H.M.A.S. Melbourne & U.S.S. Frank E. EvansPrint Page 
The Melbourne–Evans collision was a collision between the light aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans of the United States Navy (USN). On 3 June 1969, the two ships were participating in SEATO exercise Sea Spirit in the South China Sea . At approximately 3:00 am, when ordered to a new escort station, Evans sailed under Melbourne 's bow, where she was cut in two. Seventy-four of Evans ' crew were killed.
A joint RAN–USN board of inquiry was held to establish the events of the collision and the responsibility of those involved. This inquiry, which was believed by the Australians to be biased against them, found that both ships were at fault for the collision. Four officers (the captains of Melbourne and Evans, plus the two junior officers in control of Evans at the time of the collision) were court-martialled based on the results of the inquiry; while the three USN officers were charged, the RAN officer was cleared of wrongdoing.
Location
| Address: | Sir Edwin Smith Avenue, South Australian Naval Memorial Garden, North Adelaide, 5006 |
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| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.914075 Long: 138.600534 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
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| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Maritime |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 03-June-1969 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 03-June-1969 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Thursday 3rd June, 2004 |
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In remembrance of those who lost their lives were injured gave assistance had their lives changed forever in the collission between HMAS Melbourne USS Frank E. Evans
03.15am June 3rd 1969
Lest We Forget June 3rd 2004
