On This Day
1960-1975 > Vietnam era
On This Day - 1960-1975
- July 23, 1973
The bow and stern sections of the WWI torpedo boat destroyer HMAS PARRAMATTA, were salvaged from a mud bank on the Hawkesbury River, where she had foundered in 1934. The sections were transported by sea and land to the City of Parramatta for inclusion in a memorial to the ship.
The patrol boat HMAS ARDENT, (LEUT J. Riley, RAN), rescued the crew of the fishing trawler ALECIA, which foundered and sank off South Babel Island, VIC.
- July 20, 1973
The Australian Government decided to pay off HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport).
- June 28, 1973
The frigate HMNZS OTAGO, (CMDR Alan Tyrrell, RNZN), departed New Zealand for the French territory of Mururoa Atoll to protest against the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. OTAGO was re-fuelled en route by the RAN tanker HMAS SUPPLY. Despite the condemnation of much of the Western world, the nuclear tests took place on 21 July.
- June 25, 1973
HMAS Supply sailed from Sydney having received orders to support HMNZS Otago on a protest mission to observe French nuclear atmospheric tests taking place at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific. The two ships rendezvoused on 29 June when Otago was received alongside Supply for the first of several replenishment serials in connection with the operation. Later HMNZS Canterbury joined the protest action and she too was supported by Supply.
- June 15, 1973
The landing craft heavy HMAS TARAKAN, was commissioned. TARAKAN was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in December 1971, and launched on 16 March 1972.
- June 11, 1973
The first Hawker Siddeley 748 transport aircraft was delivered to the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm. The new aircraft replaced the Dakota transports in service since World War II.
- May 31, 1973
HMAS Teal paid off. Teal remained in the Reserve Fleet for several years before finally being sold in October 1977.
- May 3, 1973
The patrol boat HMAS ACUTE, (LCDR R. P. Rodriguez, RANR), apprehended and arrested two Taiwanese fishing boats which were poaching in Australian waters, near the Monte Bello Islands, WA.
- April 27, 1973
The hydrographic survey ship, (small), HMAS FLINDERS, (LCDR I. S. Pullar, RAN), was commissioned. FLINDERS was laid down in Williamstown Naval Dockyard, VIC, in February 1971, and launched on 29 July 1972. Mrs Malcom McKay, (Wife of the Minister for the Navy), performed the launching ceremony.
- March 30, 1973
HMAS PALUMA, (survey vessel), was paid off for disposal at Sydney. She was then sold to a Queensland based company who renamed her MATLOCK, and used her for hydrographic work, however, the vessel has since changed ownership a number of times.