On This Day
1914-1918 > WW1
On This Day - 1914-1918
- April 7, 1917
LEUT R. A. Little, an Australian serving with the RNAS, outfought and out-manoeuvred 11 German Albatross ID aircraft in a dogfight over France. Little was flying a Sopwith tri-plane. German ace, Baron von Richtofen, who witnessed the combat, urged Fokkers to produce a similar tri-plane.
- April 2, 1917
A Sopwith Baby seaplane was embarked in HMAS BRISBANE, (cruiser), at Colombo, to hunt down the German raider WOLF. BRISBANE was the first ship of the RAN to carry an aircraft operationally.
The Australian-born CAPT J. S. Dumaresq, RN, took command of HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser). CAPT J. Glossop, CB, RN, who had commanded SYDNEY when she sank the German cruiser SMS EMDEN in 1914, returned to Australia to take command of the RAN base at Garden Island.
- March 27, 1917
The RANBT was disbanded. The men serving in this unit either transferred to the 1st AIF, RAN, RN, or returned to Australia for discharge.
- March 7, 1917
The Australian Naval Board informed the Admiralty that “a small minesweeping flotilla is being trained at Sydney and Melbourne”. The vessels were requisitioned tugs and trawlers manned by the Australian Naval Brigade. The minesweepers were not commissioned.
- March 5, 1917
HMAS SLEUTH, (armed yacht), joined the Torres Strait Patrol. The Australian Naval Board feared German raiders would mine the straits.
- February 21, 1917
HM Submarine J7, later HMA Submarine J7, was launched at Devonport, England.
- February 18, 1917
The Australian transport BERRIMA, formerly HMAS BERRIMA, (armed merchant cruiser), was torpedoed by a German submarine in the English Channel.
- February 17, 1917
SBLT R. S. Dallas, an Australian serving with the RNAS, shot down a German Aviatik aircraft over France. Dallas was flying a Sopwith triplane.
- February 12, 1917
On 12 February 1917 HMAT Afric was sunk in the English Channel after being torpedoed by the German submarine SM UC-66, whilst sailing outbound between Liverpool and Plymouth, 12 miles (19 km) south south-west of the Eddystone Lighthouse, there were 145 survivors, but 22 people lost their lives.
The wreck lies at the position (49°59′N 04°18′W) at a depth of around 70 metres (229.7 feet), and has been filmed by divers
- February 1, 1917
The German Government ordered unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied shipping.
SBLT R. S. Dallas, an Australian serving with the RNAS, shot down a German Aviatik aircraft over France. Dallas was flying a Sopwith triplane.