Separate ministers for the Army, Navy and Air Force were appointed in the Australian Cabinet. Sir Frederick Stewart was made Minister for the Navy. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 13 November 1939
The Department of the Navy was re-created as a separate portfolio. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 November 1939
An Australian Government order-in-council was signed, and transferred all vessels and personnel of the Commonwealth Naval Forces, and personnel of the RAAF, to the King’s Naval and Air Forces. The ...
Australian Naval History on 4 November 1939
HMAS KOALA, (boom defence vessel), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 November 1939
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS UKI, was commissioned. UKI was laid down in Port Glasgow, Scotland, in 1923. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the North Coast Steam ...
Australian Naval History on 2 November 1939
The Australian liner WESTRALIA was requisitioned by the Australian Government for conversion to an armed merchant cruiser. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 November 1939
RADM John George Crace, CB, an Australian-born officer of the RN, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Squadron, taking over from CDRE W. Patterson, RN. His flagship was HMAS ...
Australian Naval History on 22 October 1939
The Australian merchant ship TREVANION was sunk by the German pocket battleship GRAF SPEE, in the South Atlantic. TREVANION was the first Australian ship sunk in WWII. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 October 1939
The examination vessel HMAS ADELE, was commissioned. ADELE was formerly commissioned as HMAS FRANKLIN, on 14 September 1915. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 October 1939
The Australian coastal passenger liner MANOORA was requisitioned by the RAN, and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. In 1943 she was converted to a landing ship infantry. ...