On This Day

2000-present-day

May 24, 2006

HMAS Adelaide (II) entered Dili Harbour as one of the first units to arrive in the Area of Operations for Operation ASTUTE, the ADF’s response to the request for assistance from the Government of Timor Leste to restore civil order.

May 6, 2006

Nuship MAITLAND, (Armidale class patrol boat), was launched in Austral Shipyard, Henderson, WA. Mrs Jacqueline Rice, (daughter of Mr Jack Breddin, a former sailor who served in the depot HMAS MAITLAND), performed the launching ceremony.

Nuship ARARAT, (Armidale class patrol boat), was launched in Austral Shipyard, Henderson, WA. Mrs Jennifer O’Malley, (daughter of LCDR Norman Muzzell, RAN, commander of the former HMAS ARARAT in WWII), performed the launching ceremony.

May 4, 2006

The patrol boat HMAS BATHURST, (LCDR A. P. Quinn, RAN), arrived in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to relieve HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR J. Hunter, RAN). BATHURST and ARMIDALE were assigned to CTF 635, to provide support to ADF and AFP personnel, following a wave of civil unrest in the Solomon Islands.

April 27, 2006

The patrol boat HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR J. Hunter, RAN), arrived in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to provide support to ADF and AFP personnel involved in Operation Anode.

ARMIDALE conducted patrols, and movement of ADF and AFP personnel to outlying islands.

April 26, 2006

The patrol boat HMAS TOWNSVILLE, (LCDR I. M. Ingham, RAN), sailed from Thursday Island to proceed to Honiara, Solomon Islands, to provide support to Australian Army and Federal Police units, following an outbreak of violence, which resulted from the announcement of a new Prime Minister. TOWNSVILLE arrived on 24 April, and was allocated to CTF635.

The patrol boat HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR J. C. Hunter, RAN), was directed to proceed to Honiara, Solomon Islands, and conduct a handover with HMAS TOWNSVILLE upon arrival.

April 19, 2006

The patrol boat HMAS ARMIDALE, (LCDR J. Hunter, RAN), whilst en-route to the Solomon Islands, was diverted to the Tongan Islands of Tofua and Kao, to rescue 17 Australian and United States civilians. They were part of a US Peace Corps, stranded due to severe weather conditions. They were taken to Tonga.

April 6, 2006

The oil replenishment ship HMAS WESTRALIA, (CMDR T. Crawford, RAN), entered port for the last time when she berthed at HMAS STIRLING, Perth, WA. During her 17 years in service, WESTRALIA steamed 458,254 miles, and conducted 1269 replenishments at sea.

April 3, 2006

HMAS BRUNEI, (LCDR Charles Bourne, RAN), visited Lord Howe Island, as part of the 75th anniversary of the 1931 landing, by floatplane, on Lord Howe by Sir Francis Chichester, who became the first person to fly solo from Australia to New Zealand. Officers and crew members of BRUNEI were joined by Chichester’s son, and other distinguished guests.

April 2, 2006

HMAS TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy, CMDR M. J. Rothwell, RAN), took part in Operation Peringatan, the first anniversary memorial service, on Nias Island, Indonesia, to commemorate the loss from HMAS KANIMBLA, (landing platform amphibious), of the Sea King helicopter, (Shark 02). The Maritime Commander, (RADM D. R. Thomas, AM, CSC, RAN), and the Commanding Officer of HMAS KANIMBLA, (CMDR G. A. McGuire, RAN), also attended the service.

March 27, 2006

A Kalkara (aboriginal for storm bird) unmanned aerial target successfully flew mission 100 on 27 March 2006 (from Gilbert Point at HMAS Stirling) and despite having been in use for a number of years, providing aerial targets to ships and aircraft missile systems, the Kalkara unmanned aerial target system did not achieve operational release until 10 August 2006 despite the first flight having taken place on 19 June 1998. 21 target aircraft were produced (Serial numbers N28-001 to N28-021) and it was phased out of service in 2008.

March 24, 2006

The landing craft heavy, HMA Ships WEWAK, (LCDR Williams, RAN), LABUAN, (LCDR M. A. Verho, RAN), and TARAKAN, (LEUT C. J. Doolin, RAN), along with two Sea King helicopters from 816 Squadron, (under the command of LCDR R. Jose, RAN, and LCDR S. Palmer, RAN, respectively), were committed to providing support, to clean up, and restore services to, the area around Innisfail, QLD, following the devastation of northern Queensland by cyclone Larry. Named operation Larry Assist, the three LCH’S were under the overall command of LCDR Williams, and designated as CTG 627.3 .

March 14, 2006

The ANZAC class guided missile frigate HMAS BALLARAT, (CMDR M. K. M. Wise, OAM, RAN), departed Australia to relieve HMAS PARRAMATTA, (ANZAC class guided missile frigate), in the Persian Gulf, on Operation Catalyst duties. BALLARAT relieved PARRAMATTA on 24 March 2006.

March 10, 2006

HMA Ships MANOORA, (landing platform amphibious, CMDR A. J. Rourke, RAN), WARRAMUNGA, (ANZAC class guided missile frigate, CMDR D. W. Jordan, RAN), and NORMAN, (mine countermeasures ship, LCDR T. J. Watson, RAN), along with personnel from the Clearance Diving Teams, supported Operation Acolyte, the ADF operation to provide security and support to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

February 11, 2006

HMAS Wollongong II decommissioned

February 11, 2006

HMA Ships Wollongong II and Bunbury II decommissioned at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin

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.