View source for HMAS Melbourne (R21)

{{short description|1955–1982 Majestic-class aircraft carrier of Royal Australian Navy}}
{{other ships|HMAS Melbourne|HMS Majestic}}

{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:HMAS Melbourne (R21) underway 1967.jpeg|300px|alt=Side view of an aircraft carrier in motion. A helicopter sits on the carrier's deck, and several dark-uniformed people can also be seen.]]
|Ship caption=HMAS ''Melbourne'' in 1967
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval}}
|Ship namesake=City of [[Melbourne]]
|Ship ordered=1943
|Ship builder=[[Vickers-Armstrongs]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]]
|Ship laid down=15 April 1943
|Ship launched=28 February 1945 as HMS ''Majestic''
|Ship christened=26 October 1955 as HMAS ''Majestic''
|Ship commissioned=28 October 1955 as HMAS ''Melbourne''
|Ship decommissioned=30 May 1982
|Ship motto=*''Vires Acquirit Eundo''
*Latin: "She Gathers Strength As She Goes"
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap
|Ship honours=*'''Battle honours:'''
*[[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation|Malaysia]] 1965–66
*plus two [[HMAS Melbourne#Battle honours|inherited honours]]
|Ship badge=[[File:HMAS melbourne 2 crest.png|center|alt=A ship's badge. A naval crown sits on top of a black scroll with "MELBOURNE" written in gold. This is atop a yellow, rope-patterned ring, in which the head and torso of a kangaroo, holding a crown, is depicted. Below the ring are a stone axe and a nulla nulla sitting on top of a boomerang. At the bottom of the badge is a black scroll with "VIRES ACQUIRIT EUNDO" written.]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship class=Modified [[Majestic-class aircraft carrier|''Majestic''-class light aircraft carrier]]
|Ship displacement=*Standard: {{convert|15740|long ton|short ton}}
*Full load: {{convert|20000|long ton|short ton}}
|Ship length=*{{convert|213.97|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} overall
*Increased by {{convert|2.43|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in 1969
|Ship beam={{convert|24.38|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|7.62|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=Two Parsons single-reduction geared turbine sets; four Admiralty [[List of boiler types, by manufacturer#T|3-drum boiler]]s; two screws (port: 3 blade, starboard: 4 blade); {{convert|40000|shp|abbr=on|lk=in}}
|Ship speed={{convert|24|kn}}
|Ship range=*{{convert|12000|nmi}} at {{convert|14|kn}}
*{{convert|6200|nmi}} at {{convert|23|kn}}
|Ship complement=1,350, including 350 Air Group personnel
|Ship sensors=*'''<u>Radar:</u>'''
*'''1955–1968:'''
*3 × [[Type 277 radar|Type 277Q]] height-finding set
*1 × Type 293Q surface search set
*1 × Type 978 navigational set
*'''1969–1982:'''
*1 × Type 293Q surface search set
*1 × Type 978 navigational set
*1 × LW-02 air search set
*1 × SPN-35 landing aid radar
|Ship armament=*'''1955–1959:'''
*25 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40&nbsp;mm Bofors]] anti-aircraft guns (6 twin mountings, 13 single mountings)
*'''1959–1968:'''
*21 × Bofors (6 twin, 9 single)
*'''1969–1980:'''
*12 × Bofors (4 twin, 4 single)
*'''1980–1982:'''
*4 × Bofors (4 single)
|Ship aircraft=Up to 27 aircraft, including helicopters
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMAS ''Melbourne'' (R21)''' was a [[Majestic-class aircraft carrier|''Majestic''-class]] [[light aircraft carrier]] operated by the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN) from 1955 until 1982, and was the third and final conventional [[aircraft carrier]]{{NoteTag|For the purpose of this article, a conventional aircraft carrier is defined as a ship designed primarily to launch and recover multiple fixed-wing aircraft from a flight deck, and operated as such. This definition does not include seaplane tender {{HMAS|Albatross|seaplane tender|6}}, or the [[Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock|''Canberra''-class]] amphibious warfare ships.}} to serve in the RAN.  ''Melbourne'' was the only [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime [[ship collision|collision]]s.<ref name=Bastock313/>

''Melbourne'' was laid down for the [[Royal Navy]] as the [[lead ship]] of the ''Majestic'' class in April 1943, and was launched as '''HMS ''Majestic'' (R77)''' in February 1945.  At the end of the [[Second World War]], work on the ship was suspended until she was purchased by the RAN in 1947.  At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design, making ''Melbourne'' the third {{Ambiguous|date=April 2024|reason=third to what frame of reference? In the RAN? Ever?}} ship to be constructed with an [[angled flight deck]].  Delays in construction and integrating the enhancements meant that the carrier was not commissioned until 1955.

''Melbourne'' never [[wikt:fire in anger|fired a shot in anger]] during her service career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation]] and the [[Vietnam War]].  She was, however, involved in two major collisions with allied vessels; though ''Melbourne'' was not found to be the primary cause of either incident.  The [[Melbourne-Voyager collision|first collision]] occurred on the evening of 10 February 1964, in which ''Melbourne'' rammed and sank the RAN destroyer {{HMAS|Voyager|D04|6}}, when the latter altered course across her bow.  82 of ''Voyager''{{'}}s personnel were killed, and two [[Royal Commission]]s were held to investigate the incident.  The [[Melbourne-Evans collision|second collision]] occurred in the early morning of 3 June 1969, when ''Melbourne'' also rammed the [[United States Navy]] (USN) destroyer {{USS|Frank E. Evans|DD-754|6}} in similar circumstances.  74 American personnel died, and a joint USN–RAN [[Naval Board of Inquiry|Board of Inquiry]] was held.  These incidents, along with several minor collisions, shipboard accidents and aircraft losses, led to the belief that ''Melbourne'' was [[jinx]]ed.<ref name=Hall9/>

''Melbourne'' was paid off from RAN service in 1982.  A proposal to convert her for use as a [[floating casino]] failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold for scrap in 1985 and towed to [[China]] for [[ship breaking|breaking]].  The scrapping was delayed so ''Melbourne'' could be studied by the [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a [[Chinese aircraft carrier programme|Chinese aircraft carrier]] and used to train [[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force|PLAN aviators]] in carrier flight operations.<ref name=Storey79/>

==Construction and acquisition==
''Melbourne'' was constructed by [[Vickers-Armstrongs]] at their Naval Construction Yard in [[Barrow-in-Furness]], [[North West England]].<ref name=Hobbs5>Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 5</ref>  The ship was laid down as HMS ''Majestic'' on 15 April 1943, and was launched on 28 February 1945 by [[Ava Anderson, Viscountess Waverley|Lady Anderson]], the wife of [[John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley|Sir John Anderson]], the British [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]].<ref name=Hobbs5/> Following the end of [[World War II]], the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] ordered the suspension of many British shipbuilding projects, including the fitting out of ''Majestic'' and her five sister ships.<ref name=Hobbs5/> Construction resumed in 1946, and major [[#Modifications during construction|modifications to the design]] were incorporated.<ref name=Hobbs5/>

A review by the Australian Government's Defence Committee held after {{nowrap|World War II}} recommended that the post-war forces of the RAN be structured around a Task Force incorporating multiple aircraft carriers.<ref name="Donohue">Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 33</ref> Initial plans were for three carriers, with two active and a third in reserve, although funding cuts led to the purchase of only two carriers in June 1947: ''Majestic'' and sister ship HMS ''Terrible'', for the combined cost of [[Australian pound|AU£]]2.75&nbsp;million,{{NoteTag|Monetary figures in this article shown are for the value of the Australian pound or dollar at that time, and have not been adjusted or converted.}} plus stores, fuel, and ammunition.<ref name=Hobbs5/><ref>Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', pp. 38, 45–7</ref> As ''Terrible'' was the closer of the two ships to completion, she was finished without modification, and was commissioned into the RAN on 16 December 1948 as {{HMAS|Sydney|R17|6}}.<ref name=Hobbs5/> Work progressed on ''Majestic'' at a slower rate, as she was upgraded with the latest technology and equipment.<ref name=Donohue94/> The ''Colossus''-class carrier {{HMS|Vengeance|R71|6}} was loaned to the RAN from 13 November 1952 until 12 August 1955 to cover ''Majestic''{{'}}s absence.<ref name=Donohue94>Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 94</ref>

The ''Majestic'' experienced delays in its construction due to labour difficulties, late delivery of equipment, additional requirements for Australian operations and the prioritisation of the construction of [[merchant ship]]s.<ref>Donohue, ''From Empire Defence to the Long Haul'', p. 149</ref><ref name=Stevens165>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 165</ref>  Incorporation of new systems and enhancements caused the cost of the RAN carrier acquisition program to increase to AU£8.3&nbsp;million.<ref name=Stevens165/> Construction and fitting out did not finish until October 1955.<ref name=Hall72/>  As the carrier neared completion, a commissioning crew was formed in Australia and first used to return ''Vengeance'' to the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>''HMAS (ex-HMS) Vengeance'', Sea Power Centre</ref>

The completed carrier was commissioned into the RAN as [[HMAS]] ''Majestic'' on 26 October 1955.<ref name=Cassells84>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 84</ref>  Two days later, the ship was renamed ''Melbourne'' by [[Vera Deakin White|Lady White]], the wife of [[Thomas White (Australian politician)|Sir Thomas White]], the Australian [[High Commissioner (Commonwealth)|High Commissioner]] to the United Kingdom, and recommissioned.<ref name="Hall72–3">Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 72–3</ref>

==Design==
{{Main|1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier}}
As the lead ship of the ''Majestic''-class of light aircraft carriers, ''Melbourne'' was conceived as a modified version of the ''Colossus''-class carrier, incorporating improvements in [[flight deck]] design and habitability.<ref name=Hobbs5/>  ''Majestic''- and ''Colossus''-class carriers were almost identical in [[hull (watercraft)|hull]] design and both were considered subclasses of the [[1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier|"1942 design" light aircraft carrier program]].<ref>Hobbs, in Stevens and Reeve, ''The Navy and the Nation'', p. 211</ref>  These carriers were intended as "disposable warships": to be disposed of at the end of World War II or within three years of entering service.<ref>Hobbs, in Stevens and Reeve,''The Navy and the Nation'', p. 217</ref>

''Melbourne'' had a standard displacement of {{convert|15740|long ton|short ton}}, which increased to {{convert|20000|long ton|short ton}} at full load.<ref name=Bastock308.9>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', pp. 308–9</ref>  At launch, the carrier was {{convert|213.97|m|ft}} long [[Length overall|overall]], but this was increased by {{convert|2.43|m|ft}} during a [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)#Refits|refit]] in 1969.<ref name=Bastock308.9/>  She had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|24.38|m|ft}}, and a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|7.62|m|ft}}.<ref name=Bastock308.9/>  ''Melbourne''{{'}}s two [[propeller]]s were driven by two [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[reduction drive|single-reduction geared]] [[gas turbine|turbine]] sets providing 40,000&nbsp;[[shaft horsepower|shp]], which were powered by four [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s.<ref name=Bastock308.9/>  The carrier could achieve a top speed of {{convert|24|kn}}, and a range of {{convert|12000|nmi}} at {{convert|14|kn}} or {{convert|6200|nmi}} at {{convert|23|kn}}.<ref name=Bastock308.9/>  The size of the ship's company averaged 1,350 officers and sailors, including 350 personnel from the embarked [[Fleet Air Arm (RAN)|Fleet Air Arm]] squadrons.<ref name=Bastock309/>

