The Australian Government purchased outright HMAS DUCHESS, (Daring class destroyer), from the British Admiralty. The purchase price was $ 150,000. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 July 1972
HMAS Duchess was at sea carrying out surface and anti-aircraft firings before joining Melbourne on rescue destroyer duties. At 12:35, during a surface firing run, a 4.5-inch round from ‘B’ ...
Australian Naval History on 6 July 1972
HMAS GASCOYNE, (frigate), left Melbourne under tow for breaking up in Japan. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 July 1972
The wreck of HMAS WARRNAMBOOL, (minesweeper), sunk by a mine in 1947 off the coast of Queensland, was sold to the Southern Cross Diving and Salvage Company. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 June 1972
Brothers, CAPT G. J. Willis, RAN, and CAPT A. A. Willis, RAN, were promoted to the rank of Commodore on the same day. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 June 1972
Chief Radio Supervisor B. W. Caulter, of HMAS OTWAY, (Oberon class submarine), was awarded the BEM, for devotion to duty over a period of five days, while OTWAY was involved ...
Australian Naval History on 26 May 1972
The following awards were made to the ships company of HMAS BRISBANE, (destroyer), for her service in Vietnamese waters:CBE: CAPT R. G. Loosli, RANMID: LCDR H. W. Thomsett, RANMID: Chief ...
Australian Naval History on 25 April 1972
The ‘Melbourne-Sydney Marathon’ took place as HMAS Melbourne travelled from Melbourne to Sydney. Ten members of Melbourne’s ship’s company embarked on a relay marathon from Melbourne to Sydney to raise ...
Australian Naval History on 19 April 1972
HMAS Stuart departed Sydney for deployment with the ANZUK Forces in the Far East, followed by a visit to Pearl Harbor in August/September 1972 for exercises with US, Canadian and ...
Australian Naval History on 10 April 1972
HMAS TOBRUK, (Battle class destroyer), was sold out of service for breaking up in Japan. The former destroyer TOBRUK, and frigate QUIBERON, left Sydney Harbour for the last time, under ...
Australian Naval History on 7 April 1972
HMAS Queenborough paid off having steamed some 443,236 miles in the RAN. On 8 April 1975 the ship was sold to Willtopp (Asia) Ltd through the firm’s Agents, Banks Bros ...
Australian Naval History on 15 March 1972
The supply ship HMAS JEPARIT, was paid off and returned to her owners, (Australian National Line). JEPARIT made a record 43 voyages to Vietnam, delivering stores and equipment to the ...
Australian Naval History on 14 March 1972
More than 2,900 RAN personnel served in the Vietnam War. Casualties were three officers and five ratings killed, and 15 wounded. The following awards were made:- CBE- 3; OBE- 1; ...
Australian Naval History on 12 March 1972
The fast troop transport HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT L.J. Merson, RAN), and the supply ship HMAS JEPARIT, (CMDR A.A.C. Philip, RANVR), returned to Sydney, thus completing the RAN’s involvement in the ...
Australian Naval History on 5 March 1972
HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport), answered a distress call from the 74,000 ton Italian bulk carrier IGARA, after it struck a reef and sank 60 miles east of Singapore. ...
Australian Naval History on 29 February 1972
HMAS SYDNEY (troop transport), sailed from Vung Tau, Vietnam, on her last troop carrying voyage. SYDNEY was the only ship of the RAN to wear both the British White Ensign ...
Australian Naval History on 15 February 1972
HMAS BARCOO, (River class frigate), was sold out of service for breaking up in Taiwan. HMA Ships QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH, (frigates), were sold to the Fujita Salvage Company of Japan ...
Australian Naval History on 24 January 1972
RADM H. D. Stevenson was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 January 1972
LEUT J. C. Buchanan, (RAN Helicopter Flight-Vietnam), was awarded the DFC for conspicuous gallantry while rescuing a disabled patrol boat which was drifting close to enemy positions near U Minh, ...
Australian Naval History on 4 January 1972
The following awards to the RAN Fleet Air Arm for service in Vietnam, were announced:-DSC LCDR W. P. JamesDFC LEUT B. G. AbrahamMBE LEUT G. P. AllenMID LEUT A. J. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 December 1971
The landing craft heavy HMAS BALIKPAPAN, was commissioned. BALIKPAPAN was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in May 1971, and launched on 15 August 1971. In Vung Tau HMAS ...
Australian Naval History on 1 December 1971
The Five Power Defence Agreement, (FPDA), was created with membership by Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. This alliance was created as a result of the withdrawal ...
Australian Naval History on 1 November 1971
Following the expiration of the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement, the Strategic Reserve was replaced by ANZUK, under the Five Power Defence Arrangement plans for the defence of Singapore and Malaysia. A ...
Australian Naval History on 15 October 1971
HMAS Brisbane arrived back in Sydney after having left the Vietnam gunline for the last time on 5 September marking the end of the RAN’s combat role in the Vietnam ...
Australian Naval History on 8 October 1971
HMA Submarine OTWAY, (LCDR T. Roach, RAN), with only two thirds of the crew aboard (44 men) rescued the crew of seven from a life raft, after the 101-year-old ketch ...