Task Force 72
Encyclopedia
Task Force 72 is an international association of Radio control
led model boat builders, all building in the common scale (ratio)
of 1:72 (1 inch in 1:72 equals 72 inches or 6 feet in real life).
in 1994, when a number of individuals building radio controlled models came together to form a voluntary association
.
The name derives from the military term for a group of warships operating to a common purpose, a task force
, and the scale of the ship models being built (1:72).
In the years since, the association has grown from a small number of model builders to several hundred currently active and former members located in Australia, the United States
, United Kingdom
, Canada
, New Zealand
and several other countries.
At this time the largest grouping of members is located within Australia, although it is hoped to grow membership internationally.
each year, normally at Wentworth Falls Lake, located in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney
in New South Wales
, Australia.
The Task Force 72 Annual Regatta is usually held in November or December of each calendar year. The 2009 Annual Regatta was held on the weekend of Saturday 05 (10AM - 8PM) and Sunday 06 December (10AM - 4PM).
The 2010 Annual Regatta will be held over the weekend of Saturday 04 December (10AM - 8PM) and Sunday 05 December (10AM - 4PM).
Two major prizes are awarded during the Regatta.
The Bravo Zulu
Award, named for the Naval flag hoist signifying 'well done', is awarded by a reviewing officer. In 2009 the reviewing officer was Commander Anthony Davidson RAN, representing the Commander Australian Fleet
, Royal Australian Navy
In 2009, the winner of the Bravo Zulu award was a model of the Indian Navy
Godavari class frigate
INS Godavari (F20)
.
The Wentworth Shield is awarded to the model judged best by the members of Task Force 72 attending the Regatta.
At the 2009 Annual Regatta the Wentworth Shield award was won by a model of the World War 2 Royal Australian Navy
Q class destroyer HMAS Quickmatch (G92)
Several minor prizes are usually presented, including:
Best Warship (2009 winner Royal Navy
Type 21 frigate
HMS Avenger (F185)
);
Best Non-warship (2009 winner the former Port Phillip
Maritime pilot
tender Wyuna
;
The Newbie Award (for the best first-time model) (2009 winner the Royal Australian Navy
River class destroyer escort
HMAS Parramatta (DE 46); and
The Rob Sullivan Engineering Award (named after a now-deceased member of Task Force 72) for most innovate engineering on display at the Regatta (not awarded in 2009).
Task Force 72 hopes that the Association's membership in other countries will grow to the point where they are large enough to support their own national regattas.
vessels however this is slowly changing as more non-warships are completed. In fact the joint winners of the Wentworth Shield for best model at the 2007 Annual Regatta were two non-warships, the lighthouse
and navigation
aids tender Cape Don and the USS Charles Robinson, a Liberty Ship
.
Similarly, the vessel voted best model of the 2008 Annual Regatta was a US Army Hospital Ship
, the USAHS St Olaf which, while operated by the military, was not a warship.
Task Force 72 members have built models of a wide range of ships and submarine
s, ranging from 19th century cruiser
s to futuristic missile
corvette
s, from sailing ship
s to ballistic missile submarine
s. Despite the majority of ships being of military subjects merchant and passenger ships are also well represented.
All share a basic characteristic. They are built to a common scale of 1:72 and are radio controlled.
s and patrol boat
s.
The majority of the models are of medium sized vessels, such as destroyers and frigates, which are considered by their builders to combine a reasonable size for ease of transport and "seaworthiness", with significant scope for the incorporation of detail and providing sufficient internal volume for the mechanics of making the models operational.
with an anchor
superimposed on the compass rose with the words Task Force Seventy Two surrounding the design.
Radio control
Radio control is the use of radio signals to remotely control a device. The term is used frequently to refer to the control of model vehicles from a hand-held radio transmitter...
led model boat builders, all building in the common scale (ratio)
Scale (ratio)
The scale ratio of some sort of model which represents an original proportionally is the ratio of a linear dimension of the model to the same dimension of the original. Examples include a 3-dimensional scale model of a building or the scale drawings of the elevations or plans of a building. In such...
of 1:72 (1 inch in 1:72 equals 72 inches or 6 feet in real life).
History
Task Force 72 originated in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1994, when a number of individuals building radio controlled models came together to form a voluntary association
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
.
The name derives from the military term for a group of warships operating to a common purpose, a task force
Task force
A task force is a unit or formation established to work on a single defined task or activity. Originally introduced by the United States Navy, the term has now caught on for general usage and is a standard part of NATO terminology...
, and the scale of the ship models being built (1:72).
In the years since, the association has grown from a small number of model builders to several hundred currently active and former members located in Australia, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and several other countries.
At this time the largest grouping of members is located within Australia, although it is hoped to grow membership internationally.
Annual Regatta
The Association holds an annual regattaRegatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
each year, normally at Wentworth Falls Lake, located in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia.
The Task Force 72 Annual Regatta is usually held in November or December of each calendar year. The 2009 Annual Regatta was held on the weekend of Saturday 05 (10AM - 8PM) and Sunday 06 December (10AM - 4PM).
