I was a QM3 (soon to be Qm2) on board that night. I would have had the next QM watch. We were hit at 3am local time. The carrier went thru the forward fire room/radio central/CIC/chart room, just forward of the mast. One signalman (I heard) landed on the flight deck. Nobody from the fireroom survived more than a few minutes. Forward engine room also flooded.
QM, Sm, etc. bunk area was the compartment forward of after steering, under mount 53. When we hit the ship rolled completely on her stbd side. Most crew compartments spanned the ship (side to side), 30 some feet. That meant some of those sleeping on the port side fell 3o feet. I remember waking to a concussion like noise similar to an incoming round. Then as the ship rolled, lots of metal noises, scraping banging, etc. Then there were screams, some of pain and some of surprise. We had some broken arms and legs. I have to call a bs on the Melbourne having running lights on. NEVER at night did any ships have lights, It was simulated wartime. I remember NO lights, No radar. We used a stadimeter for ranges and position. Depending on our station, the Melbourne silhouette was just a black blob at night. All ships were on a common zig-zag course. OD would order course changes from a time chart. We got out of time and OD didn’t realize we were on a different course...
I was one of the last to go on deck. A DC1 went through and shut doors, etc, but there were solid bulkheads (aft fire room, aft boiler room, etc.) With a calm sea there was no real danger of sinking soon. The sea was as calm as I ever saw it. It was strange to go topside and see no ship forward. I think the ship broke at the forward end of the torpedo deck. Only one boat davit was left. I think I saw the boat hanging.
Calm seas probably saved many lives. Also, Melbourne crew was impressive in their seamanship skills. I was told the boats had engines running and dropped the last several feet from the davits. They took off at full speed for our survivors.
Several people on the forward section were at their end of endurance when the boats pulled up. The Aussies kept the death toll down.
I have Stars & Stripes covering the collision and the Sage bros. I knew all three. As a Qm, I stood bridge watches with the Bms and worked with the radarman.
We had 3 days in Subic before we flew back to Long Beach. Those lightly injured or uninjured were sent to a just completed barracks. We had no duty and so swapped info during the day and got drunk at night. The barracks was worse for wear when we left.
About dawn we went up on the Melbourne’s stern under the flight deck. After a couple hours, the Aussies broke out a pallet of beer cases. The can was twice as big as USA beer cans and twice the alcohol content. I don’t remember if it was Fosters, but my sex life got better a few days later. Very thoughtful of them.
When the Kearsarge arrived we were transfered to her in Melbourne boats. We all took several more cans of beer and drank them on the trip over. Needless to say, many were drunk. The Kearsarge rigged a ladder, but they started moving us before the railing was in place. I remember someone falling into the sea. Some a’hole wouldn’t allow the beer on board so we drank up on the ladder on in the boats.
Riding a carrier after a tin can was amazing. We were on board 3 days and I only felt movement once. We watched a destroyed come alongside and were surprised how much she moved.
I served on a couple more WWII cans for short times and then was sent to a DLG (now called a cruiser). I spent the rest of my navy time trying to get off it.
I later was a commercial fisherman on the US west coast (salmon and albacore). I soon will be 60 and was about to be 21 when this happened. 40 years ago now.
I understand the Melbourne holds the peace time tonnage record.
Anyway, I have a lot of info/stories if anybody wants more.
I was a NAAH on HMAS Melbourne in 1969,21years old.
I finished my watch on the flight deck at 0200hrs, went below,showered and got a camp stretcher to sleep on the foc’sle port side (under the catapult). No sooner got to sleep and heard “hands to collision stations” but it was dream like. Next thing I was thrown out off the stretcher amongst noise sparks fumes etc, I then looked out of the opening port side and saw the bow of Evans conpletely on its side with the ships numbers clearly seen in the moonlight. I guess I was like a stunned mullet, as I witnessed the bow sink in no time flat. Someone was calling out for mother/wife or ?.
I then raced up to the flight deck to my station (ACR) and we just got to work arranging for the Wessex to be brought up from the hanger. At first light I took photos and then when we stopped for a service (church) sometime later in the morning, I got all emotional. Later I was required to help bring a body from sick bay up to the flight deck to be flown back to the Kearsage.
These memories still haunt me to some extent.
During this time my father was serving in Vietnam at Nui Dat in the Australian Army.
HMAS Melbourne limped into Singapore and got a temporary patch up job to cover up the bow so we could return to Sydney. 2 weeks after the collision while we were in Singapore, my first son was born 17th June.
I’m now 60 and my oldest son will be 40 next year, so here’s hoping the will be a 40th reunion somewhere next year. We are shipmates always.
Regards
Glen email: glen.dore1@bigpond.com
May God bless those of us who are still going and for those who have not survived RIP