The RAAF was formed as a separate service, (created from the Australian Flying Corps, which was an Army unit formed in 1914). From then until 1948, when the Fleet Air ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 13 March 1921
HMAS CERBERUS, (former HMC turret ship), was moved to Corio Bay, VIC, and was re-commissioned as HMAS PLATYPUS II, (submarine tender). ...
Australian Naval History on 21 January 1921
HMAS Melbourne was involved in the dramatic rescue of 18 people from the sinking US registered schooner Helen B Sterling. The Helen B Sterling had departed Newcastle in early January ...
Australian Naval History on 4 January 1921
The following ships were laid up in reserve in Sydney: HMA Ships ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), PARRAMATTA, YARRA, WARREGO, HUON, SWAN, and TORRENS, (destroyers), and MALLOW, (sloop). ...
Australian Naval History on 10 November 1920
HMS Verdun (destroyer) transported the body of the Unknown Warrior from France to England. Correction: November 2014 – This entry previously said that HMS Vendetta (later HMAS Vendetta) transported the ...
Australian Naval History on 1 November 1920
The Ex-Navalmens Association was inaugurated in Melbourne, with approximately 100 members. In 1922, the China Naval Contingent Association, (which had been formed in 1901), was amalgamated with the Association. In ...
Australian Naval History on 1 October 1920
The Hydrographic Department of the RAN was established under CAPT J F. Robins, RN. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 September 1920
HMAS Encounter paid off into reserve . She was assigned to the naval base at Garden Island as a depot ship in May 1923, and was renamed HMAS Penguin ...
Australian Naval History on 1 September 1920
Flinders Naval Depot was commissioned as a training establishment for the RAN. It was officially renamed HMAS CERBERUS in December 1962. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 August 1920
HMVS NELSON was broken up. ...
Australian Naval History on 19 July 1920
HMAS Torrens was paid off into reserve. The destroyer was relocated to Flinders Naval Depot in July 1924, and although not recommissioned, was used for the training of naval reservists. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 July 1920
The fleet collier HMAS BILOELA, was commissioned. BILOELA was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, 21 October 1918, and launched on 10 April 1919. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 June 1920
HMS STUART, (destroyer), operated with the British Fleet deployed in the Sea of Marmara, to put down a Turkish rebellion. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 May 1920
The RAN reached its highest peacetime strength. Metric Main SpeedShips Class Tonnage Armament (knots)AUSTRALIA Battle cruiser 19,507 30.5cm 25 SYDNEY Light cruiser 5486 15.2cm 25.5 MELBOURNE Light cruiser 5486 15.2cm ...
Australian Naval History on 25 February 1920
Navy Order 27 introduced an Australian code of discipline to the RAN. The order was issued as a consequence of the inquiry into a mutiny in HMAS AUSTRALIA in 1919. ...
Australian Naval History on 19 February 1920
HMAS SLEUTH, (patrol vessel), was sold out of service and renamed AURORA. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 February 1920
Major S. J. Goble, the RAN’s representative on the Commonwealth Air Board, recommended the adoption of Admiral Jellicoe’s proposals for an Australian Naval Air Service. The proposals allowed for one ...
Australian Naval History on 28 January 1920
The S class destroyer, HMAS TASMANIA, (LCDR H. O. Joyce, RN), was commissioned. TASMANIA was laid down in William Breadmore Yard, UK, on 23 November 1918. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 January 1920
The Marksman class destroyer, (flotilla leader), HMAS ANZAC, (CMDR S. H. Simpson, RN), was commissioned. ANZAC was laid down in Denny Bros. Yard, UK, on 11 January 1917. In 1919 ...
Australian Naval History on 14 January 1920
The Australian Government constituted a temporary Air Board to advise the Minister for Defence on military aviation. Two naval officers were members of the Board. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 December 1919
After an exchange of messages between the Australian Government and the British Admiralty, it was announced that the balance of the sentences, handed down as a result of the mutiny ...
Australian Naval History on 10 December 1919
HMAS SYDNEY, (light cruiser), patrolled the Timor Sea as beacon ship for Ross and Keith Smith’s flight from England to Australia. The aviators recorded the cruiser was sighted exactly on ...
Australian Naval History on 5 December 1919
HMAS Encounter permanently transferred from the RN to the RAN ...
Australian Naval History on 6 November 1919
RADM P. E. F. P. Grant, First Naval Member, tendered his resignation. His resignation was in protest to the Australian Government demanding the Admiralty release five sailors gaoled for participation ...
Australian Naval History on 21 October 1919
Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe, presented his report on the future development of the RAN, to the Australian Government. ...