Australian Coastal Forces

Hello 'Iron Duke', welcome aboard.

In order to move Cerberus ashore and raise her we would not much more money than 'Friends of the Cerberus' has now. What we can, just about, do now is externally brace her so the next winter storm in Port Philip Bay does not cause a major collapse that would end all hope of saving her.

Finding ways of raising enough funds to move Cerberus ashore and then restore her (probably something like $12m dollers + Australian) is a major problem for us.

Despite Cerberus being the last surviving Ironclad Monitor in the world (built on the Tyne in England in 1868). Despite being the blueprint of the design of almost all major Battleships C. 1870-1905. Despite her being, easily, the oldest surviving ship to have served in the Royal Australian Navy. And despite her having two of only three surviving Cowper Coles Gun Turrrets in the World; Governments here have been reluctant to spend money to save her and the general public tends to think -wrongly- that she is beyond saving (besides she is not a 'romantic' sailing ship).

The Navy here is fairly supportive and a small group of enthuisiasts put in much time and effort but fund raising has proven very difficult so far... We are certainly open to ideas and suggestions on this subject.
Ted


Edited by ForumManager - 15 February 2010 at 8:15am

And a bit more on SDB -former HDML- 1321. (scrool down a fair way)
http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3756&page=5

I am told by a chap who served on her Post War that she may still survive as a cruise boat, perhaps named 'Rushcutter' and perhaps in Australia north of Sydney?
Ted

Hello 'IronDuke',

I am very much involved with HDML 1321/MV Rushcutter and by that I mean in contact with the current owners, three surviving crew members, a post war skipper, the author and website owner? of the Guns of Muschu and the man himself, Op Copper's sole survivor.

I also have a huge interest in coastal forces in general, just Allied boats/ships predominantly RN and RAN.

Please get in touch.

Cheers,
Roger.

Hello yet again,

Sorry to 'IronDuke', I did not answer your questions regarding HDML/MV Rushcutter and other possible surviving craft.

I can tell you she is very much still afloat and now located in Darwin. In fact I received a couple of photo's today from a former crew member via the son of the WW2 skipper.

I don't know how to include photo's here, do I e-mail them to you Ted (Pioneer)?

Other surviving CF craft here in OZ that I know of are --

MV Challenger, an ex Army Fairmile B in Melbourne, ex RNZN HDML 1183/MV Mako now with new owners in Brisbane, ex HMAS Air Save a Miami class ASR launch in Sydney, another Miami class boat (name escapes me right now) in Brisbane I believe and finally a small ex RAAF Rescue boat on the Murray River at Mildura.