On This Day

1976-1999 > Post Vietnam

May 9, 1977

During exercises in the Indian Ocean, a Sea King helicopter from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), crashed into the ocean. None of the crew were injured, and they were quickly rescued by HMAS BRISBANE, (destroyer), which was in company with MELBOURNE.

May 2, 1977

HMAS SWAN, (destroyer escort), was dispatched to render aid to an injured seaman in the US merchant ship AUSTRAL MOON, in the Tasman Sea.

April 15, 1977

RADM N. E. McDonald was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet.

January 16, 1977

The Minister for Defence, Mr D J Killen, announced the purchase of the roll-on, roll-off vehicular/passenger ship AUSTRALIAN TRADER for conversion to a training ship for the RAN. The ship was commissioned as HMAS JERVIS BAY.

December 9, 1976

HMAS DOOMBA, (minesweeper), was scuttled off Dee Why, NSW. DOOMBA had been built in 1919, and commissioned as HMS WEXFORD, but was sold in 1921 to the Doomba Shipping Company based in Brisbane. In 1939, on 3 September she was requisitioned by the RAN, to become an auxiliary minesweeper, and commissioned as HMAS DOOMBA. She later became an anti-submarine escort, before being paid off from the RAN in February 1947, and converted into a lighter.

December 7, 1976

HMAS ASSAIL, (patrol boat), surveyed the Alligator River, NT.

December 5, 1976

Twelve of the RAN’s Tracker anti-submarine aircraft were destroyed in a disastrous fire at HMAS ALBATROSS, Nowra, NSW. The combined strength of Fleet Air Arm Squadrons 816 and 851 was reduced to one serviceable Tracker.

November 23, 1976

VADM Sir Anthony Synnot is appointed Chief of Naval Staff.

November 8, 1976

HMAS STUART, (destroyer escort), was dispatched to rescue survivors from the oil exploration barge PERENTIE. Two of the barge’s crew of five were picked up.

September 3, 1976

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), arrived in Sydney, after completing the first circumnavigation of the world, (since a similar voyage in 1952), by a ship of the RAN. HOBART showed the Australian flag in 19 ports and 12 countries.

August 27, 1976

First Officer J. Baker, WRANS, became the first officer of the WRANS to be selected for the Royal Naval Staff College course at Greenwich, England.

August 19, 1976

• HMNZS INVERELL, (ex HMAS INVERELL), and HMNZS KIAMA, (EX-HMAS KIAMA), were paid off for disposal at Auckland. The minesweepers were transferred to New Zealand in 1946.
• CDRE J. Britten, RAN, retired from the RAN after holding all ranks from ordinary Seaman 2nd Class, to Commodore.

August 16, 1976

HMA Ships MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and TORRENS, (destroyer escort), rendered aid to the disabled motor vessel MISS CHIEF, in heavy seas off Bundaberg, QLD. TORRENS took the vessel in tow until a tug arrived.

July 27, 1976

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), arrived at Naples. HOBART was the first RAN vessel to visit Italy in 20 years, and the first Australian warship to pass through the Suez Canal in 14 years.

July 24, 1976

The Japanese cargo ship BLUE ANDROMEDA, struck HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), in Sydney Harbour. Damage was minor.

July 17, 1976

HMAS PARRAMATTA, (destroyer escort), arrived at Bali to assist the earthquake-devastated island. 500 people were killed and 2500 injured in the catastrophe.

July 15, 1976

HMAS YARRA, (destroyer escort), located the disabled yacht MARQUEEN in heavy seas off the Queensland coast. The yacht was towed to Trial Bay, NSW.

July 1, 1976

Royal Australian Naval House, ‘Johnnie’s’, was handed back to the NSW Government.

June 8, 1976

The RAN Support Element, Singapore, was formed. Known as RANLO, Singapore, the unit is responsible for logistics support to RAN ships and units visiting Singapore, and operating in the wider South East Asian area. RANLO Singapore is the oldest continuously operating overseas RAN support unit.

February 18, 1976

The Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, announced the Australian Government’s decision to purchase two guided missile frigates from the USA.

February 9, 1976

The Australian Naval Board flag was lowered for the last time. The flag’s design dated back to the 17th century.

The Defence Reorganisation Act gave the Chiefs of Staff direct control over their respective services.

February 2, 1976

817 squadron re-equipped with the larger Sea King helicopter, which greatly improved the RAN’s anti-submarine warfare capability.

September 19, 1968

HMAS PERTH, (guided missile destroyer), was dispatched to Vietnam to relieve her sister ship HMAS HOBART, which had been damaged by US aircraft missiles.