FOR COUNTLESS GENERATIONS seamen have navigated by the stars. But it was a ‘Message from the Clouds’ that held the key to the rescue of several hundred servicemen after a ...
Naval history
Kimbla – Alias ‘The Snail’
HMAS KIMBLA was laid down in 1953 and was launched by Mrs. J.W.N. Bull, wife of Captain John Bull who, at the time, was General Overseer Eastern Area. Kimbla’s launch ...
The War Cruises of I27 – Part 2
The War Cruises of I27 – Part 1
HMAS Platypus in Darwin during blitz 19 February 1942
HMAS PLATYPUS was built in England during WWI as a Submarine Tender to the ’J’ class Submarines and as such she had workshops, oil stowage and storage for torpedoes. Platypus ...
British Gunboats on the Yangtze
The following article is taken from the June and March issues of Yangtze and Sikiang Patroller, journal of the United States Yangtze River Patrol Association. A number of RAN officers ...
Naval Chapel Windows for Cruisers Unveiled
Turkish Treatment of British Naval Prisoners
The Silent Service of HMAS Bingera
IT IS A PLEASURE to present a pictorial profile of a ship that served the Royal Australian Navy in comparative obscurity. HMAS Bingera, according to the official histories, never fired ...
Richelieu – The Ship That Never Fought
Prisoner of War Rescues
Ruby Boye – Coastwatcher Heroine
The RAN in the Black Sea
IN 1918 the Allies had cast their lot with the White Russians in the savage civil war which was raging in Russia. They offered to give support to any state ...
HMAS Manoora Enters the Pacific War
Extracts from the War Diary of former member, the late A.K. Chatto HMAS MANOORA sailed from Sydney at 1800 Saturday, November 22 1941. After clearing the swept channel we took ...
Book Review: Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945
Title: Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945 Author: Ross Gillett This book is published by Doubleday Australia with a suggested retail price of $35.00. It is the latest published book ...
Memories of HMS Renown
I actually joined the ship at the age of 16 years, as a boy rating. My early experience with the RENOWN was during the 1914-18 war. Much of our time ...
Letters – Recollections of HMAS Adelaide
The current “Review” asks for any information relating to the original HMAS ADELAIDE which may be useful in compiling a book of facts to be presented to the present day ...
Letter – Bustler and Kangaroo
Recently while cruising the Parramatta River, a detour into Homebush Bay proved quite interesting. I had intended to photograph the tug “Bustler” which lies derelict there. Alongside Bustler is what ...
The Ketty Brovig and Coburg Sinking 1941
HMAS Moresby, Survey Ship
HMS SILVIO was one of four World War I Royal Navy Minesweepers converted to Survey Ships in 1922-25. Sister ships were Iroquois, Ormonde and Herald. In 1925 Silvio was lent ...
Man O’War Steps Restored – 1973
After over a century of use by members of both the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, the Man O’War Steps at Farm Cove were restored and extended early ...
The Queen’s Hard Bargain
IN THE ROYAL NAVY at the turn of the century playing cards were not permitted in naval ships and establishments. However, when Winston Churchill became First Sea Lord the rule ...
Queer Jobs
The Old Fou Fou Band
No self respecting warship in the World War I era was without its Fou Fou Band. Originality was the keynote of a successful Fou Fou Band and from this photograph of ...
Holland 1 – Royal Navy’s First Submarine Salvaged
The following report on the salvage and restoration of Britain s first submarine, Holland 1, appeared in the January issue of the Royal Navy’s ‘Navy News’. HOLLAND 1, the Royal ...