On This Day

1976-1999 > Post Vietnam

April 5, 1987

An RAN survey team led by LCDR. D. Bryce, RAN, returned from the Australian Antarctic Territory with data which enabled charts held by the Hydrographic Branch to be corrected and updated. The team travelled in the Antarctic supply ship ICE BIRD.

March 4, 1987

HMAS OVENS, (Oberon class submarine), sank the stripped hulk of the navy tank cleaning vessel, ex-HMAS COLAC, off Sydney, with a Mk.48 torpedo.

February 16, 1987

The Minister for Defence, Mr. Kim Beazley, announced the Government plan for a two ocean navy. Half of the RAN would ultimately be based at HMAS STIRLING, WA.

January 6, 1987

RADM Peter Sinclair relieved RADM Ian Knox as RAN Fleet Commander.

December 5, 1986

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, approved the posthumous award of the Australian Bravery Medal to AB. Michael George Oliver, RAN for bravery during a gas alarm in HMAS STALWART, on 22 October, 1985.

December 1, 1986

The Bay class mine hunter HMAS RUSHCUTTER, (LCDR G. Mapson, RAN), was commissioned. RUSHCUTTER was laid down in Carrington Shipyards, Newcastle, NSW, and launched on 3 May 1986. Lady Bennet, (Wife of the Chief of the Defence Force, General Sir Phillip Bennet), performed the launching ceremony.

November 23, 1986

The memorial to HMAS PARRAMATTA, (sloop),which was sunk in 1941, was relocated to the Queens Wharf Reserve in Parramatta. The original memorial had been set up in June 1973 at the Parramatta Bowling Club, but had to be relocated due to the demise of the club.

November 11, 1986

The Shore Establishment HMAS LEEUWIN, (Fremantle, WA), was decommissioned. The base had begun life as a drill hall in Croke Lane, Fremantle, in 1926, and was commissioned on 1 August 1940. LEEUWIN moved to nearby Preston Point in 1942. Following the end of WWII, the base became a training depot for reserves and national servicemen. In 1960 it became the Junior Recruit Training Establishment; a task it carried out for the next 24 years, producing over 12,000 sailors for service in the RAN. The base is now known as Leeuwin Barracks, and provides support for a number of Tri Service units in the Fremantle area

November 1, 1986

The mine hunter inshore HMAS RUSHCUTTER, (LCDR G. Mapson, RAN), was commissioned at Sydney. Her sister-ship HMAS SHOALWATER, was commissioned a year later. A plan to bring into service six of the class was envisaged, (others to be named WESTERNPORT, DISCOVERY, ESPERANCE, and MELVILLE), however this never eventuated.

October 24, 1986

The Royal Australian Navy opened its 75th Year Anniversary celebrations with a ceremonial fleet entry into Sydney Harbour. A giant White Ensign towed by a Sea King helicopter led the entry.

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Editors Note:

This event was previously recorded as having occurred on 26 January 1986. This was incorrect.
We thank Mr Leo Van Milet for bringing this to our attention.

October 5, 1986

Garden Island Naval Museum was officially opened by ADML Sir Victor Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC.

September 15, 1986

The first Cabinet Meeting of the Australian Government held at sea was convened by the Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Hawke, in the flagship of the RAN, HMAS STALWART.

August 14, 1986

The helicopter from HMAS Moresby II while approaching the ship after assisting with the calibration of hydrographic equipment at Gibson Point in the Admiralty Gulf, Western Australia lost power at a height of some 30 metres and crashed into the sea. The three-person crew escaped uninjured, and the aircraft was recovered, with the exception of its rotor and transmission, by Moresby’s SMBs and crane. A replacement aircraft was embarked the following month

August 13, 1986

HMAS VAMPIRE, (destroyer), decommissioned at Garden Island, Sydney, for disposal.

July 15, 1986

Sea King Mk50 903 made an emergency Landing in the sea off Kiama during Anti Submarine exercise with HMAS Adelaide when transmission oil lost. Capsized in the moderate sea. HMAS Adelaide attempted salvage struck the floating fuselage and the aircraft sank

May 26, 1986

HMA Ships STALWART, FLINDERS, BETANO, and BRUNEI, assisted by men from RAN Clearance Diving Team 2, were involved in providing equipment and support to the people of the Solomon Islands, in the wake of Cyclone Nama.

May 23, 1986

HMA Ships STALWART, FLINDERS, BRUNEI, and BETANO, were dispatched to the Solomon Islands to render assistance, following a cyclone in the area.

April 23, 1986

The auxiliary oiler replenishment ship HMAS SUCCESS, (CAPT J. G. Longden, RAN), was commissioned. SUCCESS was laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, and launched on 3 March 1984. Lady Helen Stephen, (Wife of the Governor General), performed the launching ceremony. SUCCESS was the last RAN ship to be built in Cockatoo Island Dockyard.

March 17, 1986

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, unveiled the National Naval Memorial at Canberra.

March 7, 1986

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II presented new Royal Colours to the RAN at a ceremony held at HMAS CRESWELL.

February 4, 1986

HMA Ships IPSWICH, DUBBO, CAIRNS, and BENDIGO, (patrol boats), assessed the damage and rendered assistance to civil authorities in Northern Australia in the wake of Cyclone Winifred.

January 28, 1986

HMA Ships HOBART, SYDNEY, PARRAMATTA, DERWENT, and VAMPIRE, and aircraft of No.817 Squadron were dispatched to search for an F111 bomber which crashed into the sea off Bateman’s Bay, NSW.

January 24, 1986

Editors Note:

This event was incorrectly tagged as have occurred on 24 January 1986.

This was incorrect, the event occurred on 24 October 1986.
An automatic redirection has been created.

The Royal Australian Navy opened its 75th Year Anniversary celebrations with a ceremonial fleet entry into Sydney Harbour. A giant White Ensign towed by a Sea King helicopter led the entry.

December 16, 1985

HMAS SUPPLY was paid off into reserve at Sydney. She had steamed 667,421 miles at an average speed of 12.84 knots and completed 3401 underway replenishments at sea.

December 6, 1985

HMAS STALWART, (maintenance ship), made an emergency voyage to Macquarie Island for ANARE to land Christmas stores for the staff, when the Antarctic supply ship NELLA DAN developed defects.