the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and her escorts were involved in anti-submarine training exercises in the South China Sea. In preparation for launching a Tracker, Melbourne’s Captain Stevenson ordered the US destroyer, Frank E. Evans to plane guard station (aircraft rescue position), due to confusion the Melbourne hit Evans amidships at 3:15 am, the tragedy cutting the destroyer in two. The Tracker never took off, the Tracker it was to replace on patrol, had to bunny hop back to HMAS Albatross. 816 Squadron regularly operated from Melbourne throughout the early 1970s, and the Trackers proved successful in the anti-submarine role. During this period the aircraft carrier frequently made deployments across the Pacific. It was found that the Trackers could handle the same tasks as the RAAF's larger Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, though the Trackers had shorter range and could not carry as many weapons. The aircraft's engines also proved to be extremely reliable. On 10 February 1975 Tracker 853 was destroyed when it landed, the pilot thought it did a bolter (missed the wire), revved up and the pull of the wire slung it violently over the port side into the sea. All four members of the crew were rescued. This was the only loss of a RAN Tracker during flying operations. Trackers conducted fisheries protection patrols from 1975, an operation called Operation Trochus. This task began on 6 March, when three Trackers from 851 Squadron began what was intended as a twelve month operation from Broome, Western Australia. 816 Squadron took over on 6 May 1975. The Trackers proved so successful, the Australian Government decided the flights would be extended. Responsibility for land-based maritime patrols was exchanged between the two squadrons until December 1980. After this time a civilian company conducted the patrols. The detachment moved to Darwin, Northern Territory at a date not specified in the sources. Disaster struck the S-2E fleet on the evening of 4 December 1976 when a 19-year-old junior sailor from 851 Squadron deliberately started a fire in H hangar at HMAS Albatross. All but one of the aircraft had been placed in storage for the Christmas period; the remaining aircraft was under maintenance at Bankstown Airport. Despite very dangerous conditions, RAN personnel attempted to fight the fire and move aircraft from the hangar. These efforts were largely unsuccessful, and nine aircraft were destroyed or damaged beyond repair. The other three aircraft