On This Day

1942 > WW2

November 4, 1942

The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS GYMPIE, (LCDR C. W. J. Patterson, RANR), was commissioned. GYMPIE was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, on 27 August 1941, and launched on 30 January 1942.

The survey vessel HMAS PALUMA, (LEUT I. Champion, RANVR), surveyed Japanese-held Oro Bay, New Guinea, and buoyed the channels. LEUT Champion distinguished himself in coastwatching operations in this area.

November 3, 1942

LEUT John Stuart Mould, GM, RANVR, was awarded the GC for outstanding courage and devotion to duty in the rendering safe of new types of enemy mines.

November 1, 1942

HMAS QUIBERON, (destroyer), was part of Force ‘Q’ which destroyed an Italian supply convoy.

HMAS QUICKMATCH, (destroyer), was involved in the destruction of the Italian ship CORTELLAZZO off Capr Finisterre.

October 30, 1942

The sloop HMAS WARREGO, (LCDR A. D. C. Inglis, RAN), surveyed the passage from Milne Bay to Cape Nelson, New Guinea, for the amphibious assault on Buna by Australian and American troops.

October 28, 1942

Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, was acquired by the Commonwealth of Australia.

October 23, 1942

LEUT P. G. Evatt, DSC, RANVR, in HMS UNITED, (submarine), participated in wolf-pack attacks on Axis ships running supplies to Rommel’s Africa Korps. The operations of British submarines spelt disaster to the Germans at the Battle of El Alamein.

October 22, 1942

ining. The surveying vessel HMAS STELLA, (LEUT J. J. Cody, RAN), was commissioned. STELLA, (as WAREEN), was laid down in Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, in 1938. She was requisitioned for the RAN on 1 October 1942.

October 21, 1942

The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS KAPUNDA, was commissioned. KAPUNDA was laid down in Poole & Steel Ltd, Sydney, on 27 August 1941, and launched on 23 June 1943.

The minesweeper HMAS LAUNCESTON, (LCDR P. G. Collins, RANR), rescued 64 of the crew of the merchant ship MARIABAN, which was sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Northern Indian Ocean on 13 October.

 

October 20, 1942

HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), were fired at by the STEPHEN A DOUGLAS, (ammunition carrier). NIZAM and FOXHOUND were rendezvousing with the ammunition carrier to escort her into Cape Town, and were mistaken for German submarines.

October 15, 1942

The war diary of HMS CARADOC, (cruiser), reported on the shortage of meat. ‘Some meatless days are inevitable in the Persian Gulf. On one or two occasions HMS ALAUNIA was able to come to our rescue. Once, a bullock, slaughtered on board by an RANVR officer in the absence of a butcher, provided a supply of meat and a good profit to the Crown’.

October 13, 1942

HMAS LAUNCESTON, (minesweeper), rescued 61 of the crew of the merchant vessel MARTABAN, which was torpedoed south of Ceylon.

 

October 12, 1942

The RAN Nursing Service was established. Twelve nursing sisters were appointed at both Sydney and Melbourne.

October 10, 1942

The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS PIRIE, (LCDR C. F. Mills, RAN), was commissioned. PIRIE was laid down in Broken Hill Pty Co’s Yard, Whyalla, SA, on 19 May 1941, and launched on 3 December 1941. Mrs R. T. Kleeman performed the launching ceremony.

HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), attacked the German submarine U 159 on the surface, 150 miles south- east of Cape Town. The submarine dived and escaped.

October 9, 1942

HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), picked up survivors from the Dutch ship GAASTERKERK, torpedoed off Cape Town by German submarines.

October 8, 1942

Coastwatcher LEUT R. Woodroffe, RANR, was believed executed by the Japanese on Amir Island.

HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), picked up survivors from the Greek ship KOUMOUNDOUROS, torpedoed off Cape Town.

October 7, 1942

The first Australian-built Fairmile motor launch, ML 813, was launched at Lars Halvorsen Yard, Sydney.

 

October 5, 1942

The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS MARY CAM, was commissioned. MARY CAM, (as JOHN FISSER), was laid down in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1918. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, Cam & Sons Pty Ltd, Sydney, (who renamed her MARY CAM), on 5 October 1942.

October 3, 1942

RAN rates of pay were increased. They were:- Able Seaman, 8s 6d per day;Chief Petty Officer, 12s 6d per day; Midshipman, 7s 6d per day; Sub-Lieutenant, 12s 6d per day; Lieutenant £1 per day; Lieutenant Commander, £1 11s 6d per day; Commander, £2 1s 6d per day; Captain, £3 1s 6d per day; Rear Admiral, £5 1s 6d per day.

October 1, 1942

Foundation date of WRANS. First 14 girls were sworn into the Navy as enlisted personnel with enlisted status.

RANNS established with 23 qualified nursing sisters in RAN hospitals and Miss Annie Ina Laidlaw was appointed superintending sister, with the equivalent rank of lieutenant commander.

September 30, 1942

A Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMAS CANBERRA delivered its report to the Australian Government. It found CANBERRA was not in a state of readiness when attacked by Japanese ADML Chokai’s cruisers. HMS QUICKMATCH was completed at J. Samuel White’s Yard, UK. QUICKMATCH was transferred to the RAN in 1945.

September 29, 1942

HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), and aircraft, participating in Operation Stream-Line-Jane, intercepted the Vichy French ship AMIRAL PIERRE, off Lourenco Marques The vessel was scuttled on 30 September.

September 28, 1942

Coastwatcher LEUT W.J. Read, RANVR, signalled from Buka Passage:- “A ship, which may be a cruiser and probably another, entered Kessa 1 pm, believe from the north. Heavy destroyer and light cruiser, derrick on stern, just entered Buka Passage. Unusual air activity today, nine fighters landed drome. Believe about 20 fighters and bombers now here. First mentioned ship now leaving Kessa, believe may come this way”.

The anti-submarine escort vessel HMAS ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN, (LEUT A.I. Chapman, RANR), was commissioned. ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN was laid down in Werf Gusto, Schiedam, Holland, for the Royal Netherlands Navy, and launched on 22 September 1936, completed in 1937. She had escaped to Australia and arrived at Fremantle on 20 March 1942. She was the last vessel to successfully escape from Java

September 27, 1942

HMA Ships WARRNAMBOOL, and KALGOORLIE, (corvettes), arrived back in Darwin, NT, after rescuing the ship’s company of HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), from Betano Bay. Some were wounded, but not a man was lost.

September 24, 1942

HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), captured the French Vichy vessel MARECHAL GALLIENI in the Mozambique Channel. LEUT V. Cohen, RANVR, sailed the ship as a prize to Durban.

September 23, 1942

HMAS STUART re-embarked the Australian 2/10th Battalion, and eight Japanese POWs, from Normanby Island. The prisoners were survivors of the Japanese destroyer YAYOI, sunk off the island by American bombers on 11 September.

The destroyer HMAS VOYAGER, (LCDR R. C. Robison, RAN), ran aground at Betano Bay, Timor, while attempting the relief of the Australian Commandos of Sparrow Force. Despite attempts to free VOYAGER, Robison found the pounding sea had built up a sand bar between the vessel and open water, and she could not be freed without assistance, which was not available. The next day demolition charges were placed under her keel and exploded to prevent her falling into enemy hands.