A civilian workman was killed onboard the ex-HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), berthed at Garden Island Dockyard, SYDNEY. He fell from the flight deck into the hangar when the aircraft hoist ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 23 April 1985
The prestigious Royal Geographic Society of Australia’s J. P. Thompson Foundation Gold Medal, was awarded to the survey vessel, HMAS FLINDERS, (LCDR G. J. Bond, RAN), for the survey of, ...
Australian Naval History on 21 April 1985
VADM M. W. Hudson, AC, was appointed Chief of Naval Staff. On his last day of service in 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Admiral. ...
Australian Naval History on 19 April 1985
HMAS BETANO was the first landing craft heavy, (LCH), in the RAN, to be assigned to survey duties. Over the next eight years other LCH’s were used as interim survey ...
Australian Naval History on 4 March 1985
The Indonesian Navy patrol boat KRI SIADA, ex HMAS BARBETTE, ran aground on North West Reef off Cape York, QLD. She was later re-floated and towed to Thursday Island for ...
Australian Naval History on 3 March 1985
HMA Ships CESSNOCK and IPSWICH, (patrol boats), each apprehended two Indonesian fishing boats poaching in Australian waters off Melville Island. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 March 1985
A permanent and purpose built Maritime Headquarters for the RAN was established at Fleet Base East, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 February 1985
HMAS BARBETTE, (patrol boat), was transferred to the Indonesian Navy as a gift and renamed KRI SIADI. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 February 1985
HMAS Kimbla paid off. During her long career Kimbla steamed 363,038 nautical miles at an average speed of just seven knots. At the time of her decommissioning Kimbla held the ...
Australian Naval History on 12 February 1985
The Australian Government announced a $4000 million plan for the replacement of destroyer escorts still in service. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 February 1985
HMAS ATTACK, name-ship of the RAN’s Attack class patrol boats, sailed from Sydney streaming a 38.7 metre paying off pennant. The patrol boat was transferred to the Indonesian Navy as ...
Australian Naval History on 18 January 1985
The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Hawke, announced the cancellation of the combined United States, New Zealand and Australian naval exercise, Sea Eagle, following New Zealand’s refusal to provide ...
Australian Naval History on 17 January 1985
Divers from Clearance Diving Team 1 raised a Japanese aerial bomb from the seabed under Darwin’s new Fort Hill Road. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 January 1985
Chaplain G. Mayne, RAN, was appointed Catholic Military Chaplain of Australia. The equivalent naval rank to this office was Admiral. He later became Bishop Mayne. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 January 1985
Position of Director WRANS abolished ...
Australian Naval History on 15 December 1984
The Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS BUNBURY, was commissioned. BUNBURY was laid down in Cairns, QLD, and was the last of fifteen Fremantle class patrol boats built for the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 December 1984
The Department of Defence Support, responsible for the management of naval dockyards and new ship building, was abolished. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 November 1984
The last of the Australian-built Fremantle class patrol boats, HMAS BUNBURY, was launched at Cairns, QLD. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 October 1984
The Australian Government announced that HMA Ships ATTACK, BARBETTE, and BUCCANEER, (patrol boats), would be transferred as a gift to the Indonesian Navy. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 October 1984
The Australian Government approved the expenditure of $51 million for the purchase of eight Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters for the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 October 1984
The Australian Government decided to equip the RAN with Sikorsky S70B helicopters. The initial order for eight Seahawks cost $360 million. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 September 1984
HMAS ONSLOW became the world’s first conventionally powered submarine to be upgraded to guided missile capacity, on completion of a $39 million conversion at Cockatoo Dockyard, Sydney, when Harpoon sub-surface ...
Australian Naval History on 8 September 1984
The Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS GLADSTONE, was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 August 1984
The first male nursing officer, (SBLT G. Villiani, RAN), joined the Navy. He was unable to join the RANNS as it was a ‘womens’ service,’ so he joined the RAN ...
Australian Naval History on 26 August 1984
HMAS GERALDTON, (patrol boat), was stranded, and damaged both propellers when she run aground on a reef northwest of Broome, WA. ...