On This Day
1946-1959 > Post WW2
On This Day - 1946-1959
- September 30, 1951
The frigate HMAS MURCHISON, (LCDR A. N. Dollard, RAN), engaged North Korean guns and small arms in a close-range encounter on the Han River, Korea. MURCHISON suffered three wounded. For conspicuous gallantry in the action the following awards were made:-DSC LCDR A. N. Dollard; DSC LEUT M. Kelly, RAN.
- September 28, 1951
The frigate HMAS MURCHISON, (LCDR A. N. Dollard, RAN), penetrated the Han River, Korea, and came under heavy Communist gunfire. MURCHISON withdrew after suffering light damage.
HMAS Labuan paid off to reserve and was sold for disposal on 9 November 1955. The landing ship was heavily damaged during the 1951 visit to Heard Island. Labuan attempted to sail home, but broke down completely en route. The vessel had to be towed back to Fremantle, arriving on 1 March
- September 12, 1951
HMAS Anzac (II) proceeded to Wonsan, eastern Korea, where she assumed the duties of Commander Task Element 95.22, the other vessels of the group being US Ships Thompson and Naifeh. Duties of the group were ‘blockade of the east coast of Korea from a point 23 miles south of Songjin to latitude 41°50’N’, being some 34 miles south of the Korean/Siberian border. Operations with TE 95.22 continued until 26 September, when after firing her one thousandth round of 4.5-inch ammunition against the enemy, Anzac (II) parted company for Kure, ending her first tour of duty in the Korean theatre.
- September 6, 1951
HMAS ANZAC, (Battle class destroyer), fired her guns in war for the first time when she engaged enemy targets at Haelu, in western Korea.
- August 31, 1951
HMAS Sydney with HMAS Tobruk in company as her escort departed Sydney for Korea and arrived in Japan on 19 September 1951. Squadrons embarked were 805 (Sea Furies), 808 (Sea Furies) and 817 (Fireflies).
- August 16, 1951
The tug HMAS EMU (LCDR J. Toulouse, RANVR), ferried ashore 575 troops from the New Zealand ship WAHINE, wrecked on Masela Island, near Darwin, NT.
- August 1, 1951
HMAS BATAAN, (Battle class destroyer), fought a gun duel with enemy batteries on the west coast of Korea.
- July 24, 1951
HMAS Murchison was in action off the coast of Korea, destroying Chinese vehicles while on a coastal patrol. Murchison remained on patrol until 4 August bombarding shore installations, troop concentrations, gun emplacements and store dumps firing some 1,100 rounds of 4-inch ammunition.
- May 29, 1951
HMAS Bataan sailed from Hong Kong for home after eleven months service with the United Nations in Korean waters. Bataan was en route to Japan for her sixth post-war tour of duty with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force when the Korean War began on 25 June 1950.
- April 9, 1951
HMS DUCHESS, (Daring class destroyer), was launched at Thorneycroft’s Yard, England. DUCHESS was loaned to the RAN to replace HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), which had been sunk in 1964 during a collision with HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier). She was purchased outright by the RAN in 1972, but was paid off in 1977.