HMAS Gladstone, a Cairns-based patrol boat, pursued and apprehended a Taiwanese fishing trawler off the North Australian coast. The vessel was poaching in Australian waters. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 6 April 1990
The Chief of Naval Staff, VADM M. W. Hudson, announced ‘women will be permitted to serve in peacetime in all ships except submarines.’ ...
Australian Naval History on 2 April 1990
HMAS BUNBURY, (patrol boat), rescued 118 Indo-Chinese boat people off Koolan Island, on the Kimberley coast of WA. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 March 1990
The total trained manpower of the RAN was 13,729, made up of 2,234 officers and 11,495 sailors. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 March 1990
HMAS WESTRALIA, (oil replenishment ship), conducted her first dual replenishment at sea, with HMA Ships TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy), and SYDNEY, (guided missile destroyer). ...
Australian Naval History on 20 March 1990
The fourth and last survey motor launch built for the RAN, HMAS BENALLA, was commissioned at Adelaide. Her sister- ships are HMAS PALUMA, MERMAID, and SHEPPARTON. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 March 1990
The first RAN Seahawk helicopter landing on a guided missile frigate was made on HMAS ADELAIDE, in Sydney Harbour. HMAS STALWART, (destroyer tender), was decommissioned after 22 years service. She ...
Australian Naval History on 7 March 1990
A RAN Seahawk helicopter rescued a 14 year old boy from rocks at Currawong NSW. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 February 1990
The Minister for Defence, Mr. Kim Beazley, announced at the keel laying ceremony for HMAS COLLINS that five more Type 471 submarines were to be built for the RAN. They ...
Australian Naval History on 9 February 1990
The Navy tug MOLLYMAWK capsized after colliding with HMAS TOBRUK in the Fleet Base at Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 January 1990
The survey motor launch, HMAS SHEPPARTON, was commissioned at Port Adelaide SA. The Commissioning Officer was LCDR Allan Dennison. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 January 1990
HMAS JERVIS BAY, (training ship), was placed on alert to evacuate Australian nationals from Bougainville in the wake of unrest between the local population and the PNG Government. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 January 1990
The Governor General approved the award of the Australian Service Medal to RAN personnel who served with the Multinational Force as observers in the Sinai from 9 February, 1982 to ...
Australian Naval History on 31 December 1989
After 27 years of service the RAN’s Wessex were decommissioned ...
Australian Naval History on 4 December 1989
The survey motor launch HMAS MERMAID, was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 November 1989
With the ending of the 3 month airline pilots strike, RAN HS 748 aircraft from HMAS ALBATROSS, (air base Nowra, NSW), and their pilots, were returned to normal duties. The ...
Australian Naval History on 9 November 1989
A Torres Strait reserve unit of the RAN was established to provide a resident naval presence in far northern Australian waters. The former Federal Police launch, the 34 foot ARGUS, ...
Australian Naval History on 1 November 1989
DISCON, the first totally secure communication system, was inaugurated in Australian Defence Forces. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 October 1989
Westland Wessex Mk.31A N7-218, 828 ditched 180 Nautical miles NW of Surabaja from HMAS Stalwart in South China Sea. LEUT(P) Lister, RAN and crew recovered by HMAS Stalwart. The wreck ...
Australian Naval History on 9 October 1989
The auxiliary oiler replenishment HMAS WESTRALIA was commissioned. WESTRALIA was the former HMS APPLELEAF, (royal fleet auxiliary), which had been commissioned into the RN in 1979. ...
Australian Naval History on 4 October 1989
The first Sikorsky Seahawk helicopter was accepted for service in the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 September 1989
HMAS SUCCESS, (auxiliary oiler replenishment), and HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), recovered 14 bodies from the sea, near the island of Palawan, while conducting a transit of the South China ...
Australian Naval History on 3 September 1989
VADM Sir John Collins, KBE, CB, RAN, (Retired), died in Sydney. His naval career stretched from 1913 to 1955, and he was the first RANC graduate to reach the position ...
Australian Naval History on 19 August 1989
A multi-million dollar contract for the building of ten Anzac class frigates was awarded to Australian Marine Engineering Consolidated Ltd., of Melbourne. The new ships, eight for the RAN and ...
Australian Naval History on 27 July 1989
A Wessex helicopter crashed on the flight deck of HMAS SUCCESS, (CAPT G. V. Sloper, RAN), while the tanker was on passage to Darwin. No personnel were injured, but the ...