PAPUAN SAILOR SELECTEDFOR GAMESA member <strong>of</strong> ihe Papua-NewGuinea Division ol the Royal<strong>Australia</strong>n Navt was selected icompete in the British CommonwealthGames in Pel th.The Papuan sailor, Able Seain.MI Laxeri Misikarim, waschosen as a sprinter in the Territoryol Papua-New Guinea team.The (t-lt. all-round athletetrained undo the team manager.Mr. K. Gosper, in RabauI.Able Seaman Misikarim joinidthe <strong>Navy</strong> two years ago, andworks in the shipwright shop althe Mantis Island Naval Base.He was born in Matupi, Rabaul,^:i years ago and educated ati'u- Lae Technical School.Sonic 1.000 sailors Iron) ISwarships were in Fremantle duringtlu- Games. Eight ol the\isiting warships were uiuler theoperational control ol theR.A.N.. while the others werefrom the Ro\al <strong>Navy</strong>, RoyalNew Zealand <strong>Navy</strong>, and thePakistan <strong>Navy</strong>.APPENDICITIS OPERATIONIN CHINA SEA<strong>Australia</strong>n Naval doctors performeda successful appendicitisoperation in the middle <strong>of</strong> theSouth China Sea recently.A report from the <strong>Australia</strong>nfrigate. H.M.A.S. QUIBERON,said that the operation was carriedout in exceptionally difficultconditions, with the warshipsteaming through roughseas.Leading Steward T. V. Lawlex,ol Frankston, Victoria, wasadmitted to sickbay whenQUIBERON was on her wayfrom Singapore to Hong Kong.The ship's medical <strong>of</strong>ficer, SurgeonLieutenant A. W. Swain,<strong>of</strong> Mosniait, diagnosed (he illnessas acute appendicitis. Asthe frigate was still 500 milesfrom her destination, an immediateoperation at sea wasessential.The leader <strong>of</strong> the First FrigateSquadron, H.M.A.S. QUEEN-BOROUGH, was in company,and her doctor, Surgeon LieutenantW. A. Kemp, ol Melbourne,together with sick berthPetty Officer I. I). Mitchell, <strong>of</strong>Sydney, were transferred toQUIBERON. Assisted also bya member ol QUIBERON'S sickberth staff. Petty Officer L. E.Chivei ion, ol Sydney, the twoNaval doctors performed ihedifficult operation.Leading Steward Lawfey wasthen transferred to the HongKong Military Hospital.Earlier, the two <strong>Australia</strong>nfrigates featured in the rescue<strong>of</strong> the crew <strong>of</strong> a Panamanianship which sank during a stormin the South China Sea.<strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong> during the first World war.The QUIBERON andQUEENBOROUGH were on atour <strong>of</strong> duty with the BritishCommonwealth Strategic Reserve.?8THENAVYDEC, <strong>1962</strong> — JAN., <strong>1963</strong>
SOUTH AFRICA NAVY LEAGUEAddress <strong>of</strong> the Federal I'resident to the Annual General MeetingAddressing ihe ExecutiveCommittee l the <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong>nt South Africa in Cape Townon <strong>Oct</strong>ober 19, the Federal Presidentthanked the Cape TownBranch and its Ladies' Committee,Vice-Admiral Sir NicholasCopcman, Commander-in-Chief,South Atlantic and SouthAmerica, and Mrs. Qq>cinan,Rear-Admiral Biermann, NavalChief <strong>of</strong> Staff, Captain Biermann,,commanding GeneralBotha, and the Naval Officers'Association for their hospitality.Owing to the death <strong>of</strong> theFederal President, Admiral SirHerbert Packer, the speech wasread by Captain (S.) G. A. P.Webster, O.B.E., D.S.C.. R.N.,Chairman <strong>of</strong> the BloemfonteinBranch <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong>Our ActivitiesLast year was our first yearwith South Africa, a Republicoutside the Commonweath, and Iprophesied that our activitieswould take more or less the sameform as before: briefly and firstly,to sup|Jort our South African<strong>Navy</strong> in every possible way, andsecondly, not to forget our oldfriends, the Royal <strong>Navy</strong> — and,for that matter, the Navies <strong>of</strong>all friendly powers.That is how it has turned outso far, and I trust it will continue.Naval Co-operationIt is essential to South Africathat in time <strong>of</strong> war or emergencyher harbours and sea30routes leading to them be keptopen. That is the business <strong>of</strong>the ever-growing South African<strong>Navy</strong>; but South Africa cannotgo it alone nasally. She mustlook lor someone with the sameinterests to help her. I ventureto say that it is ol great importanceto the