On This Day

1976-1999 > Post Vietnam

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.

February 12, 1992

The third HMAS PARRAMATTA, (destroyer escort), left Fremantle on her way to Southeast Asia to be broken up for scrap.

February 8, 1992

CMDR Carolyn Brand, RAN, became the first female officer of the RAN to command an operational base when she took command of HMAS WATERHEN, (shore base, Sydney).

February 1, 1992

HMAS WOLLONGONG, (patrol boat), apprehended the Indonesian fishing trawler SEKEWAN INDAH, poaching in the Australian fishing zone.

January 24, 1992

Fifty years after her namesake was sunk in Darwin Harbour by Japanese bombers, the USS ROBERT E PERRY, (destroyer), arrived in Darwin harbour for a commemorative service.

January 19, 1992

The world’s first trials of operating Army S70A-9 helicopters from a ship at sea were made from HMAS TOBRUK off the south east coast of Australia.

January 15, 1992

HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), completed her 200th merchant ship boarding in the Red Sea. This was then the highest tally by any ship in the fleet conducting UN sanctions against Iraq.

January 3, 1992

Clearance Divers operating from HMAS TOWNSVILLE, (patrol boat), disposed of 12 unexploded bombs found on the seabed off Middleton Reef, Queensland.

January 2, 1992

HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), joined the Multi-Nation Force in the Red Sea enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

December 1, 1991

The RAN’s sail training vessel YOUNG ENDEAVOUR sailed from Sydney on a round the world voyage.

November 27, 1991

HMAS WOLLONGONG, (patrol boat), operated with Solomon Islands maritime forces in the joint maritime surveillance off Honiara, exercise Weather Eye.

November 7, 1991

RADM R. A. K. Walls, AO, RAN, was appointed Maritime Commander Australia.

November 4, 1991

HMA Ships BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), and CDT3, were awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for service in the first Gulf War.

October 16, 1991

HMAS JERVIS BAY, (training ship), and HMAS BUNBURY, (patrol boat), sailed from Sydney on a ‘show the flag’ cruise to Jakarta, Brunei, Tacloban, Cebu and Ujung Pandang.

October 13, 1991

Australian Army Blackhawk helicopters commenced ‘First of Class Flight Trials’ on HMAS TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy). TOBRUK is rated to carry up to five Sea King helicopters.

October 10, 1991

HMAS STUART, (destroyer escort), departed Sydney under tow by the tug WOREE, for breaking up in Pakistan.

October 7, 1991

HMA Ships PERTH, HOBART, ORION, DUBBO, and IPSWICH, participated in the multinational Exercise AUCKEX 91 in New Zealand waters.

October 1, 1991

HMA Ships HOBART and PERTH, (guided missile destroyers), with DUBBO and IPSWICH, (patrol boats), represented the RAN at the 50th Anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

September 21, 1991

HMAS DARWIN, (guided missile frigate), visited her name-city, on completion of her first deployment to the United Nations’ fleet in the Arabian Gulf

September 10, 1991

HMAS DUBBO, (patrol boat), and the Australian built RMIS LOMOR, (patrol boat), approached the Marshall Islands port of Majuro on the latter’s delivery voyage

September 7, 1991

The ship’s companies of HMAS SWAN, (destroyer escort), and HMAS WESTRALIA, (auxiliary oiler replenishment), commenced repairs to Olongapo Hospital, damaged when Mount Pinatubo erupted

September 2, 1991

HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), sailed from Sydney for the Red Sea, to maintain sanctions placed on Iraq by the United Nations

September 1, 1991

The term WRAN in female rank titles was abolished. (*Actual day of month unknown)

August 21, 1991

The hydrographic ships BENALLA and SHEPPARTON sailed from Cairns, QLD, for a three month survey in Papua New Guinea waters.