Reproduced with permission (c)
| The 16th Naval The Captain Inshore Flotilla |
| Royal Australian Navy - 16th Minesweeping Squadron |
Minesweepers of the 16th Squadron
The Minesweepers were ships designed to locate and destroy naval mines Naval mines are
anti-ship or anti-submarine weapons which, like land-mines, are static weapons deposited and
left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of an enemy ship (depth charge). They are
extremely effective and relatively cheap weapons.
Naval mines can be used both offensively, to hamper the enemy's shipping and lock him into his
harbours, as well as defensively to protect friendly shipping and create "safe" zones,placed in the
sea by enemies. The same ships are sometimes used for mine laying.
On board, these vessels include specialised sonar Sonar (Sound Navigation And Ranging) is a
technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft.
There are two kinds of sonar, active and passive.
Active sonar
Active sonar creates a pulse of sound, often called a "ping", and then listens for reflections of the
pulse. To measure the distance to an object, one measures the time from emission of a pulse to
reception. To measure the bearing, one uses several hydrophones, and measures the relative
arrival time to each in a process called beam-forming and radar.
Radar
is an acronym for (RAdio Detection And Ranging). It is a system used to detect, range
(determine the distance of), and map objects such as aircraft and rain. Strong radio waves are
transmitted, and a receiver listens for any echoes. By analysing the reflected signal, the reflector
can be located, and sometimes identified. Although the amount of signal returned is tiny, radio
signals can easily be detected and amplified, to detect and track mines. To avoid detonation of
mines, they are designed to produce much less noise than other ships.
Alternately, minesweepers are equipped with powerful electromagnetic degaussing fields to
neutralise their magnetic field and/or jammers.
There is a blurred distinction between a minesweeper and a mine hunter. A minesweeper is
generally designed to clear an area of a large number of relatively simple mines - for example
towing a wire sweep to cut loose floating contact mines or a floating cable energised with
powerful electric current pulses to detonate magnetic mines. A mine hunter is a ship which is
better equipped to handle more modern mines which need to be individually located on the sea
bed and destroyed. Both kinds of ships are sometimes collectively called MCMVs - mine
counter-measure vessels.
Towing underwater cables are sometimes used for minesweeping,their weaponry is mostly
designed for the destruction of mines (specialized mortars and short-range torpedoes)
The Minesweepers were ships designed to locate and destroy naval mines Naval mines are
anti-ship or anti-submarine weapons which, like land-mines, are static weapons deposited and
left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of an enemy ship (depth charge). They are
extremely effective and relatively cheap weapons.
Naval mines can be used both offensively, to hamper the enemy's shipping and lock him into his
harbours, as well as defensively to protect friendly shipping and create "safe" zones,placed in the
sea by enemies. The same ships are sometimes used for mine laying.
On board, these vessels include specialised sonar Sonar (Sound Navigation And Ranging) is a
technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft.
There are two kinds of sonar, active and passive.
Active sonar
Active sonar creates a pulse of sound, often called a "ping", and then listens for reflections of the
pulse. To measure the distance to an object, one measures the time from emission of a pulse to
reception. To measure the bearing, one uses several hydrophones, and measures the relative
arrival time to each in a process called beam-forming and radar.
Radar
is an acronym for (RAdio Detection And Ranging). It is a system used to detect, range
(determine the distance of), and map objects such as aircraft and rain. Strong radio waves are
transmitted, and a receiver listens for any echoes. By analysing the reflected signal, the reflector
can be located, and sometimes identified. Although the amount of signal returned is tiny, radio
signals can easily be detected and amplified, to detect and track mines. To avoid detonation of
mines, they are designed to produce much less noise than other ships.
Alternately, minesweepers are equipped with powerful electromagnetic degaussing fields to
neutralise their magnetic field and/or jammers.
There is a blurred distinction between a minesweeper and a mine hunter. A minesweeper is
generally designed to clear an area of a large number of relatively simple mines - for example
towing a wire sweep to cut loose floating contact mines or a floating cable energised with
powerful electric current pulses to detonate magnetic mines. A mine hunter is a ship which is
better equipped to handle more modern mines which need to be individually located on the sea
bed and destroyed. Both kinds of ships are sometimes collectively called MCMVs - mine
counter-measure vessels.
Towing underwater cables are sometimes used for minesweeping,their weaponry is mostly
designed for the destruction of mines (specialized mortars and short-range torpedoes)
| Naval Flags and Emblems |
| The Bosuns Call |
Flag Adopted: 14 April 1954
Flag Proportion: 1:2
Use: State, Civil and Military Flag and State Ensign
In vexillological terms, the Australian flag is a
defaced British blue ensign (the State Ensign of the
United Kingdom).
In the upper hoist (canton) of the flag is the Union
Flag (i.e. the State and Civil Flag of the United
Kingdom, popularly called the Union Jack). On the fly
are 5 white stars, representing the Southern Cross,
a constellation of stars generally only visible in the
southern hemisphere. Each of these stars has 7
points except for the smallest star which has only
five.
Directly below the Union Flag is a large 7 pointed
white star called the Federation Star, representing
the federation of the colonies of Australia on 1
January 1901. There is one point for each of the six
original states, and one to represent all of
Australia's internal and external territories.
