On This Day

1976-1999 > Post Vietnam

August 24, 1992

RADM R. A. K. Walls, A.O, Maritime Commander of the RAN, commanded RFU Forces in RIMPAC 92. United States, Canadian, Korean and Australian ships participated in the exercises. The Australian Squadron was HMA Ships HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), ADELAIDE, and CANBERRA, (guided missile frigates), OTWAY, (Oberon class submarine), and SUCCESS, (auxiliary oiler replenishment ship). A combined RAN Clearance Diving Team supported the Squadron.

August 14, 1992

HMAS DARWIN, (guided missile frigate), arrived on station in the Arabian Gulf for her 115 day deployment. In this patrol she was to board 296 merchant ships passing through her Patrol area.

August 6, 1992

HMAS OTWAY, (Oberon class submarine), became the first RAN submarine to fire Mk48 torpedoes against a manned submarine, when she fired on the US Submarine NEW YORK CITY, during RIMPAC exercises.

July 23, 1992

The RAN’s Seahawk Helicopter Introduction and Transition Unit was commissioned as HS 816 Squadron, equipped with RAN S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters. This squadron was originally formed in 1940, and served in the Mediterranean and Norway.

July 10, 1992

The Chief of Naval Staff, VADM Ian MacDougall, announced the names of eight ANZAC class frigates, to be built for the RAN. They were ANZAC, ARRERENTE, WARUMUNGU, STUART, PARRAMATTA, BALLARAT, TOOWOOMBA, and PERTH. A storm of protest rose from sailors who served in the destroyers ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA during WWII, who argued that the Aborigines had no system of spelling, and the names should remain unchanged.

June 25, 1992

HMAS YARRA, (Type 12 frigate), departed from Sydney under tow, bound for India to be scrapped.

May 25, 1992

The landing craft heavy, HMAS TARAKAN, (LEUT T. Watson, RAN), commenced a combined operation with the Great Barrier Reef Authority, to transfer over 90,000 giant clams, which were threatened with extinction due to overcrowding, to a new location on the reef. This massive task was named Operation Clamsaver.

May 9, 1992

At the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, a national memorial was unveiled at Townsville, QLD. Personnel from HMA Ships PERTH, ADELAIDE, TOBRUK and JERVIS BAY, and US Ships BLUE RIDGE and FLETCHER, were present at the unveiling.

May 8, 1992

The RAN set a maritime and environmental precedent in fitting Omnipure sewerage systems in all new and existing ships. Each installation cost approximately $1 million but guarantees sterilisation of all sewerage entering the sea.

May 7, 1992

The former HMAS STUART, (River class destroyer escort), sailed for Singapore to be broken up.

May 1, 1992

12 RAN and USN vessels, led by the 80,000 tonne aircraft carrier USS Independence, in a fleet entry into Sydney Harbour commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

April 1, 1992

The last naval pilots graduated from the RAAF’s No.1 Flying School at Point Cook, VIC. They were SBLT Marcus McGregor, RAN, and MIDN Robert Needham, RAN. From then on all pilot training was conducted at RAAF Base Pearce, WA.

March 28, 1992

HMAS Adroit decommissioned at HMAS Stirling

March 22, 1992

Patrol boats participating in Exercise Kangaroo 92 arrested three Indonesian trawlers in the Australian Fishing Zone.

March 19, 1992

The RAN officially adopted the Slouch Hat, (termed Wide Brimmed Hat), as an item of uniform for all ranks. It had for many years, at least since World War I, been used by RAN personnel operating in tropical areas such as New Guinea.

March 18, 1992

LCDR Peter Nelson, RAN, was invested with the Air Force Cross by the Queen for Gallantry in the 1st Gulf War. LCDR Nelson was attached to a Royal Navy Sea King Squadron operating in the Persian Gulf area. He was awarded the medal for gallantry in evacuating wounded personnel from the frontline despite enemy fire and being hampered by severe sand storms

March 17, 1992

HMA Ships TORRENS, (destroyer escort), and GLADSTONE, (patrol boat), were the first ships of the RAN to enter the Filipino ports of Bitung and Cagayan de Cro.

March 15, 1992

RAN marksman, WOQMG C. Dowd, of HMAS CERBERUS, won the Australian Army’s Highest Possible Score Cross. WOQMG Dowd was a medal winner at the 1990 Bisley Shoot.

March 12, 1992

The guided missile frigate HMAS DARWIN, (CMDR Martyn Bell, RAN), commenced boarding and searching operations in the Red Sea. She operated with the United Nations force policing trade with Iraq.

March 9, 1992

The de-commissioned submarine HMAS OXLEY was towed from HMAS STIRLING to Jervoise Bay for breaking up.

February 28, 1992

Training commenced on S70B2, Seahawk helicopters acquired for use in guided missile frigates under construction for the RAN.

February 21, 1992

HMAS NEWCASTLE, the final ship in Amecon’s contract to build two guided missile frigates for the RAN, was launched at Williamstown, VIC. The ship was delivered five months ahead of schedule. Four others were built in the USA.

February 20, 1992

HMAS DARWIN, (frigate), departed Fremantle for service in the Arabian Gulf as part of the RAN’s Operation Damask commitment.

February 15, 1992

The FFG-7, (Adelaide), class guided missile frigate HMAS MELBOURNE, (CMDR A. G. Johnston, RAN), was commissioned at Melbourne. MELBOURNE was laid down in AMECON Williamstown Dockyard, Melbourne, and launched on 5 May 1989. Mrs Hazel Hawke, (Wife of the Prime Minister, Robert J. Hawke), performed the launching ceremony.

February 13, 1992

HMAS OXLEY, the first Oberon class submarine built for the RAN, paid off at HMAS STIRLING, WA. The stripped hull was sold for scrap.