The six-man US-Australian Board of Inquiry into the HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer), collision heard evidence from its 78th witness, and adjourned to assess blame. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 23 June 1969
US Secretary for Defense, announced that members of the same family would be allowed to continue service in the same combat ship, or unit, despite the loss of three brothers ...
Australian Naval History on 13 June 1969
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), engaged Viet Cong targets, destroying 16 bunkers, 19 military structures, and collapsing 25 metres of tunnels. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 June 1969
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), was Naval Gun Fire Ship for US II Corps’ operations in Vietnam. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 June 1969
USS KEARSAGE arrived at Subic Bay, (The Philippines), with 196 of the 199 survivors from USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer), which had been cut in half by HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft ...
Australian Naval History on 3 June 1969
USS FRANK E. EVANS, (destroyer), was cut in two following a collision with HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), during exercises in the South China Sea. The bow section sank immediately, and ...
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1969
Leading Air-crewman N. E. Shipp, (RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam), was killed in action. Five miles west of Dong Tam, Dinh Tuong province, Shipp was door gunner in the lead gunship ...
Australian Naval History on 23 May 1969
CPO Albert Victor Rasleigh was awarded the BEM, and LS Jeffrey Lynden Garrett was MID, for gallantry while serving in RAN Clearance Diving Team 3 at Vung Tau, Vietnam. The ...
Australian Naval History on 23 April 1969
CPO A. V. Rashleigh and AB A. J. Sherlock, of the RAN Clearance Diving Team 3, carried out an underwater night search of the hull of MV HERADIA at Vung ...
Australian Naval History on 21 April 1969
HMAS HOBART, (destroyer), awarded the USN Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 April 1969
The Oberon class submarine HMAS OVENS, (LCDR B. Nobes, RAN), was commissioned. OVENS was laid down at Scott’s Yard, Greenock, Scotland, on 17 June 1966, and launched on 4 December ...
Australian Naval History on 15 April 1969
VADM Sir Roy Russell Dowling, KCVO, KBE, CB, CBE, DSO, died in Canberra. ...
Australian Naval History on 4 April 1969
HMAS AITAPE and LADAVA, (patrol boats), penetrated 230 miles up the Sepik River, New Guinea. Their record voyage emulated the cruise of HMA Ships PARRAMATTA and WARREGO in 1914. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 March 1969
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), relieved sister ship HMAS PERTH at Subic Bay, for duty in Vietnam. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 March 1969
CPO A. V. Rashleigh, and AB A. J. Sherlock, of Clearance Diving Team 3, cleared an enemy log barrier more than 30mts long, blocking a channel in the Mekong Delta. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 March 1969
The Daring class destroyer HMAS VENDETTA, (CMDR E. E. Johnson, RAN), carried out naval gunfire support duties in operations off the coast of Vietman. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 March 1969
The following personnel of the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam, were decorated for their service:-MID (Posthumous) LEUT A.A. Casadio, RAN MID LEUT R.J. Godfrey, RANMID SBLT J.W. Dagleish, RANMID POE (AW) ...
Australian Naval History on 20 March 1969
The guided missile destroyer HMAS BRISBANE, (CAPT A. A. Willis, RAN), sailed from Sydney on her first deployment in Vietnam. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 March 1969
The guided missile destroyer HMAS PERTH, (CAPT D. W. Leach, RAN), acted as naval gunfire support ship for II Corps in support of an operation by the US 101st Airborne ...
Australian Naval History on 22 February 1969
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BAYONET, (LEUT A. VODIC, RAN ), was commissioned at Urangan, QLD. BAYONET was laid down in Walkers Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in October 1968. Mrs ...
Australian Naval History on 13 February 1969
The former HMAS ARUNTA, (Tribal class destroyer), sank 65 miles off Boken Bay while under tow to Japan for breaking up. Although efforts were made to stop the flooding, it ...
Australian Naval History on 2 February 1969
A helicopter crewed by SBLT M. A. Perrott, RAN, and SBLT R. J. Kyle, RAN, rescued the crew of a helicopter gunship shot down within 20 metres of a Viet ...
Australian Naval History on 18 January 1969
HMAS LAE, (patrol boat), rescued injured and removed dead when Cyclone Ada devastated northern Queensland coastal resorts. For conspicuous gallantry in the rescues the following awards were announced:-MBE LEUT J. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 January 1969
CPO B. W. Wilson and AB R. H. Spicer of Clearance Diving Team 3, participated in an amphibious operation to destroy enemy positions on 5km of river bank in southern ...
Australian Naval History on 11 January 1969
The Attack class patrol boat, HMAS BUCCANEER, was commissioned. BUCCANEER was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, QLD, in June 1968, and launched on 14 September 1968. BUCCANEER was decommissioned ...