HMAS Vampire

[@theonlytnargmatt]

Imagine a kurfust museum. "So now we're halfway down the deck, let's camp out overnight among the 128s..."

[@Darkaxis69SV]

Damn that will be awesome

[@jordanwilliams2557]

Imagine if Yamato or musashi weren’t sunk, looking at the pic they make me feel small

[@theonlytnargmatt]

@@jordanwilliams2557 you could turn the gun barrels into water slides.

[@jordanwilliams2557]

@@theonlytnargmatt exactly 460 mm water slides 😆

[@theonlytnargmatt]

@@jordanwilliams2557 you could use the deck as a go kart course.

[@2011Riven]

Last of the big gun destroyers in Australia, been there many times pity you can’t go below deck anymore. Still worth a visit.

[@KJs581]

I had two postings to Vendetta, and when we paid off Vendetta, I posted to Vampire. I was there from mid 79 to Mar 1980. We were there for the last firings of the main armament, because while it was a training ship until 84, all the gun and gun system maintainers posted off in March 80, and the main armament wasn't fired from then on. Vampire and Vendetta were refitted early 70's, and had the M22 GFCS, which was very modern for the time. I worked on the M22 radar. The radar was essentially analogue, but the GFC computer was digital, and one of the first digital gun computers in the world. The next gen of M22 on the DE's had digital FC radar as well; again, that was one of the first digital FC radars in the world. The ships had two M22 systems, one fwd, one aft. Fwd one was in ops (red system), aft was in the superstructure approx between the two aft Bofors (blue system) . Each system had it's own search radar, track radar (both those radars are in the "golf ball" radomes) and optical sight. There were also 4 ALO sights which could designate to either system. Any of the two systems could designate targets to each other, and also control all the guns in various combinations due to quite complex gun switching and switched comms. The 4.5 gun mounts are multi purpose, and designed to be used against SU and AA targets (and shore targets as well.) With the M22 system's accuracy, these ships could track very small targets, and could lock onto and get TTB's (target triggered bursts, a test firing procedure) against a star shell (fire a shell, and it deploys a flare on a parachute.) Darings only fired starshells from X-ray mount (aft) because that was the only gun that had fuse number for star sent to it. I enjoyed my three postings to Darings. I had almost a dozen postings to M22 ships, and if you worked radar you spent a LOT of time inside those radomes. No fun on a hot day. My last trip to Vampire was when I was system Chief on Torrens in 97/98. We needed a resolver for our LWO-2a radar antenna, none left in the world, but I knew Vampire had one, probably the last working one in the world. The museum was good enough to let us take theirs/put our U/S one into theirs. Kept our LWO (long range air search radar) going until we paid off Torrens in late 98.

[@seapappy9183]

Cool! She was closed when my wife and I visited in 2008... we ended up touring the Endeavor. It was amazing! The other museum ships I have visited are USS Texas, USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Stewart, and USS Cavalla... perhaps I’ll visit some more in the years to come!

[@russellbeck9974]

Great video Terry! I enjoy visiting museum ships as well. Took the family through the Alabama last fall, in Mobile.

[@mdtransmissionspecialties]

Thank you Terry as someone who will never get a chance to go to Australia I greatly appreciate this video. I went and seen NJ last year and my oh my it’s quite intimidating standing next to one of the turrets. My background on my phone is of my wife who is 5’2 stand next to turret 2 and it’s quite adorable the comparison lol. Hope all is well Terry!

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Thanks, keeping busy :) One day, I'll make it over to the US for a museum ship tour. Till then, I'll contend myself with the local ones. Next to the Vampire usually docks HMAS Onslow, an Oberon-class submarine that you can get into as well. It's quite a feeling to climb down into that thing.

[@deltawarshipdelta8565]

A really interesting documentary about the ship, ngl guns in real life really look impressive in real life. In France there is also a DD named Maillé-Brézé in Nantes, I hope I can see her one day :D

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

I need to compile a bucket list for all the museum pieces I want to visit :)

[@tubalooney]

@@FunandGameswithTerry HMS Belfast on the Thames :-)

[@malcolmriley6643]

I was on Vendetta also didn’t know of torpedo launchers on the main top but mortars were mounted aft.

[@Ajax-li2wp]

I live in north carolina and I loves visiting my state ship, the 406 guns are huge in real life. I also spent a couple nights on the yorktown when I was in boy scouts.

[@Peterax788]

Those rapid firing guns were good to do both anti air and surface ships

[@viciousgrin9044]

i was waiting for the line "so... lets take it into a battle"

[@enzoluisasuncion3621]

Hahaha I'm so used to it as well lol

[@ksc4622]

yeah I'm still waiting for the equipments and captain skills

[@HarkonWolf]

Awesome ..really nice reportage, tons of details ... Hope see more videos like this.

[@braceuself]

I noticed a lightship in the background. There's a lightship rotting in South Wales called Juno or lvl 72.she was used at the D day landings

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

There are some more ships in the museum, but all closed atm. Definitely going to record Onslow when she opens again.

[@braceuself]

@@FunandGameswithTerry as soon as covid restrictions are eased im going to see hms Belfast as its a ship I enjoy playing in the game

[@losinggrip2313]

I would like to see more. This is some very interesting stuff 😃

[@stephenlloyd9342]

Great piece! Well done

[@Scorpion-rp5sx]

Thank you Terry... I thoroughly enjoyed this Vampire video! Scorpion

[@Peterax788]

More videos like this Terry. Loved it

[@onewingedangel6196]

Wow! Those turrets look so tiny in-game, but they are pretty large in real life!