===Modifications during construction===
[[File:HMAS Melbourne (R21) aerial Pearl Harbor 1958.jpeg|thumb|left|alt=Aerial photograph taken from directly overhead of a small aircraft carrier, while she is berthed alongside a wharf. Nine aircraft are parked in a three-by-three pattern at the carrier's stern, and personnel are positioned to spell out the word "Aloha" when seen from above.|Aerial photograph of ''Melbourne'', showing the angled flight deck.]]
Following the recommencement of construction, modifications were made to the ship, based on wartime experience and Britain's post-war carrier warfare technology and innovations.<ref name="Hobbs5–6">Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', pp. 5–6</ref>  These included an [[angled flight deck]], [[steam catapult]] and a [[mirror landing aid]], making ''Melbourne'' the third aircraft carrier (following {{HMS|Ark Royal|R09|6}} and {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}}) to be constructed with these features, instead of having them added later.<ref name=Hobbs6>Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 6</ref>

The main modifications centred around the need to operate [[jet aircraft]], which were larger and heavier than those [[propeller (aeronautics)|propeller-driven]] aircraft that the carrier was originally designed for.<ref name="Gillett13–15">Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 13–5</ref>  The flight deck was angled 5.5 degrees left of the carrier's centreline, to allow for the simultaneous launch and recovery of aircraft.<ref name=Hall72>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 72</ref> Despite an increase to approximately one acre (4,000&nbsp;square metres, 4,800&nbsp;square yards) in area, the deck was still significantly smaller than other [[Cold War]] era carriers; [[S-2 Tracker]]s, with their {{convert|22.12|m|ftin|adj=on}} wingspan, had less than a metre's clearance for their [[starboard]] wingtip when landing, and pilots from other navies often refused to attempt landing.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 16, 72, 83</ref> Water rationing was required in the early years of the carrier's operation, as the ship's fresh water supply was insufficient to freely provide for the [[steam catapult]], propulsion turbines and crew.<ref name=Hobbs6/> The flight deck, hangar deck and aircraft lifts were strengthened, and reinforced [[arrestor cable]]s were installed.<ref name="Donohue"/> Flight direction radar was included, making ''Melbourne'' the only military airfield in the [[Australasia]]n region at the time capable of operating aircraft at night and in poor weather.<ref name="Hall72–3"/>

===Refits===
{{anchor|Refits}}
Early in her career, ''Melbourne'' underwent a series of short annual refits, commencing in September and ending in January or February of the next year.<ref>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 26, 28, 30, 33, 37, 39, 44, 48, 53, 84</ref> As time passed, the refits increased in duration or were replaced by major upgrades or overhauls.

''Melbourne''{{'}}s first major refit started in December 1967 and continued until February 1969, during which she was upgraded to operate [[S-2 Tracker]] and [[A-4 Skyhawk]] aircraft.<ref name=SPCMel2/> The modifications cost A$8.5&nbsp;million, and included an overhaul of the hull and machinery, strengthening of the flight deck, improvements to the catapult and arrestor cables, modification of the aviation fuel systems and flight control arrangements, and upgrades of the navigational aids and radar.<ref name=Hall174>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 174</ref><ref name=CClark61>Coulthard-Clark, ''Breaking free'', p. 61</ref> Air conditioning systems and a [[liquid oxygen]] generation plant were also installed.<ref name=CClark61/> ''Melbourne'' re-entered service at the conclusion of the refits on 14 February, and performed sea trials in Jervis Bay from 17 February until 5 May.<ref name=Gillett59/> This was the largest project undertaken by [[HMAS Kuttabul (naval base)|Garden Island Dockyard]] to that date.<ref name=CClark61/>

The next major refit was required in 1971 for the scheduled rebuilding of the catapult, which was only possible after components were sourced from {{HMCS|Bonaventure|CVL 22|6}} and {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|6}}.<ref name=Bastock313/><ref name=Hall213>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 213</ref> The flight deck was again reinforced and strengthened, and attempts were made to increase the effectiveness of the air conditioning system installed in 1969.<ref name=Bastock313/> ''Melbourne'' had been designed to operate in North Atlantic and Arctic climates, and the original ventilation systems were inappropriate for her primary operating climate, the tropics.<ref name=Hall16>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 16</ref> The 1969 and 1971 refits did improve conditions, although there was little scope for upgrade, and the system was still inadequate: temperatures inside the ship continued to reach over {{convert|65|C|F}}, and on one occasion a hold reached {{convert|78|C|F}}.<ref name=Hall16/> The refit took seven months to complete, and cost A$2&nbsp;million.<ref name=Bastock313/>

More large-scale refits occurred throughout the rest of the 1970s. ''Melbourne'' was back in dock from November 1972 until August 1973, with further work done to her catapult.<ref>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 77</ref> The next major refit ran from April 1975 to June 1976, and was intended to increase the operational lifespan of the carrier to at least 1985.<ref name=Cassells86>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 86</ref><ref>ANAM, ''Flying Stations'', p. 235</ref> The refit was lengthened by [[industrial action]] at the dockyard.<ref name=Cassells86/> ''Melbourne'' underwent another refit from late 1978 until August 1979.<ref name=Gillett89.91>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 89, 91</ref> A refit scheduled to begin in late 1981 was postponed in September until a decision regarding [[#Replacement|the new carrier]] was made, then cancelled in January 1982, after the announcement that the RAN would be [[#HMS Invincible|acquiring HMS ''Invincible'']].<ref name=ANAM251>ANAM, ''Flying Stations'', p. 251</ref><ref name=Wright168>Wright, ''Australian Carrier Decisions'', p. 168</ref>

==Armament==
''Melbourne'' carried a defensive armament of [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]] and an air group comprising both attack and anti-submarine aircraft. As the ship was never directly involved in a conflict, her weapons and embarked aircraft did not fire a shot in anger.<ref name=Hall9>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 9</ref>

===Weapons and systems===
''Melbourne''{{'}}s initial armament included 25 [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40&nbsp;mm Bofors]] anti-aircraft guns: six twin and thirteen single mountings.<ref name=GillettANZW22>Gillett, ''Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946'', p. 22</ref> The radar suite consisted of three [[Type 277 radar|Type 277Q]] height-finding sets, a [[Type 293 radar|Type 293Q]] surface search set, and a Type 978 navigational set.<ref name=Bishop62>Bishop and Chant, ''Aircraft Carriers'', p. 62</ref> Between entering service and 1959, four of the single Bofors were removed.<ref name=GillettANZW22/>

During the 1967–1969 refit, thirteen Bofors were removed, leaving four twin and four single mountings.<ref name=Bishop62/> The three 277Q radars were replaced with updated American and Dutch designs: a LW-02 air search set and a SPN-35 landing aid radar.<ref name=Bishop62/> A [[TACAN]] aerial and [[electronic countermeasures]] pods were also installed during this refit.<ref name=SPCMel2/> The four Bofors twin mountings were removed in 1980.<ref name=GillettANZW22/>

===Aircraft===
[[File:Sea Venom of 805 NAS landing on HMAS Melbourne (R21) c1962.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A jet aircraft with a twin tail arrangement sitting on the flight deck of an aircraft carriers. Cables trailing from underneath the aircraft indicate that it has just landed.|A de Havilland Sea Venom, with [[arrestor gear]] still connected, has just landed on ''Melbourne'']]
''Melbourne'' carried three [[Fleet Air Arm (RAN)|Fleet Air Arm]] squadrons.<ref name=Bastock309/> Initially, she had up to 22 fixed wing and 2 rotary wing aircraft embarked at any time.<ref name=SPCMel2/> The number of aircraft gradually increased until 1972, when the air group peaked at 27 aircraft.<ref name=Bishop62/> Approximately 350 Fleet Air Arm personnel were stationed aboard the carrier.<ref name=Bastock309/>

Initially, two types of fixed-wing aircraft were operated from ''Melbourne''. [[de Havilland Sea Venom]] FAW.53 fighter aircraft were flown by [[805 Squadron RAN]] and [[808 Squadron RAN]], while [[Fairey Gannet]] anti-submarine strike aircraft were operated by [[816 Squadron RAN]] and [[817 Squadron RAN]].<ref>Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', pp. 6–7</ref> At the time of their arrival, the Sea Venoms were the only radar equipped and all-weather combat aircraft in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref name=Hobbs6/> At ''Melbourne''{{'}}s commissioning, the standard air group consisted of eight Sea Venoms and two squadrons of eight Gannets, with two [[Bristol Sycamore]] search-and-rescue helicopters added shortly after the carrier entered service.<ref name=SPCMel2/><ref name=Bishop62/>

These aircraft were due to become obsolete in the late 1950s, and the RAN considered purchasing modern aircraft of French or Italian design, which were better suited to light carrier operations than equivalent British aircraft, or [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)#Replacement|replace ''Melbourne'']] with a larger carrier.<ref name=Stevens187/> Instead of pursuing either alternative, the Australian government announced in 1959 that ''Melbourne'' would be reconfigured during her 1963 refit to operate as a helicopter carrier.<ref name=Stevens187>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 187</ref> The fixed-wing aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm were marked for replacement by 27 [[Westland Wessex]] anti-submarine helicopters.<ref name=Stevens193>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 193</ref> A reduction of embarked plane numbers to four Sea Venoms and six Gannets, along with regular rotation and careful use of the aircraft, extended their service life until the mid-1960s, while the size of the air group was maintained by carrying up to ten Wessex helicopters.<ref name=Bishop62/><ref name=Stevens193/> The decision to retire the fixed-wing component of the Fleet Air Arm was rescinded in 1963, and on 10 November 1964, a AU£212&nbsp;million increase in defence spending included the purchase of new aircraft for ''Melbourne''.<ref name=Hobbs7>Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 7</ref><ref name=FrameLeg88>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 88</ref>

{{multiple image
|align=left 
|direction=vertical
|footer=''Melbourne''{{'}}s 1968 refit permitted her to operate the A-4 Skyhawk (top) and S-2 Tracker

|image1=A4 lands on melbourne.jpg
|width1=200
|alt1=A small, single-seat jet fighter has just touched down on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier

|image2=S2G-lands-on-melbourne.jpg
|width2=200
|alt2=A large propeller-driven aircraft is moments away from landing on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier
}}
The RAN planned to acquire 14 [[S-2 Tracker|Grumman S-2E Tracker]] anti-submarine aircraft, and modernise ''Melbourne'' to operate the aircraft.<ref name=FrameLeg88/> The acquisition of 18 [[A-4 Skyhawk|Douglas A-4 Skyhawk]] fighter-bombers was also suggested, but these were dropped from the initial plan.<ref name=Stevens193.4/> A separate proposal to order 10 [[McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk|A-4G Skyhawks]], a variant of the Skyhawk designed specifically for the RAN and optimised for air defence, was approved in 1965.<ref name=Stevens193.4>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', pp. 193–4</ref><ref>Forster, ''Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Production History''</ref> Both aircraft types entered RAN service in 1968, with the [[Grumman S-2 Tracker in Australian service|Trackers operated by]] [[816 Squadron RAN]] and [[851 Squadron RAN]], and the Skyhawks by [[805 Squadron RAN]] and [[724 Squadron RAN]].<ref name=Lind293/><ref name=Stevens194>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 194</ref> The aircraft did not fly from ''Melbourne'' until the conclusion of her refit in 1969.<ref name=Stevens194/> In 1969, the RAN purchased another ten A-4G Skyhawks, instead of the proposed seventh and eighth [[Oberon-class submarine|''Oberon''-class]] submarines.<ref name=Stevens194/> ''Melbourne'' operated a standard air group of four Skyhawks, six Trackers, and ten Wessex helicopters until 1972, when the Wessexes were replaced with ten [[Westland Sea King]] anti-submarine warfare helicopters and the number of Skyhawks doubled.<ref name=Bishop62/> Although replaced by the Sea King, up to three Wessex helicopters could be carried as search-and-rescue aircraft.<ref name=Bishop62/>

