Green Ghost laid to rest

When the former HMAS Hobart was scuttled off Yankalilla Bay on the South Australia Fleurieu Peninsular last month, she became part of a growing dive site industry.

Sunk four nautical miles off Marina St Vincent in Yankalilla Bay, Hobart now lies in 30 metres of water and leaves a mere five metre clearance for small vessels.

The former ‘Green Ghost’, so named for her colour and reputation as a quiet vessel, Hobart was scuttled by pre-flooding compartments and using small cutting charges to create a series of holes below the water line to fully flood the ship. She took just four minutes to sink.

After 35 years of Naval duty, the scuttling was a chance for many to say farewell and to remember those who fought and served on Hobart. A commemorative service was held prior to the scuttling on the shore at Lady Bay.

A Charles F Adams class guided missile destroyer, Hobart was commissioned in 1965. She completed three tours of duty of South Vietnam and in 1968, two sailors lost their lives and seven others were injured after the vessel was hit by “friendly” fire. She was decommissioned on May 12, 2000.

Hobart’s engine room, missile launcher and gun turrets remained onboard for divers to explore. She is expected to attract 16,000 divers in her first three years and will become one of Australia’s best artificial reefs.

 

• By LSCISSM Rachel Irving

Sad to see her go

The cutting charges are fired and Hobart begins the journey to her final rest. Photos courtesy South Australian Tourism.

As the last person to step from the gangway of HMAS Hobart upon her decommissioning on May 12, 2000, former CO CAPT Peter Murray was also among the last to see her scuttled off Yankalilla Bay in South Australia on November 5.

Stationed just a half nautical mile from the DDG during her scuttling, CAPT Murray said there was still plenty of emotion seeing the ‘Green Ghost’ go down, in a controlled flooding exercise that took just four minutes to sink a warship with 35 years of distinguished Naval service.

“I was a bit surprised I felt the way I did. I thought I was over all that,” CAPT Murray told Navy News.

“It wasn’t earth-shattering, but it was still sad to see her go.”

As a memento of being the last CO of Hobart, CAPT Murray was gifted a brass plaque off the bridge that read: “When all else fails, do what the captain says”.

Currently the CO at HMAS Watson, CAPT Murray now says that while the scuttling was a fitting tribute, “it would still be nice to see another Hobart one day”.

• By Michael Weaver

.