First Gannets delivered to RAN FAA after travelling from the UK to Australia on HMAS Melbourne II. They were offloaded at Jervis Bay by lighter ...
Australian Naval History on 24 April 1956
The aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE, (CAPT G. G. O. Gatacre, RAN), arrived at Fremantle on her maiden voyage to Australia. ...
Australian Naval History on 26 March 1956
The boom defence vessel HMAS KIMBLA, was commissioned. KIMBLA was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, on 4 November 1953, and launched on 23 March 1955. She was later ...
Australian Naval History on 12 March 1956
HMAS Melbourne sailed from Glasgow for Australia with 808 Squadron (Sea Venom all weather fighters) and 816 and 817 Squadrons (Gannet anti-submarine aircraft) embarked. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 March 1956
HMAS Melbourne arrived at Glasgow, Scotland where the two squadrons of Gannets (24 aircraft in all) were loaded on board (along with two squadrons of Sea Venoms and two Bristol ...
Australian Naval History on 27 February 1956
Sea Venoms where were formally accepted into RAN service. 808 Squadron had reformed in the United Kingdom on 23 August 1955 and was the first RAN Squadron to be equipped ...
Australian Naval History on 10 February 1956
HMAS Swan recommissioned for service as a Cadet Training Ship. She was reclassified as a frigate and also fitted to operate as a survey ship. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 January 1956
HMS NAPIER, (destroyer), formerly HMAS NAPIER, was paid off for disposal. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 January 1956
HMS NEPAL, formerly HMAS NEPAL, (destroyer), was paid off for disposal. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 December 1955
The first aircraft landed on HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier). It was a Westland Whirlwind helicopter. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 November 1955
HMS NIZAM, (destroyer, ex-HMAS NIZAM), was paid off for breaking up. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 October 1955
The aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE, (ex-HMS MAJESTIC,), was commissioned. MAJESTIC was laid down in Vickers Armstrong Yard, Barrow in Furness, England, on 15 April 1943, and launched on 28 February ...
Australian Naval History on 23 September 1955
HMAS QUICKMATCH was re-commissioned as an anti-submarine Frigate ...
Australian Naval History on 30 August 1955
LEUT J. R. Bluett and LEUT P. McNay, (of 805 Squadron, RAN Fleet Air Arm), shot down a pilotless Auster aircraft, three miles to seaward off Sydney. The aircraft took ...
Australian Naval History on 23 August 1955
808 Squadron recommissioned at the Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton in the south of England. Then equipped with de Havilland Sea Venoms, the Squadron participated in the RAN’s new ...
Australian Naval History on 15 August 1955
816 squadron recommissioned at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, England equipped with Fairey Gannet AS1s anti-submarine aircraft. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 June 1955
724 Squadron commissioned into the RAN at NAS Nowra as a fixed-wing conversion training unit with a variety of aircraft. (Was previously a RN Sqdn number). ...
Australian Naval History on 23 May 1955
HMA Ships ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA, (destroyers), were despatched to Singapore, on the first permanent deployment of naval forces in South-East Asia. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 May 1955
The last flying operations took place from HMAS SYDNEY, while she served as a frontline aircraft carrier. The ship was then converted to a training ship, and by the mid ...
Australian Naval History on 27 April 1955
Both 816 and 817 Squadron was decommissioned at Nowra as the Firefly was phased out of service and replaced by the Fairey Gannet ...
Australian Naval History on 25 April 1955
HMAS VENGEANCE, (aircraft carrier), was returned to the RN after service in the RAN. She was later sold to Brazil, and renamed MINAS GERIAS. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 April 1955
The Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, announced the decision to commit Australian forces to the Far East Strategic Reserve, (FESR), in Malaya. The Navy’s contribution was to include two frigates or ...
Australian Naval History on 26 March 1955
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (heavy cruiser), departed Sydney under tow of the Dutch tug RODE ZEE, for breaking up at the yard which built her at Barrow-in-Furness, U.K. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 February 1955
VADM Sir Roy Dowling was appointed as Chief of Naval Staff. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 February 1955
The Naval Health Benefits Society, (NHBS) was formed to provide private health insurance for the families of serving members, and ex RAN personnel. ...