On 5 December 1976, a fire at the Naval Air Station {{HMAS|Albatross|air station|6}} destroyed or heavily damaged 12 of the Fleet Air Arm's 13 S-2E Trackers.<ref name=CT61276A>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131799483 "12 RAN Aircraft Burnt"] ''[[The Canberra Times]]'' – 6 December 1976, p.1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015</ref><ref name=CT61276>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131799497 "Nowra Air Station Fire"] ''The Canberra Times'' – 6 December 1976, p.1 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015</ref><ref name=CT1449>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110732860 "Court Martial After Nowra Base Fire"] ''The Canberra Times'' – 14 April 1977, p.9 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015</ref><ref name=Lind291/> The carrier was sent to the United States in 1977 to transport back 16 S-2G Tracker aircraft as replacements.<ref name=CT18377>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110729062 "18 Trackers in service soon"] ''The Canberra Times'' – 18 March 1977, p.3 (National Library of Australia) Retrieved 21 October 2015</ref><ref name="Gillett83"/>

Over the course of her career, over thirty aircraft were either lost or heavily damaged while operating from ''Melbourne''.<ref name=Hall218.9>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 218–9</ref> The majority of the aircraft [[water landing|ditched]] or crashed over the side, but some losses were due to catapult or arrestor cable failures.<ref name=Hall218.9/> After ''Melbourne'' was decommissioned, the Fleet Air Arm ceased fixed-wing combat aircraft operation in 1984, with the final Tracker flight saluting the decommissioned carrier.<ref name=Lind302>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 302</ref>

==Role==
[[File:Melbourne Quickmatch 301029.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Aerial view of an aircraft carrier and a frigate sailing in close formation. Three propeller aircraft are lined up on the deck of the carrier, while a fourth has just been launched from the catapult.|''Melbourne'' refuelling {{HMAS|Quickmatch|G92|6}} while conducting flying operations]]
''Melbourne'' was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to operate with the RAN. Following the first decommissioning of sister ship {{HMAS|Sydney|R17|6}} in 1958, ''Melbourne'' became the only aircraft carrier in Australian service.<ref name=Lind247>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 247</ref> ''Melbourne'' was unavailable to provide air cover for the RAN for up to four months in every year; this time was required for refits, refuelling, personnel leave, and non-carrier duties, such as the transportation of troops or aircraft.<ref name=Lind247/><ref>ANAM, ''Flying Stations'', p. 221</ref> Although one of the largest ships to serve in the RAN, ''Melbourne'' was one of the smallest carriers to operate in the post-World War II period.<ref name=Bastock313/><ref>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 261</ref> A decision was made in 1959 to restrict ''Melbourne''{{'}}s role to helicopter operations only, but was reversed shortly before its planned 1963 implementation.<ref name=Stevens187/><ref name=Hobbs7/>

As well as an operational aircraft carrier, ''Melbourne'' was Flagship of the RAN, a role she received almost immediately following her 1956 arrival in Australia, and fulfilled until her decommissioning in 1982.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 74–5</ref> During her service, the carrier was deployed overseas on 35 occasions, visited over 22 countries, and was seen as the physical and psychological centrepiece of the RAN fleet.<ref>Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 8</ref><ref name=Stevens250>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 250</ref>

As ''Melbourne'' was the only ship of her size (both in dimensions and ship's company) in the RAN, the carrier underwent a regular rotation of commanding officers to give them experience.<ref name=Hall20>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 20</ref> Commanding officers were changed on average every fifteen months, with few remaining on board for more than two years.<ref name=Hall20/> The majority of ''Melbourne''{{'}}s commanders later reached [[flag officer|flag rank]].<ref name=Hall20/> The carrier was also called on to perform [[underway replenishment]]s and command and control functions.<ref name=Stevens250/>

==Operational history==
===1955–1964===
[[File:RAN Carriers (AWM 301021).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Photograph of an aircraft carrier from behind. Numerous aircraft with their wings folded are sitting on the flight deck. A second aircraft carrier is in the background, leading the first.|HMA Ships ''Melbourne'' (foreground) and ''Sydney'' (background) on ''Melbourne''{{'}}s delivery voyage to Australia. Sea Venoms are stored on the forward section of the carrier's flight deck, while [[Fairey Gannet|Gannets]] are on the aft section.]]

Following a working-up period in British waters, ''Melbourne'' departed Glasgow on 11 March 1956 on her maiden voyage to Australia via the [[Suez Canal]].<ref name=Cassells84/><ref name=Hall73/> Aboard were the 64 aircraft of RAN squadrons [[808 Squadron RAN|808]], [[816 Squadron RAN|816]], and [[817 Squadron RAN|817]], as well as the racing yacht ''Samuel Pepys'' (named after the [[Samuel Pepys|English naval administrator and diarist]]), which was a gift to the RAN Sailing Association from the Royal Navy.<ref name=SPCMel2>''HMAS Melbourne (II)'', Sea Power Centre</ref><ref name=Lind234/> The ship visited [[Gibraltar]], [[Naples]], [[Malta]], [[Port Said]], [[Aden]], and [[Colombo]], before arriving in [[Fremantle]] on 24 April 1956.<ref name=Hall73/><ref name="Gillett21–22">Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 21–2</ref> ''Melbourne'' sailed east via the [[Great Australian Bight]], meeting sister ship {{HMAS|Sydney|R17|6}} near [[Kangaroo Island]] a week later.<ref name=Hall73>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 73</ref> After visiting [[Melbourne]] and [[Jervis Bay]], where the aircraft were offloaded and sent to Naval Air Station {{HMAS|Albatross|air station|6}}, the carrier concluded her maiden voyage in Sydney on 10 May.<ref name=SPCMel2/><ref name=Hall74>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 74</ref> The role of flagship was transferred from ''Sydney'' to ''Melbourne'' three days later.<ref name=Hall74/> The carrier immediately underwent a two and a half-month refit, allowing for the inspection of machinery and repair of defects detected during the maiden voyage.<ref>ANAM, ''Flying Stations'', p. 128</ref> ''Melbourne'' spent from September to November in Southeast Asian waters, during which she participated in Exercise Albatross and received an official visit by [[Philippines]] president [[Ramon Magsaysay]].<ref name=Gillett22>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 22</ref> On return to Australia in mid-November, the carrier visited Melbourne for the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Olympics]], where 200 of ''Melbourne''{{'}}s complement were provided to work as signallers, event marshals, carpenters, and medical workers.<ref name=Lind234>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 234</ref>

In February 1957, ''Melbourne'' was sent to the [[Royal Hobart Regatta]].<ref name=Bastock309>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 309</ref> Following this, she travelled to [[New Zealand]], where she participated in exercises with [[HMS Royalist (89)|HMNZS ''Royalist'']] and visited several New Zealand ports.<ref name=SPCMel2/> The first of several annual three-month deployments to Southeast Asia as part of the [[Far East Strategic Reserve]] began in April, with ''Melbourne'' returning to Darwin at the end of June.<ref name=Gillett25>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 25</ref><ref>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 215</ref> The carrier spent the rest of the year visiting Australian ports for open inspections by the public.<ref name=Gillett26>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 26</ref> During the visit to [[Port Adelaide]], on 28 October 1957, ''Melbourne'' was slightly damaged when she was struck by MV ''Straat Lanka''—the first of several minor collisions the carrier would experience throughout her career.<ref name=Hall217>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 217</ref> Operations for the year concluded with participation in Exercise Astrolabe off [[Lord Howe Island]], with ships from the RAN, Royal Navy, and [[Royal New Zealand Navy]], before returning to Sydney on 13 December.<ref name=Bastock309/><ref name=Gillett26/>

[[File:HMAS Melbourne (R21) 1956 (AWM 301019).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Aerial view of an aircraft carrier travelling at speed. Multiple personnel and aircraft are on the flight deck.|HMAS ''Melbourne'' underway in August 1956, with Gannet aircraft on the flight deck]]
From February until July 1958, ''Melbourne'' was deployed on a {{convert|25000|nmi|adj=on}} flag-showing cruise.<ref name=Bastock309/> During this cruise the carrier participated in four inter-fleet exercises and visited Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, [[Pearl Harbor]] and [[Fiji]].<ref name=Bastock309/><ref name=Gillett27>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 27</ref> On return to Sydney, ''Melbourne'' entered a short refit, which concluded on 13 October and was immediately followed by a visit to [[Port Phillip]], where the carrier was displayed to [[Australian Army]] and [[Royal Australian Air Force]] officer cadets before the carrier returned to Sydney.<ref name=Gillett27/> At the start of 1959, ''Melbourne'' spent four days in her namesake city, where she was used for the filming of [[On the Beach (1959 film)|''On The Beach'']], based on [[Nevil Shute]]'s post-apocalyptic [[On the Beach (novel)|novel of the same name]].<ref name=Lind237>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 237</ref><ref name=Gillett29/> After filming concluded, the carrier participated in a demonstration exercise off the coast of Sydney before embarking on a [[Far East Strategic Reserve]] deployment from March until May.<ref name=Gillett29>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 29</ref> The rest of the year was spent visiting Australian and New Zealand ports.<ref name=Gillett29/>

The following year, 1960, was a bad year for the carrier's air group, with four Sea Venoms and two Gannets damaged in separate incidents aboard ''Melbourne''.<ref>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 239</ref> All four Sea Venom incidents occurred in March, with three attributed to aircrew error and one to brake failure.<ref name=Gillett35>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 35</ref> The year began with exercises en route to Adelaide, followed by a visit to the Royal Hobart Regatta.<ref name=Gillett33>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 33</ref> The carrier's Strategic Reserve deployment ran from April to June, and was followed by manoeuvres along the east coast of Australia until September.<ref name=Gillett33/> In the lead up to ''Melbourne''{{'}}s 1961 deployment to the Strategic Reserve, the carrier visited [[Bombay]], [[Karachi]], and [[Trincomalee]].<ref name=Bastock310>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 310</ref><ref name=Gillett37>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 37</ref> It was the first time a flagship of the RAN had entered Indian waters.<ref name=Bastock310/> ''Melbourne'' returned to Australia in June, and on 15 June led several ships in a ceremonial entry to Sydney Harbour to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the RAN.<ref name=Bastock310/> In August, ''Melbourne'' was called upon to lead Exercise Tuckerbox, in the [[Coral Sea]].<ref name=Bastock310/> Following the conclusion of Tuckerbox, the carrier visited several New Zealand ports before returning to Sydney for demonstration exercises and public relations activities.<ref name=Gillett37/>

