On This Day
1941 > WW2
On This Day - 1941
- August 30, 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS BALLARAT, (LCDR A. D. Barling, RANR(S)), was commissioned. BALLARAT was laid down in Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, on 17 April 1940, and launched on 10 December 1940. Mrs Dunstan, (Wife of the Premier of Victoria), performed the launching ceremony.
- August 29, 1941
The following gallantry awards were made to personell of HMAS YARRA for her action in the Persian Gulf:- DSO: LCDR W. H. Harrington, RAN; DSM: PO N. Fraser, DSM: PO Steward R. J. Hoskins DSM: PO Stoker D. D. Neal.
- August 27, 1941
HMAS YARRA, (sloop), towed the abandoned and burning Italian merchant ship HILDA, from Bandar Abbas to Chahbar Bay, Persia, where she was taken over by a tug.
- August 25, 1941
The sloop HMAS YARRA, (CMDR W. H. Harrington, RAN), sank the Persian sloop BABR at Khorramshahr. YARRA attacked under the cover of darkness, and illuminated the enemy vessel at her berth. YARRA’S guns pounded the BABR at point-blank range until she sank. While this operation was in progress HMS KANIMBLA, (an Australian manned armed merchant cruiser), attacked the port of Bandar Shapur, seizing the port installations and enemy shipping in the anchorage. During this latter action, PO J. T. Humphries, RAN, KANIMBLA’S diver, was sent aboard the burning German merchant ship HOHENFELS. The ship’s sea-cocks had been opened, and the vessel was rapidly filling. PO Humphries dived in the flooded engine room, and in complete darkness found and closed the cocks, saving the ship from sinking. PO Humphries was awarded the George Medal in February 1942, for his outstanding gallantry.
- August 23, 1941
C-in-C Mediterranean, ADML A. B. Cunningham, signalled the Australian Naval Board:- ‘It is with great regret that we part with HMAS STUART from the Mediterranean Station. Under the distinguished command of CAPT Waller, she has an unsurpassed record of gallant achievement. She has taken a leading part in all the principal operations of the Mediterranean Fleet and has never been called upon in vain for any difficult job’.
- August 22, 1941
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS BIRCHGROVE PARK, was commissioned. BIRCHGROVE PARK was laid down in 1930. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, R. W. Miller & Co Pty Ltd, on 9 May 1941.
HMAS Stuart with her port engine out of commission sailed from the Mediterranean for Australia. Steaming on one engine she reached Fremantle on 16 September and Melbourne on 27 September where a long refit was begun which kept her in dockyard hands until April 1942.
- August 21, 1941
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), was damaged by near-misses from German bombers east of Tobruk. NIZAM was taken in tow by HMS KINGSTON, but after self-repairs NIZAM returned to port under her own steam.
- August 16, 1941
HMAS KARANGI, (boom defence vessel), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
- August 13, 1941
HMAS COLAC, (minesweeper), was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney. COLAC was the longest surviving vessel of her class. Employed as a tank-cleaning vessel at Garden Island until 1983, she was sunk as a target on 4 March 1987.
- August 11, 1941
HMAS IPSWICH, (minesweeper), was launched at Evans Deakin, QLD.