Kookaburra2011
Circa 1969: An overview of Williamstown Naval Dockyard with frigates - RAN Historical.
5403. The approximate dating of this image is first based on the presence of the two old paid-off frigates ex-HMAS QUICKMATCH and ex-HMAS GASCOYNE being used as accomodation vessels at Nelson Pier, the largest of the two piers, seen on our right. They were there from 1966 until both were sold for scrapping and towed away in 1971 and 1972. Opposite them are three Attack Class patrol boats, with a Motor Stores Lighter and [looks like] an Oil Fuel Lighter farther down the pier in the bottom foreground.
At Dock Pier to the left, and in the Alfred Graving Dock are three Type 12 destroyer escorts with HMAS SWAN [III] probably being the ship fitting out and yet to receive her masts in the centre. SWAN, as we discussed recently, was commissioned at Williamstown on January 20, 1970 and is still some way short of completion here.
There are two smaller vessel under construction, one beneath an awning, at the building berths on land beside the two cranes - but for the moment we can't think what vessels they would have been in 1969, or thereabouts.
We also notice that the house that once stood at the head of the Alfred Graving Dock - the dock superintendent's house we think - is now gone.
On the Photostream we have been consistently and severely critical of the timetables for work at Williamstown - the years taken to get work done, and we're still trying to get a better overall grasp of the issues and reasons for that. Nonetheless, Williamstown was also the subject of one of our favourite postwar [1947] dockyard images - with HMAS SHOALHAVEN in the drydock - back at Pic NO. 2008 , an acquisition. It can be seen here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4658471389/
This photo: RAN Historical, Navy Heritage Collection, image ID NO. 03069.
Circa 1969: An overview of Williamstown Naval Dockyard with frigates - RAN Historical.
5403. The approximate dating of this image is first based on the presence of the two old paid-off frigates ex-HMAS QUICKMATCH and ex-HMAS GASCOYNE being used as accomodation vessels at Nelson Pier, the largest of the two piers, seen on our right. They were there from 1966 until both were sold for scrapping and towed away in 1971 and 1972. Opposite them are three Attack Class patrol boats, with a Motor Stores Lighter and [looks like] an Oil Fuel Lighter farther down the pier in the bottom foreground.
At Dock Pier to the left, and in the Alfred Graving Dock are three Type 12 destroyer escorts with HMAS SWAN [III] probably being the ship fitting out and yet to receive her masts in the centre. SWAN, as we discussed recently, was commissioned at Williamstown on January 20, 1970 and is still some way short of completion here.
There are two smaller vessel under construction, one beneath an awning, at the building berths on land beside the two cranes - but for the moment we can't think what vessels they would have been in 1969, or thereabouts.
We also notice that the house that once stood at the head of the Alfred Graving Dock - the dock superintendent's house we think - is now gone.
On the Photostream we have been consistently and severely critical of the timetables for work at Williamstown - the years taken to get work done, and we're still trying to get a better overall grasp of the issues and reasons for that. Nonetheless, Williamstown was also the subject of one of our favourite postwar [1947] dockyard images - with HMAS SHOALHAVEN in the drydock - back at Pic NO. 2008 , an acquisition. It can be seen here:
www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4658471389/
This photo: RAN Historical, Navy Heritage Collection, image ID NO. 03069.