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The Governor General of Aus- tralia, Sir Zelman Cowen, and Lady Cowen were present at the launching of the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Tobruk, at Car- rington Slipways Pty. Ltd.'s ship- yard at Tomago, recently. Lady Cowen named and launched the $36-million amphib- ious heavy-lift ship during a tra- ditional ceremony attended by service and Department of De- fence personnel, local government officials, VIPs and shipyard work- ers. Representatives of the three de- fense forces included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. G.J. Wil- lis, the G.O.C. Field Force Com- mand, Major Gen. J.I. William- son, and the Officer Commanding R.A.A.F. Base Williamtown, Air Commodore W.H. Simmonds. The HMAS Tobruk, at 6,000 tons and 126 meters long (about 413 feet), is the largest ship built by Carrington Slipways. She was launched sideways into a special- ly constructed basin which was dredged from shipyard land be- side the Hunter River. The basin is a small inland lake with a bank of earth barring ac- cess to the river. More than a meter of water was pumped into the basin to raise the level of wa- ter for the launching. Major construction work on the ship has been completed, and fit- ting out will continue while the Tobruk is in the basin. The river bank will be broken when the ves- sel is ready for sea trials. Com- missioning is expected to take place in October this year. The Tobruk's commanding of- ficer will be Comdr. K.A. Doolan. Delaware Valley ASNE Discusses Computer Modeling And Ship Performance A recent meeting of the Dela- ware Valley Chapter, American Society of Naval Engineers, wras held at the Officers Club, U.S. Naval Base, Philadelphia, Pa. The technical session was opened by meeting coordinator Lt. Comdr. C.E. Jones, Philadel- phia Naval Shipyard, who intro- duced Comdr. J.S. Smith, Phila- delphia Naval Shipyard, author of the evening's paper that was entitled "Computer Modeling and Ship Performance." The author traced the develop- ment of modeling techniques to simulate combat system perform- ance in an installed shipboard environment. The development started in 1972, and has expanded in capability to the point where performance-oriented, topside de- sign synthesis can be accomplished using real time and CRT inter- faces. Commander Smith was the branch head of NAVSEC 6174 when development began, and has maintained his interest in this vital combatant ship design tool through the years. Capt. Ray Pierce, chairman of Offshore utility vessel PBR-216 is first of six being built by Service Machine Group for PBR Offshore, Inc. Two new workboats — the off- shore utility vessel PBR-216 and the tug Stone Mountain — were completed recently by The Service Machine Group, Inc. of Morgan City, La. The PBR-216, built for PBR Offshore, Inc. also of Morgan City, has an overall length of 118 feet, beam of 26 feet, depth of 11.5 feet and draft of 10 feet. Cargo water capacity is 58,000 gallons, fuel oil capacity is 30,000 gallons, and deck cargo load is 103 tons, with additional below-deck capacity of 217 tons. She is powered by two General Motors 16V-92N diesel engines with a total of 1,200 bhp, sup- plied by George Engine Company, driving Twin Disc 5:1 reduction gears for a speed of 12 knots. Electric power is provided by two GM4-71N engines driving 50-kw generators. Additional equipment includes a Sitex Model 22 radar, a Motor- ola 55/75 VHF radio, a Drake Tugboat Stone Mountain was delivered recently by Service Machine to Black Towing Company. Attending recent ASNE Delaware Valley Chapter meeting were (left to right): E.P. Weinert, vice chairman; Capt. R.E. Pierce, chairman; Comdr. J.S. Smith, secretary- treasurer; J.E. Deal, Sanders and Thomas, Inc., and Lt. Comdr. C.E. Jones, meeting coordinator. the Delaware Valley Chapter, pre- sented Commander Smith with a Certificate of Appreciation, and announced that Commander Smith has been promoted and is leaving the Philadelphia area for reas- signment in the Washington, D.C. area. Utility Vessel And Tugboat Delivered By Service Machine Group Australian Navy Heavy-Lift Ship Launched At Carrington Slipways Amphibious heavy-lift ship HMAS Tobruk was side-launched into a specially con- structed basin at Carrington Slipways in Tomago. Commissioning of the Royal Australian Navy ship is expected in October of this year. 10 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
