Commanders MG. Representative of Training booklets issued to CMF units in the 1960sLightbrown covered booklet Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50HB, M2. Department of the Army Field Manual FM 23 - 65. December 1955

Photograph belonged to Gerald Graham No. R53703 RAN. Rank Mechanician 2nd Class. HMAS SYDNEY 14-08-65 - 20-10-65 HMAS SYDNEY 22-04-66 - 18-05-66 HMAS SYDNEY 25-05-66 - 11-06-66 Troop Transports to Vietnam and return.Photograph - photographic paper, enlarged colour photograph of an RAN vessel - number "21" painted on ship bridge of an aircraft carrier - "HMAS MELBOURNE". Sea in foreground, sky in background. Mount - dark blue colour cardboard. Frame - timber with light brown varnish and decorative moulding. Glass front and MDF Board with brown paper backing.framed accessories, photographs, ran, hmas melbourne

Photos RAN.Black / white print of photo of the Royal Australian Navy Seaplane Carrier HMAS Albatross with a flight of 4 Seagull III's on the left. Beneath is a photo of a Seagull III Amphibian being hoisted into the ships hanger. Print is No 5 in a series of 25. Print is mounted with white border, gold metal frame with masonite backing & wire hanging strap.Printed on RHS bottom corner of border: “ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY 75TH ANNIVERSARY”photograph, 75th, anniversary, ran