In 1962, ''Melbourne'' began the year's activities at the Royal Hobart Regatta, before sailing to her Strategic Reserve deployment, by way of Adelaide and Fremantle.<ref name=Gillett39>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 39</ref> After Strategic Reserve duties were completed, the carrier visited Japan, [[Guam]], and [[Manus Island]] before returning to Sydney in late July.<ref name=Gillett39/> In September, ''Melbourne'' reprised her role as the leader of Exercise Tuckerbox II.<ref name=Bastock310/> The 10,000th catapult launch from ''Melbourne'' occurred in late 1962.<ref name=Bastock310/> The carrier's annual refit began in Sydney on 1 October.<ref name=Gillett39/> At the beginning of 1963, ''Melbourne'' again visited to the Royal Hobart Regatta, which was immediately followed by a deployment to the Strategic Reserve, including involvement in [[Southeast Asia Treaty Organization|SEATO]] Exercise Sea Serpent.<ref>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 43</ref> The 20,000th landing on ''Melbourne'' was performed in April by a Gannet, and in September, ''Melbourne'' participated in Exercise Carbine near [[Hervey Bay]], Queensland.<ref name=Bastock310/><ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 76</ref>

===''Voyager'' collision===
{{Main|Melbourne–Voyager collision}}
On 10 February 1964, ''Melbourne'' was performing trials in [[Jervis Bay]] under the command of Captain John Robertson, following the annual refit.<ref name=FrameLeg8>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 8</ref> The [[Daring-class destroyer (1949)|''Daring''-class destroyer]] {{HMAS|Voyager|D04|6}} was also present, undergoing her own trials following refit, under the command of Captain [[Duncan Stevens]].<ref name=FrameLeg8/> The trials involved interactions between both ships, and when ''Melbourne'' performed night-flying exercises that evening, ''Voyager'' acted as the carrier's [[plane guard]] escort.<ref name=FrameLeg8/> This required ''Voyager'' to maintain a position 20° off ''Melbourne''{{'}}s port quarter at a distance from the carrier of {{convert|1500|to|2000|yd|m}}.<ref name=FrameLeg11>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 11</ref>

[[File:HMAS Melbourne (R21), HMAS Voyager (D04) and HMAS Vendetta (D08) underway, circa in 1959 (AWM 301014).jpg|thumb|left|alt=An aircraft carrier sailing in close formation with two destroyers, one on each side.|''Melbourne'' underway with [[Daring-class destroyer (1949)|''Daring''-class]] destroyers {{HMAS|Vendetta|D08|2}} (left) and {{HMAS|Voyager|D04|2}} in 1959]]
Early in the evening, ''Voyager'' had no difficulties maintaining her position during the manoeuvres both ships performed.<ref name=FrameLeg11/> Following a series of turns intended to reverse the courses of both ships beginning at 8:40&nbsp;pm, ''Voyager'' ended up to starboard of ''Melbourne''.<ref name=FrameLeg11/> At 8:52&nbsp;pm, ''Voyager'' was ordered to resume the plane guard station.<ref name=FrameLeg12>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 12</ref> The procedure to accomplish this required ''Voyager'' to turn away from ''Melbourne'' in a large circle, cross behind the carrier, then take position off ''Melbourne''{{'}}s port side.<ref name=FrameLeg12/> Instead, ''Voyager'' first turned to starboard, away from ''Melbourne'', then turned to port without warning.<ref name=FrameLeg12/> It was initially assumed by ''Melbourne''{{'}}s bridge crew that ''Voyager'' was conducting a series of tight turns to lose speed before swinging behind ''Melbourne'', but ''Voyager'' did not alter course again.<ref name=FrameLeg13>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 13</ref> At 8:55&nbsp;pm, with ''Voyager'' approaching, ''Melbourne''{{'}}s navigator ordered the carrier's engines to half astern speed, with Robertson ordering an increase to full astern a few seconds later.<ref name=FrameLeg13/> At the same time, Stevens, having just become aware of the situation, gave the order "Full ahead both engines. Hard-a starboard.", before instructing the destroyer's Quartermaster to announce that a collision was imminent.<ref name=FrameLeg13/> Both ships' measures were too late to avoid a collision; ''Melbourne'' hit ''Voyager'' at 8:56&nbsp;pm.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', pp. 14–5</ref>

''Melbourne'' struck ''Voyager'' just aft of the destroyer's bridge, rolling the destroyer to starboard before cutting her in half.<ref name=FrameLeg1>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 1</ref> ''Voyager''{{'}}s forward boiler exploded, briefly setting fire to the bow of the carrier before it was extinguished by seawater.<ref name=FrameLeg1/> The destroyer's forward section sank quickly, under the weight of the two {{convert|4.5|in|mm|adj=on}} gun turrets.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 2</ref> The aft section did not begin sinking until half an hour after the collision, completely submerging just after midnight.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', pp. 3, 7</ref> Messages were immediately sent to the Fleet Headquarters in Sydney, although staff in Sydney initially underestimated the extent of the damage to ''Voyager''.<ref name=FrameLeg5>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 5</ref> ''Melbourne'' launched her boats to recover survivors, and the carrier's wardroom and C Hangar were prepared for casualties.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 4</ref> At 9:58&nbsp;pm, ''Melbourne'' was informed that search-and-rescue boats from {{HMAS|Creswell}}, helicopters from {{HMAS|Albatross|air station|6}}, and five [[Ton-class minesweeper|''Ton''-class minesweepers]] had been despatched to assist in the search.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', pp. 5–6</ref>

[[File:HMAS Melbourne damage.jpg|thumb|right|alt=An aircraft carrier underway at sea. The bow of the aircraft carrier has been torn off, and the surrounding area is damaged and scorched.|''Melbourne'' en route to Sydney, immediately after the collision. The damage to the bow can be seen.]]
''Melbourne'' arrived in Sydney with the survivors on 14 February, and after spending time alongside at [[Fleet Base East|Garden Island]], was moved to [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard]] on 25 March, where repairs were undertaken; the damaged section of the bow was cut away and repairs to the ship's internal structure were undertaken in [[drydock]], while a 40-ton prefabricated bow was constructed. Once this was completed, ''Melbourne'' was removed while the new bow was put in place in the drydock. The work was completed on 27 April, with the shipyard receiving a commendation.<ref name=Bastock311>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 311</ref><ref name=cockatoo>Jeremy, ''Cockatoo Island'', p. 135</ref>

Of the 314 personnel aboard ''Voyager'' at the time of the collision, 14 officers, 67 sailors, and 1 civilian dockyard worker were killed, including Stevens and all but two of the bridge team.<ref name=FrameWFC72>Frame, ''Where Fate Calls'', p. 72</ref> A [[Royal Commission]] into the [[Melbourne-Voyager collision|events of the collision]] was held in 1964, and found that while ''Voyager'''s crew was primarily at fault for neglecting to maintain an effective lookout and awareness of the larger ship's location, ''Melbourne''{{'}}s bridge crew was also at fault, for failing to alert ''Voyager'' and not taking measures to avoid the collision.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', pp. 27, 67–9</ref> Robertson was posted to the training base {{HMAS|Watson||6}}—a move that he and the Australian media saw as tantamount to a demotion—but resigned instead.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', pp. 78–9, 82</ref> The Royal Commission and its aftermath were poorly handled, and following pressure from the public, media, and politicians, combined with revelations by ''Voyager''{{'}}s former executive officer that Stevens may have been unfit for command, a second Royal Commission was opened in 1967.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', pp. 88, 114–5</ref><ref>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 202</ref> This is the only time in Australian history two Royal Commissions have been held for a single incident.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 117</ref> The second commission found that Stevens was medically unfit for command and that some of the findings of the first Royal Commission were therefore based on incorrect assumptions.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', pp. 159–60</ref> Robertson and the other officers of ''Melbourne'' were absolved of blame for the incident.<ref>Frame, ''The Cruel Legacy'', p. 160</ref>

===1964–1969===
''Melbourne'' spent ten weeks at [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard]], having her new bow fitted.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 132</ref> Following the repairs, ''Melbourne'' was involved in Strategic Reserve deployments and exercises in Southeast Asia from June until September 1964.<ref name=Bastock311/> During this deployment, the carrier visited [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay|Subic Bay]], where the RAN performed flight deck trials with [[S-2 Tracker]] anti-submarine aircraft and [[A-4 Skyhawk]] attack fighters.<ref name=Stevens193/> The success of the trials, along with the discovery that ''Melbourne'' was able to operate both aircraft with relatively minor modification, led the Australian Government to approve the purchase of these aircraft.<ref name=Stevens193/>

[[File:HMAS Melbourne (R21) with Wessex helos 1960s.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A small aircraft carrier is sailing towards the frame, with five helicopters in a line on the carrier's deck. A sixth helicopter hovers in the foreground|''Melbourne'' with five Wessex helicopters on her flight deck and another flying overheard]]
From March 1965 until mid-1967, ''Melbourne'' underwent a regular pattern of deployments to Southeast Asia, exercises, and flag-showing visits to nations in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref name=Bastock311/> Several of the Southeast Asian deployments were related to the [[Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation|Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]], and involved participation in [[show of force]] exercises off the coast of Malaysia.<ref>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 198</ref> During 1965 and 1966, ''Melbourne'' escorted sister ship {{HMAS|Sydney|R17|6}}, which had been recommissioned as a troop transport, for short periods during the latter's first, third, and fourth transport voyages to Vietnam.<ref name=NottPayne169.71>Nott and Payne, ''The Vung Tau Ferry'', pp. 169–71</ref> Despite the carrier being the centrepiece of several plans to involve Australian forces in the [[Vietnam War]], the escort runs were the extent of ''Melbourne''{{'}}s participation in the conflict, and the carrier remained outside the [[Market Time]] area while ''Sydney'' and her other escorts proceeded to [[Vũng Tàu]].<ref name=NottPayne169.71/><ref>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', pp. 204, 208</ref> As the carrier was optimised for anti-submarine warfare, there was little need for her at the start of the war.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 77</ref> Utilising the carrier was suggested again by RAN officials in March 1966, when the [[United States Seventh Fleet]] was having difficulties maintaining anti-submarine patrols around [[Yankee Station]], but ''Melbourne'' could only remain on station for a single, ten-day period, a third of the time that US carriers were operational for on rotating deployments.<ref name=Grey86>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 86</ref> Seventh Fleet staff suggested in April 1967 that ''Melbourne'' deploy in the anti-submarine role, but nothing came of these talks.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 88</ref> Consideration was also given to using ''Melbourne'' as a floating helicopter base, but only ten Wessex helicopters could be provided, and modifications were required for them to operate as troop carriers.<ref name=Grey80.1>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 80–1</ref> Both options were made more prohibitive by the need to supply at least two escorts for the carrier at a time when the RAN was having difficulty meeting deployment commitments with the available destroyers and destroyer escorts.<ref name=Grey80.1/>

