Destroyer sinks in collision

CANBERRA, Australia -- The Royal Australian Navy destroyer Voyager collided with the aircraft carrier Melbourne and sank 19 miles southeast of Jervis Bay off the coast of New South Wales today.

A naval spokesman said there were "some casualties," but their extent still was not determined.

The spokesman said the collision occurred in calm weather at 3 a.m. EST and the Voyager sank four hours later.

As soon as the Melbourne flashed a radio report of the collision, naval vessels and helicopters rushed to the scene from the Jervis naval base. Two mine sweepers and a frigate also were ordered out from Sydney.

The Melbourne is the flagship of the Australian fleet. It is a light carrier of 20,000 tons and a crew of 1,000 men.

The Voyager was 3,500 tons and had a normal complement of 300 men.

An Australian naval official in London said the Voyager was carrying its full complement when it sank, adding that there was a "heavy loss of life."