• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

  • Events
  • Account
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Show Search
  • 0 items
Hide Search
Menu
  • Home
  • Research
    • Where to start
      • Research – We can help!
      • Self help
      • Naval Service Records
      • Library
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Resources
      • Articles
      • Videos
      • On This Day
      • Podcasts
      • Australian Military Ship Losses
      • RAN events on a  Google Earth Map
      • RAN Vessels – Where are they now?
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Other
      • Newsletters: Call The Hands
      • Occasional Papers and Historical Booklets
      • Books
      • HMAS Shropshire
      • Book reviews
    • Close
  • Naval Heritage Sites
    • World Heritage Listings
      • Cockatoo Island
    • National Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
      • HMVS Cerberus
    • Commonwealth Heritage Listings
      • Garden Island NSW
      • HMAS Watson
      • HMAS Penguin
      • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
      • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
      • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
      • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
      • HMAS Cerberus
      • Naval Offices QLD
      • Garden Island WA
      • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
      • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
    • NSW Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Rushcutter
    • Close
  • Naval Art
  • Tours & Cruises
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, East
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, West
    • Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack
    • Tour Bookings
    • Close
  • About us
    • About Us
      • What we do
      • Our People
      • Office Bearers
      • Become a volunteer
      • Our Goals and Strategy
    • Organisation
      • Victoria Chapter
      • WA Chapter
      • ACT Chapter
    • Close
  • Membership
  • Shop
  • Become a volunteer
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Archives for Navies / Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

Occasional Paper 191: Aviation in the Royal Australian Navy, the first 65 Years, 1917 to 1982

Editorial Staff · Mar 1, 2025 ·

Sopwith Pup from HMAS Sydney with HMAS Melbourne in the background

The following story is based on a Royal Australian Navy News story first published on Friday 23 April 1982, page 4. Australian Naval aviation this month celebrated the 65th anniversary ...

Naval Art: Well Worth the Visit

David Michael · Dec 12, 2024 ·

This story was first published in the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) Volunteers’ quarterly magazine,  ‘All Hands’, Issue 129 in December 2024. The author, Geoff Barnes is a volunteer with ...

History of Australian Defence Landing Craft and the Balikpapan Class Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) 1971 – 2014

David Michael · Dec 12, 2024 ·

This Historical Booklet (Monograph 200) by Bjarne Kristensen was published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia in December 2024. This paper discusses the history of Australian Defence Amphibious vessels ...

Australian Submarines in the Cold War — A force Multiplier in the West

Dr Tom Lewis OAM · Dec 3, 2024 ·

This Historical Booklet (Monograph 199) by Dr Tom Lewis was published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia in September 2024. This paper discusses the role of the Royal Australian ...

Occasional Paper 188: Highlights of RAN History: Two Busy Decades 1950 to 1970

A.N. Other · Nov 12, 2024 ·

RAN Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) HMA Ships Hobart, Peth and Brisbane. RAN image

The following is adapted from the Royal Australian Navy News, 17 April 1970 edition, page 4. 1950 to 1960 From1950 onwards the post-war tempo Naval growth quickened. The outbreak of ...

Occasional Paper 183: The RAN Bridging Train – Dry Land Sailors

David Michael · Apr 4, 2024 ·

The Bridging Train which existed as a small but highly effective unit of the RAN operated essentially on dry land as field engineers between 1915 and 1917. They served with ...

Occasional Paper 175: Which Fairmile is that?

Lewis, Tom, AOM, Lieutenant RAN · Dec 4, 2023 ·

by Dr Tom Lewis The wreck of the Ataluma is a sight unknown to the many visitors to Darwin’s popular East Point.  This is not surprising, for the wreck of ...

Book Review: “Safe to Dive – Submarine Support in Sydney 1914 to 1999”

A.N. Other · Sep 27, 2023 ·

“Safe to Dive – Submarine Support in Sydney 1914 to 1999” by John Jeremy was published by The Naval Historical Society of Australia in 2023, under licence agreement with the ...

Getting in and out of the Naval College

Editorial Staff · Sep 5, 2023 ·

The June 2023 edition of this magazine contained an article Tristan da Cunha and a Tribute to John Smith, providing a shortened version of the remarkable life story of Commander ...

Inside ‘Nuke School’, the elite US Training Ground preparing Australian Submariners for an AUKUS Future

Editorial Staff · Sep 5, 2023 ·

The following article has been taken from an ABC News summary of 8 July 2023.  In America’s deep south, a group of students has just completed one of the most ...

Occasional Paper 169: HMAS Vendetta and Commander Eric Eugene Johnston RAN; Vietnam Deployment 1969 – 1970

A.N. Other · Sep 1, 2023 ·

By  Bjarne (Barney) Kristensen The 18 August 2023 marked fifty years since the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam (The Vietnam War) with commemorations conducted throughout Australia. In this paper I ...

