Fire devastates Aust. naval base

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 12

Fire devastates Aust. naval base

NZPA Canberra ; The Australian Government is expected to ask for orders of six new Grumman anti-submarine aircraft from America to be speeded up after the fire at the Navy’s Nowra Air Base which destroyed or damaged all but [one of the Grumman squadron’s 13 aircraft. An official Defence spokesman put the cost of the fire which destroyed a hangar, seven Grumman trackers and damaged five aircraft severely, at $2.5M. However, this estimate is expected to rise after an examination of the damaged aircraft and the loss of support equipment. The Navy last -week lost one of its Sea King helicopters also used for antisubmarine measures, bringing to two out of 10 lost this year. The anti-submarine patrols now rest with the eight Sea Kings and the Air Force Orion long-range aircraft. The Opposition defence i spokesman (Mr Bill Hayden)

speaking to the NZPA from Brisbane described the incident as a public scandal.

“It is unbelievable that one of our front line defence forces can be so thoroughly crippled in this way,” he said. ,

A Naval board of inquiry has been called to inquire into the blaze which occurred about midnight on Saturday.

Police forensic detectives have been sent to Nowra, about 100 miles south of Sydney, to examine the debris and to find if arson could have caused the fire. In a statement in Canberra after examining the devastation at Nowra, the Defence Minister (Mr Jim Killen) said the fire represented a major blow to the Navy. “This represents a significant blow to the R.A.N., and I don’t seek to disguise it,” he said.

“Neither do the professional naval advisers of the Government seek to disguise the extent of the loss.”

Mr Killen said he expected the board of inquiry to report in a month.