On This Day
1960-1975 > Vietnam era
On This Day - 1960-1975
- 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.