In September 1967, ''Melbourne'' travelled to the United States to collect new aircraft: 14 Trackers and 10 Skyhawks.<ref name=SPCMel2/> To operate the new aircraft, the carrier received a [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)#Refits|major refit]] on her return to Sydney, which began in December 1967.<ref name=SPCMel2/> In May 1967, it was proposed that while ''Melbourne'' was out of service, A-4 Skyhawk pilots and maintenance personnel could be attached to a [[United States Marine Corps]] Skyhawk squadron in South Vietnam.<ref name="Grey88-92">Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 88–92</ref> Australian aircraft were not to be provided, as the A-4G Skyhawks used by the RAN were optimised for air defence, not the fighter-bomber role performed by the Marines, and would have suffered heavy losses from North Vietnam's heavy anti-aircraft defences.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', p. 89</ref> This deployment did not occur; the Skyhawk pilot training program was experiencing delays because US squadrons were being shipped training equipment and replacement parts in priority to the RAN, and sending qualified pilots overseas would have caused further holdups with the program, while also disrupting ''Melbourne''{{'}}s post-refit reactivation.<ref>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 91–2</ref> ''Melbourne'' re-entered service at the conclusion of the refit on 14 February 1969. She performed sea trials in Jervis Bay from 17 February until 5 May, then sailed for [[Subic Bay]], Philippines, to participate in [[Southeast Asia Treaty Organization|SEATO]] Exercise Sea Spirit.<ref name=Gillett59>Gillett, p. 59</ref><ref name=FramePP126>Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 126</ref>

===''Frank E. Evans'' collision===
{{main|Melbourne–Evans collision}}
''Melbourne''{{'}}s commanding officer during the SEATO exercise was Captain John Phillip Stevenson.<ref name=FramePP126/> Rear Admiral [[John Crabb (admiral)|John Crabb]], the [[Flag Officer Commanding Australian Fleet]], was also embarked on the carrier.<ref name=FramePP126/> During Sea Spirit, ''Melbourne'' was assigned five escorts: US Ships {{USS|Everett F. Larson|DD-830|2}}, {{USS|Frank E. Evans|DD-754|2}}, and {{USS|James E. Kyes|DD-787|2}}, [[HMS Blackpool (F77)|HMNZS ''Blackpool'']], and {{HMS|Cleopatra|F28|6}}.<ref name=FramePP126/> Stevenson held a dinner for the five escort captains at the start of the exercise, during which he recounted the events of the [[Melbourne-Voyager collision|''Melbourne''–''Voyager'' collision]], emphasised the need for caution when operating near the carrier, and provided written instructions on how to avoid such a situation developing again.<ref name=Hall175>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 175</ref><ref name=Hills/> Additionally, during the lead up to the exercise, Admiral Crabb had strongly warned that all repositioning manoeuvres performed by the escorts had to commence with a turn away from ''Melbourne''.<ref name=FramePP126/> Despite these warnings, a near-miss occurred in the early hours of 31 May when ''Larson'' turned towards the carrier after being ordered to the [[plane guard]] station.<ref name=Hall176>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 176</ref> Subsequent action narrowly <!--less than 30 metres--> prevented a collision.<ref name=Hall176/> The escorts were again warned about the dangers of operating near the carrier and informed of Stevenson's expectations, while the minimum distance between carrier and escorts was increased from {{convert|2000|to|3000|yd|m}}.<ref name=Hall176/>

[[File:Evans collision.gif|thumb|right|alt=Animation of a carrier and a destroyer. The carrier is travelling in a straight, downward-sloped line across the frame. The destroyer starts near the bottom of the frame, turns in a clockwise arc to travel up the frame past the oncoming carrier, then turns sharply back into the carrier's path.|The paths taken by ''Melbourne'' and USS ''Frank E. Evans'' in the minutes leading up to the collision]]
On the night of 2–3 June 1969, ''Melbourne'' and her escorts were involved in anti-submarine training exercises in the [[South China Sea]].<ref name=Hills>Hills, ''Muddied Waters''</ref> In preparation for launching a Tracker, Stevenson ordered ''Evans'' to the plane guard station, reminded the destroyer of ''Melbourne''{{'}}s course, and instructed the carrier's navigational lights to be brought to full brilliance.<ref name=FramePP126/><ref name=SmithLan1>Smith and Lancaster, ''USS Frank E. Evans: Disaster in the South China Sea'', p. 1</ref> ''Evans'' had performed the manoeuvre four times over the course of the night.<ref name=FramePP126/> ''Evans'' was positioned on ''Melbourne''{{'}}s port bow, but began the manoeuvre by turning starboard, towards the carrier.<ref name=FramePP126/> A radio message was sent from ''Melbourne'' to ''Evans''{{'}} bridge and [[Combat Information Centre]], warning the destroyer that she was on a collision course, which ''Evans'' acknowledged.<ref name=FramePP126/><ref name=Hall178>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 178</ref> Seeing the destroyer take no action and on a course to place herself under ''Melbourne''{{'}}s bow, Stevenson ordered the carrier hard to port, signalling the turn by both radio and siren blasts.<ref name=FramePP126/><ref name=Sherbo/> At approximately the same time, ''Evans'' turned hard to starboard to avoid the approaching carrier.<ref name=Sherbo>Sherbo, ''Death of a Destroyer''</ref> It is uncertain which ship began to manoeuvre first, but each ship's bridge crew claimed that they were informed of the other ship's turn after they commenced their own.<ref name=Sherbo/> After having narrowly passed in front of ''Melbourne'', the turns quickly placed ''Evans'' back in the carrier's path.<ref name=FramePP127/> ''Melbourne'' hit ''Evans'' amidships at 3:15&nbsp;am, cutting the destroyer in two.<ref name=FramePP127>Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 127</ref>

Seventy-four of the 273 personnel from ''Evans'' were killed in the collision, with the majority of these believed to have been asleep or trapped inside the bow section, which sank within minutes.<ref name=FramePP127/> ''Melbourne'' deployed her boats, life rafts, and lifebuoys, before carefully manoeuvring alongside the stern section of ''Evans'', where both ships' crews used mooring lines to lash the ships together.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 178, 184</ref> Sailors from ''Melbourne'' dived from the flight deck into the water to rescue overboard survivors close to the carrier, while the carrier's boats and helicopters collected those farther out.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 183–4</ref> All of the survivors were located within 12 minutes of the collision and rescued before half an hour had passed, although the search continued for fifteen more hours.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', pp. 182, 184</ref> After ''Evans''{{'}} stern was evacuated, it was cast off, while the carrier moved away to avoid damage.<ref name=Hall185>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 185</ref> The stern did not sink, and was later recovered, stripped of parts, and sunk for target practice.<ref name=FramePP127/>

[[File:USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) post collision.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The stern of a destroyer, floating in calm water. The bow has been removed completely. Two intact warships are close by, one to the right of frame, the other behind and partially obscured by the floating stern, and two helicopters are flying overhead.|The stern section of USS ''Frank E. Evans'' on the morning after the collision. USS ''Everett F. Larson'' (right) is moving in to salvage the remains of the abandoned destroyer.]]
Following the collision, ''Melbourne'' travelled to Singapore for temporary repairs to her bow, arriving on 6 June.<ref name=Bastock312>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 312</ref> ''Melbourne'' departed Singapore on 27 June and arrived in Sydney on 9 July, where the carrier underwent almost identical repairs at [[Cockatoo Island Dockyard]] as in 1964 (primarily the installation of a new bow section).<ref name=Bastock312/> However, an industrial dispute amongst the shipyard workers meant that, although the work was completed in early September, the ship remained in the drydock until 11 October.<ref name="cockatoo" />

A Joint RAN-USN [[board of inquiry]] was established to investigate [[Melbourne-Evans collision|the incident]], and was in session over June and July 1969.<ref name=FramePP127/> The board found ''Evans'' partially at fault for the collision, but also faulted ''Melbourne'' for not taking evasive action sooner, even though international sea regulations dictated that in the lead-up to a collision, the larger ship was required to maintain course and speed.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 204</ref> It was learned during the inquiry that ''Evans''{{'}} commanding officer was asleep in his quarters at the time of the incident, and charge of the vessel was held by Lieutenants Ronald Ramsey and James Hopson; the former had failed the qualification exam to stand watch, while the latter was at sea for the first time.<ref name=FramePP126/><ref name=Hall200>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 200</ref> Subsequent to the inquiry, the three USN officers and Stevenson were [[court-martial]]led by their respective navies on charges of negligence, with the three USN officers found guilty and Stevenson 'Honourably Acquitted'.<ref name=FramePP129>Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 129</ref> Despite the findings, Stevenson's next posting was as a minor flag officer's chief of staff, seen by him as a demotion in all but name.<ref name=FramePP129/> In a repetition of the aftermath of the ''Voyager'' collision, ''Melbourne''{{'}}s captain resigned amid accusations of scapegoating.<ref name="FramePP130–1">Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', pp. 130–1</ref> In December 2012, Stevenson announced that he had received a letter from the [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]], apologising for his treatment by the RAN and the government of the day.<ref>Lloyd, ''Official apology for HMAS Melbourne captain''</ref>

===1970–1976===
[[File:Carriers and escorts near Hawaii during RIMPAC 1972.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Warships sailing in a line on the open ocean. A small warship leads the line, followed by two aircraft carriers and a replenishment vessel. Other warships sailing in the same direction are in the background.|Warships underway near Hawaii during the RIMPAC 72 exercise. Identifiable ships are the Canadian destroyer  {{HMCS|Gatineau|DDE 236|6}}, followed by ''Melbourne'' and the United States aircraft carrier {{USS|Ticonderoga|CV-14|6}}.]]
During the 1970s and early 1980s, replacing parts became an increasing problem.<ref name=Hall12>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 12</ref> Components were failing due to wear and age, but the companies responsible for manufacturing the parts had gone out of business during the previous twenty years, sometimes immediately after World War II ended.<ref name=Hall12/> The carrier's engineers often resorted to making replacements from scratch.<ref name=Hall12/> The ship's catapult was replaced with parts from the decommissioned [[HMCS Bonaventure]] in 1970.

