- Author
- A.N. Other and NHSA Webmaster
- Subjects
- History - general, Ship histories and stories
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 1991 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
b. commissioned shore establishments (normally only having `inherited’ honours but HMAS WATERHEN’s award of VIETNAM 1967-71 for CDT3s service is a special case),
c. naval air squadrons, and
d. Royal Australian Fleet Auxiliaries.
List of Approved Battle Honours
A list of approved battle honours is maintained by the Ships’ Names, Badges and Honours Committee and will be promulgated from time to time.
Display of Battle Honours
Battle honours awarded to ships, submarines and establishments are to be mounted on a Battle Honour Board and displayed in a suitable position. The Honour Boards of Fleet Air Arm squadrons afloat should flank that of the aircraft carrier in which they are embarked and those of land based squadrons should be mounted near the quarterdeck to facilitate constant surveillance.
BATTLE HONOURS APPROVED FOR USE IN THE RAN FROM WORLD WAR II ONWARDS
Area Battle Honours for World War II awarded by the Admiralty ((MOD)N)
| BATTLE HONOUR | LIMITS OF AREA. SHIPS, ETC – ELIGIBILITY |
| ATLANTIC 1939-45 | The North Atlantic, from the Equator to the Arctic Circle.All ships and submarines which were employed as escorts to ocean convoys in the North Atlantic and also those ships of support groups which took part in a successful action. |
| BISCAY 1940-45 | Between the latitudes of Ushant and Cape Ortegal from 12°W to the coasts of France. Ships and submarines which were employed on patrol duty in the area and took part in a successful action. The interception and sinking of enemy blockade runners is not a qualification for the award. |
| NORTH SEA 1939-45 | The North Sea and all waters to the eastward between Southend and the Shetland Islands except coastal waters of Norway.All ships which were employed as escorts to coastal convoys on the east coast of the United Kingdom. Also ships and submarines which were employed on patrol duty in the area and took part in a successful action. |
| ENGLISH CHANNEL 1939-45 | The English Channel and all waters on the south coast between Southend and Bristol, the western limit being a line drawn from Ushant to the Scilly Islands and thence to the north coast of Cornwall.All ships which were employed as escorts to Channel and coastal convoys and also other ships and submarines which took part in a successful action in the area. Successes achieved in connection with Operation Neptune are recognized by NORMANDY. |
| NORWAY 1940-45 | The coastal waters of Norway as far north as the latitude of Tromso.All ships and submarines which were engaged in the Norway operations from 8 April to 8 June 1940 and also those which took part in a successful action in these waters at later dates. Recognition of Fleet Air Arm attacks, such as those on TIRPITZ, is normally restricted to the carriers and squadrons concerned; the covering escorts on those occasions are not eligible for the award. |
| ARCTIC 1941-45 | Within the Arctic Circle except for the coastal waters of Norway southward of Tromso. All ships, including the covering forces, which were employed as escorts to, or in support of, the convoys running to and from North Russia; also those ships and submarines which operated in the area and took part in a successful action. |
| MEDITERRANEAN 1940-45 | The whole of the Mediterranean, the western limit being a line joining Cape Spartel and Cape Trafalgar.All ships and submarines which took part in successful actions that are not covered by any of the named battle honours for the area. That is to say, the destruction of an enemy ship or submarine which was effected during and in connection with a recognised campaign, eg SICILY 1943, is regarded as an incidental item of the campaign and not a qualifying for a separate battle honour award. If however, the success was unconnected with any named operation for which a battle honour is granted, then it will qualify for the general award of MEDITERRANEAN with the year date(s). Minor bombardments will also qualify for this award. |
| MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42 | The Mediterranean, as above.All ships and submarines which are mentioned in the published dispatches as having taken part in Operations Excess, Substance, Halberd, Harpoon and Pedestal; also those which took part in Operations MF3, MF4, MG 1 and the supply of aircraft and stores to Malta. |
| LIBYA 1940-42 | Inshore, between Port Said and Benghazi.All ships and vessels of the Inshore Squadron (formerly Force W), but excluding the heavier covering forces, which were employed in maintaining Tobruk and other places on the coast and generally in supporting the Army in the Western Desert. Fleet Air Arm squadrons, both carrier borne and shore based, are also eligible. |
| AEGEAN 1943-44 | All waters of the Aegean Archipelago between 35°-42°N and 22°-30°E.Ships and vessels which were engaged with the enemy in the area between 7 September and 28 November 1943 and also during 1944. |
| ADRIATIC 1944 | All waters in the Adriatic northward of 40°N. |
| MALAYA 1942-45 | Malacca Strait and waters adjacent to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra between 7°N-7°S and 95°-108°E. Ships and submarines which took part in a successful action in the area. |
| OKINAWA 1945 | The Far East.All ships and submarines which are mentioned in the published dispatch as having taken part in Operation Iceberg. |
| JAPAN 1945 | The mainland of Japan.Fleet carriers and their aircraft which took part in the final attacks on Japanese warships and shore positions. |