The 2010 Annual Regatta will be held over the weekend of Saturday 04 December (10AM - 8PM) and Sunday 05 December (10AM - 4PM).
Two major prizes are awarded during the Regatta.
The Bravo Zulu
Bravo Zulu
Bravo Zulu is a naval signal, conveyed by flaghoist or voice radio, meaning "Well Done"; it has also been used as part of vernacular slang within NATO and Allied naval forces...
Award, named for the Naval flag hoist signifying 'well done', is awarded by a reviewing officer. In 2009 the reviewing officer was Commander Anthony Davidson RAN, representing the Commander Australian Fleet
Commander Australian Fleet
Commander Australian Fleet , also referred to as Fleet Commander Australia , is a senior appointment in the Royal Australian Navy , holding full command of all Navy combat forces and responsibility for all maritime operations within the Australian Defence Force...
, Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
In 2009, the winner of the Bravo Zulu award was a model of the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
Godavari class frigate
Godavari Class Frigate
The Godavari class frigates are guided-missile frigates of the Indian Navy. The Godavari class was the first significant indigenous warship design and development initiative of the Indian Navy...
INS Godavari (F20)
INS Godavari (F20)
INS Godavari is the lead ship of her class of guided-missile frigates of the Indian Navy. Built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai, she was commissioned on 10 December 1983.-Operation Cactus:...
.
The Wentworth Shield is awarded to the model judged best by the members of Task Force 72 attending the Regatta.
At the 2009 Annual Regatta the Wentworth Shield award was won by a model of the World War 2 Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
Q class destroyer HMAS Quickmatch (G92)
HMAS Quickmatch (G92)
HMAS Quickmatch , named for the quick-match, a fast burning match used for lighting cannon, was a Q class destroyer operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Although commissioned into the RAN in 1942, the ship was initially the property of the Royal Navy. Quickmatch served with both the British...
Several minor prizes are usually presented, including:
Best Warship (2009 winner Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Type 21 frigate
Type 21 frigate
The Type 21 frigate or Amazon-class frigate was a Royal Navy general-purpose escort designed in the late 1960s, built in the 1970s and that served throughout the 1980s into the 1990s.-History:...
HMS Avenger (F185)
HMS Avenger (F185)
HMS Avenger was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, she was completed with Exocet launchers in 'B' position....
);
Best Non-warship (2009 winner the former Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
Maritime pilot
Maritime pilot
A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbours or river mouths. With the exception of the Panama Canal, the pilot is only an advisor, as the captain remains in legal, overriding command of the vessel....
tender Wyuna
Wyuna
Wyuna is a former Port Phillip pilot tender and Australian Maritime College training vessel currently laid up.-History:The ship was built in 1953 by Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow, Scotland for the Port Phillip Sea Pilots organisation as a pilot cutter...
;
The Newbie Award (for the best first-time model) (2009 winner the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
River class destroyer escort
River class destroyer escort
The River class was a class of six destroyer escorts operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Plans to acquire four vessels, based on the British Type 12M frigate, began in the 1950s. The first two vessels had some slight modifications to the design, while the next two underwent further changes...
HMAS Parramatta (DE 46); and
The Rob Sullivan Engineering Award (named after a now-deceased member of Task Force 72) for most innovate engineering on display at the Regatta (not awarded in 2009).
Task Force 72 hopes that the Association's membership in other countries will grow to the point where they are large enough to support their own national regattas.
Types of models constructed
Currently the majority of model ships owned by Task Force 72 members are militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
vessels however this is slowly changing as more non-warships are completed. In fact the joint winners of the Wentworth Shield for best model at the 2007 Annual Regatta were two non-warships, the lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
aids tender Cape Don and the USS Charles Robinson, a Liberty Ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
.
Similarly, the vessel voted best model of the 2008 Annual Regatta was a US Army Hospital Ship
Hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
, the USAHS St Olaf which, while operated by the military, was not a warship.
Task Force 72 members have built models of a wide range of ships and submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, ranging from 19th century cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s to futuristic missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s, from sailing ship
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
s to ballistic missile submarine
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
s. Despite the majority of ships being of military subjects merchant and passenger ships are also well represented.
All share a basic characteristic. They are built to a common scale of 1:72 and are radio controlled.
Task Force 72 fleet composition
As of January 2010 the Task Force 72 "fleet" is made up of several hundred models, ranging in size from extremely large models of various aircraft carriers and battleships down to very small models of tugboatTugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
s and patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s.
The majority of the models are of medium sized vessels, such as destroyers and frigates, which are considered by their builders to combine a reasonable size for ease of transport and "seaworthiness", with significant scope for the incorporation of detail and providing sufficient internal volume for the mechanics of making the models operational.
Task Force 72 Logo
The Task Force 72 logo comprises a stylised compass roseCompass rose
A compass rose, sometimes called a windrose, is a figure on a compass, map, nautical chart or monument used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions — North, East, South and West - and their intermediate points. It is also the term for the graduated markings found on the traditional...
with an anchor
Anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
superimposed on the compass rose with the words Task Force Seventy Two surrounding the design.