On This Day

1960-1975 > Vietnam era

July 17, 1965

The Perth class, (Charles F Adams, DDG), guided missile destroyer HMAS PERTH, (CAPT I. H. Cartwright, RAN), was commissioned. PERTH was laid down in Defoe Shipbuilding Co, Bay City, Michigan, USA, on 21 September 1962, and launched on 26 September 1963. Lady Beale, (Wife of the Sir Harold Beale, Australian Ambassador to the USA), performed the launching ceremony.

June 8, 1965

HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport), arrived at Vung Tau, South Vietnam, on her first passage to the war zone.

May 27, 1965

With 347 officers and men of 1RAR embarked, as well as vehicles and stores, the fast troop transport, HMAS Sydney (III) departed Sydney for her first voyage to Vietnam, escorted by HMAS Duchess. The duo were later joined by HMA Ships Parramatta (III), Melbourne (II) and Vampire (II) and replenished by HMAS Supply en route

March 27, 1965

HMAS Melbourne participated in Exercise Showpiece off Malaysia with RN aircraft carriers HMS Eagle (R05), HMS Bulwark (R08) and HMS Victorious (R38). The exercise was a political one intended to reassure the recently-independent Malaysia of the continued support of the British and her Commonwealth allies in the region during the ongoing Borneo Conflict with communist-backed Indonesia.

March 24, 1965

During the Indonesian ‘Confrontation’ to detect Indonesian boats smuggling arms or infiltrating Malaysia Fairey Gannets flew night-time patrols along the Strait of Malacca from HMAS Melbourne. Returning after a night sortie A/SBLT(P) Hutchison touched down on HMAS Melbourne at 0431 in Fairey Gannet WN456. The aircraft caught an arrestor wire, but the arrestor-hook broke allowing the aircraft to race unrestrained along the flight deck. Despite heavy braking the aircraft crashed over the ship’s port side into the sea. Two of the crew were rescued but after a lengthy search A/SBLT(P) Hutchison was never found.

March 12, 1965

Gallantry awards were conferred on the following RAN personnel for their part in saving lives after HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), was sunk following a collision with HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier):GC (Posthumous) – CPO Jonathon Rogers, DSM Albert Medal – (Posthumous) – MIDN Francis Marien, RANAlbert Medal – EM 1st Class William Joseph CondonGM – PO Douglas Moore, BEMBEM – PO Geoffrey Percival WorthBEM – POEM Edward James McDermott BEM – LS Raymond Ernest RichBEM – LEM Brian Victor LongbottomBEM – LSBA John Ronnie WilsonBEM – AB Eric Noel RobsonQueens Commendation – EM Hugh Francis GilvarryQueens Commendation – EA 2nd Class Anthony Page

March 5, 1965

Bosun fibreglass sailing dinghies were introduced into the RAN as replacements for the 4.3 metre timber Island class dinghies.

March 2, 1965

HMAS SPRIGHTLY, (fleet tug), was taken in hand for conversion to a submarine rescue ship.

February 24, 1965

VADM Sir Alan McNicholl was appointed as Chief of Naval Staff.

February 8, 1965

HMAS Ibis and Teal return to Sydney after 17 months serving with the Far East Strategic Reserve as part of Australia’s commitment to Commonwealth support for Malaysia during the Indonesian Confrontation.

January 11, 1965

RADM T. K. Morrison, CBE, DSC, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet.

December 24, 1964

LEUT K. Murray, RAN, of HMAS TEAL, (minesweeper), was awarded the DSC for conspicuous service in Malaysian waters, during the Indonesian-Malayan confrontation.

December 13, 1964

HMAS TEAL, (minesweeper), intercepted two Indonesian sampans off Borneo. The sampans opened fire, and TEAL retaliated, killing three of the crew. LEUT K. Murray, RAN, TEAL’s captain, was awarded the DSC for gallantry in the action. This was the only gallantry award to an RAN officer in the Indonesian-Malaysian confrontation.

December 11, 1964

Commonwealth Navy Order 614 extended the maximum retirement age for RAN personnel to 57 years.

November 27, 1964

The Minister for the Navy, Mr. F. C. Chaney, announced plans to establish the RAN’s submarine base at Neutral Bay, Sydney. The base was commissioned HMAS PLATYPUS.

November 2, 1964

The RAN Nursing Service, (RANNS), which had been disbanded in 1948, was re-formed. Initially 21 registered nurses were commissioned, and they commenced duty at HMAS PENGUIN and HMAS CERBERUS. The RANNS continued as a separate service until amalgamated with the RAN in June 1985.

August 31, 1964

USN nuclear-powered ships ENTERPRISE, LONGBEACH, and BAINBRIDGE, visited Australia.

August 30, 1964

HMAS Ibis and Teal replaced HMAS Gull and Hawk as a part of the Far East Strategic Reserve as part of Australia’s commitment to Commonwealth support for Malaysia during the Indonesian Confrontation.

August 26, 1964

The Royal Commission’s report on the loss of HMAS VOYAGER, (Daring class destroyer), was tabled in Parliament.

June 26, 1964

HMAS Quiberon paid off to Reserve. Quiberon was sold on 15 February 1972 for breaking up to Fujita Salvage Company Limited of Osaka, Japan, for $68,260. On 10 April 1972 the Japanese tug Sumi Maru No 38 left Sydney for Japan with Quiberon and another former RAN vessel, Tobruk (I), in tow.

May 25, 1964

HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport), sailed from Sydney with troops and equipment for Malaya.

HMAS DERWENT, (destroyer escort), was the first Ship of the RAN to fire a guided missile when she launched a Seacat.

May 8, 1964

The Daring class destroyer, HMAS DUCHESS, (CAPT I. M. Burnside, RAN), was commissioned. DUCHESS, (as HMS DUCHESS), was laid down in John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd, Southampton, England, on 2 July 1948, and launched on 9 April 1951. DUCHESS served with the RN 1952-1964, and was made available to the RAN as a temporary replacement for HMAS VOYAGER.

May 1, 1964

The Minister for the Navy, Mr. F. C. Chaney, announced the dispatch of the HMA Ships HAWK and GULL, (minesweepers), to Singapore, for operations during the Indonesian-Malaysian confrontation.

April 30, 1964

The River class, (modified type 12 frigate), destroyer escort, HMAS DERWENT, was commissioned. DERWENT was laid down at Williamstown Naval Dockyard, VIC on 16 June 1959, and launched on 17 April 1961. Lady Burrel, (Wife of VADM Sir Henry Burrel, Chief of the Naval Staff), performed the launching ceremony.

April 25, 1964

The former Z Special Force vessel HMAS KRAIT, arrived in Sydney. She had been sold after the war, and was later found in Borneo employed as a timber carrying vessel. A campaign was started to bring her back to Australia, and she was subsequently bought by public subscription. She was operated by the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, (NSW Section), for many years but eventually found a home at the Australian National Maritime Museum in the late 1990’s.