HMAS Australia (II) was engaged in a mercy mission to the Australian Antarctic base at Heard Island where a member of the staff, Dr Serge Udovikoff, was ill. Apart from the uncomfortable conditions created by gale force winds that gusted up to 65 knots, sleet, snow and hail, the ship experienced feed water difficulties due to the increased prevalence of plankton in the sea. Use of ship’s water was restricted to drinking and teeth cleaning and no one was allowed to wash. Weather conditions were no better when Australia (II) arrived at Heard Island, but when a reasonable break occurred the cutter was lowered and Dr Udovikoff eventually brought on board for the journey to Fremantle.
HMAS Bataan, operating off Haeju as a unit of the UN forces, became the first RAN vessel in the Korean War to engage an enemy shore battery. While patrolling the approaches to the port, Bataan was fired upon from shore by 7 guns and she quickly returned fire taking out 4 of the guns with a barrage of 150 rounds. Later HMS Belfast joined and both vessels bombarded the area until all guns were silenced.
