|
18 March 2008
David Mearns -
Search Director, The Finding Sydney Foundation
Knowing it was unlikely that such unique deeptow side-scan sonar
equipment would ever again be available and mobilised on a vessel
off the coast of WA, I had decided to collect the best possible
sonar images of both wrecks before ending this phase of the project.
Our plan was to make two final sonar runs using the AMS60 on its
highest-resolution setting. These would be the most challenging
sonar runs attempted during the search because the swathe would be
narrower than ever before and the chances of missing the wrecks
would be considerable. With the sonar towfish tracking as much as
3.8 kilometers behind the ship it would only have to be off-track by
a fraction of one degree to miss the wreck completely.
This is where the skill of the DOF surveyors and Mike Kelly would be
paramount in determining the right trackline position. I would
instruct them about the type of image I would like to see and the
detail I was interested in - whether it was acoustic shadowing or
dimensional detail - and leave the hard work to them. In this depth
of water we used a method that has worked for me many times in the
past, and that is to aim the sonar trackline straight at the target
knowing full well that the sonar towfish would be off at least a
small amount (100 metres or thereabouts) and this offset would place
the wreck within the desired "sweet spot" of the sonar's primary
beam to either port or starboard.
This plan worked perfectly for our last pass on Kormoran's wreck,
but we were all waiting anxiously watching the large 42-inch monitor
in the main survey lab to see whether we would end the project on a
high note of getting the image we wanted of Sydney's wreck or go
home slightly disappointed. Well as you can see from the sonar image
below we got exactly what we wanted - a near picture perfect sonar
image that showed clear detail not seen in the previous high-res
sonar images. For example the break at the bow, shown at the bottom
right hand corner of the image, is now most evident with large
pieces of structure lying adjacent to the bow. Also, there is a
subtle pattern in the sediments just above the wreck which indicates
where the hull first impacted the seabed and slid slightly downslope
for about 50-100 metres before coming to rest. I suspect the natural
slope of the seabed will have caused the hull to lean slightly over
from upright, but these are details that will have to wait for the
ROV video investigation for confirmation.
John Perryman -
Senior Naval Historian (Observer)
Today began as the clock passed midnight in the survey room as we
commenced our approach on the Kormoran wreck site with the AMS60
side scan sonar. Before long we were beginning to see the first high
resolution images of Kormoran. The thing which was most noticeable
to me was the distinctive shadows she cast on the sea bed. David
Mearns was extremely pleased with the image and we finished our
sweep of the line at 00:35. After a long and exhilarating day we
were both pleased to call it a day.
Dawn on the 18th brought with it strong winds and a long Indian
Ocean swell, it also brought news of an engineering defect that
would affect our speed. In light of this, a decision was made to
make a single pass over the wreck of Sydney using the AMS60 before
recovering it and conducting a short commemorative service over her
resting place. This run was conducted at 12:23 when our final image
of Sydney was collected during this phase of the operation.
At 16:00, with our tow fish recovered, the crew and search team
assembled on the quarterdeck of the Geosounder where I was
privileged to lead a service to commemorate the men who lost their
lives in Sydney. With our vessel over the site of Sydney’s wreck,
the naval Church Pennant was hoisted on the starboard yardarm as a
visual symbol of the solemnity of the occasion – our crew was at
prayer.
The order of service involved a brief introduction by me followed by
the reading of a poem entitled A Sailor’s Prayer by Finding Sydney
Foundation director, Glenys McDonald. I had especially chosen this
poem for the occasion as it was written by a former Sydney crewman,
Petty Officer H.B. Shipstone, who now lies with his shipmates in the
silent tomb which is Sydney. This was followed by the recital of The
Ode read by the Geosounder’s Master, Blair Cliffe, a former Royal
Navy officer. This was fitting, as many Royal Navy personnel were
serving in Sydney when she was sunk. The service concluded with the
laying of a wreath by me, the playing of the Last Post followed by
one minute’s silence, the Rouse and Australian National Anthem.
With the service complete, we took time to reflect before shaping
our course for Geraldton.
Glenys McDonald
- Director, The Finding Sydney Foundation (Observer)
I have to say that today was one I will treasure for eternity. As a
Director of the Finding Sydney Foundation, and on behalf of my other
directors – Chairman Ted Graham, Don Pridmore, Cdr Bob Trotter RANR,
and Keith Rowe, I took part in a moving and simple, unofficial
wreath laying service above HMAS Sydney.
The service was led by Lieutenant John Perryman and I had the
privilege of reading a poem written by one of the lost crew of HMAS
Sydney, Petty Officer H. B Shipstone, which served as an epitaph.
The ode was read by the Geosounder's Master, Blair Cliffe, a former
officer of the RN. John cast the wreath on the waves and we watched
it float away to the sad strains of the Last Post.
Personally, standing on the heaving deck, I also realised that I was
experiencing a private dream, to one day be able to say my prayers
in this particular part of the ocean, a dream that has driven me on
for the past sixteen years. I hope arrangements can be made to allow
relatives this much needed privilege, although we are a hundred
miles from the coast and the swell is anything but gentle.
We are somewhat cocooned out here on the water but the emails
streaming in from relatives show us that the Finding Sydney
Foundation and David Mearns achieved what they set out to do, and I
have been on an emotional roller coaster since Sunday. We have now
commenced the long run to Geraldton and for the first time on this
search David, John and I can relax. |
Above Photograph - The
final AMS60 high-resolution sonar image of the wreck of Sydney. The
stern is at the upper left corner of the image and break at the bow
is at the opposite corner, with the acoustic shadow off to the left
of the hull.
Above Photograph -
Lieutenant John Perryman reads the order of service.
Above Photograph -
Glenys McDonald reads A Sailor's Prayer.
Above Photograph -
Geosounder Master Blair Cliffe reads the Ode.
Above Photograph -
Lieutenant John Perryman lays the commemorative wreath.
Above Photograph - The
commemorative wreath drifts over the wreck of HMAS Sydney (II).
Above Photograph - The
Church Pennant, symbolising that the crew is at prayer, flies from
Geosounder's mast.
Above Photograph - A
Sailor's Prayer: The text to A Sailor's Prayer.
|
