What delayed the submarine telecommunications cable between Port Moresby and Cairns. in 1975?

Trevor
23/09/2018

Mines left over from World War II delayed the laying of the cable.  

The minesweeper Curlew deployed to Papua New Guinea in March 1975 in company with Ibis and Snipe, to contribute to Operation STILL DUSTY to clear mines laid by Australian forces during WWII in Bootless Inlet, near Port Moresby and which now impeded the laying of a submarine telecommunications cable between Port Moresby and Cairns.

Post-war minesweeping had rendered the area safe for surface navigation, but not for cable-laying or other underwater activities. This was the largest mine-hunting operation by the RAN to date which involved the detection and clearing of mines from an area of 12 square kilometres.

http://giaman.com/s/curlew

Tags: curlew
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