Flag Proportion: 1:2
Use: State, Civil and Military Flag and State Ensign
In vexillological terms, the Australian flag is a
defaced British blue ensign (the State Ensign of the
United Kingdom).
In the upper hoist (canton) of the flag is the Union
Flag (i.e. the State and Civil Flag of the United
Kingdom, popularly called the Union Jack). On the fly
are 5 white stars, representing the Southern Cross,
a constellation of stars generally only visible in the
southern hemisphere. Each of these stars has 7
points except for the smallest star which has only
five.
Directly below the Union Flag is a large 7 pointed
white star called the Federation Star, representing
the federation of the colonies of Australia on 1
January 1901. There is one point for each of the six
original states, and one to represent all of
Australia's internal and external territories.
| The Australian National Flag |
| The Royal Australian Navy Flag |
Flag Adopted:1 March 1967
Flag Proportion: 1:2
Use: Naval Ensign
The Naval Ensign is a white ensign version of the
Australian National Flag, for use by official
Government naval defence forces (i.e. the Royal
Australian Navy) and on RAN on-shore establishments.
From the time the Royal Australian Navy was formed
in 1911 until 1967, all its ships flew the White Ensign
of the UK, i.e. the Royal Navy Ensign.
In March 1967, the Holt Government adopted a new
design, one consistent with the design of the other
two Australian Flags but with a white field.
This change was made at the request of the British
Government which was concerned about the
possibility of attacks on Royal Navy vessels near
Vietnam, though the United Kingdom was not
involved in the Vietnam War.
Copyright © Ausflag Ltd
Flag Proportion: 1:2
Use: Naval Ensign
The Naval Ensign is a white ensign version of the
Australian National Flag, for use by official
Government naval defence forces (i.e. the Royal
Australian Navy) and on RAN on-shore establishments.
From the time the Royal Australian Navy was formed
in 1911 until 1967, all its ships flew the White Ensign
of the UK, i.e. the Royal Navy Ensign.
In March 1967, the Holt Government adopted a new
design, one consistent with the design of the other
two Australian Flags but with a white field.
This change was made at the request of the British
Government which was concerned about the
possibility of attacks on Royal Navy vessels near
Vietnam, though the United Kingdom was not
involved in the Vietnam War.
Copyright © Ausflag Ltd
All Hands on Deck
To man the sails, go aloft, or defend the ship in action,
'All hands on deck' was one of the commands blown by
the Bosun's Mates on this whistle or 'call'.
To man the sails, go aloft, or defend the ship in action,
'All hands on deck' was one of the commands blown by
the Bosun's Mates on this whistle or 'call'.
| RAN Minesweeper Logistics |
This flag has been seen very rarely in
public as it was only used when the
Captain of the fleet was on board the
lead ship.Flag owned by Bob Downs
photo © ATJones and used with
permission
public as it was only used when the
Captain of the fleet was on board the
lead ship.Flag owned by Bob Downs
photo © ATJones and used with
permission
Each section of the Bosun's Call has a nautical name. The
ball is the buoy; the mouthpiece is the gun; the ring is
called the shackle and the leaf is called the keel.
ball is the buoy; the mouthpiece is the gun; the ring is
called the shackle and the leaf is called the keel.
There is a lot of information on the internet about the
Bosuns, or Boatswains Whistles and a lot of replicas for
sale as well.
Bosuns, or Boatswains Whistles and a lot of replicas for
sale as well.
The English Naval fleet started to use them back in the 1300s and
there is documentation to suggest they were used earlier.
These days the call is used as a mark of respect for visiting
dignitaries and for marking special occasions. The Admiral of the
fleet had gold whistles, the Bosuns had silver.
Here are a few of the call notes.
there is documentation to suggest they were used earlier.
These days the call is used as a mark of respect for visiting
dignitaries and for marking special occasions. The Admiral of the
fleet had gold whistles, the Bosuns had silver.
Here are a few of the call notes.
The Bosuns call which used to be the only method of
sending orders around a ship, is richly steeped in Naval
history.
sending orders around a ship, is richly steeped in Naval
history.
This badge is the current emblem of the RAN.
| The Royal Australian Navy Badge |
The naval crown is an ancient emblem, a somewhat
similar design composed of the beaks and sterns of
galleys having been in use by the Romans. Modified
to represent the stern and sails of a man of war it has
appeared in heraldry thoughout Europe, and was
often granted as a crest conronet or charge to naval
officers of distinction, of whom nelson is the most
obvious example in the UK.
Use of the Naval Crown has been somewhat eclipsed
in recent years by the adoption of a logo
incorporating the White Ensign above the words
Royal Navy, but it still remains the official Badge of
the Royal Navy and in widespread use.
Extract from The Royal Navy (C) website.
similar design composed of the beaks and sterns of
galleys having been in use by the Romans. Modified
to represent the stern and sails of a man of war it has
appeared in heraldry thoughout Europe, and was
often granted as a crest conronet or charge to naval
officers of distinction, of whom nelson is the most
obvious example in the UK.
Use of the Naval Crown has been somewhat eclipsed
in recent years by the adoption of a logo
incorporating the White Ensign above the words
Royal Navy, but it still remains the official Badge of
the Royal Navy and in widespread use.
Extract from The Royal Navy (C) website.
| The Royal Naval Crown |
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