On This Day
1944 > WW2
On This Day - 1944
- August 9, 1944
HM Ships LOCH KILLIN, (LCDR Stanley Darling, RANR), and WREN, sank the German submarine U608, eight hours after it was damaged in an attack by a Liberator bomber.
- August 6, 1944
The frigate HMS LOCH KILLIN, (LCDR. S. Darling, RANVR), depth-charged the German submarine U736, off the French coast. The U-boat was blown to the surface and jammed across LOCH KILLIN’S stern. The submarine’s crew stepped onto LOCH KILLIN’S, deck to be taken prisoner. U736 was freed, and sunk by HMS STARLING, (sloop).
- August 3, 1944
HMAS BARWON, (frigate), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
- July 31, 1944
The frigate HMS LOCH KILLIN, (LCDR Stanley Darling, RANVR), sank the German submarine U333 off the French coast. U333 was the first submarine destroyed by the Squid anti-submarine weapon.
- July 30, 1944
The last known use of a Seagull V (Walrus) by the RAN when one attached to the sloop HMAS Warrego, for air sea rescue and reconnaissance duties in northern New Guinea waters, was damaged on take-off. Warrego was too small a vessel to operate a catapult so the aircraft remained alongside the vessel and logistics support provided by Warrego. The aircraft was craned on board the sloop for return to Australia for repair. It was unloaded at Bowen, Queensland in late October 1944
- July 27, 1944
HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), fired on a launch loaded with Japanese troops off Mios Wundi Island, New Guinea. The launch was destroyed.
- July 23, 1944
HMAS KANIMBLA, (landing ship infantry), ran aground at Cretin Harbour, New Guinea. The ship was freed by the salvage tug CALEDONIAN SALVOR.
- July 21, 1944
The British Government offered an aircraft carrier and two cruisers to the RAN. The carrier was of the Colossus class, and the cruisers of the Tiger class. The offer was not accepted on the grounds of inability to man the vessels.
- July 16, 1944
HMAS STUART, (destroyer), stood by the American merchant ship F. P. BLAIR, grounded on Saumarez Reef, until a tug arrived from Brisbane to tow the ship free.
- July 14, 1944
TF74, HMA Ships AUSTRALIA and SHROPSHIRE, (cruisers), ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA, (destroyers), and US Ships AMMEN and BACHE, continued close gun support on the American perimeter at Aitape, New Guinea. An American ground force report later confirmed the effectiveness of the support, which caused a Japanese force of more than 500 to retire, leaving many dead.