Bayonet was one of 20 Attack class patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy between 1967 and 1969 by Walkers Ltd of Maryborough Qld . In the 1960s, Australia became more closely involved in events in the Asia-Pacific region. This led to improved surveillance and control of our enormous coastline, especially the northern approaches. Patrol boats controlled illegal fishing, smuggling and immigration, search and rescue, and occasional inshore survey work. Her hull is steel and the superstructure is aluminium. It is armed for small-scale encounters, with one 40-mm Bofors gun and two 0.5-inch Browning machine guns to fire warning shots across the bow of a suspect vessel. She was 32.6 m long and 6.1 m wide, 150 tons, powered by two paxman diesel engines and capable of about 24 knots. . A sister ship featured in the popular ABC-TV series Patrol Boat. The Bayonet conducted patrol duties around Australian waters until her scuttling by defence maritime services on 21 September 1999 in 82 m of water off Torquay in Victoria. propeller, hmas bayonet

Propeller from HMAS Bayonetequipment

A poster information board, white text on black, for cartoon in 5RAR display.On the 4th May 1966, the majority of 5RAR C Company (1st tour) arrived at Vung Tau South Vietnam on board the converted aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney, The following day they were ferried ashore on American landing crafts. As they approached the beach, they heard an order that has remained with them until this day. "Fix Bayonets!" Had Vung Tau been over-run by Viet Cong? Should we put a round up the spout? Then again, did we even have a round to put up the spout? Q-Sgt Bob Trenear heard the order with dismay and stated "Fix Bayonets, bloody hell I packed mine in the bottom of my pack!" This was supposed to be a secured area. The Americans (who were working on the beach) thought it a great joke with comments such as "Put those pig stickers away before you hurt yourselves". Unfortunately, this isn't the original cartoon. However Richard Martin created a new one in 2012 and donated it to the Company's Mushroom Club. The original cartoon was published in an Australian newspaper in 1966. As this is a part of the Company's history it would be great appreciated if anyone having information or an image of the original cartoon to contact the 5RAR Association through their Website www.5rar.asn.au 5 rar association, cartoon, poster, information board, vung tau, hmas sydney, sgt bob trenear, bayonet, richard martin