Japanese bombers attacked HMAS COOTAMUNDRA, (corvette), and the merchant ship MACUMBA, off Thursday Island. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 August 1943
The GC was awarded to LEUT Hugh Randall Syme, GM and Bar, RANVR, for conspicuous bravery in bomb and mine disposal. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 August 1943
HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), underwent temporary repairs at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Four of HOBART’S officers, and nine other ranks, were killed. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 July 1943
The Brisbane based USS GUARDFISH, (submarine), landed a survey party in Japanese occupied territory on the west coast of Bougainville. The Fremantle based USS GRAYLING, (submarine), landed a ton of ...
Australian Naval History on 25 July 1943
HMA Ships GAWLER, IPSWICH, LISMORE, and MARYBOROUGH, were on anti submarine patrol off Syracuse, Sicily, when the Luftwaffe attacked the city, shipping in the harbour, and the anti-submarine patrol. IPSWICH ...
Australian Naval History on 24 July 1943
The seine trawler June commissioned in the RAN as HMAS June. She was renamed HMAS Winter in October 1943 to avoid confusion with the minesweeper HMAS Junee HMAS HAWKESBURY was ...
Australian Naval History on 24 July 1943
HMAS HAWKESBURY, (frigate), was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 July 1943
HMAS HOBART was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-G011, while steaming to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. The torpedo struck aft on the port side causing considerable damage in ...
Australian Naval History on 13 July 1943
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), was the only Australian ship engaged in the second battle of Kolombangara, Solomon Islands. HMA Ships GERALDTON, CAIRNS, CESSNOCK, and WOLLONGONG, (minesweepers), patrolled off the beaches of ...
Australian Naval History on 12 July 1943
HMAS STRAHAN, (minesweeper), was launched at Newcastle, NSW. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 July 1943
The invasion of Sicily, (Operation Husky), began. Among the escort ships for the troop convoys were HMA Ships CAIRNS, CESSNOCK, GAWLER, GERALDTON, IPSWICH, LISMORE, MARYBOROUGH, and WOLLONGONG, (corvettes). Over the ...
Australian Naval History on 9 July 1943
HMAS GAWLER, (minesweeper), escorting a convoy for the invasion of Sicily, (Operation Husky), dropped back to investigate a transport which had fallen behind. GAWLER signalled ‘Follow father’. At first light ...
Australian Naval History on 6 July 1943
Coastwatchers LEUT H. Josselyn, RANVR, and SBLT R. Firth, RANVR, rescued 165 survivors of the USS HELENA, (cruiser), sunk off Vella Lavella Island by Japanese destroyers, in a night engagement. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 July 1943
The following message was delivered to Coastwatcher LEUT P. Mason, RANVR, in Bougainville: ‘My dear Ansacs. We all admire your bravery. You have done your best for Great Britain. You ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1943
HMAS HARMAN, (shore establishment in Canberra), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1943
Coastwatcher LEUT F. A. Rhoades, RANVR, landed with the first echelon of assault troops at Rendova, Solomon Islands, and led the initial attack on Japanese positions. Rhoades killed seven of ...
Australian Naval History on 26 June 1943
The training submarine K9, was commissioned. K9 was laid down in K. M. de Shelde, Flushing, Holland, in 1922. She served with the Royal Netherlands Navy until 31 May 1942, ...
Australian Naval History on 25 June 1943
The cruiser HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (CAPT J. A. Collins, CB, RAN), was commissioned. SHROPSHIRE was laid down in Wm Beardmore & Co Ltd, Dalmuir, Scotland, on 24 February 1926, and launched ...
Australian Naval History on 22 June 1943
HMA submarine K9 was commissioned for anti-submarine training. As KIX she had been a unit of the Netherlands Navy. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1943
HMAS IPSWICH, (minesweeper), contributed one officer and ten ratings to the guard of honour to welcome HRH King George VI, at Tripoli. The Brisbane based USS GATO, (submarine), sank the ...
Australian Naval History on 17 June 1943
HMA Ships GAWLER and LISMORE, (minesweepers) and two motor minesweepers, picked up 1353 survivors from the troop ship YOMA, sunk by a German submarine off Derna, Libya. Operation Lilliput ended. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 June 1943
The Japanese submarine I-174 torpedoed the merchant vessel PORTMAR, and the landing ship LST 469, off Smoky Cape, NSW. PORTMAR sank, but LST 469 was towed to Byron Bay, NSW, ...
Australian Naval History on 12 June 1943
The minesweeper HMAS DUBBO, (LEUT N. G. Weber, RANR(S)), picked up survivors from HMAS WALLAROO, sunk in a collision west of Fremantle WA. Three of WALLAROO’s complement were lost in ...
Australian Naval History on 11 June 1943
HMAS WALLAROO, (minesweeper), sank in a collision with the American merchant ship HENRY GILBERT COSTIN, 60 miles west of Fremantle, WA. 3 ratings lost their lives. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1943
The landing ship infantry HMAS WESTRALIA, (CMDR A. V. Knight, RANR), was re-commissioned. WESTRALIA was first commissioned into the RAN on 17 January 1940. ...