A plaque beside the torpedo reads:
"ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY
Wire guided Anti Surface, Anti Submarine Torpedo Mark 23 - Mod 3
* Shop class used on surface ships and submarines
* Date in service 1955 (First prototype)
* Warship weight 2388 lbs (821 kg)
* Explosive charge 200 lbs (89 kg)
* Range/speed/ 18.5 knots - 12,000 yards (10,000 m)
* Power: battery
* The predecessor of the Mk48, in the RAN both HMAS Oxley and HMAS Ovens along with HMAS Onslow carried three torpedos.
With thanks to:
Laurieton RSL Sub-Branch and Laurieton United Services Club.
This torpedo was restored under the guidance and skill of Mr Doug Browne, researched and driven by Mr Barry Lang and delivered to the site by Mr Ken Whyte."
Another plaque, with the insignia of the Oberon class submarines, is near the tail of the torpedo, and it reads:
[Picture of an Oberon class submarine, with the Sydney Opera House in the backgroound]
"Oberon Class Submarine
A British class submarine originally built for the Royal Navy.
The first Oberon class submarine built for the Royal Australian Navy was HMAS Oxley, commissioned on the 21st March 1967, followed by Orway, Ovens, Onslow, Orion and Otama.
All of the submarines were based at HMAS Platypus in Neutral Bay, Sydney.
These ships gave exceptional service as conventional submarines until replaced by the Australian built Collins class.
The ships plaques are those of the six Oberon class submarines."
There is also a good article in the local newspaper "Camden Courier" (of 10 August, 2010) on the arrival of the torpedo to Laurieton: (
visit link)
Visited/photographed: 1410, Thursday, 31 December, 2015