HMAS Bungaree

[afspret]

Just came across some info that said it was a minelayer for most of its career, yet in the game it comes in as a minesweeper. I've also seen a stern shot and if its of the Bungaree, then it looks nothing like the RAN Bathurst MSWs.

Could this have been an error, as there was a RAN Bathurst class MSW named Bundaberg, which I don't recall seeing it in the game (scen 15).

[goodboyladdie]

She is a minelayer in CHS.

[JeffroK]

[font=arial]HMAS Bungaree laid mines off the North Queensland coast in 1943. Unfortunately, the Minesweeper HMAS Warnambool (J202) struck one of these mines off North Cockburn Reef on 13 September 1947 and sunk with the loss of 4 lives.[/font]

For HMAS Bundaberg

http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/history/ships/bundaberg.html

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

For HMAS Bundaberg

http://www.navy.gov.au/spc/history/ships/bundaberg.html

Can anyone guess the significance of the ship's crest and motto??

[JeffroK]

Something to do with Rum??

Or should she be named HMAS Kanaka??

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

Something to do with Rum??

You are definately on the right track with that one. Nothing more dear to a sailors heart than the Rum ration.

Bundaberg is a sugar town and the blades on the crest are sugar cane knives. I've only used them to cut a row or two for next years suckers and that was hard enough work. You gotta take your hat off to the cutters who used them to harvest thousands of acres of sugar cane!! (It's all done by machine now..)

(BTW. Rum is made from sugar and Bundaberg has its own refinery and distillery).

I was suprised they picked such an appropriate crest (the Bundy Bear icon wasn't around in 1942) that rather than picking a Navy theme.

Or should she be named HMAS Kanaka??

Ah well, Um... Not the highlight of Queensland history but to be fair that was ancient history by the time of WWII.

Certain sea captains prevously engaged in the international labour supply industry but made redundant by a certain disruption of demand from the USA in 1865 decided that similar methods could be used to make reluctant South Sea Islanders take up 2 year indentured labor contracts in Queensland.

It really was a case of legislation not keeping with real life. Once the lawmakers caught up, the horribly abused scheme was shut down and all the laborers sent home.

[Mynok]

So what do the tomahawk, herald trumpet and boomerang signify?

[Reg]

They are standard part of the official Royal Australian Navy unit crests. I wasn't able to put my hands on a good definition but try Naval Heraldry.

I'm sure a salty can give you more information.

[JeffroK]

The Boomerang would be a "Come back safely" icon.

[Mynok]

[:D] [:D] [:D] "Safely" meaning you better catch it or duck, right?

[panda124c]

A PC description, if ever I've seen one.

[/quote]

Certain sea captains prevously engaged in the international labour supply industry but made redundant by a certain disruption of demand from the USA in 1865 decided that similar methods could be used to make reluctant South Sea Islanders take up 2 year indentured labor contracts in Queensland.

[/quote]

[JeffroK]

Yeah, They weren't quite Slaves as they only had to do 2 years.
 
Problem was no-one was interested intaking them back to their islands, records were not kept, so most had to stay on in the Cane Fields.