HMAS Duchess March 1970

In early March 1970 during 5RAR’s return journey to Australia on HMAS Sydney (the Vung Tau Ferry), the ship and its escort, HMAS Yarra, were joined for a short time by the destroyer, HMAS Duchess. This created a chance of an unusual and interesting experience for the infantrymen when some of them transferred on a Bosun’s chair between the Sydney and the Duchess, as shown in the photograph.

HMS Duchess (as she was originally called in the UK) was a Daring Class Destroyer, armed with six 115mm (4.5-inch) dual-purpose guns in three twin mountings (two forward, one aft), four 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns, and a triple-barrel Squid anti-submarine mortar. Initially it had ten 533mm (21-inch) torpedo tubes in two pentad mountings but the mounting aft was removed in 1958-59 and replaced by a deckhouse for extra accommodation.

When 5 RAR (both tours of duty) was being transported on the 'Vung Tau Ferry' her escorts were:

♦ April 1966 from Australia to Vung Tau: HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Vampire and HMAS Yarra.

♦ April-May 1967 from Vung Tau to Sydney: HMAS Vampire.

♦ February 1969 Fremantle to Vung Tau: HMAS Derwent.

♦ February-March 1970 from Vung Tau to Sydney: HMAS Yarra.