On This Day
1976-1999 > Post Vietnam
On This Day - 1976-1999
- November 25, 1994
The landing platform amphibious HMAS MANOORA, was commissioned. MANOORA was the former USS FAIRFAX COUNTY, (THSS), which had been commissioned into the USN in 1971.
- November 18, 1994
HMAS Kanimbla II arrived in Sydney for the first time after commissioning in the United States.
- November 14, 1994
The Fringe Benefits Tax Act Amendment raised the RAN’s liability from $11 million to $21 million per annum.
- October 12, 1994
Bitter controversy between the Prime Minister, Paul Keating, and the former Prime Minister, Robert Hawke, was sparked on the responsibility of involving RAN ships in the Gulf War.
- October 3, 1994
HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), recovered wreckage from a small airliner which crashed into the Tasman Sea, while on passage from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. Nine passengers and crew lost their lives in the crash.
- September 16, 1994
HMAS ANZAC, lead ship in the RAN’s 2035 ton light frigate class, was launched by Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Staham, (nee Bullwinkle), one of the survivors of a group of Australian nurses seized by the Japanese in 1942. The ship was launched at Transfield Shipbuilding Yard in Port Phillip, VIC
- September 1, 1994
The Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Ray, announced the names of the six coastal mine hunters to be built for the RAN, They were HUON, HAWKESBURY, NORMAN, GASCOYNE, DIAMANTINA, and YARRA
- August 29, 1994
The landing platform amphibious HMAS KANIMBLA, was commissioned. KANIMBLA was previously the USS SAGINAW (THSS), which had been commissioned into the USN in 1971.
- August 12, 1994
Australian Defence Industries won the $l billion contract to build six minehunters for the RAN. The ships will be built at Newcastle, NSW.
- August 8, 1994
The hull ex-HMAS ADROIT was sunk as a target off the WA coast by A4 Skyhawks of the RNZAF.
HMAS DERWENT was decommissioned at HMAS STIRLING after a 30-year career which saw her steam in excess of 800,000 miles. Her hull was later used as a guinea pig for blast and fragmentation tests, organized by scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, (DSTO), led by CMDR J. Mathias, RAN. The team observed the effect of damage caused by bombs and shells on the old ship in order to make improvements for ship survivability. DERWENT had the distinction to be the first RAN vessel to fire a guided missile on 25 May 1964, less than a month after commissioning.