[@JRowan]

Very cool Terry. Add these to the rotation.

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Absolutely. I've got some more footage, just need to get to making them (bit more work than WoWs vids)

[@goshguiltytheloofy650]

Wow, very cool ship!

[@Redgamingdino4005]

Terry. You should be a guide on meusem ships

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

They actually used to have guides, often retired Navy personnel.

[@Redgamingdino4005]

I live in the USA so there is a lot of meusem ships but due to COVID I can’t visit any at the moment. However in the future I will for sure visit one.

[@sasha6594]

Great job Terry!

[@ijsbeermeneer9952]

Imagine being in that turret; "Just keep shooting and hope for the best"

[@KJs581]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYayZnh4lJ15kLs

[@KJs581]

This is Parramatta, but essentially same gun. Not really "hope for the best"; the system that controlled it was very accurate (M22 GFCS). But it (the gun) was very manpower intensive. There are two sailors each side loading, as well as capt of the gun and capt of the turret. One supervises the loading ops, the other "drives" the mount, although during firings he is a safety number, as in auto the gun bearing/elev follows the system. Better to be cartridge loader than shell, as cartridge is a lot lighter. :-) Next deck down in the gun bay, there are 4 people on the rotating structure feeding the hoists, and a few more transferring from ready use (around outside of gun bay) to ring on revolving structure. Then you have people in the magazine and shell room NEXT deck down feeding their hoists. Although usually you would transfer/bring up (provide) ammo from lower quarters before a firing and have as ready use in the gun bay. But still a large crew. Lots of yelling, as all the hydraulics are very noisy. (They mention "Obi" here, likely the same Obi who was our capt of the gun in "Torrens". Torrens was the last firing at sea in the RAN of a 4.5 gun in late 1998.) Wheras the 5/54 we use now has no one in the mount, and ONE rating in the gun bay, and he is there just to observe/in case of problems/misfire. You do have magazine crews, but on station they are unmanned, and you normally keep the drum full/ready to go. It holds 20 rounds, I always had 19 HEVT, with a spare cell for flexibility. It is good fun. 🙂

[@FlyTyer1948]

With a name like Vampire, I wonder what the nicknames were for her medical officers, especially those who had to draw blood. Those Bofors guns were awfully close to the stern turret. Those big guns must have been unbearably loud to the Bofor’s crew.

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

The sounds in game really don't do it justice. Thinking of a little project in that regard...

[@alanlane3670]

Not with ear plugs.....

[@richardberner6170]

How are you doing down under? CC can you tell us when we might expect the British heavies? G'day mate and have a packet of crisps for me!

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Lol :) I haven't kept up to date with events, but I think Rapltor has already seen some on the Chinese server, so shouldn't be too long.

[@arsonist2298]

Great video .. nothing wrong with a little history.

[@tubalooney]

Very interesting thank you Terry!

[@damienjooconnor4260]

Awesome history lesson 👏 keep up the great content Terry

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Thanks! I've got a couple more things already recorded, just need to get to producing :)

[@mobile_plays2853]

" And on the enemy team we have, all the people on the harbor, so let's see what she can do here. The 2 second reload is pretty efficient in setting fires. What is the enemy team doing? They're all running to the edge of the map." XD They should add this ship to blitz as RN T10 premium DD.

[@Shadow-sq2yj]

I believe the Vampire was a premium or tech tree ship in WoW.

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Yeah, I'd love to have that in-game

[@caseydale4731]

Awesome video

[@raptor1672]

I've been on the Vampire, she's a great ship!

[@enzoluisasuncion3621]

Not gonna lie 0:01 I thought your in game and I didn't notice theirs ropes in the side 😂 nice documentary though

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Cheers! That shot was intentional :)

[@dudditz]

DD got its torp wall of skill nerfed 😊

[@JJT15YT]

Hold Up You Live In Sydney? I Live In Brisbane

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

We were thinking of going Gold Coast for vacation this year, but with the borders closing on short notice, it might be a while. Any good museums around there?

[@JJT15YT]

@@FunandGameswithTerry go to the Gold Coast War Museum it’s really good, lots of variety.

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Cheers, I'll take a look

[@jordanwilliams2557]

Even though they look small in the game they look huge in real life

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

I know, I can only imagine how huge an actual battleship would be...

[@Cirrus2000]

They’re adding this ship in PC!!

[@TBB59c]

hi jag!

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Wow really? I'm almost tempted to try PC... :P

[@zhamat9372]

My grandpa served on this ship

[@noob26]

Gees! They really need to do some cleaning, maintenance - rust, peeling paint, lotsa seagull crap....

[@kentlindal5422]

I've seen worse. But I hope they one day complete the retro-retrofit

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

She's towed over to Kuttabul navy base every couple of years for maintenance. Should be due again this year.

[@muhammadfahad6278]

Very Interesting. Thanks, Regards, yamato4 (Username World Of Warships Blitz)

[@alanlane3670]

Served on her 1971-72...........LSQMG

[@ijnkaga1514]

vampire cooo name

[@TBB59c]

grind up to the Daring in wowsb

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

One day. Probably Pan-Asian first

[@p1rahnah]

HMAS dds?!?!?!

[@FunandGameswithTerry]

Yep :) check out www.gunplot.net/matapan/scrapironflott1.htm for some excellent background

[@p1rahnah]

@@FunandGameswithTerry Will do! Thanks!

[@richardberner6170]

Terry do you have discord twitter? Use this channel to reply. Looking for black ships. Latest mate.