On This Day

1960-1975 > Vietnam era

September 12, 1962

HMA Ships HAWKESBURY and MURCHISON, (frigates), left Sydney under tow for breaking up in Japan.

September 11, 1962

The Bird, (ex-RN Ton), class minesweeper HMAS SNIPE, (LEUT P. H. James, RAN), was commissioned. SNIPE, (as HMS ALCASTON), was laid down in John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd, Southampton, England, in July 1951, and launched on 5 January 1953.

September 7, 1962

HMAS Tide Austral was renamed HMAS Supply. The name Supply was selected to commemorate the ship of the same name that accompanied the First Fleet to Sydney in 1788.

The Bird, (ex-RN Ton), class minesweeper HMAS IBIS, (LCDR M.B. Rayment, RAN), was commissioned. IBIS, (as HMS SINGLETON), was laid down in Montrose Shipyard Ltd, Scotland, in October 1953, and launched on 18 November 1955.

September 6, 1962

The first flight of an RAN Wessex was by LCDR John Salthouse and took place in Yeovil, England (near the Westland Factory)

 

 

September 4, 1962

First Wessex helicopter delivered to the RAN FAA

August 30, 1962

The Bird, (ex-RN Ton), class minesweeper HMAS TEAL, (LCDR J. G. Stacey, RAN), was commissioned. TEAL, (as HMS JACKTON), was laid down in Philip & Son Ltd, Dartmouth, England, in January 1953, and launched on 28 February 1955. She was purchased for the RAN in 1962.

August 23, 1962

HMAS SWAN, (sloop), was paid off for disposal in Sydney.

August 17, 1962

HMAS SHOALHAVEN, (frigate), left Sydney under tow for Japan.

August 15, 1962

HMAS Tide Austral commissioned at Southampton. She was built for the RAN but loaned to the UK and served as RFA Tide Australia from completion in 1955 to 1962 when the RAN decided that it did not need an oiler in service. In 1962 the RAN decided to commission her into the RAN. She was renamed HMAS Supply in Sept 1962.

August 12, 1962

The Bird, (ex-RN Ton), class minesweeper HMAS CURLEW, (LEUT B. J. G. Dunn, RAN), was commissioned. CURLEW was laid down in Montrose Shipyard Ltd, Scotland, in April 1953, and launched on 6 October 1953. She was purchased for the RAN IN 1962.

July 19, 1962

The Bird, (ex-RN Ton), class minesweeper HMAS GULL, (LEUT A. L. Beaumont, RAN), was commissioned. GULL, (as HMS SWANSTON), was laid down in J. S. Doig Ltd, Grimsby, England, in August 1953, and launched on 1 July 1954. In 1962 she was purchased for the RAN.

July 18, 1962

The Bird, (ex-RN Ton), class minesweeper HMAS HAWK, (CMDR D. A. Ross, RAN), was commissioned. HAWK, (as HMS GAMSTON, renamed SOMERLEYTON), was laid down in Richards Ironworks Ltd, Lowestoft, England, in June 1953, and launched on 17 September 1955. She was purchased for the RAN in 1962.

July 12, 1962

The first Japanese warships to visit Australia since WWII, arrived at Sydney. The Squadron comprised of Japanese Ships TERUZUKI, ARIAKE, YUGURE, and HARUSAMU, (destroyers).

July 5, 1962

HMAS MACQUARIE, (frigate), was sold out of service for breaking up in Japan.

June 8, 1962

HMAS Koompartoo was sold.

April 20, 1962

HMAS Parramatta joined her sister ship Yarra deploying to the Far East where the two ships relieved HMA Ships Quickmatch and Vampire in the Britsh Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. During that deployment Parramatta’s crew took part in the SEATO exercise SEA DEVIL before visiting Japan in company with other RAN vessels.

March 7, 1962

HMAS SYDNEY was commissioned as a fast troop transport under CAPT R. I. Peek, OBE, DSC, RAN.

March 3, 1962

The former cruiser HMAS HOBART departed Sydney under tow for breaking up in Japan.

February 24, 1962

VADM Sir Wilfred Hastings Harrington, DSO, CBE, KBE, was appointed as Chief of Naval Staff.

February 1, 1962

HMAS COOTAMUNDRA, (minesweeper), was sold out of service for breaking up.

January 15, 1962

Divers discovered the wreck of MV FAIR WIND at the entrance to the Macleay River, NSW. The vessel was under charter to the RAN for surveying in New Guinea waters and vanished without trace in 1950 while on passage from Port Moresby to Sydney.

January 8, 1962

RADM A. W. R. McNicoll, CBE, GM, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet.

December 1, 1961

RAN Clearance Divers operating from HMAS KIMBLA, and the diving tender WALRUS, salvaged vital parts of a Viscount civil airliner, which had crashed with the loss of 15 lives into Botany Bay, NSW.

September 10, 1961

The K13 Memorial Park was dedicated at Carlingford, in northern Sydney. The memorial was the idea of ex-Leading Telegraphist Charles Freestone, who had served in the ill fated HMS K13, which had sunk with heavy loss of life in January 1917. He later emigrated to Australia, and became a wealthy businessman. Freestone died in 1958 before the memorial was completed, but his widow ensured that it was finished. Although dedicated to the submarine K 13, the memorial has become the place of remembrance for all Commonwealth officers and sailors who have lost their lives while serving in submarines. A memorial service, by the Australian Submarine Squadron, is held there every year on 11 November.

July 27, 1961

The River class destroyer escort, (ex-type 12 frigate), HMAS YARRA, (CMDR J. L. W. Merson, RAN), was commissioned. YARRA was laid down in Williamstown Dockyard, VIC on 9 April 1957, and launched on 30 June 1958. Lady McBride, (Wife of Sir Philip McBride, Minister for Defence), performed the launching ceremony.