In 1970, ''Melbourne'' participated in three major inter-navy exercises: Sea Rover with SEATO forces in the South China Sea, Bersatu Padu with [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] forces off Malaysia, and Swan Lake with the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy off Western Australia.<ref name=Bastock312/><ref>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 61</ref> During this year, the carrier also visited Japan to participate in [[Expo '70]], and was hit by [[Manly ferry]] ''[[South Steyne]]'' while alongside at Garden Island, causing minor damage to both vessels.<ref name=Hall213/><ref name=Bastock312/> ''Melbourne'' was out of service for most of 1971 while she underwent [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)#Refits|refits]], which concluded in early August.<ref name=Bastock313>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 313</ref> In mid-1971, the Australian military's Joint Planning Committee considered using ''Melbourne'' as a transport to help complete the withdrawal of the [[1st Australian Task Force|Australian Task Force]] from Vietnam before the end of 1971.<ref name=Grey96.8>Grey, ''Up Top'', pp. 96–8</ref> While the Army supported this proposal, the Navy successfully argued against its implementation, claiming that transporting troops and cargo would be misusing Australia's only active aircraft carrier, and would prevent ''Melbourne'' from participating in several major multi-national exercises.<ref name=Grey96.8/> The refit concluded in late 1971, with the carrier participating in the first [[RIMPAC]] exercise, RIMPAC 71, before the end of the year.<ref name=Bastock313/>

Operations in 1972 commenced with a three-month deployment to Southeast Asia.<ref name=Bastock313/> During this deployment, ''Melbourne'' led a fleet of 17 ships from the RAN, Royal Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, US Navy, [[Philippine Navy]], and [[Royal Thai Navy]] in Exercise Sea Hawk.<ref name=Bastock313/> This was followed by goodwill visits to numerous Southeast Asian ports, including Hong Kong, [[Jakarta]], [[Manila]], Singapore, and [[Surabaya]], before ''Melbourne'' returned to Sydney at the end of April.<ref name=Bastock313/><ref name=SPCMel2/> The carrier spent May performing exercises off the New South Wales coast, during which she was called on to rescue three fisherman who had been stranded at sea for the previous two days.<ref name=Bastock313/> In August, ''Melbourne'' sailed for Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC 72.<ref name=Bastock313/> At the conclusion of this exercise, ''Melbourne'' proceeded to Japan on a diplomatic visit, then sailed to the Philippines to exercise with SEATO ships.<ref name=SPCMel2/> During this deployment, a fire ignited inside the ship's main switchboard.<ref name=Hall217/> The carrier returned to Australia on 27 November after 101 days at sea, and underwent a seven-month refit.<ref name=SPCMel2/> On 24 August 1973, ''Melbourne'' returned to Hawaii to participate in RIMPAC 73.<ref name=SPCMel2/> She returned to Australia on 12 October, but sailed out ten days later to participate in Exercise Leadline off Malaysia, before reaching Sydney again in December.<ref name=Bastock313/>

[[File:Final approach to HMAS Melbourne.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Photograph of the interior of an aircraft cockpit, taken from behind the pilot, who is sitting on the left hand side. An aircraft carrier is visible through the left-hand pane of the cockpit windows.|''Melbourne'' as seen from the cockpit of an approaching Grumman S-2G Tracker]]
''Melbourne'' began 1974 by transporting 120 [[Australian Army|Australian soldiers]] to a temporary assignment with an American infantry battalion based in Hawaii.<ref name=Cassells86/> She then sailed to San Francisco to collect 12 new [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook in Australian service|Chinook]] and five [[UH-1 Iroquois]] helicopters for the [[Royal Australian Air Force]], arriving in Australia with her cargo in April.<ref name=Cassells86/> In June, the carrier took part in [[Exercise Kangaroo]] in the Coral Sea, before returning to Sydney in July.<ref name=Cassells86/> On 11 July, the passenger liner [[SS America (1940)|SS ''Australis'']] hit and damaged ''Melbourne'' in Sydney Harbour.<ref name=Hall217/> In November, the carrier took part in disaster relief exercises.<ref name=Cassells86/> These were prophetic, as on the night of 24–25 December 1974, [[Cyclone Tracy]] destroyed the city of [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]]. ''Melbourne''{{'}}s ship's company was recalled immediately from leave, the ship was loaded with supplies, and the carrier departed Sydney on 26 December in the company of {{HMAS|Brisbane|D 41|6}}.<ref name=LindHobbs>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 289; Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', pp. 8–9</ref> ''Melbourne'', ''Brisbane'', and eleven other ships were deployed as part of the largest peacetime rescue effort ever organised by the RAN: [[Operation Navy Help Darwin]].<ref name=LindHobbs/> ''Melbourne'' remained off Darwin until 18 January 1975, acting as operational headquarters and a helicopter base.<ref name=Hall213/><ref name=LindHobbs/> During this operation, the seven [[Westland Wessex|Wessex]] helicopters embarked on ''Melbourne'' performed 2,493&nbsp;flights, carrying 7,824&nbsp;passengers and 107&nbsp;tons of cargo.<ref name=Cassells86/>

Following Navy Help Darwin, ''Melbourne'' participated in RIMPAC 75, then returned to Sydney for a fourteen-month refit, which was delayed by industrial action at the dockyard.<ref name=Cassells86/> While moored in Sydney Harbour, on 24 July, ''Melbourne'' was struck by Japanese cargo ship ''Blue Andromeda''.<ref name=Hall218>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 218</ref> While working up following the refit, ''Melbourne'' and {{HMAS|Torrens|DE 53|6}} provided assistance to MV ''Miss Chief'' off the coast of [[Bundaberg]], Queensland on 16 August 1976.<ref name=Lind291>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 291</ref> In October, ''Melbourne'' participated in Exercise Kangaroo II, before sailing to her namesake city for the carrier's 21st birthday celebrations, then returning to Sydney on 5 November.<ref name=Cassells86/><ref>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 79</ref>

===1976–1983===
[[File:HMAS Melbourne (R21) San Diego 1977.jpeg|thumb|right|alt=Colour photo of an aircraft carrier underway. Black-uniformed personnel line the perimeter of the flight deck, and a large number of aircraft with wings folded over sit on the deck.|''Melbourne'' departing San Diego in 1977 after collecting the RAN's replacement S-2 Trackers.]]
On 5 December 1976, a fire deliberately lit at {{HMAS|Albatross|air station|6}} by a member of the Fleet Air Arm damaged or destroyed all but one of Australia's [[S-2 Tracker]]s.<ref name=Lind291/><ref name=Hall19>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 19</ref> Following participation in RIMPAC 77, ''Melbourne'' was sent to [[San Diego]] to collect replacement aircraft.<ref name=Gillett83>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 83</ref><ref name=Lind247/> Arriving back in Sydney on 5 April, the carrier was sent on a five-month deployment to the United Kingdom on 28 April, accompanied by {{HMAS|Brisbane|D 41|6}} and {{HMNZS|Canterbury|F421|6}}.<ref name=Gillett83/><ref name=Stevens231>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 231</ref> En route, ''Melbourne'' lost a [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]] in the Indian Ocean on 9 May, with the aircrew recovered by ''Brisbane''.<ref>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 292</ref> A Tracker from ''Melbourne'' located the disabled Dutch vessel ''Impala Princess'' in the [[Gulf of Aden]] on 25 May and directed a French destroyer to assist.<ref name=Lind293>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 293</ref> Two [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors]] naval guns were deposited by ''Melbourne'' at [[Souda Bay]], Crete on 2 June, marking the first visit of an Australian warship to Crete since June 1941.<ref name=Lind293/> These weapons were donated to the Australian War Memorial at Stavromenos, in Crete's [[Rethymno (regional unit)|Rethymno regional unit]].<ref name=Lind293/> The highlight of the deployment saw the three ships represent Australia and New Zealand at the [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Silver Jubilee]] Naval Review on 28 June 1977.<ref name=Stevens231/> A two-seat [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier|Harrier jump jet]] demonstrator undertook a series of trial takeoffs and landings aboard ''Melbourne'' on 30 June: a trial organised as part of the project overseeing the ship's [[HMAS Melbourne (R21)#Replacement|potential replacement]].<ref name=Lind293/><ref>Mison, ''Sea Harrier Down Under''</ref> Following the Jubilee Review and participation in Exercise Highwood in July, ''Melbourne'' and her escorts returned to Australia, arriving in Fremantle on 19 September and Sydney on 4 October.<ref>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 83–4</ref> ''Melbourne'' was docked in Garden Island's drydock on arrival, where she remained until January 1978.<ref name=SPCMel2/>

[[File:HMAS Melbourne (R21) at the 1977 Spihead Fleet Review.jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Colour photo of a small aircraft carrier, taken from an elevated position. The carrier is sitting bow on, with one of her anchor chains deployed.|''Melbourne'' at Spithead for the Jubilee Naval Review]]
At the end of March 1978, ''Melbourne'' left Sydney for RIMPAC 78.<ref name=Gillett89>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 89</ref> During this exercise, ''Melbourne'' acquired the nickname 'Little M' after working with 'Big E' {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}}—the smallest and largest aircraft carriers (respectively) in operation at the time.<ref name=Gillett89/> On return in July, the carrier entered a major refit, which continued until 3 August 1979.<ref name=Gillett89.91/> During this refit, on 3 March, a boiler explosion caused minor damage to the carrier.<ref name=Hall218/> The remainder of the year involved participation in three exercises, Tasmanex off Wellington, New Zealand, Sea Eagle I in the Tasman Sea, and Kangaroo III in the Coral Sea.<ref>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', pp. 91–2</ref> During Tasmanex, ''Melbourne'' lost her LW-02 radar aerial and a Skyhawk (N13-154907), both of which fell overboard during heavy seas.<ref>ANAM, ''Flying Stations'', p. 245</ref>

During February and March 1980, ''Melbourne'' participated in RIMPAC 80, as the flagship of Battle Group Two.<ref name=Cassells86/> This was immediately followed by a visit to the [[Solomon Islands]] in early April.<ref name=Gillett95>Gillett, ''HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years'', p. 95</ref> The carrier was in Sydney from mid-April until mid-August, during which the 25th anniversary of ''Melbourne''{{'}}s service in the RAN was celebrated on 15 August with a cocktail party aboard the carrier, popularly referred to as 'The Night of the Admirals'.<ref name=Cassells86/><ref name=Gillett95/> On 18 August, ''Melbourne'' sailed for Fremantle to participate in Exercise Sandgroper 80.<ref name=Gillett95/> On 8 September, ''Melbourne'', accompanied by {{HMAS|Perth|D 38|2}}, {{HMAS|Derwent|DE 49|2}}, {{HMAS|Stalwart|D 215|2}}, {{HMAS|Supply|AO 195|2}}, and {{HMAS|Otama||2}} deployed to the Indian Ocean as the Australian Squadron for a flag-showing cruise.<ref name=Lind297>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 297</ref> During this cruise two Skyhawks were lost: on 2 and 21 October.<ref name=Lind297/> On 24 October, a Tracker from ''Melbourne'' observed Soviet warships [[Soviet frigate Storozhevoy|''Storozhevoy'']] and [[Ivan Rogov-class landing ship|''Ivan Rogov'']] shadowing the squadron.<ref name=Lind297/> The squadron's return in November 1980 concluded the largest and longest RAN deployment since World War II.<ref name=SPCMel2/>

Following her return, the carrier spent six months in Australian waters, before a two-month deployment to Southeast Asia.<ref name=SPCMel2/> During this deployment, on 21 June 1981, ''Melbourne'' rescued 99 Vietnamese refugees from a disabled fishing vessel in the [[South China Sea]].<ref>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 299</ref> The carrier's deployments for the second half of the year consisted of two exercises, Sea Hawk and Kangaroo 81.<ref name=SPCMel2/> A major refit scheduled to begin in late 1981 was postponed pending the [[#Replacement|decision on a replacement carrier]].<ref name=ANAM251/> After docking at Garden Island in December, the carrier was accidentally flooded by an officer who was impatient to commence leave.<ref name=Hall15>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 15</ref> In his haste to shut down the carrier, he failed to deactivate the water pumps, and over 180&nbsp;tons of fresh water were pumped in before a maintenance party discovered the flooding the next day.<ref name=Hall15/> ''Melbourne'' remained in dock at the start of 1982, and did not leave before the decision regarding her replacement was made.

