Special Sub-Topic: Australian Navy 2 Authored by: adzparadox Sub-topic of: Australian Military

If you had a problem with your pay packet, while serving in the Australian Navy you would ask the payroll officer in which of these places?

C.O.C. Correct answer C.O.C is the central office complex. Incorrect ones are the C.I.C or combat information center, the C.A.S or combined antenna system, and we all know about the CIA.

What is the lowest rank of any commissioned officer in the R.A.N.?

Midshipman. The “Midi” or Midshipman is where all the new seat polishers start out. A “Subi” or Sub Lieutenant is one rank up. And the Lieutenant is one more rank up. The Petty Officer is a non commissioned officer, so he works for a living and is addressed as PO and not sir.

Under normal sailing conditions aboard your favorite Australian Navy frigate, what engine noise are you most likely to hear?

A high pitched whistle. The big bald guy with whip in hand went out of fashion some time ago. The high pitched whistle is made from a couple of aeroplane style engines. After a year or so you start to get used to the noise.

As of 1986 in the R.A.N. where would an R.P. utilize his skills?

In the C.I.C. A radar plotter or R.P. works in the combat information center or C.I.C. C.A.S. is a radar so if he was on it he would be cooked. It is rare for any one to go up the mast, also because of radars. And he is an R.P. not a janitor so not the head either.

Whilst you are at sea in the R.A.N. most every day there will be a MOBEX. What the heck is that?

Man Over Board Exercise. The Man Over Board Exercise is a daily test to practice retrieving a person who has gone “over the side”. Or fallen in the ocean.

As a Q.M.G.(I understand that there is no such rate as Q.M.G anymore) in the R.A.N. you are the current gunner of the watch. A MOBEX begins so you grab your rifle and ammunition and then normally take your position where?

On the bridge wing. You will normally be on the bridge wing so you can shoot at any threat to the MOB, or the diver of the watch who will do the rescue.

Approximately how large is the “wheel “ of an F.F.G in the Royal Australian Navy?

3 inches. Steering Wheel. Being a fairly modern ship, the wheel is electric. Small and made of brass.

Back to the engine room on our Australian Navy’s F.F.G. we find what type of engine?

General Electric LM2500 gas turbine. The GE LM2500 GT. It is the same type of jet engine you find on some large passenger planes. That is where the high pitched whistle comes from in question 3.

Australian Navy circa 1990, if we added together all the 5 inch guns from every ship in the R.A.N. how many 5 inch guns would we have?

6. Two 5 inch guns on each of the three D.D.G.s or destroyers. One forward and one aft. Three destroyers with two on each equals six.

OK now after a hard days work sailing the high seas, it is time for some scran (food). Where would you sit down to a meal?

In the café. Well some of the meals may just about put you in the sickbay, but no. The mess is the Army term for a place to eat. The grindage room is made up. So in the R.A.N. you eat in the café.