Vendetta‘s cruise book mentions “the look of joy on the faces of the crew of Brisbane (II) as we steamed alongside in Subic Bay to relieve them. Typhoon Flossie delayed Vendetta’s passage to Vietnam, but on October 2 she reached Da Nang where she relieved the destroyer USS Walke (DD723) as NGFS ship for 1 Corps. Due to a problem with port procedures, however, the crews could not actually visit the port. VENDETTA visited Adelaide, Fremantle, Darwin, Melbourne and Brisbane during the first half of 1979. On 9 October 1979, just 6 years after her ‘half life’ refit, HMAS Vendetta (II) was decommissioned. Four Darings were initially ordered for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), although only three, Voyager (II), Vendetta and Vampire (II) were eventually completed. In July VENDETTA’S post-refit trials were disrupted by a small fire in cables in the wardroom and damage to the ship’s generators. In doing so it became the first and only fully built Australian Daring class warship to fire on the enemy at war. She returned to Australia in October 1961 and again refitted at Williamstown Naval Dockyard. On 15th September 1969 VENDETTA, under the command of Commander Eric Eugene Johnson, departed Garden Island Dockyard Sydney and received a handover from HMAS BRISBANE in Subic Bay on 26th September. In February 1974, the newly refurbished Vendetta sailed from Sydney for a four month ANZUK deployment to Far East waters. During this deployment, Vendetta’s readiness was tested with involvement in Exercises SEACUB and SEALION. 6 Feb 67 - 11 Apr 71 On 30 December the ships briefly berthed in Townsville before sailing for Darwin later that day. In December 1964, President Johnson and the Prime Minister of South Vietnam, asked for an Australian military contribution. Vendetta‘s executive officer, LCDR Sulman assumed temporary command, and was subsequently confirmed in the position. Vendetta‘s ship’s company generously donated $A800 to Mr. Chow’s family in Hong Kong. In December the ship returned to Sydney for a seven month refit. During this period VENDETTA escorted HMAS Sydney to Vietnam in August 1965. Waller DSO RAN, and was the first and only RAN Daring Class destroyer to go to war. They also participated in Operation SEA DRAGON, the bombardment of North Vietnamese military targets and the interdiction of supply routes and logistic craft along the coast of North Vietnam from the Demilitarized Z… This was inspired by the fact that 21 members of the ship’s company had new additions whilst the ship was deployed. The HMAS Sydney Association (Vic. ANZAC House, 4 Collins Street Melbourne 3000. The ‘Darings’ were designed and built as versatile, multi-purpose ‘Gun Ships’ with three separate weapon control systems to control the main and secondary armament. The Commissioning Warrant was read by her commanding officer, CMDR AG Ferris, RAN. On the 2nd October 1969 VENDETTA opened fired on targets in and around Da Nang harbour and in doing so created Australian Naval history by becoming the first and only fully built Australian Daring class warship to fire her guns upon the enemy at war. Significance This cap tally from HMAS VENDETTA represents a RAN ship with a significant operational history in the South-East Asia region. This resulted in the commitment of an Australian infantry battalion, to be transported by RAN warships. Following an overhaul of the RAN battle honours system, completed in March 2010, Vendetta's service was recognised with the honours "Malaysia 1964–66" and "Vietnam 1969–70". During the following seven months VENDETTA carried out the role for which she was designed – naval gunfire support firings on the “gunline” off the coast of Vietnam, as well as spending well earned rest periods in Singapore, Hong Kong, Keelung and Kaoh Siung (Taiwan) and Subic Bay. HMAS VENDETTA Mk 2 was commissioned at Melbourne on 26th November 1958 under the command of Capt. During the ship’s visit to Sandakan, the commanding officer, CMDR Alan Ferris, became ill and was taken ashore. Vendetta was one of 25 V class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during World War I. In her 21 year career, she had steamed 670952 nautical miles. The second was an Australian built Daring Class destroyer HMAS Vendetta (1958-79). HMAS Vendetta was decommissioned. On completion of this assignment, Vendetta sailed south via Hong Kong for more operational patrols in the Malacca Straits area followed by the usual round of training activities. In April 1970 she returned to Sydney west about and during the following months the ship served in Australian and New Guinea waters. Clearance Diving Team 3 6th February 1967 11th April 1971 This deployment commenced with Vendetta and her British-built sister Daring, DUCHESS, escorting the troop carrier, Sydney (III), to Cape St. Jacques, South Vietnam via Manus Island and Subic Bay. English Electric geared turbines, twin screws. In late October 1970, Vendetta (II) again escorted HMAS Sydney (III) to Vung Tau, South Vietnam. In August 1970, after four months in home waters VENDETTA again sailed for deployment to the Far East Strategic Reserve. In April 1971, Vendetta (II) returned to Sydney 'west-about' and during the following months, the ship served in Australian and New Guinea waters. He had gone to his local police, and after explaining the situation and the need for urgency, he was provided with a ‘speed-exemption’ ticket permitting him to exceed the speed limit to return to his ship. HMAS Vendetta (D69/I69) Commissioned 1917 (formerly HMS Vendetta (FA3/F29/D69) She was a V class destroyer that served in the Royal Navy until 1933 and o ne of 25 V class ships ordered for the Royal Navy during World War I. All of the RAN's guided missile destroyers deployed to Vietnam as did the Daring Class destroyer HMAS VENDETTA. One of the many highlights in the Memorial's film collection is its Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Public Relations films. This was cut short because of the civil war emergency in Portuguese Timor which saw Vendetta, Vampire (II) and Supply deployed to Darwin on standby, ready for any emergency evacuation of refugees. In 1930 this destroyer was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and commissioned as HMAS VENDETTA on 11th October 1930. In early 1969, Vendetta underwent pre-refit trials and commenced a six month refit at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, during which both propeller shafts were removed. This included a period escorting the Royal Navy commando carrier, HMS Albion. Along with several runs escorting the troop transport HMAS Sydney to 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. Contact VVAA State Office They were the first prefabricated all-welded ships to be built in Australia, and, between ordering and completion, the cost of each Daring increased from £2.6 million to £7 million! MEDITERRANEAN 1940-43 - MATAPAN 1941 - LIBYA 1940-41 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - NEW GUINEA 1943-44 - VIETNAM 1969-70* (* Awarded after WW2) Badge Sister ships HMAS PERTH and HMAS BRISBANE followed in rotation for a total of eight typical deployments of seven months each until this commitment was withdrawn in October 1971. Vendetta was credited with 52 enemy dead by body count and another 20 probable from a total of 192 missions fired on the 93 days spent on Gunline. Following her decommissioning, Vendetta languished in the ‘mothball’ fleet at Sydney until 1986, when she was sold to Ming Hsieh Steel Mill on behalf of Hodland Enterprises of Taiwan. The ship entered Port Jackson for the last time on 28th June 1979 and conducted a tour of Sydney Harbour before berthing at Garden Island Naval Dockyard. HMAS Vendetta (II) was launched on the 3 May 1954, by Mrs Waller, widow of this late Captain H.M.L. She returned to Australian waters in mid July 1960. Flying a 366 foot paying off pennant, she undertook a nostalgic tour of Sydney Harbour before berthing at Garden Island. Once Sydney (III) and her escorts anchored off Cape St. Jacques, it became the scene of non-stop activity for 48 hours as Sydney (III) disembarked her cargo of Australian troops and equipment. VENDETTA underwent a further refit from February until August 1967 and from then until February 1968 she was involved mainly in exercises in the East Australian area. Share this page Naturally, he took every opportunity to emulate Jack Brabham and, inevitably, he was stopped by police. November 1959, VENDETTA departed for Singapore to begin a period of service with the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve Naval Forces during which time she visited India and Ceylon. HMAS VENDETTA, (Daring class destroyer), operated as Navy gunfire ship for US Infantry Corps’ operations in Vietnam. The following months saw visits to Colombo, Bombay and Nagasaki, as well as the usual Far East ports. It had a crew of 360. One of 25 V class ships ordered for the Royal Navy during World War I, Vendetta entered service in 1917. Freeman, RAN was informed that the ship would pay off in June 1979. The destroyer was 312 feet 0.75 inches (95.1167 m) in length overall and 300 feet (91 m) long between perpendiculars, had a beam of 29 feet 5.75 inches (8.9853 m), and a maximum draught of 14 feet 7.5 inches (4.458 m). Replacing the superstructure required the largest-ever lift of an aluminium structure in an Australian dockyard, with the prefabricated structure weighing over 45 tons. The spotter’s final summation of the gun accuracy has, I am afraid, inflated the gunnery officer’s head beyond even the skills of Messrs Gieves [a well-known firm of military outfitters].”. Vendetta commenced a further tour of duty in South East Asian waters in August 1965. The modifications produced formidable gun ships, but increasing costs forced the deletion of proposed Ikara and Seacat systems, which meant that Vendetta (and Vampire (II)), were ill-equipped to deal with the growing missile threat. She also participated in Exercise SANDGROPER in Indian Ocean waters in late October. Communications equipment was renewed and living conditions upgraded. This led to the company presenting a brand new washing machine to Vendetta‘s Petty Officers’ Mess. The situation had eased by mid September 1975, and Vendetta rejoined the Task Group deployment with visits to Singapore and Hong Kong in September/October. Following the mercy dash, the Naval Board approved the immediate promotion of Leading Engineer Mechanic WJ Robinson to Acting Petty Officer, as a result of his presence of mind and devotion to duty under arduous circumstances whilst in charge of Vendetta‘s “B” Boiler Room. Advances in destroyer design in the United   Kingdom during the mid to late 1940s resulted in the design of the Daring Class, originally described as light cruisers.