HMAS Kanimbla decommissioned in Sydney and, after refitting, returned to her owners on 13 December 1950 ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 2 March 1949
First of 12 Vultee Vengeance aircraft were transferred from RAAF to RAN. They were taken to Nowra for use as Fire Fighting Training Aids ...
Australian Naval History on 26 February 1949
HMAS LABUAN, (landing ship tank), arrived back at Melbourne after a voyage to Antarctica supplying Australian bases. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 February 1949
HMAS SHOALHAVEN, (frigate), relieved HMAS WARRAMUNGA, (destroyer), of occupation duties in the Far East. The handover took place at Shanghai, China. She then proceeded to Kure, Japan to operate with ...
Australian Naval History on 1 February 1949
First C-47 delivered to the RAN FAA. A total of 4 were acquired and the last left service in 1974. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 January 1949
The hulk of HMAS Adelaide was sold to Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd, her gear and equipment having been sold in 1947. On 1-2 April 1949 the hulk was ...
Australian Naval History on 21 January 1949
The landing ship, tank, HMAS LABUAN, (LCDR G. M. Dixon, RAN), sailed from Melbourne for Heard and Kerguelen islands in the Antarctic. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 December 1948
The aircraft carrier HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT R. R. Dowling, DSO, RAN), was commissioned. As HMS TERRIBLE she was laid down in Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, England, on 19 April 1943, and ...
Australian Naval History on 23 November 1948
First CAC CA-16 Wirraway delivered to the RAN. Seven Wirraways were acquired by the RAN as training and general fleet support aircraft during 1948 – 1951 and then an additional ...
Australian Naval History on 6 October 1948
First of 15 Spitfires (1 VC and 14 VIII Models) aircraft issued to RAN FAA, with the last was issued on 27/10/1948. They were trucked to Nowra for use as ...
Australian Naval History on 3 October 1948
RADM J. A. S. Eccles, CBE, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding His Majesty’s Australian Fleet. His flagship was HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser). ...
Australian Naval History on 1 October 1948
The RAN took command of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, (BCOF), naval shore establishment Kure, Japan. The base, then known as HMS COMMONWEALTH, became HMAS COMMONWEALTH. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 August 1948
HMAS Albatross was commissioned on 31 August 1948 The decision to build an airfield on the land now occupied by the Naval Air Station was taken soon after WWII was ...
Australian Naval History on 28 August 1948
The 20th Carrier Air Group, (comprising 805 and 816 Squadrons), was commissioned at the Royal Naval Air Station, Eglinton, England. The air group was formed to be embarked in the ...
Australian Naval History on 20 August 1948
HMAS ANZAC, (Battle class destroyer), was launched at Williamstown Dockyard, VIC. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 August 1948
HMAS Katoomba paid off at Fremantle, having steamed 152,804 miles. On 2 May 1957 Katoomba was sold to Hong Kong Rolling Mills Ltd to be broken up. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 July 1948
HMAS QUIBERON, (destroyer), encountered a typhoon near Guam, while en-route from Sasebo, Japan, to Manus Island, New Guinea. As well as the crew, there were 60 Australian soldiers and airmen ...
Australian Naval History on 2 July 1948
The hull of the former HMAS VENDETTA was scuttled off Sydney Heads. Last three WRANS, Betty Eastick, Shirley Bell and Margaret Bell, leave the service. The Last RANNS members leave. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1948
The RAN Nursing Service, (RANNS), which had been formed in October 1942, was disbanded. 57 uniformed nursing sisters had served in the RANNS during WWII. Civilian nurses were employed to ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1948
HMAS BATHURST, (minesweeper), was sold out of service for breaking up in Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 June 1948
A State of Emergency was declared in Malaya, as a result of action by Communist insurgents. The Malayan emergency lasted until 1960, and several RAN units were involved in patrols ...
Australian Naval History on 8 June 1948
HMAS Lithgow paid off to the Reserve Fleet at Fremantle, having steamed 178,000 miles. On 8 August 1956 Lithgow was sold as scrap to the Hong Kong Delta Shipping Company, ...
Australian Naval History on 6 June 1948
The destroyer HMAS QUIBERON, (CMDR Bath, RAN), on patrol between South Korea and Japan as part of the British Commonwealth occupation Force, intercepted a Korean vessel with over 130 illegal ...
Australian Naval History on 18 May 1948
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), took the disabled merchant vessel MADONNA in tow, in rough seas, near Lady Elliott Island, (off the coast of QLD), and towed her to Gladstone, QLD. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 April 1948
HMAS MINDARI, (Gunnery Instruction Centre located at Woolloomooloo, Sydney), was decommissioned. In recent times the site was occupied by the Gunnery Art Gallery, which referred to its previous use. ...