Kookaburra2011
Mar. 1942: passage of the disintegrating 6-inch practice shell that passed lethally through HMAS TAMBAR - courtesy Philip Spry-Bailey, AO.
6932. Having passed across the foredeck, through the Captain's cabin and chart room - fatally injuring three men in its path - we see here, looking aft, where the 6-inch practice shell [packed with plaster of Paris] from Fort Cowan Cowan had begun to disintegrate, but was still wreaking damage. It has knocked down a ventilation uptake beside the ship's funnel and punched large holes through the corner bulkheads of the radio shock at the rear of the ship, before splashing into the sea well beyond the vessel. This scene is more discernible if one refers to the author Craig mair's builders model of the ship shown on the cover of his book [Entry 3936], where the two large ventilation uptakes are visible, as well as the radio shack. Photo: photographer unknown, this image [ which appears in Craig Mair's book at p136], has been kindly supplied by Philip Spry-Bailey, AO, of Melbourne, whose father was an engineering officer on HMAS TAMBAR at the time of the incident. 'A Lucky Ship: The Nine Lives of the Australian coaster TAMBAR', softcover, 240pp with index and appendices, 160 photographs, maps and ships plans, is available from the publisher, the Nautical Association of Australia, PO box 237 Leopold Vic. 3224, $29.95 posted in Australia for members, $36.00 posted in Australia to non-members. Visa or Mastercard accepted.
Mar. 1942: passage of the disintegrating 6-inch practice shell that passed lethally through HMAS TAMBAR - courtesy Philip Spry-Bailey, AO.
6932. Having passed across the foredeck, through the Captain's cabin and chart room - fatally injuring three men in its path - we see here, looking aft, where the 6-inch practice shell [packed with plaster of Paris] from Fort Cowan Cowan had begun to disintegrate, but was still wreaking damage. It has knocked down a ventilation uptake beside the ship's funnel and punched large holes through the corner bulkheads of the radio shock at the rear of the ship, before splashing into the sea well beyond the vessel. This scene is more discernible if one refers to the author Craig mair's builders model of the ship shown on the cover of his book [Entry 3936], where the two large ventilation uptakes are visible, as well as the radio shack. Photo: photographer unknown, this image [ which appears in Craig Mair's book at p136], has been kindly supplied by Philip Spry-Bailey, AO, of Melbourne, whose father was an engineering officer on HMAS TAMBAR at the time of the incident. 'A Lucky Ship: The Nine Lives of the Australian coaster TAMBAR', softcover, 240pp with index and appendices, 160 photographs, maps and ships plans, is available from the publisher, the Nautical Association of Australia, PO box 237 Leopold Vic. 3224, $29.95 posted in Australia for members, $36.00 posted in Australia to non-members. Visa or Mastercard accepted.