On This Day
1942 > WW2
On This Day - 1942
- July 6, 1942
HMAS QUIBERON was commissioned at Cowes, Isle of Wight.
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS MERCEDES, was commissioned. MERCEDES, (as HMS MEDUSA), was laid down in Taikoo Dockyard, Singapore, in 1913.
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS MEDEA, was commissioned. MEDEA, (as HMS CIRCE), was laid down in Taikoo Dockyard, Singapore, in 1912.- July 2, 1942
HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA, and HOBART, joined the Allied Fleet for Operation Watchtower, the invasion of the Solomon Islands.
- July 1, 1942
The unmarked POW transport MONTEVIDEO MARU, was torpedoed and sunk by USS STURGEON, (submarine), off Luzon, Philippines. Onboard were 1035 Australian POW’s, including 835 men from the 2/22 Infantry Battalion, who had been captured at Rabaul, New Britain, in March 1942. Not a single POW survived the sinking, and this became Australia’s worst loss of life at sea. Two Navy personnel, (SBLT E. H. F. Mitchell, RANVR, and CPO Signals Yeoman S. Lamont), were among those who perished.
- June 30, 1942
From the outbreak of WWII, to 30 June 1942, Australian naval dockyards fitted 288 merchant ships with defensive armament, 275 with para-vane mine protection gear, and degaussed 296 vessels. In addition, refits, repairs, and conversions were carried out on naval vessels.
The auxiliary boom defence vessel HMAS KURAMIA, was commissioned. KURAMIA was laid down as a steam passenger ferry in 1914, for Sydney Ferries Ltd. She was requisitioned for the RAN on 20 February 1942.
- June 29, 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS IPSWICH, (LCDR J.S. McBryde, RANR) was commissioned. IPSWICH was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, on 6 March 1941, and launched on 11 August 1941.
CDRE G.D. Moore, RAN, was appointed Second Naval Member of the Australian Naval Board.
HMAS BUNGAREE, the RAN’s only minelayer, laid more than 3190 mines in her first year of service.
- June 26, 1942
LCDR G. M. Haynes, RAN, commanded No. 828 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, in attacks on Axis shipping in the Mediterranean. He was awarded the DSO for conspicuous gallantry in leading reinforcement flights of aircraft from Egypt to Malta.
- June 23, 1942
HMAS BANGALOW, (survey tender), was commissioned. The vessel was also employed as minesweeper, and a troop transport, in forward areas.
HMAS KAPUNDA, (minesweeper), was launched at Poole & Steel, Sydney.
- June 22, 1942
RADM Muirhead Gould, reported that four Japanese midget submarines had entered Sydney Harbour on the night of 31 May-1 June. Examination of enemy records after the war, showed that only three midget submarines were launched in the attack.
- June 19, 1942
HMAS LATROBE, (minesweeper), was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney.
- June 17, 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS CASTLEMAINE, (LCDR P. J. Sullivan, RANR(S)), was commissioned. CASTLEMAINE was laid down in Williamstown Dockyard, Melbourne, on 17 February 1941, and launched on 7 August 1941. Mrs R. G. Menzies, (Wife of the Prime Minister), performed the launching ceremony.