VADM Sir John Collins, KBE, CB, RAN, (Retired), died in Sydney. His naval career stretched from 1913 to 1955, and he was the first RANC graduate to reach the position ...
Australian Naval History on 19 August 1989
A multi-million dollar contract for the building of ten Anzac class frigates was awarded to Australian Marine Engineering Consolidated Ltd., of Melbourne. The new ships, eight for the RAN and ...
Australian Naval History on 27 July 1989
A Wessex helicopter crashed on the flight deck of HMAS SUCCESS, (CAPT G. V. Sloper, RAN), while the tanker was on passage to Darwin. No personnel were injured, but the ...
Australian Naval History on 23 June 1989
CDRE M. Taylor, RAN, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station, HMAS ALBATROSS, Nowra, NSW, and LEUT K. Champion, flew the RAN’s last UH 1B Iroquois helicopter flight. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 June 1989
The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Hawke, cancelled the goodwill visit of HMAS PARRAMATTA to Shanghai, as a protest against the Tiananmin Square massacre. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1989
After 25 years of service the RAN’s Iroquois were decommissioned ...
Australian Naval History on 5 May 1989
HMAS MELBOURNE III was launched by Mrs Hazel Hawke, the wife of the Australian Prime Minister. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 April 1989
The Governor General and Commander in Chief, the Honourable Bill Hayden, AC, presented the new Queen’s Colour to the Australian Fleet at the Fleet Base, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 April 1989
HMAS Whyalla II grounded off Hamilton Island prior to the start of the island’s annual yacht racing carnival, necessitating a two week stay in dockyard hands to repair both propellers. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 February 1989
The survey motor launch HMAS PALUMA, was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 February 1989
The Premier of WA, Mr. Peter Dowding, officially opened the ship-lift facility at Jervoise Bay. This site became the RAN’s repair base in the west. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 February 1989
The Lee Enfield .303 rifle completed a century of service. It was last used in the RAN on an official occasion at the Anzac Day Ceremony in Canberra in 1985. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 January 1989
Mr. Kim Beazley, Minister for Defence, announced the basing of patrol boats at a forward base at Port Hedland, WA. This never actually occurred and within ten years all patrol ...
Australian Naval History on 3 January 1989
The RAN won the Australian Tasar Sailing Championship held at Port Stephens. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 December 1988
Three RAN cooks were part of the Australian Defence Force, (ADF), team to compete in the Culinary Olympics held in Frankfurt, West Germany. They were: PO Cook Murray McAuliffe, PO ...
Australian Naval History on 21 November 1988
Principal Anglican Naval Chaplain John Jones, retired after 22 years service in the RAN, to become Rector of Sydney’s historic St. Philip’s Church. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 November 1988
RAN Spokesman, CDRE Tim Cox, denied a naval vessel had been involved in the running down and sinking of the 50 ton steel yacht PATANELA. The only naval unit to ...
Australian Naval History on 3 November 1988
The $4.4 million Shark Point degaussing range at Sydney was officially accepted by the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 October 1988
HRH, the Duke of Edinburgh, unveiled the HMAS PARRAMATTA Memorial at the northern extremity of Garden Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 October 1988
The International Bicentennial Fleet, with over 50 warships from 16 nations moored in Sydney Harbour, was reviewed by the Duke and Duchess of York, embarked in HMAS COOK, (oceanographic research ...
Australian Naval History on 27 September 1988
HMS ARK ROYAL, (aircraft carrier), arrived at Sydney to participate in the Bicentennial Celebrations. ...
Australian Naval History on 26 September 1988
One of the largest fleets to operate in Australian waters, more than thirty warships, led by the USS New Jersey, (battleship), made a ceremonial entry into Sydney Harbour. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 September 1988
The first National Submarine Reunion was held at HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine base), Sydney ...
Australian Naval History on 21 September 1988
The Australian Submarine Museum was opened at HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine base),in Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 July 1988
RADM Peter Sinclair directed the Combined Exercise Agreement Force of RIMPAC 88, from Pearl Harbour. The force was composed of 45 ships, 200 aircraft and 50,000 sailors, airmen and marines. ...