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The Australian Women's Weekly

Publisher Australian Consolidated Press

Date26 February 1964

Object number00009041

NameMagazine

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 380 x 290 mm, 0.3 kg
Display Dimensions: 380 x 289 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis edition of the Australian Women's Weekly of 26 February 26, 1964 (Vol. 31 No. 39) includes a heartwrenching article on the horrific collision between the aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE and the destroyer HMAS VOYAGER off Jervis Bay. The front cover has a picture of a survivor from the VOYAGER hugging his wife and child.HistoryHMAS VOYAGER was a Daring class destroyer launched in May 1952, commissioned in February 1957 and the first of three Darings built in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was the first all-welded ship built in Australia and was tragically lost in a collision in 1964. VOYAGER was armed with six 4.5-inch Mark V guns in three double turrets (A and B turret before the bridge, X turret on the aft superstructure), six Bofors 40/60 mm guns in three twin mounts, two 5-tube 21-inch torpedo launchers, and one Limbo anti-submarine mortar located near the stern. The other Darings were VENDETTA and VAMPIRE (the latter is now a museum ship with this Museum). During its career, VOYAGER was deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR) on six occasions and later represented Australia in various exercises and ceremonial events. During the night of 10 February 1964, VOYAGER and the aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE collided off Jervis Bay, on the south coast of New South Wales. At 8.56 pm, while manoeuvring under minimal operational lighting, VOYAGER tragically crossed the bows of MELBOURNE, colliding in the darkness. VOYAGER was sliced in two by the impact and the bow section sank within minutes. Fourteen officers, 67 sailors and one civilian dockyard employee lost their lives. There were 232 survivors. It was Australia's greatest peacetime naval disaster. VOYAGER's motto was Quo Fata Vocant - We Go Where Destiny Calls.SignificanceThe collision between HMA Ships MELBOURNE and VOYAGER in night time exercises off Jervis Bay in 1964 is the Royal Australian Navy's worst peacetime tragedy, affecting many hundreds of lives. Magazine reports such as this one brought the horrific details to the public.