On This Day
2000-present-day
On This Day - 2000-2019
- February 10, 2006
The Armidale class patrol boats HMA Ships LARRAKIA, (LCDR Anthony Powell, RAN), and BATHURST, (LCDR Andrew Quinn, RAN), were commissioned in Cairns, QLD. Both ships were laid down in Austral Ships, Cairns, QLD.
- November 29, 2005
The patrol boat HMAS WARRNAMBOOL, (LCDR Michael Gulyas, RAN), was decommissioned in Darwin. Nicknamed the ‘Bull’, she was the first of the Fremantle class patrol boats to be built in Australia at North Queensland Engineers and Agents, (NQEA). During her career she was employed on Bass Strait oil rig surveillance patrols, as well as northern Australia border protection patrols. She was also the centre-piece for the opening of Darwin Naval Base by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on 6 October 1982, and the reviewing ship for Victoria’s Bicentennial Naval Salute in October 1988.
- November 12, 2005
The guided missile frigate HMAS CANBERRA, (CMDR Ray Leggatt, RAN), was decommissioned at Fleet Base West, (HMAS STIRLING). She was the first of the RAN’s six FFG’s to be paid off. During her 24 years of service she had steamed nearly 800,000 miles, and seen operational service in the Persian Gulf in both Operation Damask, (1992-1993), and Operation Slipper, (2002). CANBERRA also took part in the peacekeeping operation in the Solomon Islands, as well as Southern Ocean fishery patrols. In May 1998 she stood by off Java for the potential evacuation of Australian nationals from Indonesia, (Operation Brancard).
- October 25, 2005
A State Funeral was held at HMAS CERBERUS for Mr Evan Allen, who was the last RAN veteran from WWI, and also the last member of the Australian forces to see active service during WWI.
Mr Allen joined the RAN in March 1914, and trained onboard HMAS TINGIRA, (Boys Training Ship), before seeing overseas service in HMA Ships ENCOUNTER and SYDNEY, (cruisers). He continued to serve in the RAN during the inter-war period, and nearly lost his life when swept overboard from HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), during a storm in the North Atlantic in 1928.
During WWII he saw active service onboard HMAS MORETON BAY, (armed merchant cruiser), and as pier-master at HMAS LADAVA, (RAN depot at Milne Bay). He again escaped death when he was posted to join HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), in late 1944, but missed a connecting flight by only a few hours. The man he was meant to relieve was killed during the Kamikaze attack on AUSTRALIA at Lingayen Gulf, in early 1945.
Evan retired from the RAN in 1947, after 33 years service, having attained the rank of Lieutenant, and became a farmer in southern Victoria.
- October 10, 2005
The frigate HMAS PARRAMATTA, (CMDR Jonathon Mead, RAN), deployed to the Arabian Gulf, as part of the Coalition forces providing security in the northern Arabian Gulf for the reconstruction of Iraq.
- October 8, 2005
The ANZAC class guided missile frigate HMAS TOOWOOMBA was commissioned. TOOWOOMBA was laid down in Tenix Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, and launched on 16 May 2003.
- September 2, 2005
HMAS Whyalla II decommissioned
- July 31, 2005
HMAS Brisbane (II) was scuttled 4.2 miles off Point Cartwright on the Queensland coast
- June 25, 2005
HMAS Darwin returned to Fleet Base West, Garden Island in Western Australia after operations in the Middle East region
- June 24, 2005
The Armidale class patrol boat HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR A. Maher, RAN), was commissioned. ARMIDALE was laid down in Austral Shipyard, Fremantle, WA, and launched on 21 January 2005. Ms J. Stone, (Daughter of OS Don Lawson), performed the launching ceremony.