The use of Morse key for sending messages formally ceased in the RAN after 85 years, to be replaced with modern communication systems. Visual Morse (or flashing light), however, still ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 9 January 1996
HMAS CANBERRA, (guided missile frigate), left Sydney to be permanently base-ported at HMAS STIRLING, WA. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 December 1995
The badly damaged hulk of HMAS DERWENT was finally scuttled, by charges set by CDT 4, in deep water to the west of Rottnest Island, WA. During the previous 10 ...
Australian Naval History on 1 December 1995
HMAS OVENS, (Oberon class submarine), decommissioned at HMAS STIRLING, WA. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 October 1995
The last of twenty Pacific patrol boats built in Australia for presentation to developing nations in the Pacific will have raised their new national flags. The PPB’s were built for ...
Australian Naval History on 13 April 1995
RADM C. J. Oxenbould, AO, RAN, was appointed as Maritime Commander, Australia. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 April 1995
MSA KORAAGA, (auxiliary minesweeper), discovered the wreck of the hospital ship CENTAUR, 9.3 nautical miles due east of Cape Moreton, QLD. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 November 1994
The landing platform amphibious HMAS MANOORA, was commissioned. MANOORA was the former USS FAIRFAX COUNTY, (THSS), which had been commissioned into the USN in 1971. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 November 1994
HMAS Kanimbla II arrived in Sydney for the first time after commissioning in the United States. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 November 1994
The Fringe Benefits Tax Act Amendment raised the RAN’s liability from $11 million to $21 million per annum. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 October 1994
Bitter controversy between the Prime Minister, Paul Keating, and the former Prime Minister, Robert Hawke, was sparked on the responsibility of involving RAN ships in the Gulf War. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 October 1994
HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), recovered wreckage from a small airliner which crashed into the Tasman Sea, while on passage from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. Nine passengers and crew ...
Australian Naval History on 16 September 1994
HMAS ANZAC, lead ship in the RAN’s 2035 ton light frigate class, was launched by Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Staham, (nee Bullwinkle), one of the survivors of a group of Australian ...
Australian Naval History on 1 September 1994
The Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Ray, announced the names of the six coastal mine hunters to be built for the RAN, They were HUON, HAWKESBURY, NORMAN, GASCOYNE, DIAMANTINA, and ...
Australian Naval History on 29 August 1994
The landing platform amphibious HMAS KANIMBLA, was commissioned. KANIMBLA was previously the USS SAGINAW (THSS), which had been commissioned into the USN in 1971. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 August 1994
Australian Defence Industries won the $l billion contract to build six minehunters for the RAN. The ships will be built at Newcastle, NSW. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 August 1994
The hull ex-HMAS ADROIT was sunk as a target off the WA coast by A4 Skyhawks of the RNZAF. HMAS DERWENT was decommissioned at HMAS STIRLING after a 30-year career ...
Australian Naval History on 18 July 1994
The USS ANTIETAM, (heavy cruiser 9,466 tons), arrived in Australia on a goodwill tour. She was returning from duty in the Persian Gulf. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 July 1994
The Department of Defence placed a $23 million contract with AWA Defence Industries, to develop an active missile decoy to protect RAN ships from skimming type missiles. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1994
The Department of Defence placed a $58 million contract with Westland Helicopters for the updating of the Navy’s Sea King helicopter fleet, and flight simulator. The updating will extend the ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1994
Visits of units of the RAN to Asian neighbours of Australia doubled in the financial year. Singapore, with 23 visits, was closely followed by Indonesia. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 June 1994
Two workmen were killed when acetylene cylinders exploded on the floor of the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney. The men were working on the Australian icebreaker AURORA ...
Australian Naval History on 15 June 1994
The Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Ray, announced the successful tenderer, for the building of six coastal mine hunter vessels, was Australian Defence Industries. The mine hunters will be similar ...
Australian Naval History on 23 May 1994
Exercise RIMPAC 94 commenced in Hawaiian waters, involving ships from Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. HMA Ships HOBART, SYDNEY, DARWIN, SUCCESS, and OVENS, were involved. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 April 1994
The training ship HMAS JERVIS BAY, (ex MV AUSTRALIAN TRADER), decommissioned at Garden Island Sydney. Nicknamed at times JB, the Love Boat, (due to being the first RAN vessel to ...