RADM D. Leach, CBE, MVO, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 9 March 1979
The Minister for Defence, Mr. D. J. Killen, officially opened the new guided missile frigate berth at Garden Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 January 1979
The RAN Staff College was officially opened at HMAS PENGUIN, Sydney, under the command of CAPT N. Ralph, AM, DSC, RAN. Prior to this all RAN officers undergoing staff training ...
Australian Naval History on 5 January 1979
HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), was dispatched on a 3000 nautical mile mercy dash to Heard Island to evacuate a seriously ill biologist. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 December 1978
HMAS CANBERRA, (guided missile frigate), was launched at Seattle, USA. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 October 1978
Female Officers of the WRANS were granted equal pay with their male counterparts. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 July 1978
HMAS STIRLING, (shore establishment in Western Australia), commissioned. Located at Garden Island WA,. near the town of Rockingham, the base is often referred to as Fleet Base West. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1978
HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), represented Australia at the Solomon Island Independence Day celebrations, at Honiara. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1978
HMAS ADELAIDE, (guided missile frigate), was launched at Seattle, USA. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 May 1978
RADM G. J. Willis, AO, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 April 1978
The Oberon class submarine HMAS OTAMA, was commissioned. OTAMA was laid down at Scott’s Yard, Greenock, Scotland, on 28 May 1973, and launched on 3 December 1975. HRH Princess Anne ...
Australian Naval History on 21 April 1978
CDRE Sir James Ramsay, became the first officer of the RAN to be knighted twice. CDRE Ramsay, a Knight Bachelor and Governor of WA, was created a KCMG. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 January 1978
During squadron exercises on 11 January involving HMA Ships Barbette, Barricade and Bombard, an Aztec Piper aircraft on charter to the RAN and assisting with the exercise collided with Bombard’s ...
Australian Naval History on 16 December 1977
HMA Ships BRUNEI, LABUAN, and WEWAK, (landing craft heavy), broke adrift in the Brisbane River during a violent tropical storm. The ships were saved from serious damage, and possible loss, ...
Australian Naval History on 2 December 1977
AB R. A. McLeod, RAN, was awarded the Australian Bravery Medal for the rescue of five members of the crew of HMAS ARROW, (patrol boat), which sank in Darwin Harbour ...
Australian Naval History on 23 October 1977
HMAS Duchess decommissioned, one day after the 25th anniversary of her original Royal Navy commissioning. DUCHESS had been loaned to the RAN in 1964, as a replacement for the destroyer ...
Australian Naval History on 27 August 1977
HMAS COOK, (oceanographic ship), was launched by Mrs. Joyce Killen, wife of the Minister for Defence, at Williamstown, VIC. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 August 1977
HMAS JERVIS BAY, (ex-merchant vessel AUSTRALIAN TRADER), was commissioned as a training ship. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 August 1977
Legislation for the proclamation of a 200 mile Australian fishing zone was examined by the Australian Government. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 July 1977
Kiowa 891 crashed near Sunday Island, Western Australia while recovering one of the HMAS Moresby’s crew from the top of a cliff. The man jumped aboard the helicopter which then ...
Australian Naval History on 27 July 1977
HMAS ADROIT, (patrol boat), arrested her third Taiwanese vessel illegally fishing in Australian waters in the month of July. ADROIT was operating with Pabron Three. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 July 1977
HMAS MORESBY, (survey ship), went to the aid of a refugee vessel with 47 Vietnamese men, women and children aboard off the West Australian coast. A boarding party from MORESBY ...
Australian Naval History on 13 July 1977
Westland Wessex Mk.31A, N7-213, 823 ditched in the Sea. The helicopter was performing plane guard duties from HMAS Melbourne on Exercise Highwood in the Irish Sea with Lt(P) Phil Pinniger ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1977
A Harrier G-VTOL aircraft was flown for the first time from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier). ...
Australian Naval History on 28 June 1977
HMA Ships MELBOURNE and BRISBANE represented Australia at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Naval Review, at Spithead England. MELBOURNE was the oldest, and the largest ship at the Review. The youngest ...