HMAS Sheean (SSG 77)

HMAS "Sheean" (SSG 77), is one of six "Collins" class submarines serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Construction

"Sheean" was laid down by the Australian Submarine Corporation at Osborne, South Australia on 17 February 1994. She was launched on 1 May 1999 by Mrs. Ivy Hayes, sister of Able Seaman Teddy Sheean, and commissioned on 23 February 2001. HMAS "Sheean" is based at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

Name

HMAS "Sheean" was named after Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean, who was lost when HMAS "Armidale" was sunk on 1 December 1942 off the Timorese coast.cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Sheean |title=HMAS Sheean |accessdate=2008-08-21 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy] During attempts to transport Dutch soldiers to Timor, "Armidale" came under attack from Japanese aircraft.cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Armidale_%28I%29 |title=HMAS Armidale (I) |accessdate=2008-08-21 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre - Royal Australian Navy] On the third day of attacks, a force of thirteen mixed Japanese aircraft succeeded in dropping two torpedoes on the corvette. Although Sheean was wounded in the attack, he chose to strap himself into the corvette's aft Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and continue to fire at the Japanese, while "Armidale" sank. Sheean was mentioned in dispatches for his actions.

"Sheean" is the only Australian naval vessel to be named after a general sailor (the other "Collins" class submarines were named after officers. The submarine continues to maintain strong ties with her namesake's home town of Latrobe, Tasmania. The submarine's motto, "Fight On", depicts Teddy Sheean's attitude, while the ships' badge displays an Oerlikon.

Operational history

References

External links

* [http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/1999/ss0199.html Speech at the launch]
* [http://www.navy.gov.au/Ordinary_Seaman_Edward_Sheean Biography of Edward "Teddy" Shean]