HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), on the Libyan coast, sank the Italian supply schooner TIREREMO DIRRITO, west of Bardia. From a prisoner the destroyer learnt the schooner was carrying the garrison’s Christmas ...
Australian Naval History on 24 December 1940
HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), relieved HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), in the Mediterranean Fleet. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 December 1940
HMAS NAPIER, (destroyer), blew off her own galley funnel in sub-calibre shoots in Scapa Flow. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 December 1940
HMAS ORARA, (auxiliary minesweeper), signalled HMAS SWAN, (sloop), on observing her coloured minesweeping lights burning too brightly on her stern:- ‘May I hang my stocking on your Christmas tree?’ SWAN ...
Australian Naval History on 21 December 1940
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), sustained damage when bombed in dry dock at Liverpool, England. A 1588 kg aerial torpedo fell between the ship and the dockside, but failed to explode. ...
Australian Naval History on 19 December 1940
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), was commissioned under LCDR M. J. Clark, RAN, at Clydebank, Scotland. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 December 1940
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS GUNBAR, was commissioned. GUNBAR was laid down in Ardrossan, Scotland, in 1911. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the North Coast Steam Navigation ...
Australian Naval History on 17 December 1940
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN), sailed from Suda Bay to join the fleet in the Adriatic Sea. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 December 1940
HMA Ships VOYAGER and VENDETTA, (destroyers), supported HMS TERROR, (monitor), in the bombardment of Bardia, Libya. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 December 1940
CAPT H. L. Waller, RAN, in HMAS STUART, (destroyer), was appointed Senior Naval Officer Afloat to command the Inshore Squadron comprising HMA Ships VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, and WATERHEN, (destroyers), HMS ...
Australian Naval History on 11 December 1940
An Australian National Security Regulation was issued, making the fitting of minesweeping paravanes compulsory on all Australian ships over 800 tons. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 December 1940
HMAS BALLARAT, (minesweeper), was launched at Williamstown Dockyard, VIC. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 December 1940
HMAS BATHURST, (minesweeper), was commissioned under LEUT A. V. Bunyan, RANR(S), at Sydney. BATHURST was the first of 60 vessels of this class built in Australia for the RAN, RN, ...
Australian Naval History on 3 December 1940
The Australian Naval Board asked the British Admiralty to redeploy Australian ships in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, to counter the operations of German raiders. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 November 1940
HMAS ARUNTA, (Tribal class destroyer), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 November 1940
The N class destroyer HMAS NAPIER, (CAPT S. H. T. Arliss, RN, CAPT(D), 7th flotilla), was commissioned. NAPIER was laid down in Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering co Ltd, Govan, Scotland, ...
Australian Naval History on 22 November 1940
HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), picked up three boatloads of survivors from the merchant ship PORT BRISBANE, in the Indian Ocean. PORT BRISBANE was sunk by the German raider PINGUIN. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 November 1940
HMAS GOORANGAI, (auxiliary minesweeper), was sunk in a collision with the liner DUNTROON, in Port Phillip Bay, VIC. The full complement of 24 from GOORANGAI were lost. This was the ...
Australian Naval History on 16 November 1940
HMAS GOULBURN, (minesweeper), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. Collins, RAN), took part in troop transport operations to Greece. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 November 1940
The following awards were made to the crew of HMAS STUART for the sinking of the Italian submarine GONDAR:- DSO: LEUT N. J. M. Teacher, RN; DSC: LEUT J. G. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 November 1940
The auxiliary patrol vessel HMAS VIGILANT, was commissioned. VIGILANT was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, and launched on 12 February 1938. She was renamed SLEUTH in April 1944, ...
Australian Naval History on 11 November 1940
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. Collins, RAN), joined in a raid into the Straight of Otranto, with HM Ships ORION and AJAX, (cruisers), NUBIAN and MOWHAWK, (destroyers), as a ...
Australian Naval History on 9 November 1940
HMAS ORARA, (minesweeper), picked up three boatloads of survivors from the mined merchant ship CAMBRIDGE, off Wilsons Promontory, VIC. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 November 1940
HMA Ships SYDNEY, (cruiser), VAMPIRE and WATERHEN, (destroyers), landed troops and stores at Suda Bay, Crete. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 November 1940
HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), and HMS AJAX, landed troops and equipment at Suda Bay, Crete. ...