HMA Ships ATTACK, ADVANCE, and BUCCANEER, (patrol boats), commenced offshore oil rig patrols. The patrols were organized to prevent terrorist attacks on the oil rigs ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 29 May 1980
Queen Elizabeth II, approved three new long service medals, (15 years service), for members of the Australian Defence Force. These were the Defence Force Service Medal, (DFSM), for all regular ...
Australian Naval History on 19 May 1980
The rank of Provisional Warrant Officer was abolished in the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 May 1980
China’s first Inter Continental Ballistic Missile landed in the Pacific Ocean north west of Fiji. The splashdown was observed by HMA Ships VAMPIRE, (destroyer), and JERVIS BAY, (training ship). A ...
Australian Naval History on 17 May 1980
USS DIXIE, (destroyer tender), the oldest US warship on continuous active service, arrived in Sydney on a goodwill visit. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 May 1980
HMA Ships VAMPIRE, (Daring class destroyer), and HMAS JERVIS BAY, (training ship), were dispatched to the area between the Solomon Islands and Fiji, to observe the test firing of China’s ...
Australian Naval History on 11 May 1980
The Australian Government announced plans for the construction of a $13 million patrol base at Darwin, NT. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 May 1980
The first female officers of the RAN to serve at sea, embarked in the training ship HMAS JERVIS BAY. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 April 1980
The Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, announced the expenditure of $1,065 million for the building of four guided missile frigates and support equipment. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 March 1980
The Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, announced Government plans to increase the RAN’s strength in ships, weapons and establishments. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 March 1980
The patrol boat HMAS FREMANTLE, (LEUT R. Thomas, RAN), the lead ship of the Fremantle class patrol boats was commissioned at Lowestoft, England. A publicity hoax claiming the discovery of ...
Australian Naval History on 13 March 1980
AB J. Stewart was lost overboard from HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), 120 miles north-west of Honolulu before midnight on 12/3/1980, and was picked up 12 hours later by USS ...
Australian Naval History on 1 March 1980
HMAS TOBRUK, (amphibious heavy lift ship), was launched at Newcastle, NSW. ...
Australian Naval History on 29 February 1980
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (oceanographic research ship), and the last World War II ship in commission in the RAN, was paid off for disposal at Garden Island, Sydney. She had steamed 615,755 ...
Australian Naval History on 19 February 1980
The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. M. Fraser, announced plans for increasing the size of the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 January 1980
The keel for HMAS SYDNEY, the third guided missile frigate ordered from the USA, was laid at Seattle, USA. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 January 1980
A contingent of nine RAN officers sailed in the Antarctic relief ship NANOK S for a 40-day deployment in Australia’s Antarctic bases of Casey and Mawson. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 December 1979
Iroquois helicopters from No. 723 Squadron, and 150 personnel from RAN ships and establishments fought disastrous bushfires in the Sydney metropolitan area. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 November 1979
The Australian 200 nautical mile fishing zone was proclaimed, greatly increasing the surveillance role of the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 October 1979
HMAS Vendetta was decommissioned. In her 21 year career, she had steamed 670952 nautical miles. She subsequently served as a source of spare parts for Vampire (II), the last Australian ...
Australian Naval History on 31 August 1979
CPO Jackson, of HMAS KIMBLA, (survey vessel), was washed overboard and drowned in heavy seas, while the ship was leaving Port Philip Bay, VIC. His body was never recovered. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 August 1979
The Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, announced the building of an underway replenishment ship for the RAN at Cockatoo Island. The ship was named HMAS SUCCESS. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 August 1979
Trials of the Australian-designed and developed Mulloka Submarine Sonar System were completed in HMAS YARRA. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 August 1979
The Australian designed and manufactured Mulloka Sonar System, was accepted for service in the RAN ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1979
The WRAN officer rank titles were replaced with male officer rank titles. The Navy began training its WRAN officer cadets at RAN College at Jervis Bay with their male counterparts. ...
