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 ...
On This Day
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 ...
Australian Naval History on 23 June 1989
CDRE M. Taylor, RAN, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station, HMAS ALBATROSS, Nowra, NSW, and LEUT K. Champion, flew the RAN’s last UH 1B Iroquois helicopter flight. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 June 1989
The Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Hawke, cancelled the goodwill visit of HMAS PARRAMATTA to Shanghai, as a protest against the Tiananmin Square massacre. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1989
After 25 years of service the RAN’s Iroquois were decommissioned ...
Australian Naval History on 5 May 1989
HMAS MELBOURNE III was launched by Mrs Hazel Hawke, the wife of the Australian Prime Minister. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 April 1989
The Governor General and Commander in Chief, the Honourable Bill Hayden, AC, presented the new Queen’s Colour to the Australian Fleet at the Fleet Base, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 April 1989
HMAS Whyalla II grounded off Hamilton Island prior to the start of the island’s annual yacht racing carnival, necessitating a two week stay in dockyard hands to repair both propellers. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 February 1989
The survey motor launch HMAS PALUMA, was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 February 1989
The Premier of WA, Mr. Peter Dowding, officially opened the ship-lift facility at Jervoise Bay. This site became the RAN’s repair base in the west. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 February 1989
The Lee Enfield .303 rifle completed a century of service. It was last used in the RAN on an official occasion at the Anzac Day Ceremony in Canberra in 1985. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 January 1989
Mr. Kim Beazley, Minister for Defence, announced the basing of patrol boats at a forward base at Port Hedland, WA. This never actually occurred and within ten years all patrol ...
Australian Naval History on 3 January 1989
The RAN won the Australian Tasar Sailing Championship held at Port Stephens. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 December 1988
Three RAN cooks were part of the Australian Defence Force, (ADF), team to compete in the Culinary Olympics held in Frankfurt, West Germany. They were: PO Cook Murray McAuliffe, PO ...