If you haven’t heard MWRS members Colin VK2JCC, Carmel VK2CAR, and Stuart VK2BMX operating 40m from a park recently, it’s because they have been busy on the historic warship HMAS Vampire, activating the Special Event Station VK2VMP! They are joined on the “Vampire Team” by Mark VK2DI, Steve VK2KHA, Chris VK2VCG, and Alex VK2PRC. Congratulations everyone for bringing this project to life!

HMAS Vampire is located at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, and VK2VMP looks like being a permanent part of Vampire’s communications facility, where it will help promote the great hobby of Amateur Radio!

The team has been active on 20m and 40m already; Colin is on the air most Saturdays and the station is active other days depending on the availability of the team each day.

Chris VK2VCG, Colin VK2JCC, and Alex VK2PRC, in the HMAS Vampire radio room (Apr 2023)

Colin announced the new station recently on ARNSW’s Sunday broadcast:

An “historic” event

Colin VK2JCC is excited to announce the commencement of Amateur Radio transmissions from the historic warship, HMAS Vampire, located at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney’s Darling Harbour.

The HMAS Vampire Radio Room team will consist of seven amateur radio operators, all ANNM Volunteers. Transmissions will take place on 7050kHz CW and 7150kHz SSB, weekdays and Saturdays, during the normal operating hours of the Museum.

Listen out for the callsign, VK2VMP. (Vampire)

This is a unique opportunity for radio amateurs to contact the iconic HMAS Vampire, which is not only an historic vessel locally constructed in Sydney harbour, but also a fully outfitted museum piece – the largest museum vessel in Australia. This new partnership with the Museum also provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to see the ship and experience the world of amateur radio.

HMAS Vampire is a Daring class destroyer, which was commissioned on 23 June 1959 and served in the Royal Australian Navy until 1986. It has a rich history, and being able to transmit from it is a special privilege.

The Australia National Maritime Museum has also agreed for the team to bring the HMAS Vampire into the global Museum Ships community, consisting of over 60 ships around the world. The team plans to establish regular contacts with international counterparts, and, using ex-military equipment, take part in re-enactment radio transmissions throughout the year to mark special historic marine events.

This is a rare opportunity to contact a historic warship, and add a unique contact to your logbook. The team hopes to see you on board the Vampire, and on the airwaves.

73 de Colin VK2JCC

Colin and Alex, operating a Yaesu FT-757GX, recently retired from the shack of Richard VK2SKY

The Yaesu FT-757GX was until November last year gathering dust in the shack of Richard VK2SKY, who offered it up to anyone willing to give it a good home. Colin jumped at the chance, refurbished the rig, and swore VK2SKY to silence until the Vampire radio project was ready to go live, which it now has!

Chris, Alex, Carmel VK2CAR and Colin in the radio room.

Thanks to Carmel VK2CAR, who supplied the photos!

Update February 2024: see Colin VK2JCC’s lecture on HMAS Vampire