During conription during the Korean conflict I volunteered to Join the Australian Navy in HMAS Australia in about 1953. We were well trained and the ship had been recently undergone an extensive refit and our job was to do a thouough “shakedown” before it was assigned of the coast of Korea. Due to the Korean cease fire the ship never assigned to Korea.

I was part of the Big Guns crew and wore asbestos Hood which covered the head and shoulders with the only parts exposed the eyes-nose and mouth . . . also wore gloves which extended past the elbows . . . both the Hood and gloves were made of asbestos which prevented us from injury from fire and/or flame expelled by the big guns . . .

I was aware that the Navy also used Asbestos as insulation throughout the ship . . .

What I am interested in is in what parts of the ship were then and still are used in Navy ships and with what purpose . . .