Submarines

Association

Australia

Vale

Crest

In Memory of

CPOMTP4SM RONALD JAMES VASS R42007

May He Rest In Peace

The SAA is saddened to advise of the passing of long standing NSW SAA member Ron Vass.
Ron was born in Kingsford Sydney in November 1939 and was working as a labourer
when he became a member of the first intake of Naval Apprentices at HMAS Nirimba in July 1956.
He had the distinction of being MOBI #7.
Ron graduated from Nirimba in July 1960 as a ERA 4 th Class, posting to the Q Class Frigate HMAS Quickmatch.
Between leaving Nirimba in 1960 and mid 1963 he served on Quickmatch,
the sloop HMAS Swan, HMAS Quiberon and HMAS Sydney, during which time he was promoted to ERA 2 nd Class (PO).

IN 1963 Ron was one the earliest volunteers for submarines and in December of that year he travelled to the UK to undertake submarine training at HMS Dolphin. In all a quarter of Ron’s graduating class at Nirimba would qualify as submariners, almost certainly a record for any Nirimba intake.
Between1964 and late 1967 Ron served with the Royal Navy.
He qualified as a submariner on the Porpoise Class submarine HMS Narwhal before then training and qualifying as a periscope maintainer.
He was almost certainly the first RAN rating to do so.

Ron returned to Australia in 1967 where he served as an operational relief on the T Class submarine HMS Trump. In 1969 Ron was posted to HMAS Oxley for six months, he would serve on Oxley a second time between 1973 and 1975 as her Chief ERA. Ron Vass passed away suddenly on Tuesday the 9 th of September 2025. A private cremation will be held, with a celebration of Ron’s life to be held at a date to be advised.

The SAA extends its condolences to Ron’s extended family and friends.