HMS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser), relieved HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), as escort for troop convoy US3, in the Indian Ocean. SHROPSHIRE was commissioned into the RAN as a replacement for CANBERRA in 1943. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 May 1940
The Australian War Cabinet accepted the Admiralty offer of HMS CERES and HMS COLOMBO, (cruisers), for service in Australian waters. The decision was reversed a week later. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 May 1940
HMA Ships CANBERRA and AUSTRALIA, (cruisers), were escorting convoy US3, when about halfway between Fremantle and Colombo, The British Admiralty ordered it alter course for Britain via the Cape Town. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 May 1940
PO Augustus Joseph Fisher, RAN , SN 14400, was awarded the DSM for daring, endurance, and resource, while serving in HM Submarine TRUANT. Fifteen months later he was MID for ...
Australian Naval History on 5 May 1940
Australian troop convoy US3, consisting of liners QUEEN MARY, AQUITANIA, EMPRESS OF JAPAN, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, MAURETANIA, and ANDES, escorted by HMA Ships CANBERRA and PERTH, and HMS LEANDER, sailed ...
Australian Naval History on 4 May 1940
HMAS KANGAROO, (boom defence vessel), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 April 1940
The Cunard liner QUEEN MARY commenced conversion to a troop ship at Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 April 1940
HMAS SWAN, (sloop), intercepted the Norwegian ship SOLHEIM off Fremantle, and escorted the vessel into port. HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), intercepted the Danish merchant vessel AFRIKA between Colombo and Aden. A ...
Australian Naval History on 12 April 1940
HMAS WESTRALIA captured Norwegian steamer FERNLANE (4310grt) north of Australia and sent her under a prize crew to Singapore. HMAS MANOORA intercepted the Norwegian tanker HARBOR, and escorted her to ...
Australian Naval History on 9 April 1940
AB A. Kennedy, RAN, survived the sinking of the destroyer HMS GURKHA by dive bombers off Norway. Kennedy was the only Australian in the crew. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 April 1940
The Grimbsy type escort sloop HMAS PARRAMATTA, (LCDR J.H. Walker, RAN), was commissioned. PARRAMATTA was laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, on 9 November 1938, and launched on 18 ...
Australian Naval History on 27 March 1940
HMAS STUART, (destroyer), salvaged the tanker TROCAS in heavy seas in the Mediterranean. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 March 1940
Volunteers from ships of Australia’s “Scrap Iron Flotilla”, in the Mediterranean, embarked on a mission to block the Danube River at a feature known as the Iron Gates. The operation ...
Australian Naval History on 14 March 1940
HMS RAMILLIES, (battleship), was refitted at Garden Island Naval Dockyard, Sydney. A. G. Cameron was appointed to the post of Australian Minister for the Navy. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 February 1940
HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), embarked eight Midshipmen at Aden for transfer to the battleship HMS RAMILLIES. One of the midshipmen was HRH Prince Philip of Greece, later to become the Duke ...
Australian Naval History on 10 February 1940
HMAS WARREGO, (sloop), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 February 1940
The boom working vessel HMAS KOALA, was commissioned. KOALA was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, on 21 June 1939, and launched on 21 November 1939. Mrs Custance, (Wife ...
Australian Naval History on 5 February 1940
The auxiliary anti-submarine vessel HMAS BINGERA, was commissioned. BINGERA was laid down in Denny Bros Ltd, Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1935, for the Australian Steam Navigation Co Ltd, and requisitioned for ...
Australian Naval History on 30 January 1940
The troop convoy US1 reached Colombo. HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), joined the convoy as an escort, for part of the voyage. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 January 1940
The troop convoy US1, left Fremantle, escorted by HM Ships RAMILLES, (battleship), and KENT, (cruiser), and the French cruiser SUFFREN. Australia had refused a request to involve HMA Ships CANBERRA, ...
Australian Naval History on 19 January 1940
A rating in HMAS STUART, (destroyer), wrote: “I always count those early months in the Mediterranean before Italy came in as the worst period of the war. The Australian destroyers ...
Australian Naval History on 17 January 1940
HMAS Westralia commissioned after conversion to Armed Merchant Cruiser. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 January 1940
The auxiliary patrol vessel HMAS ST. GILES was commissioned. ST. GILES was built in 1919 at Ferguson Bros. Scotland. In 1922 ST. GILES was purchased by J. & A. Brown ...
Australian Naval History on 12 January 1940
The Australian tug HEROS, (escort vessel), was commissioned into the RAN. She was re-commissioned on 12 February 1943 as a naval salvage tug. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 January 1940
The first Australian and New Zealand troop convoy of the Second World War, US 1, sailed from Sydney for the Middle East. The escort consisted of HMA Ships CANBERRA and ...