The Australian Government announced it intended to purchase the aircraft carrier HMS INVINCIBLE as a replacement for HMAS MELBOURNE. The carrier was to be renamed HMAS AUSTRALIA. However, as a ...
Australian Naval History on 8 February 1982
Britain’s First Sea Lord, ADML Sir Henry Leach, made a four day official visit to Australia and conferred with cabinet on the possible purchase of HMS INVINCIBLE as a replacement ...
Australian Naval History on 25 January 1982
HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), was severely damaged in a $4 million fire while fitting out at Seattle, USA. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 December 1981
Cadet AB Kenneth Dax died onboard HMAS TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy), from a hydrogen-sulphide gas leak from the ships sewage tank. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 November 1981
The Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS WOLLONGONG, was commissioned. WOLLONGONG was decommissioned on 11 February 2006 after 24 years of service. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 October 1981
HMAS Barricade was transferred to the Indonesian Navy after having spent her last 6 months in the RAN with the Fremantle Port Division. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 September 1981
CAPT Morton Moyes, OBE, RAN, the last survivor of Mawson’s Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914, died in Sydney. Moyes was the first Instructor Officer to be promoted to Captain in the ...
Australian Naval History on 18 July 1981
The Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS TOWNSVILLE was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1981
HMAS MELBOURNE and HMAS TORRENS rescued a group of 99 Vietnamese refugees from dilapidated vessels in the South China Sea. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 April 1981
The landing ship heavy HMAS TOBRUK, was commissioned at Newcastle NSW. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 March 1981
The FFG-7, (Adelaide), class guided missile frigate HMAS CANBERRA, (CMDR B. Wilson, RAN), was commissioned in Seattle, USA. CANBERRA was laid down in Todd Shipyard, Seattle, USA, and launched on ...
Australian Naval History on 14 March 1981
HMAS WARRNAMBOOL, (Fremantle class patrol boat), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 January 1981
HMAS ADELAIDE, (guided missile frigate), ran aground off Puget Sound, USA and sustained serious underwater damage. In the subsequent court martial the Commanding Officer of ADELAIDE was found guilty of ...
Australian Naval History on 28 November 1980
The Defence Department invited tenders for the construction of two prototypes of an Australian designed mine hunter catamaran to replace the Ton class mine hunters. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 November 1980
CDRE E. E. Johnson, OBE, RAN, was appointed Administrator of the Northern Territory. CDRE Johnson was honoured for his services in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 November 1980
The guided missile frigate HMAS ADELAIDE, (CMDR G. R. Lamperd, RAN), was commissioned. ADELAIDE was laid down in Seattle, USA, and launched on 21 June 1978. Mrs Elizabeth Synnot, (Wife ...
Australian Naval History on 28 October 1980
HMAS COOK, (oceanographic ship), was commissioned at Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, under CMDR I. Pullar, RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 October 1980
HMAS WARRNAMBOOL, the second of fifteen Fremantle class patrol boats ordered for the RAN, was launched at Cairns, QLD. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 October 1980
The Russian Ship, STOROZHEVOY, (guided missile frigate), shadowed HMA Ships MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and PERTH, (guided missile destroyer), in the Indian Ocean. A Tracker SE2 aircraft from MELBOURNE also sighted ...
Australian Naval History on 21 October 1980
HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), lost her second Skyhawk fighter-bomber on her deployment in the Indian Ocean. The first was lost in the Andaman Sea on 2 October. Both pilots were ...
Australian Naval History on 26 September 1980
RADM D. W. Leach, Chief of Naval Personnel, announced that it took:- 4 years and cost $6,300, to train a Leading Seaman Quarter Master Gunner; 6 years and $60,000 a ...
Australian Naval History on 8 September 1980
An Australian Squadron, consisting of HMA Ships MELBOURNE, PERTH, DERWENT, STALWART, and SUPPLY, and HMAS OTAMA, (Oberon class submarine), was deployed in the Indian Ocean on an extended flag-showing cruise ...
Australian Naval History on 27 August 1980
HMAS FREMANTLE, the first of 14 Fremantle class patrol boats ordered for the RAN, arrived in Sydney at the end of her 14,509 mile maiden voyage. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 August 1980
The keel of HMAS SUCCESS, a 17,000 ton replenishment vessel for the RAN, was laid by the Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, at Cockatoo Island Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 July 1980
The destroyer escort HMAS YARRA, (CMDR P. A. Knife, RAN), represented Australia at the New Hebrides Independence Celebrations at Vila. ...