10 February 1964
On the night of 10 February 1964, 20 nautical miles south-east of Jervis Bay, the Royal Australian Navy’s aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne collided with the destroyer HMAS Voyager. The smaller ship was cut in two with the forward section sinking in the 10 minutes following the 8.56pm collision. The after section sank by midnight.
Despite the frantic rescue efforts that followed, and acts of great bravery and heroism, 82 men from the Voyager crew lost their lives. Melbourne picked up the majority of the 232 survivors, while 34 were rescued by the search and rescue boats HMA Ships Air Nymph and Air Sprite, launched from HMAS Creswell.
Melbourne and Voyager had been conducting routine night flying exercises. Voyager, lying to the starboard (right) side ahead of Melbourne, received a signal to take up a position behind the aircraft carrier as plane guard. This position would allow Voyager to recover crew of any aircraft who may not make a safe night landing on the carrier. Initially turning to starboard to loop behind the carrier, Voyager then turned sharply to port (the left). Last-ditch evasive action by both ships came too late to avoid a collision. Melbourne struck Voyager amidships. All the senior officers on the bridge of Voyager were killed by the impact.
There were two royal commissions into the accident:
- The first royal commission criticised the Melbourne officers for not questioning Voyager’s course change until it was too late.
- The second royal commission exonerated them.
The reputations of both captains were called into question, and Navy’s public standing suffered.
Survivors and their families from both ships have lived with the legacy of the accident for decades. They have regularly gathered on the anniversary to remember their lost crewmates.
The accident stands as a reminder of the risks in naval operations. It also calls for the need of the highest standards of training and professionalism.