On This Day
2000-present-day
On This Day - 2000-2019
- July 15, 2002
HMAS Newcastle, arrived back in her home port of Sydney following a six-month patrol in the Middle East region in support of Operation SLIPPER.
- July 13, 2002
HMAS Manoora II arrived in the Port Phillip Bay after return from Persian Gulf
- July 8, 2002
HMA Ships ARUNTA, and DARWIN, (frigates), undertake a concurrent replenishment with the Spanish warship SPS MARQES DE LA ENSENADA, in the Gulf of Oman. ARUNTA was about to commence duties in the Persian Gulf, and DARWIN was on her way home to Australia.
- July 7, 2002
HMS NOTTINGHAM, (Type 42 destroyer), ran aground on Wolf Rock at Lord Howe Island, and suffered significant damage to her hull and electrical systems. The ship was only saved from foundering by the excellent damage control skills of her crew. RAN and RNZN clearance divers later flew to Lord Howe Island, to assist in stabilizing the vessel, before she was towed to Sydney for repairs. Eventually, the vessel was placed onboard a heavy lift ship, in Sydney, and returned to the United Kingdom for extensive repairs. Four of NOTTINGHAM’s officers, including the Commanding Officer, were court-martialled in 2003, and found guilty of various offences leading to the grounding. After extensive repairs NOTTINGHAM returned to service in July 2004.
- July 2, 2002
VADM Chris Ritchie AO, RAN, was appointed Chief on Navy. During 1991 he commanded HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), in the first Gulf War.
- June 25, 2002
HMAS ARUNTA departs from HMAS STIRLING, for service in the Persian Gulf, as part of the Maritime Interdiction Force, (Operation SLIPPER), enforcing sanctions on Iraq.
- May 30, 2002
HMAS MELBOURNE, (CAPT S. R. W. McDowell, CSM, RAN), departs Sydney for a five month deployment to the Persian Gulf, to enforce maritime sanctions against Iraq, (Operation Slipper). She departed the Middle East area of operations on 8 November, after 136 days in theatre, and having conduct 315 boardings. She eventually arrived back in Sydney on 20 December.
- May 4, 2002
The Huon class mine hunter coastal HMAS DIAMANTINA, (LCDR M.J. Rothwell, RAN), was commissioned. DIAMANTINA was laid down in ADI Yard, Newcastle, NSW, and launched on 2 December 2000. Mrs M. Bryden, (Daughter of LCDR Rose, RANVR), performed the launching ceremony.
Acting LS Cameron Troy Gurr was lost overboard from HMAS DARWIN, (frigate), in the vicinity of Christmas Island. DARWIN was conducting patrols as part of border protection operations, (Operation RELEX II). Despite an extensive search no trace of LS Gurr was ever found.
- April 3, 2002
HMAS Kanimbla II returned to Sydney after service in the Middle East as part of the maritime force assigned to Operation SLIPPER.
- March 16, 2002
HMAS HOBART (D39) was scuttled in Yankalilla Bay, South Australia. She took 2 minutes and 17 seconds to sink.