Submarine HMAS Dechaineux spotted off Golden Beach on way to Brisbane
An Australian navy submarine has been spotted off the Sunshine Coast as it made its way towards Brisbane. VIDEO.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Royal Australian Navy submarine has been spotted surfacing off the coast of Caloundra, in what a Coast Guard Commander has described as a “rare” sighting.
The HMAS Dechaineux, a Collins Class guided missile submarine, surfaced and was spotted cruising past Golden Beach on Thursday afternoon, April 4.
The vessel was named after Royal Australian Navy Captain Emile Dechaineux, who died in the Philippines in 1944 while serving in World War II, according to the Australian War Memorial website.
Caloundra Coast Guard Commander Roger Pearce said on Saturday while cruise ships and other large vessels were often seen sailing past Caloundra, seeing a submarine was “very rare”.
All ships heading to or from Brisbane pass through the Northwest Channel, which spans west of Bribie Island and in waters off Caloundra – including near the Caloundra Bar.
But Mr Pearce said the submarine would have been forced to surface off the Caloundra Coast as it neared the Caloundra Bar, as the water was more shallow.
Video of the vessel cruising past was then shared to social media, where hundreds of residents shared their excitement at the rare sighting.
Celina Downing said the sight was “so cool!”.
Kelvin Edwards said “good to see our submarine out and about”.
Others commented the sub was visible from Currimundi.
An Australian Defence Force spokeswoman confirmed the sub was travelling to Brisbane, where it docked on Friday, April 5.
She said the crew onboard the vessel are in Brisbane to meet and conduct submarine tours with Australian Defence Force candidates to teach them about life as a submariner.
More Coverage
Originally published as Submarine HMAS Dechaineux spotted off Golden Beach on way to Brisbane
Cyclone risk updated as monster low changes course
A monster tropical low that has battered far north Queensland for days dumping nearly a metre of rain in 72 hours is shifting south, bringing warnings of heavy deluges and widespread flooding.
Scrapped ‘CFMEU’ tax’s $17bn saving a state secret
Treasurer David Janetzki has refused to reveal why documents detailing how the government will save $17bn by abolishing Labor’s controversial “CFMEU tax” have been kept secret.