Royal Australian Navy Skyhawks
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk served with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1968 to 1984, operating with two squadrons: VF805 and VC724. VF805 was the frontline fighter squadron deployed aboard the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, while VC724 was based at Naval Air Station Nowra, where it handled training and support duties.
During those years, the Skyhawks aboard Melbourne provided the RAN with a unique capability that played an important role in Australia’s defence strategy.
P. Allen “Nobby” Clark, a former RAN A-4 Skyhawk pilot, recalls the following incident in The Skyhawk Years: A-4 Skyhawks in Australian Service 1968–1984 by Peter Greenfield and David Prest:
During Exercise Kangaroo III in 1979, VF805 was embarked aboard HMAS Melbourne for operations off the Queensland coast. In the early stages of the exercise, the fleet came under repeated attacks from RAAF F-111s, but the RAN A-4s had been unable to conduct effective interceptions.
The successful raids on the fleet were invariably conducted at first light, so P. Allen “Nobby” Clark suggested to the squadron’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Errol Kavanagh, that two aircraft should be prepared on deck before first light, with their engines running and one aircraft positioned on the catapult ready for launch. As soon as intelligence indicated that a raid was inbound, the two aircraft could be airborne within a minute or so.
Clark was not at liberty to reveal how the approaching raid had been detected. It may have involved airborne helicopters being instructed to maintain a particular altitude. Kavanagh was immediately airborne and climbing through low, broken cloud, while Clark followed moments later.
RAN A-4 Vs RAAF F-111
‘As Clark climbed away from the carrier, just a few miles ahead, a very low F-111 appeared through the broken, hazy cloud. Clark immediately rolled into a tight right-hand dive, accelerated to maximum speed and latched onto the raider’s tail.
‘Armed only with Sidewinder missiles, the A-4 could exceed 600 knots at sea level. Assuming the F-111 was simulating a bombing attack, its speed at that stage would have been subsonic and slower than the Skyhawk.
‘During a Sidewinder attack, a successful lock-on was indicated by a “growl” heard through the pilot’s helmet headset. The sound came from the missile’s infrared sensor, located in its nose. When a missile was launched, whether for real or as part of the simulation, the radio call was “Fox 2”, while “Fox 1” referred to the use of the 20-mm cannon. In this instance, just before the aircraft passed over the flight deck, Clark achieved a lock-on and made the Fox 2 call. Meanwhile, in the Operations Room, the Fighter Flight Operations Director was being monitored by the exercise umpire.
‘The probability of achieving a kill was determined by rolling a die. Clark was unsure which number represented a successful attack, but the radio response indicated that the shot had missed, requiring a second launch.
Inter-service rivalry
By this stage, the F-111 had begun sweeping its wings and was accelerating away from Clark. However, the strong growl in the headset, combined with his visual estimate of the distance, gave him confidence that the aircraft remained within Sidewinder range.
Clark made the Fox 2 call again. According to the account later relayed to him, the director was shouting, “Roll the dice, roll the effing dice.” The radio then announced that a kill had been achieved. The result prompted a heated complaint from senior officers at RAAF Amberley, who questioned the integrity and professionalism of the Skyhawk pilots.
The likely explanation was that a second F-111 had just attacked an outlying warship approximately ten miles to Clark’s port side, possibly HMAS Supply, and was turning to rejoin its companion. By the time the second F-111 and its crew became aware of Clark’s presence, the targeted aircraft had almost certainly accelerated to supersonic speed, placing it well beyond missile range.
Clark concludes by saying that the successful attack on the raiding F-111 was promptly reported in the Brisbane newspapers. The story infuriated the “boys in blue” and led to a “nastygram” being sent to the fleet commander. Such were the fun and games of inter-service rivalry.
The Skyhawk Years: A-4 Skyhawks in Australian Service 1968 – 1984 is published by Avonmore Books and is available to order here.
Photos by U.S. Navy and Jeff Gilbert – JGPhotographics.com via Wikipedia