United Kingdomthat the |xirts and ocean routes<strong>of</strong> South Africa be kept open.There is no better agreementor treaty than one based onmutual interests. That beingso, the Simon's Town agreementhas up to the present survived,and if l>oih sides continue toobserve it with the same goodwilland seamanlike honesty ashitherto it should prove an example<strong>of</strong> how mutual interestscan be served effectively andamicably. In fact, it would beMembershipThe membership continues tothe cornerstone u|xm which tobase vital naval co-operation.drop. This is a j>carctime consequenceIn many ways this vital cohard to combat. We operation exists already. Thehave a fine, growing <strong>Navy</strong> and new ships <strong>of</strong> the South AfricanMercantile to support, so let <strong>Navy</strong> are being built in theeach <strong>of</strong> us try our best to get United Kingdom: it is Iromnew members who are willing there she gets her naval weapons,to lend a hand.ammunition and socialisedstores. Above all. South African<strong>of</strong>ficers, who are required to manthese ships, are instructed in theBritish naval schools in thosehigher specialised subjects forwhich as yet no naval coursesexist in South Africa.Again it seems to me that thisgive and take is a matter <strong>of</strong>mutual interests which shouldlong continue.The Royal <strong>Navy</strong>The Commander - in - Chief,South Atlantic and South America,Vice-Admiral Sir NicholasCopeman, continues to Hy histlag at Combined Headquarters.He is to be relieved in <strong>Dec</strong>ember,<strong>1962</strong>, by Vice-Atlmiral A. A.F. Talbot. We shall be sorry tosay good-bye. Most <strong>of</strong> his activitiesand those <strong>of</strong> the shi|» underhis command are confined tocovering his vast station, whichincludes both sides <strong>of</strong> SouthAmerica. Antarctica and Westand Fast Alrita, including Mauritiusand Madagascar. It is olparticular interest that whilecruising on his station he has,on separate occasions, by localagreement, carried out exercisesat sea with the navies ol Chile.Peru. Ecuador, Columbia andBrazil.Capex, 1961R.N.. S.A.N, and U.S.N, unitstook part in combined operationCapex. Unlortunately, a technicalbreakdown in the R.N. submarineAmphon. affected the exercises,but she was able to takepart again in the later stagesalter repairs in dock in Simon'sTown. The exercises, in variousphases, lasted Irom the end <strong>of</strong><strong>Sep</strong>tember to the beginning <strong>of</strong><strong>Nov</strong>ember.The South African <strong>Navy</strong>Once again there is considerableprogress in both qualityand quantity ol the South African<strong>Navy</strong>, both as regards manpowerand number <strong>of</strong> modernunits. The first <strong>of</strong> the threenew type 12 frigates being builton the Clyde, the PresidentKrugcr (Capt. M. Terry-Lloyd),was due to commission during<strong>Oct</strong>ober. After weapon trialsand working up, she shouldarrive in South Africa bv lateFebruary. <strong>1963</strong>.The President Steyn (Capt. J.Fairbairn) has been a bit delayedby a fire while still in thebuilders' hands. She shouldcommission in early March, <strong>1963</strong>.The President Prelorius (Capt.J. Johnson), which was scheduledfor launching during <strong>Sep</strong>tember,<strong>1962</strong>, is due to commission in1964.THE NAVYConversionsThe destroyers, Simon VanHer Stel and <strong>Jan</strong> Ian Riebeeck.are being completely modernised,and should become availablelor service in <strong>1963</strong>.The Pietermaritzburg has beenreconstructed as a navigationaland seamanship training ship,including the training <strong>of</strong> midshipmen.Her sister ship, theBloemfontein, now lunciions atSimon's Town as a hathmntraining ship lor new entries,and has proved a great successin this rede.Two or three years ago variousJeremiahs were saying, "It's allvery well ordering new ships,but where are the highly-trainedtechnical crews to come from?"I am glad to hear that recruitingill general is satisfactory, anda minimum <strong>of</strong> Standard 8 is nowbeing insisted upon for all newentries.By making full use <strong>of</strong> thespecialist naval schools in SouthAfrica and in the United Kingdom,the answer is this:* The greater bulk <strong>of</strong> the PresidentKruger's shin's company isnow