==Replacement==
{{Anchor|Replacement}}
{{multiple image
|align=right
|direction=horizontal
|footer=During the late 1970s, the project to replace ''Melbourne'' was choosing between Italian ([[Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi (551)|''Giuseppe Garibaldi'']], left image foreground), Spanish ([[Spanish aircraft carrier Príncipe de Asturias|''Príncipe de Asturias'']], left image background), and American ([[Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship|''Iwo Jima''-class]], right image) designs.

|image1=551-R11-Foch-esDragon-Hammer92b.jpg
|width1=200
|alt1=Three small aircraft carriers of different designs sailing in close formation.

|image2=Port bow view of USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) 1979.jpg
|width2=200
|alt2=An amphibious assault ship sailing towards the camera. Multiple, large helicopters sit on the flight deck.
}}
[[File:HMS Invincible (R05) Norfolk.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Side view of a small aircraft carrier with a ski-jump ramp underway|An agreement was reached for Australia to purchase {{HMS|Invincible|R05|6}}, with delivery planned for 1983, until the [[Falklands War]] led to the deal being terminated.]]

A replacement for ''Melbourne'' was under consideration as early as 1956, and the question was revisited on several occasions until the 1980s. In every situation, a new aircraft carrier was turned down due to the increases in manpower and operating costs required to operate the ship when compared to ''Melbourne''.

Between 1956 and 1959, the RAN considered acquiring a larger carrier to replace ''Melbourne'', as the Fleet Air Arm was becoming obsolete and the RAN did not believe the ship could be modified to operate newer, heavier aircraft.<ref name=Stevens187/> Under consideration were British carrier {{HMS|Albion|R07|6}} and a ship of the United States' [[Essex-class aircraft carrier|''Essex'' class]].<ref name=Stevens187/> Both options were turned down, and it was instead proposed to operate ''Melbourne'' as a helicopter carrier.

In 1960, the United States Navy offered an ''Essex''-class carrier to the Australian government, in the interest of improving relations between the two nations and their navies.<ref name=FramePP101>Frame, ''Pacific Partners'', p. 101</ref> The only cost to the RAN would have been the modifications required to make the carrier operationally compatible with the RAN's primarily British-designed fleet.<ref name=FramePP101/> In the late 1960s, the British made a similar offer, following a 1966 review indicating that {{HMS|Hermes|R12|6}} was a superfluous naval unit.<ref name=Hobbs9>Hobbs, ''HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On'', p. 9</ref> In 1968, ''Hermes'' took part in a combined exercise with the RAN, during which the carrier was visited by RAN and Australian government officials, while RAN [[A-4 Skyhawk|Skyhawks]] and [[S-2 Tracker|Trackers]] practised landings on the larger carrier.<ref name=Hobbs9/> Both offers were turned down due to operating and manpower costs.

The need to secure a replacement for ''Melbourne'' grew as the carrier's age caused the operating costs to increase to over A$25&nbsp;million per year.<ref>Hall, ''HMAS Melbourne'', p. 11</ref> In June 1977, the Defence Force Development Committee approved an investigation into acquiring a [[STOVL]]/helicopter carrier.<ref>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 225</ref> By August 1979, the decision was limited to three ships: a modified American [[Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship|''Iwo Jima''-class amphibious assault ship]], an Italian [[Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi (551)|''Giuseppe Garibaldi''-class carrier]], and a [[Sea Control Ship]] design that later became the Spanish Navy's [[Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias|''Principe de Asturias'']].<ref name=Stevens226>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 226</ref> By February 1981, the ''Iwo Jima'' class was the preferred option.<ref name=Stevens227>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 227</ref>

===HMS ''Invincible''===
{{Anchor|HMS Invincible}}
Plans to replace ''Melbourne'' changed in July 1981; the British [[1981 Defence White Paper]] had marked the recently commissioned {{HMS|Invincible|R05|6}} as surplus to requirements, and she was offered to the RAN for the 'bargain' price of [[Pound sterling|GB£]]175&nbsp;million (A$285&nbsp;million).<ref>Wright, ''Australian Carrier Decisions'', p. 167</ref> The ''Invincible'' class had been considered and discarded during the investigation, but the decreased price and the fact the already-constructed carrier would be ready for RAN service in 1983 prompted the Australian government to announce its intention to purchase ''Invincible'' on 25 February 1982 and close the carrier acquisition program.<ref name=Stevens227/> The government also announced that the ship would be renamed {{HMAS|Australia}} and operated as a helicopter carrier, and that a decision on the purchase of fixed wing aircraft would be made after acquisition.<ref name=Hobbs9/>

The deal was put on hold in April 1982, following the outbreak of the [[Falklands War]].<ref name=Hobbs9/> The performance of ''Invincible'' and other Royal Navy aircraft carriers during the conflict showed that the report which suggested reductions in the size of Britain's carrier fleet—with the follow-on effect of making ''Invincible'' available for sale—was flawed, and both sides withdrew from the deal in July.<ref name=Stevens227/> The RAN was again offered HMS ''Hermes'', and again declined due to the carrier's age and manpower requirements.<ref>Stevens et al., ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 228</ref> The Australian government began to reconsider the previous contenders for replacement, as well as considering requesting the United Kingdom or United States to build a simple carrier capable of operating [[F/A-18 Hornet]] strike fighters, but the issue was suspended at the commencement of the [[1983 Australian federal election|1983 Australian Federal Election]].<ref name=Wright173>Wright, ''Australian Carrier Decisions'', p. 173</ref> On 14 March, following the election of [[Bob Hawke]]'s [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Government]], the announcement was made that ''Melbourne'' would not be replaced.<ref name=Wright173/>

==Decommissioning and fate==
Following the decision to replace ''Melbourne'' with HMS ''Invincible'', the postponed refit was cancelled outright.<ref name=Stevens227/> The Australian carrier was prepared for disposal, and was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 30 June 1982.<ref name=Stevens227/> She was towed to the [[dolphin (structure)|mooring dolphins]] near [[Bradley's Head (New South Wales)|Bradley's Head]], where she remained until 1985.<ref name=SPCMel2/> ''Melbourne'' was capable of being reactivated as a helicopter-equipped anti-submarine warfare carrier within 26 weeks, but was never required to do so.<ref>ANAM, ''Flying Stations'', p. 253</ref> A Sydney-based group proposed in 1984 to purchase ''Melbourne'' and operate her as a floating casino moored in international waters off [[Eden, New South Wales]], but nothing came of this.<ref name=Lind301>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 301</ref> ''Melbourne''{{'}}s air wing was disbanded at HMAS ''Albatross'' on 2 July 1982, with the transfer of 805 Squadron's Skyhawks to [[724 Squadron RAN|724 Squadron]] and 816 Squadron being absorbed into [[851 Squadron RAN|851 Squadron]].<ref name=SPC851sqd>''851 Squadron'', Sea Power Centre</ref><ref name=Wilson>Wilson, ''Phantom, Hornet and Skyhawk in Australian Service'', pp. 171–2</ref> The Skyhawks remained in service as fleet support aircraft until 30 June 1984, while the Trackers were withdrawn from service on 31 August 1984 after being used as land-based maritime patrol aircraft.<ref name=SPC851sqd/><ref name=Wilson/>

The carrier was initially sold for [[ship breaking|breaking up]] as [[scrap metal]] for A$1.7&nbsp;million, although the sale fell through in June 1984.<ref name=SPCMel2/>{{NoteTag|Sources are inconsistent regarding who attempted to purchase ''Melbourne'' in the first sale. Lind claims the sale was to South Korea,<ref name=Lind302/> Cassells states it was to Taiwan, and that the sale fell through when they failed to commit to scrapping the carrier,<ref name=Cassells87>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 87</ref> and the Sea Power Centre indicates an Australian company was the buyer.<ref name=SPCMel2/>}}  She was sold again in February 1985 to the [[China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation|China United Shipbuilding Company]] for A$1.4&nbsp;million, with the intention that she be towed to [[China]] and broken up for scrap.<ref name=Hobbs9/> Prior to the ship's departure for China, the RAN stripped ''Melbourne'' of all electronic equipment and weapons, and welded her [[rudder]]s into a fixed position so that she could not be reactivated.  Her steam catapult, arresting equipment and mirror landing system were not removed.<ref name="Hemmingsen15">Hemmingsen, ''PLAN for action'', p. 15</ref>  At this time, few western experts expected that the Chinese government would attempt to develop aircraft carriers in the future.<ref name="Hemmingsen14">Hemmingsen, ''PLAN for action'', p. 14</ref>  The carrier departed [[Sydney]] on 27 April 1985, heading for [[Guangzhou]], under the tow of [[tugboat|tug]] ''De Ping''.<ref name=Lind304/>  The journey was delayed when the towing line began to part, requiring the carrier and tug to shelter in [[Queensland]]'s [[Moreton Bay]], on 30 April.<ref name=Lind304>Lind, ''The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year'', p. 304</ref>  The towing gear broke a day later, requiring a second tug to secure the carrier while repairs were made to ''De Ping''.<ref name=Cassells87/>  Three days later, ''Melbourne'' ran aground while still in Moreton Bay.<ref>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 88</ref>  ''Melbourne'' arrived in China on 13 June.<ref name=Lind304/>  The Australian government received a [[Telex]] on this day, reading:{{NoteTag|The text of the telex message has been altered for readability. The original message reads: {{Blockquote|Pls b advised that HMAS Melbourne arrived at Port Huangpu, intact n safely afloat, proud n majestic. She has bn innocent, never once bowed to the natural or human force, in spite of the heavy storm n the talked abt jinx.}}}} {{Blockquote|Please be advised that HMAS Melbourne arrived at Port Huangpu, intact and safely afloat, proud and majestic. She has been innocent, never once bowed to the natural or human force, in spite of the heavy storm and the talked about jinx.|Telex communication to the Australian Government|13 June 1985<ref name=Lind304/>}}

[[File:Naval Chapel GI Mel-Syd.JPG|thumb|right|alt=Two tall stained glass windows. The left window shows an aircraft carrier about to launch an aircraft, while the right depicts two cruisers and an aircraft carrier at sea. A memorial plaque sits between the windows.|Memorial windows for the first three [[List of ships named HMAS Sydney|HMA Ships ''Sydney'']] (right) and the carrier HMAS ''Melbourne'' (left)]]
The ship was not scrapped immediately; instead she was studied by Chinese naval architects and engineers as part of the nation's top-secret [[Chinese aircraft carrier programme|carrier development program]].<ref name=Storey79>Storey and Ji, ''China's aircraft carrier ambitions'', p. 79</ref>  It is unclear whether the [[People's Liberation Army Navy]] (PLAN) orchestrated the acquisition of ''Melbourne'' or simply took advantage of the situation; Rear Admiral [[Zhang Zhaozhong (military official)|Zhang Zhaozhong]], a staff member at the [[PLA National Defense University|National Defence College]], has stated that the Navy was unaware of the purchase until ''Melbourne'' first arrived at Guangzhou.<ref>Hemmingsen, ''PLAN for action'', pp. 14–15</ref>  ''Melbourne'' was the largest warship any of the Chinese experts had seen, and they were surprised by the amount of equipment which was still in place.  The PLAN subsequently arranged for the ship's flight deck and all the equipment associated with flying operations to be removed so that they could be studied in depth.<ref name=Hemmingsen15/>  Reports have circulated that either a replica of the flight deck, or the deck itself, was used for clandestine training of [[People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force|PLANAF]] pilots in carrier flight operations.<ref name=Storey79/>  It has also been claimed that the Royal Australian Navy received and "politely rejected" a request from the PLAN for blueprints of the ship's steam catapult.<ref name=Hemmingsen15 />  The carrier was not dismantled for many years; according to some rumours she was not completely broken up until 2002.<ref name=Hobbs9/>  A 2012 article in ''[[Jane's Navy International]]'' stated that the large quantity of equipment recovered from ''Melbourne'' "undoubtedly helped" Admiral [[Liu Huaqing]] secure the Chinese government's support for his proposal to initiate an aircraft carrier development programme.<ref name=Hemmingsen15 />

