Sunk off Jervis Bay

The big guns roar during target practice off Jervis Bay.

The Navy and Jervis Bay have been linked together since the first tall ships sailed past the 300ft high magestic vertical cliff face of Point Perpendicular,  and anchored  in the sheltered waters of the bay. A look through this blog site will reveal many interesting facts about the Navy and it's relationship with the bay and the waters around Jervis Bay.

1935.

The navy to this very day still conduct training exercises in and around the bay,  local residents are accustomed to the rumble and vibrations from the war ships when their using the live firing range at Beecroft Peninsula for ship to shore bombing practice. They also use the waters surrounding jervis bay for target shooting.   Floating targets are dragged hundreds of meters behind a tow vessel,  the big guns roar as they fire their deadly rounds towards the moving target. When navy ships are no longer fit for active service,  the navy sometimes uses this opportunity to build on their skills by using the stripped out hulks for target practice. Two ships met this fate and found their final resting place on the ocean floor just 40 miles off Jervis bay.

The first was the HMAS Kara Kara,  she was sunk on the 31st of January 1973,   after serving as a target for ships and aircraft..

The second vessel was Bathurst class minesweeper,  HMAS Colac - she was sunk off Jervis Bay on 4th March 1987.

The life and times of these two vessels is a fascinating story in itself,  follow the links below for more information. HMAS Kara Kara - HMAS Colac.