Occasional Paper 168: The Royal Australian Navy in the Pacific War: 1943

Editorial Staff · Jul 31, 2023 ·

Eighty years ago, in 1943 the tide of the war in the Pacific was at last turning for the better. After four long years of war and significant RAN ship ...

The Rapid Wartime Growth in Royal Australian Navy Shore Establishments

Editorial Staff · Jun 30, 2023 ·

On Monday, 17 September 1945, the Cairns Post newspaper featured a lengthy coverage of the RAN’s shore establishments. This illuminating summary is reproduced below. How many of us can now ...

Health Support for Naval Operations: Not just Treatment Services

A.N. Other · Jun 20, 2023 ·

By Commander Neil Westphalen, RAN Let us assume it’s 0915 on a Monday and you are the CPOCSM for a major fleet unit that is due to sail at 1000. ...

The Frigates that ‘did nothing in particular, and did it very well’ – with apologies to W.S. Gilbert.

A.N. Other · Jun 3, 2023 ·

By John Ingram Fifty years ago, the Whitlam Labor government cancelled the troubled Light Destroyer (DDL) project and set in place the acquisition of six patrol frigates of the Oliver ...

The Maritime Strategic Fleet Taskforce and its Implications for the RAN

Editorial Staff · Jun 3, 2023 ·

The findings of a Maritime Strategic Fleet Taskforce may have a considerable bearing on the future of the impoverished Australian maritime industry and be of great benefit. As this may ...

Occasional Paper 159: River Class Torpedo Boat Destroyers

Tim Lyon · Apr 4, 2023 ·

This article was originally published in LE GROGNARD!, the newsletter of the ACT Branch of the Military Historical Society of Australia, January 2023 edition – Issue #2023/1. Tim Lyon is ...

Book Review: The Scrap Iron Flotilla

Book reviewer · Mar 8, 2023 ·

The Scrap Iron Flotilla by Mike Carlton. William Heinemann Australia. Paperback of 448 pages. rrp $34.99 On Sunday September 3rd 1939, history was tumbling over itself. In the mess decks ...

Royal Australian Navy: Fleet Reviews over the Years

Haken, J.K., Dr · Mar 8, 2023 ·

By Dr J.K. Haken A Fleet Review is a British tradition where the monarch inspects the massed ships of the navy. It originally occurred when the fleet was mobilised for ...

Occasional Paper 151: The Christmas Books

Editorial Staff · Dec 1, 2022 ·

By Geoff Barnes This story first appeared in ‘All Hands’, the quarterly volunteers’ journal at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Our thanks to the ANMM Volunteers for allowing us to ...

Occasional Paper 146: Early Naval Training

Gillett, Ross · Oct 1, 2022 ·

HMAS Tingira, Physical Training Class, Naval Heritage Collection image #7988

On Wednesday, 1 October 1913 the Sydney Mail newspaper featured the following detailed report on early naval recruiting and training. Just three days later, on 4 October, Sydney Harbour would ...

FLYING STATIONS II, The Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm 1998-2022: Book Review

David Michael · Sep 25, 2022 ·

Edited by Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods OAM RAN Published by the RAN Fleet Air Arm in conjunction with Avonmore Books, Kent Town, South Australia 5071 ISBN 978-0-6452469-5-7 Reviewed by David ...

Corvette Memorial Booklet – A Tribute to Those Who Served

Dave Lardner · Jul 25, 2022 ·

The Corvettes of the Royal Australian Navy were built in Australia and crewed by Australians. These ships served with distinction in all theatres of World War 2. This booklet is ...

Australian White Ensign Replacement Service, St Johns Church, Birchgrove, 19 June 2022

David Michael · Jul 5, 2022 ·

On Sunday 19 June 2022 a ceremony to present and dedicate a new White Ensign at St Johns Church in Birchgrove, NSW, was conducted to replace one originally presented to ...

Occasional Paper 141 : The tradition of Colours and Sunset

David Stratton · Jun 29, 2022 ·

This short account of the May 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea focuses on the strategically significant outcomes of the battle and how they related to the future of World War 2 and Australians in particular. ...

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 7
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

Latest Podcasts

  • The Fall of Singapore
  • HMAS Armidale
  • Napoleon, the Royal Navy and Me
  • The Case of the Unknown Sailor
  • Night of the midget subs — Sydney under attack

Links to other podcasts

Australian Naval History Podcasts
This podcast series examines Australia’s Naval history, featuring a variety of naval history experts from the Naval Studies Group and elsewhere.
Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society and the RAN Seapower Centre

Life on the Line Podcasts
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories.
These recordings can be accessed through Apple iTunes or for Android users, Stitcher.

Video Links

  • Australian War Memorial YouTube channel
  • Royal Australian Navy YouTube Channel
  • Research – We can help!
  • Naval Heritage Sites
  • Explore Naval Art
  • Dockyard Heritage Tour
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2025

Notifications