''Melbourne''{{'}}s service is commemorated with a stained-glass window at the [[Naval Chapel, Garden Island NSW|Garden Island Naval Chapel]]. One of the ship's anchors is incorporated into a memorial to naval aviation at [[Nowra, New South Wales]].<ref>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 91</ref> Another anchor and the starboard side [[ship's bell]] are on display at the [[Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre|RAN Heritage Centre]] at [[Garden Island, New South Wales|Garden Island]]. Memorabilia from ''Melbourne'''s voyages with the [[Fleet Air Arm (RAN)|Fleet Air Arm]] embarked, and examples of all the types of aircraft deployed on ''Melbourne'', are on permanent static display in the [[Fleet Air Arm Museum (Australia)|Fleet Air Arm Museum]] at HMAS ''Albatross''.

Following an overhaul of the RAN [[battle honour]]s system completed in 2010, ''Melbourne'' was retroactively awarded the honour "Malaysia 1965–66" for her service during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.<ref name=newhonours>Royal Australian Navy, ''Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours''</ref><ref name=honourslist>Royal Australian Navy, ''Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours''</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Canberra-class landing helicopter dock|''Canberra-class'']]
** [[HMAS Adelaide (L01)|HMAS ''Adelaide'' (L01)]]
** [[HMAS Canberra (L02)|HMAS ''Canberra'' (L02)]]
* [[1942 Design Light Fleet Carrier|''Majestic class'']]
** [[HMAS Sydney (R17)|HMAS ''Sydney'' (R17)]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
; Books
* {{cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7942183 |author=Australian Naval Aviation Museum (ANAM) |title=Flying Stations: a story of Australian naval aviation |year=1998 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St Leonards, NSW |isbn=1-86448-846-8 |oclc=39290180}}
* {{cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8464418 |last=Bastock |first=John |title=Australia's Ships of War |year=1975 |publisher=Angus and Robertson |location=Cremorne, NSW |isbn=0-207-12927-4 |oclc=2525523}}
* {{cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18038498 |last1=Bishop |first1=Chris |last2=Chant |first2=Christopher |title=Aircraft Carriers: the world's greatest naval vessels and their aircraft |year=2004 |publisher=MBI |location=London |isbn=0-7603-2005-5 |oclc=56646560}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6924130 |last=Cassells |first=Vic |title=The Capital Ships: their battles and their badges |year=2000 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=East Roseville, NSW |isbn=0-7318-0941-6 |oclc=48761594}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/5708184 |last=Coulthard-Clark |first=Chris |title=Breaking free: transformation of Australia's defense industries |year=1999 |publisher=Australian Scholarly Publishing |location=Melbourne, VIC |isbn=1-875606-68-8 |oclc=45754802}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15526282 |last=Donohue |first=Hector |title=From Empire Defence to the Long Haul: post-war defence policy and its impact on naval force structure planning 1945–1955 |series=Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs (No. 1) |date=October 1996 |publisher=Sea Power Centre |location=Canberra |isbn=0-642-25907-0 |oclc=36817771 |issn=1327-5658}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9723044 |last=Frame |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Frame (bishop) |title=Pacific Partners: a history of Australian-American naval relations |year=1992 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=Rydalmere, NSW |isbn=0-340-56685-X |oclc=27433673}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9245579 |last=Frame |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Frame (bishop) |title=No Pleasure Cruise: the story of the Royal Australian Navy |year=2004 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=Crows Nest, NSW |isbn=1-74114-233-4 |oclc=55980812}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7552041 |last=Frame |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Frame (bishop) |title=The Cruel Legacy: the HMAS Voyager tragedy |year=2005 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=Crows Nest, NSW |isbn=1-74115-254-2 |oclc=61213421}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10371281 |last=Gillett |first=Ross |title=HMAS Melbourne – 25 Years |year=1980 |publisher=Nautical Press |location=Sydney, NSW |isbn=0-949756-00-8 |oclc=24405967}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/13514057 |last=Gillett |first=Ross |title=Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946 |year=1988 |publisher=Child & Associates |location=Brookvale, NSW |isbn=0-86777-219-0 |oclc=23470364}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7624295 |last=Grey |first=Jeffrey |title=Up Top: the Royal Australian Navy and Southeast Asian conflicts, 1955–1972 |year=1998 |series=The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St. Leonards, NSW |isbn=1-86448-290-7 |oclc=39074315}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/26142784 |last=Hall |first=Timothy |title=HMAS Melbourne |year=1982 |publisher=George Allen & Unwin |location=North Sydney, NSW |isbn=0-86861-284-7 |oclc=9753221}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hobbs |first=David |editor1-last=Stevens |editor1-first=David |editor2-last=Reeve |editor2-first=John |chapter-url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8695539 |title=The Navy and the Nation: the influence of the Navy on modern Australia |year=2005 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=Crows Nest, NSW |isbn=1-74114-200-8 |oclc=67872922 |chapter=HMAS Sydney (III): a symbol of Australia's growing maritime capability}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ulc79wlY54C |last=Jeremy |first=John |date=2005 |title=Cockatoo Island: Sydney's Historic Dockyard |location=Sydney |publisher=UNSW Press |isbn=978-0-86840-817-0 |access-date=8 May 2014}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18714742 |last=Lind |first=Lew |title=The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year |orig-year=1982 |edition=2nd |year=1986 |publisher=Reed Books |location=Frenchs Forest, NSW |isbn=0-7301-0071-5 |oclc=16922225}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/7554357 |last1=Nott |first1=Rodney |last2=Payne |first2=Noel |title=The Vung Tau Ferry: HMAS Sydney and Escort Ships |publisher=Rosenberg |location=Dural, NSW |orig-year=1994 |year=2008 |edition=4th |isbn=978-1-877058-72-1 |oclc=254773862}}
* {{Cite book |author1=Stevens, David |author2=Sears, Jason |author3=Goldrick, James |author4=Cooper, Alastair |author5=Jones, Peter |author6= Spurling, Kathryn |editor=Stevens, David |title=The Royal Australian Navy |series=The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III) |year=2001 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=South Melbourne, VIC |isbn=0-19-554116-2 |oclc=50418095}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23776304 |last=Wilson |first=Stewart |title=Phantom, Hornet and Skyhawk in Australian Service |year=1993 |publisher=Aerospace Publications |location=Canberra |isbn=1-875671-03-X |oclc=31331178}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8608478 |last=Wright |first=Anthony |title=Australian Carrier Decisions: the acquisition of HMA Ships Albatross, Sydney and Melbourne |orig-year=1978 |series=Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs (No. 4) |date=June 1998 |publisher=Sea Power Centre |location=Canberra |isbn=0-642-29503-4 |oclc=39641731 |issn=1327-5658 }}
{{refend}}

; Articles
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite news|first=Ben |last=Hills |title=Muddied Waters |url=http://www.benhills.com/articles/articles/MSC07a.html |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=(reproduced on author's website) |page=14 |date=1 June 1999 |access-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214233110/http://www.benhills.com/articles/articles/MSC07a.html |archive-date=14 February 2009 }}
*{{cite journal |last=Hobbs |first=Commander David |date=October 2007 |title=HMAS Melbourne (II) – 25 Years On |journal=The Navy |volume=69 |issue=4 |pages=5–9 |issn=1322-6231}}
*{{cite journal |last=Hemmingsen |first=Torbjørg |title=PLAN for action: New dawn for Chinese Naval Aviation |journal=Jane's Navy International |date=June 2012 |issn=2048-3457}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-06/government-apologises-to-captain-of-hmas-melbourne/4413638 |title=Official apology for HMAS Melbourne captain |last=Lloyd |first=Peter |date=6 December 2012 |work=ABC News Online|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=7 December 2012}}
*{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sherbo |first=Paul |date=December 2003 |title=Death of a Destroyer |journal=Naval History |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=36–41 |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] |location=Annapolis, MD |issn=1042-1920 |oclc=16311980}}
*{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Phil |author2=Lancaster, Mal  |date=August 2001 |title=USS ''Frank E. Evans'': Disaster in the South China Sea |journal=[[Vietnam Magazine]] |url=http://www.historynet.com/uss-frank-e-evans-disaster-in-the-south-china-sea.htm |access-date=25 October 2009}}
*{{cite journal|last=Storey |first=Ian |author2=Ji, You |date=Winter 2004 |title=China's aircraft carrier ambitions: seeking truth from rumours |journal=[[Naval War College Review]] |volume=57 |issue=1 |pages=77–93 |issn=0028-1484 |url=http://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/ffc60b3e-d2e6-4142-9b71-6dfa247051f2/China-s-Aircraft-Carrier-Ambitions--Seeking-Truth- |access-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614023207/http://www.usnwc.edu/getattachment/ffc60b3e-d2e6-4142-9b71-6dfa247051f2/China-s-Aircraft-Carrier-Ambitions--Seeking-Truth- |archive-date=14 June 2010 }}
{{refend}}

; Websites
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm |last=Mison |first=Graham |title=Sea Harrier Down Under |website=Harrier.org.uk |access-date=12 May 2014 |archive-date=12 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212110305/http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm |url-status=dead }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/history/squadron-histories/851-squadron-history |title=851 Squadron History |access-date=4 December 2013 |work=Squadron Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-melbourne-ii |title=HMAS ''Melbourne'' (II) |access-date=24 December 2012 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212202838/http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-melbourne-ii |archive-date=12 December 2013 }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-vengeance |title=HMAS ''Vengeance'' |access-date=24 December 2012 |work=HMA Ship Histories |publisher=Sea Power Centre }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.skyhawk.org/2c/productionhistory.htm |title=Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Production History |access-date=25 October 2009 |last=Foster |first=Wynn |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119231025/http://www.skyhawk.org/install.php?profile=default |archive-date=19 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|HMAS Melbourne (R21)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090830235056/http://members.optusnet.com.au/hmas.melbourne/hmas_melbourneNew.htm HMAS Melbourne Association]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080208054646/http://users.qld.chariot.net.au/~dialabull/R21%20Service.htm A sailor's recollections of several tours of duty aboard the carrier]

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{{Portal bar|Australia|Royal Australian Navy|Engineering}}
{{Royal Australian Navy}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Melbourne (R21)}}
[[Category:Majestic-class aircraft carriers of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:1945 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of Australia]]