The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS GUNBAR, was commissioned. GUNBAR was laid down in Ardrossan, Scotland, in 1911. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the North Coast Steam Navigation ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 17 December 1940
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN), sailed from Suda Bay to join the fleet in the Adriatic Sea. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 December 1940
HMA Ships VOYAGER and VENDETTA, (destroyers), supported HMS TERROR, (monitor), in the bombardment of Bardia, Libya. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 December 1940
CAPT H. L. Waller, RAN, in HMAS STUART, (destroyer), was appointed Senior Naval Officer Afloat to command the Inshore Squadron comprising HMA Ships VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, and WATERHEN, (destroyers), HMS ...
Australian Naval History on 12 December 1940
HMAS PERTH arrived at Aden for escort duty in the Red Sea until 22 December and HMS HOBART departed Aden for Fremantle where she arrived on the 28th. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 December 1940
An Australian National Security Regulation was issued, making the fitting of minesweeping paravanes compulsory on all Australian ships over 800 tons. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 December 1940
HMAS BALLARAT, (minesweeper), was launched at Williamstown Dockyard, VIC. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 December 1940
HMAS BATHURST, (minesweeper), was commissioned under LEUT A. V. Bunyan, RANR(S), at Sydney. BATHURST was the first of 60 vessels of this class built in Australia for the RAN, RN, ...
Australian Naval History on 3 December 1940
The Australian Naval Board asked the British Admiralty to redeploy Australian ships in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, to counter the operations of German raiders. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 November 1940
HMAS ARUNTA, (Tribal class destroyer), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 November 1940
The N class destroyer HMAS NAPIER, (CAPT S. H. T. Arliss, RN, CAPT(D), 7th flotilla), was commissioned. NAPIER was laid down in Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering co Ltd, Govan, Scotland, ...
Australian Naval History on 27 November 1940
Australian troop convoy US 7 departed Fremantle with Polish liner BATORY (14287grt) and British liners ORION (23371grt), STRATHMORE (23428grt), STRATHEDEN (23722grt), escorted by HMAS PERTH. HMAS CANBERRA joined the convoy ...
Australian Naval History on 22 November 1940
HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), picked up three boatloads of survivors from the merchant ship PORT BRISBANE, in the Indian Ocean. PORT BRISBANE was sunk by the German raider PINGUIN. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 November 1940
HMAS GOORANGAI, (auxiliary minesweeper), was sunk in a collision with the liner DUNTROON, in Port Phillip Bay, VIC. The full complement of 24 from GOORANGAI were lost. This was the ...
Australian Naval History on 16 November 1940
HMAS GOULBURN, (minesweeper), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. Collins, RAN), took part in troop transport operations to Greece. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 November 1940
The following awards were made to the crew of HMAS STUART for the sinking of the Italian submarine GONDAR:- DSO: LEUT N. J. M. Teacher, RN; DSC: LEUT J. G. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 November 1940
The auxiliary patrol vessel HMAS VIGILANT, was commissioned. VIGILANT was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, and launched on 12 February 1938. She was renamed SLEUTH in April 1944, ...
Australian Naval History on 11 November 1940
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. Collins, RAN), joined in a raid into the Straight of Otranto, with HM Ships ORION and AJAX, (cruisers), NUBIAN and MOWHAWK, (destroyers), as a ...
Australian Naval History on 9 November 1940
HMAS ORARA, (minesweeper), picked up three boatloads of survivors from the mined merchant ship CAMBRIDGE, off Wilsons Promontory, VIC. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 November 1940
HMA Ships SYDNEY, (cruiser), VAMPIRE and WATERHEN, (destroyers), landed troops and stores at Suda Bay, Crete. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 November 1940
HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), and HMS AJAX, landed troops and equipment at Suda Bay, Crete. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 November 1940
CAPT Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen, RN, was awarded the VC posthumously for outstanding bravery while commanding the armed merchant cruiser HMS JERVIS BAY, when he engaged the German pocket battleship ...
Australian Naval History on 30 October 1940
HMAS NORMAN, (destroyer), was launched at Thornycroft’s Yard, UK. ...
Australian Naval History on 29 October 1940
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), rescued 9 the crew of 13 of a Sunderland flying boat which had force-landed in heavy seas, and gale-force winds, west of the Hebrides. 4 airmen lost their ...
Australian Naval History on 28 October 1940
Italy invaded Greece, and Greece joined the Allies. HMA Ships SYDNEY, (cruiser), STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, and WATERHEN, (destroyers), were deployed to escort supply convoys to Greece. W.M. Hughes succeeded ...