Австралиялық "Vendetta" эсминецінің тарихы

1958 Daring class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Vendetta was one of three destroyers built for and operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The destroyer was built by Williamstown Naval Dockyard and entered service in 1958. During her early career, Vendetta was deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve on multiple occasions. In 1965 and 1966, the destroyer undertook deterrence patrols during the Indonesia Malaysia Confrontation. Along with several runs escorting the troop transport to South Vietnam, from late 1969 to early 1970 Vendetta was assigned to combat operations and became the only Australian built warship to serve in a shore bombardment role during the Vietnam War. The ship underwent a two year modernisation from 1971 to 1973, and in December 1974 was one of thirteen RAN warships involved in Operation Navy Help Darwin after Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin. Several more deployments were made to the Far East, up until 1978. In October 1979, the destroyer was decommissioned, and served as a parts hulk for sister ship Vendetta was sold for ship breaking in January 1987.

The Royal Australian Navy initially ordered four s, which were to be named after the ships of the "Scrap Iron Flotilla" of World War II. The ships were modified during construction: most changes were made to improve habitability, including the installation of air conditioning. Vendetta and her sister ships were the first all welded ships to be constructed in Australia. The Darings had a standard displacement of 2,800 tons, which increased to 3,600 tons at full load. Vendetta and her sisters were 390 feet (119 m) long, with a beam of 43 feet (13 m), and a draught of 12 feet (4 m) at mean, and 14 feet (4 m) at full or deep load. Her anti aircraft outfit consisted of six 40 mm Bofors; two single mountings on the forward superstructure, and two twin mountings on the aft superstructure. By 1950, it was already apparent that the Australian Darings would not be completed on time, as the Australian dockyards were experiencing difficulty in keeping up with the construction schedule. The collision was caused when the sailor manning the engine telegraph incorrectly relayed an order of "half astern" as "half ahead", then repeated the mistake when the order was repeated to compensate for the first error. Vendettas bow breached the caisson, and threatened to flood the dock with inside. Like the preceding destroyer, Vendetta took her name from the concept of vendetta, with the ship's badge depicting a stiletto dagger clenched in a fist, and the ship carrying the motto "Vindico", Latin for "I Avenge".

In April 1959, Vendetta operated in New Zealand waters, before visiting New Guinea in June. After a refit, Vendetta and the frigate Quickmatch sailed to Singapore in October for a deployment to the Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR), which lasted until July 1960. Vendetta and the sloop visited Tasmania in February 1961 for the Royal Hobart Regatta. While in the Far East, the two ships participated in SEATO Exercise Sea Dovetail, visited Japan, and assisted a disabled United States flagged freighter. The two destroyers accompanied Sydney to Vung Tau, where they arrived on 28 September, then escorted the troopship clear of the Operation Market Time area before breaking off for Hong Kong. This run ended on 11 June, when Vendetta and Sydney reached Hong Kong. They started investigating the possibility of deploying a Daring class destroyer, with the main concern being the supply of shells, as the USN destroyers were standardised to shells. The decision to send Vendetta meant that the consistent deployment of an Australian warship with the United States Seventh Fleet since March 1967 would continue, and steps towards breaking a 'two tier' culture within the RAN favouring the Perth class ships would be made, with associated benefits to morale. On 15 September 1969, Vendetta left Australia for South Vietnam, and relieved Brisbane at Subic on 26 September. While deployed to Vietnam, the destroyer was placed under the administrative control of Commander Australian Forces Vietnam in addition to that of the Flag Officer Commanding Australian Fleet, while operationally, she was under the command of the Seventh Fleet. A USN lieutenant was assigned to Vendetta to serve as a liaison. Australia was the only allied nation to provide naval support to the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. The destroyer's main activities were the provision of naval gunfire support to assist ground forces, particularly the United States Marine Corps units operating closest to the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. Seven ships were usually stationed on the 'gunline', and attacks fell into two categories: 'unspotted' shelling of areas where People's Army of Vietnam or Viet Cong (VC) forces and facilities were known or believed to be, and 'spotted' fire missions in direct support of ground troops. In this role, Vendetta was assigned the callsign "Premier". Vendetta sailed for a gunline assignment at Danang on 30 September. Vendetta moved north to the I Corps area two days later, then down to II Corps on 16 November. At the end of November, the destroyer sailed to Taiwan for rebarrelling and other maintenance. Vendetta returned to the gunline on 21 December, and on 1 January 1970, was called on to assist Market Time operations by firing on two small craft suspected to be on a supply run to VC positions. Returning on 17 February, the destroyer was assigned to III Corps, and operated off Vung Tau in support of Australian and South Vietnamese units. The destroyer sailed to Subic on 23 March, and was relieved by on 30 March, after having fired 13,295 4.5 inch shells at 751 targets over five deployments. The destroyer was the only Australian built warship to serve as a combatant in Vietnam, Vendettas deployment to Vietnam under the new Australian White Ensign, and patrols during the Indonesia Malaysia Confrontation under the old ensign (identical to the British White Ensign), made the destroyer one of only two RAN vessels to deploy operationally under both ensigns. Personnel awards for the deployment included one appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, two Mentions in Despatches, and 16 Naval Board commendations.

Vendetta sailed for a FESR deployment in September 1970. During November, the destroyer visited ports in India, before returning to Hong Kong for Christmas. The fire control system was replaced, a long range air radar was installed, and the superstructure was modified, including a roof for the bridge. The destroyer sailed on 27 December from Sydney, and arrived on 3 January, with shore parties primarily assigned to the Nightcliff area. Action by the ships was not required. Most of 1976 was spent undergoing maintenance at Williamstown.