HMA Ships MILDURA, CASTLEMAINE, BATHURST, BROOME, FREMANTLE, STRAHAN, and STAWELL, were formed into the Australian Minesweeping Flotilla, at Subic Bay, under LCDR J. M. Little, RANR. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 18 August 1945
The Japanese surrender of Bougainville was signed on board HMAS LITHGOW, (corvette). ...
Australian Naval History on 17 August 1945
The corvette, HMAS STAWELL, (LCDR W. H. Burke, RANR), sank a Japanese armed barge in a night engagement north of the eastern tip of the Celebes. This was the last ...
Australian Naval History on 15 August 1945
Hostilities with Japan ended at 12 noon. When HRH Duke of Gloucester made the announcement in Canberra, three flags were flown. They were the flag raised by Australian troops at ...
Australian Naval History on 14 August 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS TAIPAN, was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 July 1945
Between 30 and 31st July 1945 XE-4 commanded by LEUT M.H. Shean, RANVR was involved in Operation SABRE; the cutting of two underwater telegraph cables off Japanese-occupied Saigon. The Japanese ...
Australian Naval History on 26 July 1945
HMAS GASCOYNE, (frigate), steamed up the Balikpapan River to engage Japanese positions with close-range gunfire. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 July 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS DIANOND SNAKE, (LEUT W. L. Fesq, RAN), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 July 1945
CDRE J. A. Collins, CB, hoisted his broad pennant in HMAS WARRAMUNGA at Manila, Philippines. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 July 1945
The minesweeper HMAS LATROBE, (LEUT W. A. Smith, RANR), accepted temporary responsibility for the defence of Balikpapan from a fleet of US destroyers and destroyer escorts. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 July 1945
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), provided close support fire to operations on Sohano Island. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 July 1945
HMA Ships QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH, (destroyers), with HM Ships FORMIDABLE, NEWFOUNDLAND, BLACK PRINCE, BARFLEUR, GRENVILLE, TROUGHBRIDGE, and UNDINE, bombarded the Japanese coast north of Tokyo. QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH were the ...
Australian Naval History on 15 July 1945
The RAN reached its peak WWII strength. Ships in commission numbered 315. Personnel totalled 39,650, of whom 2,617 were WRANS, and 57 nursing sisters. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 July 1945
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), reported the finding of a small roll of paper, identified as a carrier-pigeon message, in the stomach of a shark caught off Saposa, New Guinea. The message ...
Australian Naval History on 10 July 1945
The Fremantle-based USS HAMMERHEAD, (submarine), sank the Japanese transport SAKURA MARU, and the tanker NANMEI MARU, in the Gulf of Siam. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 July 1945
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), bombarded enemy positions and installations on Sohana Island. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 July 1945
CDRE H. B. Farncomb, complained of the few targets available for his flagship, HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser). ‘The few targets allocated to HMAS SHROPSHIRE, the long delays and poor co-ordination experienced, ...
Australian Naval History on 7 July 1945
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), engaged Japanese gun positions on Sohano Island, Torokina, with gunfire. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 July 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS NYANIE, (LEUT R. F. Saunders, RAN), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 July 1945
HMAS WARREGO, (survey ship), surveyed the approaches, and buoyed the channels, for the Australian landing on Balikpapan. The Naval Post Office at HMAS PENGUIN was opened. This post office had ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1945
HMA Ships ARUNTA, HOBART, SHROPSHIRE, KANIMBLA, MANOORA, and WESTRALIA, participated in the assault on Balikpapan, Borneo. HMAS MINDARI, (gunnery instruction centre), was commissioned at Woolloomooloo, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS MOTHER SNAKE, (LEUT R. T. Patterson, RAN), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 June 1945
The British Pacific Fleet, under second in command VADM Rawlings, sailed from Sydney for operations against the Japanese home islands. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 June 1945
HMA Ships SHROPSHIRE and HOBART, (cruisers), bombarded Japanese positions at Klandasan in preparation for the landing at Balikpapan. ...
Australian Naval History on 26 June 1945
The Tribal class destroyer HMAS BATAAN, (CMDR H. M. Burrell, RAN), was commissioned. BATAAN, (as KURNAI), was laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, on 18 February 1942, and launched ...