On This Day
1942 > WW2
On This Day - 1942
- September 7, 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper HMAS ECHUCA, was commissioned. ECHUCA was laid down in Williamstown Naval Dockyard on 22 February 1941, and launched on 17 January 1942. Lady Royle.
HrMs Tromp and HMAS Adelaide departed Fremantle as escort for convoy US 17 that left Fremantle for Durban, South-Africa.
- September 6, 1942
HMAS ARUNTA escorted the freighter ANSHUN and the hospital ship MANUNDA into Milne Bay. ARUNTA departed the bay at 1500 to screen other ships, and that night a Japanese naval force sank the ANSHUN by gunfire, but left the hospital ship unharmed.
- September 1, 1942
Australian Coastwatchers LEUT A. F. Kyle, DSC, RANVR, and SBLT G. M. W. Benham, DSC, RANVR, were believed executed by the Japanese in New Ireland. The two officers had radioed shipping and aircraft movements, and arranged the evacuation of civilians from the enemy-occupied territory.
The amphibious training base HMAS ASSAULT, (CMDR F. H. Cook, DSC, RAN), was commissioned at Port Stephens, NSW. The base was used for the training of Australian and American forces in amphibious warfare.
- August 31, 1942
RADM G. C. Muirhead-Gould, Flag Officer-in-Charge, Sydney, presided over the Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser). Muirhead-Gould also served on the Boards which inquired into the loss of HMS ROYAL OAK, (battleship), at Scapa Flow, Scotland, and the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney.
- August 30, 1942
HMA Ships ARUNTA, MATEFELE, and POTRERO towed the torpedoed transport MALAITA to shallow water in Basilisk Passage.
- August 29, 1942
HMAS ARUNTA, (destroyer), sank the Japanese submarine RO33, off Port Moresby. CMDR J. C. Morrow, RAN, was awarded the DSC for the operation. He received the DSO, and was MID while commanding HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), in the Mediterranean.
- August 28, 1942
The auxiliary boom defence vessel HMAS KINCHELA, was commissioned. KINCHELA was laid down in 1914. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, The Macleay River Co-op SS Co Ltd, NSW, on 28 August 1942.
- August 25, 1942
HMA Ships AUSTRALIA and HOBART, (cruisers), were engaged in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons.
HMAS ARUNTA, (destroyer), was ordered out of Milne Bay prior to a Japanese attack.
- August 24, 1942
Australian Coastwatchers at Porlock, reported the 5th Sasebo Special Landing Force was moving along the coast in barges from Buna to Milne Bay.
- August 20, 1942
The Australian Naval Board convened a Board of Inquiry to investigate the loss of HMAS CANBERRA at Savo Island.