in the United Kingdomattending pre-commissioning andcommand team training courses.Every non-sub rate (i.e.. socialisedrate) required by the R.N.standard has been filled, and insome departments over - subscribedas far as qualificationsare concerned.PersonnelNaturally, with these newships coming into commissionand considerable increase allover in jicrsonnel, there has beena call for more senior <strong>of</strong>ficers.Captains H. Fnugstcdt and I). W.Robertson have been promotedto Commodore, and 26 <strong>of</strong>ficers <strong>of</strong>the rank <strong>of</strong> Lieutenant andabove have been promoted. Thisflow ol promotions is encouragingto all. I understand thatthere are no fewer than 58 midshipmenunder instruction, andit is intended to enter a substantialnumber in |anuary nextyear.Citizen Forces"Ihe nine months' ballottectraining system is proving agreat success. After doing theirbasic training the lads are wellqualified in a specialist capacity,and then complete their trainingat sea. As a result <strong>of</strong> this newlife has come to the CitizenForce bases (or Reserve bases,as they used to be called).General BothaThough the General Bothacontinues to train cadets for theMercantile Marine with accustomedthoroughness, there is, asa result <strong>of</strong> South Africa becominga Republic and leaving theCommonwealth, some difficultyin placing them all at sea, wheretheir future careers in the highertrol, the future is being facedwith a greater degree <strong>of</strong> confidencethan at this time lastyear.The roaster rompanies seemto have had a surressful year,and one or two additions havebeen made to their fleets.Perhaps the most importantrecent item <strong>of</strong> news, asfar as South African shipping is concerned, was theannouncement by Safmarinethat the company had placed anorder in Holland for a fully re-Irigerated ship. This vessel,which, it is understood, is some10,000 tons deadweight, with aservice speed <strong>of</strong> about 17 knots,should be delivered to Safmarinetowards the end <strong>of</strong> <strong>1963</strong>.The necessity <strong>of</strong> having afully stuffed and equippedNautical Academy in the Republicto deal with promotionat all stages is becoming moreand more obvious. With SouthAfrica leaving the Commonwealth,the question <strong>of</strong> interchangeability<strong>of</strong> certificated <strong>of</strong>ficersis becoming somewhat obscure,andalthough temporary arrangementshave been made, thelong-term position is not clearlydefined. In any case, however,it is only right and proper thatSouth Africa should rely moreand more on her own resourcesto man her vessels.There is no question that lifeat sea to-day, particularly in theliner trades, is a comfortable* The full complement <strong>of</strong> the ranks are assured. The matter and well-paid job and shouldPresident Steyn is available and is receiving attention.attract an increasing number <strong>of</strong>ready to sail when required. Theyoung South Africans. We must,advance parties are alreadyhowever, have the facilities toMercantile Marinestanding by the ships.prepare the young men for theMeanwhile an encouraging* No difficulty is envisaged invarious Certificates <strong>of</strong> Competency.// is therefore hopedfactor is the expansion <strong>of</strong> theproviding the complement <strong>of</strong> the South African Mercantile Marine,although this is still insufon with its plans for the estabthird ship.that Ihe Government will press* The demand for skilled ficient. The South African liner lishment <strong>of</strong> a complete Nauticalartificers to meet the requirements<strong>of</strong> this highly technical months, weathered the storm al possible speed.companies have, in the past 12 Academy in South Africa withage. as exemplified by these new affecting shipping lines throughoutthe world, and, with the Overseas Coursesships, increases every year. Itis intended to increase threefold improvement <strong>of</strong> South Africa's To return to the essential cooperationbetween the Unitedthe number <strong>of</strong> apprentices under foreign exchange position and atraining in <strong>1963</strong>.possible easement <strong>of</strong> import conKingdom and South Africa.DEC, <strong>1962</strong> — JAN., <strong>1963</strong>31
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