The last recorded RAN Fairey Firefly flight; after being withdrawn from frontline service in 1955. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 28 February 1966
The Australian Government made a grant of $20,000 for the construction of a replica of HMS ENDEAVOUR to retrace CAPT Cook’s voyages. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 February 1966
RAN clearance divers operating from HMAS KIMBLA, (trials ship), located and recovered a ton of explosives lost overboard from a vessel off Lakes Entrance, VIC. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 February 1966
HMAS Gascoyne paid off. She had steamed 301,781 miles. Without being brought forward for further service, Gascoyne was sold as scrap on 15 February 1972 to the Fujita Salvage Company ...
Australian Naval History on 28 January 1966
RADM V. A. T. Smith, CBE, DSC, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 January 1966
HMAS Nirimba, RAN Apprentice Training Establishment commissioned. The site had previously been used by the military since 1950 in relation to the Fleet Air Arm. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 December 1965
The former Chief of the Naval Stoff, Vice Admiral Sir Hastings Harrington, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., was buried at sea from HMAS Vampire, off Sydney. Vice Admiral Harrington died in Canberra ...
Australian Naval History on 18 December 1965
The Perth class, (Charles F Adams, DDG), guided missile destroyer HMAS HOBART, (CAPT G. R. Griffiths, DSO, RAN), was commissioned. HOBART was laid down in Defoe Shipbuilding Co, Bay City, ...
Australian Naval History on 1 December 1965
The Australian Naval Board approved ‘Australia’ shoulder insignia as standard uniform for the RAN. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 November 1965
LEUT Hugh Randall Syme, GC, GM and Bar, RANVR, died in Melbourne. Syme distinguished himself in rendering safe a wide variety of explosive devices employed by the Germans. Many of ...
Australian Naval History on 28 October 1965
In the Australian Federal Parliament the Member for Batman, Mr S. J. Benson, argued with respect to the White Ensign being flown in Vietnam by Australia ships, which at that ...
Australian Naval History on 21 September 1965
HMAS MILDURA, (minesweeper), was sold out of service for breaking up at Brisbane. For the last 10 years of her life, she served as a stationary training ship for the ...
Australian Naval History on 4 August 1965
HMAS Yarra (III), commenced operations around West Malaysia as part of the Indonesian Confrontation conflict. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 August 1965
HMAS Parramatta (III), concluded operations around Borneo as part of the Indonesian Confrontation conflict ...
Australian Naval History on 17 July 1965
The Perth class, (Charles F Adams, DDG), guided missile destroyer HMAS PERTH, (CAPT I. H. Cartwright, RAN), was commissioned. PERTH was laid down in Defoe Shipbuilding Co, Bay City, Michigan, ...
Australian Naval History on 8 June 1965
HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport), arrived at Vung Tau, South Vietnam, on her first passage to the war zone. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 May 1965
With 347 officers and men of 1RAR embarked, as well as vehicles and stores, the fast troop transport, HMAS Sydney (III) departed Sydney for her first voyage to Vietnam, escorted ...
Australian Naval History on 27 March 1965
HMAS Melbourne participated in Exercise Showpiece off Malaysia with RN aircraft carriers HMS Eagle (R05), HMS Bulwark (R08) and HMS Victorious (R38). The exercise was a political one intended to ...
Australian Naval History on 24 March 1965
During the Indonesian ‘Confrontation’ to detect Indonesian boats smuggling arms or infiltrating Malaysia Fairey Gannets flew night-time patrols along the Strait of Malacca from HMAS Melbourne. Returning after a night ...
Australian Naval History on 12 March 1965
Gallantry awards were conferred on the following RAN personnel for their part in saving lives after HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), was sunk following a collision with HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier):GC (Posthumous) ...
Australian Naval History on 5 March 1965
Bosun fibreglass sailing dinghies were introduced into the RAN as replacements for the 4.3 metre timber Island class dinghies. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 March 1965
HMAS SPRIGHTLY, (fleet tug), was taken in hand for conversion to a submarine rescue ship. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 February 1965
VADM Sir Alan McNicholl was appointed as Chief of Naval Staff. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 February 1965
HMAS Ibis and Teal return to Sydney after 17 months serving with the Far East Strategic Reserve as part of Australia’s commitment to Commonwealth support for Malaysia during the Indonesian ...
Australian Naval History on 11 January 1965
RADM T. K. Morrison, CBE, DSC, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet. ...