Significance in Material Culture:

The Fleetwork Trainer components were used at the Communications School, HMAS Cerberus from 1970 until 1993. There were three known Fleetwork Trainer installations in the world, two at HMS Mercury ("Royal School of Maritime operations" located at Leydene, Petersfield, Hants, U.K.) and one at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria, Australia. The FWT installed at HMAS Cerberus is based on the installation at HMS Mercury which was designed by Research Engineers Ltd., (of Shoreditch, UK) in collaboration with the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment in 1963.

The Fleetwork Trainer was used to simulate real world scenarios of conflict and convoy manoeuvres. The basic course run on the FWT qualified seaman for progression to participation on Royal Australian Navy (RAN) vessels. Other courses were designed to train a range of Navy personnel from signalman to petty officer to yeoman and refresher training for potential officers and commanders of vessels.

Simulated fleetwork was accomplished in eight 'ship' cubicles within the trainer. These cubicles contained a pupil control unit which enabled the pupil to control the course and speed of their particular vessel. The control unit was fitted with two microphones, one simulated a tactical UHF voice circuit, the other was an intercom to the command cubicle. The FWT room that housed the cubicles would be blacked-out during sessions, each cubicle had local light sources, was sound proof and faced a projection screen onto which the ships were projected as small coloured shapes.

The Fleetwork Trainer was used predominantly by signals personnel. Time spent in the trainer was the culmination of a signalman's training. In the Trainer the signalman would draw on all aspects of of their training and perform all of the functions of signals sailor at sea including - encoding and decoding tactical signals from the manoeuvring book, attend the UHF tactical circuit, interpret and act on tactical signals, plot the formation or screen, and most importantly brief the command on the current tactical situation. Through the correct execution of manoeuvres with the virtual vessel on screen a pupil was able to demonstrate their understanding and purport of tactical signals.

Projected symbols representing vessels were colour coded to differentiate participants. The trainer was also capable of projecting a 'spiders web' which was used when ships were allocated sectors within a screen. Threatening scenarios were played out - a map of a coastal or other region (these locations were usually the port of Sydney or Jervis Bay) would be projected onto the screen and the simulation would be imposed upon this.

Example scenario: In an anti-submarine scenario the object of the exercise was to protect the main body, or high value unit (HVU) from submarine attack. A screen would be formed around the HVU actively and aggressively searching for the submarine. Once a submarine was located, several ships would be ordered to prosecute the submarine while the HVU was turned away from the threat. The remaining ships would then be re-arranged within the screen to afford the best measure of protection for the HVU as it made good its escape.

The versatility of the FWT is further demonstrated by the variety of warfare scenarios conducted - included anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare and mine countermeasures. More advanced fleetwork include - Aircraft carrier operations, replenishment formations, amphibious formations higher dispositions and advanced screening.

Secondary sources (John Perryman, Senior Instructor Communications School, HMAS Cerberus) indicate that the FWT was commissioned in August 1966. The Fleetwork Trainer was always maintained in perfect working order. The FWT was decommissioned in 1993, dismantled and then packed into a container (another optical projector array and a students course and speed unit are on display at HMAS Cerberus - the only known whereabouts of other components to this training system). The building that housed the FWT was bulldozed immediately following the dismantling.

Innovation in Industry & Product Development:

The Fleetwork Trainer utilises an electro-mechanical controlled optical projection system.

Significance in a Chronological Continuum:

Examples of pre-computer simulation include - many analogue 'mapping' devices and models such as maps, engineering drawings, models or cave drawings.

Prior to the introduction of the FWT, fleetwork instruction was carried out on magnetic boards using small magnetic ships. Blackboards were also used as were pens and paper. While on course at the Communications School, signalman classes were marched to and from work by use of 'tactical signals'. Instead of the universal order to "quick march", a signalman would be given the order "speed one two, standby . . . execute!" This would familiarise them with the principle rules and orders for ship manoeuvring.

The HMAS Cerberus subsequently installed a "Fleetwork Trainer" developed by Compucat (Canberra). This system is PC based. Manoeuvres carried out by the various vessels are now viewed on a monitor in a cubicle. The new system is capable of simulating a greater variety of geographic locations, fixed wing aircraft,
helicopters, missiles, mines, marker buoys and man overboard.

Presently other Navy simulation equipment installed in Australia includes a PC based "Warfare" system (British Aerospace) and a "Bridge Simulator" (early 80s, mounted on hydraulics) at Watsons Bay. The view from the bridge is a graphic projection (recently upgraded). The bridge simulates all the feel of a vessel in the
water and haptic feedback (experienced for example by a collision).

Material Culture, Australia in an International Context:

The Fleetwork Trainer installed at HMAS Cerberus was one of three such installations in the world.

Documentation - Extent & Quality:

The Fleetwork Trainer will be acquired with two primary documents: a volume containing wiring and engineering drawings, photographs and explanations of the general workings of the FWT (2 copies) and a pamphlet containing brief descriptions and photographs of the components that make up the FWT.