HMAS SWAN, (sloop), engaged Japanese targets at Cape Worn, near Wewak, New Guinea. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 24 April 1945
HMA Ships COLAC and DELORAINE, (minesweepers), bombarded Japanese fortifications at Cape Boiken, New Guinea. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 April 1945
CAPT W. J. Dovers, RAN, was appointed to command Wewak Force and Group 3, of the 1st New Guinea ML Flotilla. The force consisted of HMA Ships SWAN, COLAC, IPSWICH, ...
Australian Naval History on 14 April 1945
The cost of operating the RAN for one day was estimated at Pounds100,000. The DSC was awarded to CMDR H. C. Wright, RAN, and LCDR R. I. Peek, RAN, for ...
Australian Naval History on 12 April 1945
HM Submarine Tapir, (LEUT P. G. Evatt, RANVR), torpedoed and sunk the German submarine U486 in the North Sea north-west of Bergen, Norway, in position 60.44N, 04.39E. LEUT Evatt was ...
Australian Naval History on 11 April 1945
The Australian Government cancelled the building of 10 frigates for the RAN. The ships were:- BALMAIN, BOGAN, CAMPASPE, MURRUMBIDGEE, NAMOI, NEPEAN, WHARBURTON, WILLIAMSTOWN, WIMMERA, and WOLLONDILLY. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 April 1945
Acting LCDR F. M. Osborne RANVR, was awarded a bar to his DSC for conspicuous service, when HMS VANQUISHER, in which he was serving, sank a German submarine in the ...
Australian Naval History on 31 March 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS SEA SNAKE, (A/LEUT D.H. Jarvis, RAN), was commissioned. Japanese kamikaze attacks against Allied naval vessels in the Pacific in the first three months ...
Australian Naval History on 28 March 1945
The air/sea rescue vessel, (search and rescue craft), HMAS AIR BIRD, (SBLT D. Farquhar, RANVR), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 26 March 1945
HMAS TERKA, (auxiliary minesweeper), sank in Benner Harbour, New Guinea. The British Pacific Fleet joined the US Pacific Fleet for operations against the Ryuku Islands. Units of the RAN were ...
Australian Naval History on 25 March 1945
HMA Ships HOBART, (cruiser), and WARRAMUNGA, (destroyer), bombarded Japanese positions on Cebu Island, Philippines. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 March 1945
HRH the Duke of Gloucester officially opened the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney. A ribbon suspended across the dock entrance was cut by HMAS LACHLAN, (frigate). The ...
Australian Naval History on 21 March 1945
GHQ Operations Instruction No. 99 detailed the only large-scale amphibious operation undertaken by Australian Forces in the World War II. It was the battle plan for the assault on Tarakan ...
Australian Naval History on 20 March 1945
The British Pacific Fleet arrived at Ulithi to join the US Fifth Fleet for Operation Iceberg, the assault on Okinawa. HMAS QUICKMATCH and QUIBERON, (destroyers), were serving with the 4th ...
Australian Naval History on 19 March 1945
The general purpose vessel HMAS TRINGA, was commissioned. TRINGA was laid down in Greenpoint Naval Boatyard, Sydney. HMAS WARREGO surveyed the approaches to the Iloilo River in the Philippines. The ...
Australian Naval History on 14 March 1945
HMAS WATSON, Sydney, was commissioned as the RAN’s radar establishment. A radar school was established at the depot in 1942. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 March 1945
HMA ML 825 shot down a Japanese fighter off Cape Orford, New Guinea. HMAS LACHLAN, (frigate), surveyed the approaches to Mindanao, Philippines. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 March 1945
HMAS WARREGO, (sloop), and the motor survey launches ALERT and BLOWFLY, surveyed Santa Cruz beaches in the Philippines under intense fire from shore guns. ALERT, (SBLT D.L. Cole, RANR) was ...
Australian Naval History on 8 March 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS EDUARDO, was commissioned. EDUARDO was lent to SRD by the RN in March 1945. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 March 1945
The destroyer HMAS NAPIER, (CAPT H. J. Buchanan, RAN), lost two seamen overboard when the destroyer rolled heavily and shipped a large sea off King Island, Bass Strait. The ship’s ...
Australian Naval History on 3 March 1945
HMAS MACQUARIE, (River class frigate), was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 March 1945
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, (aircraft carrier), became the first ship to enter the Captain Cook Graving Dock at Garden Island, Sydney. ILLUSTRIOUS was heavily damaged in operations off Okinawa. HMAS WARREGO, (sloop), ...
Australian Naval History on 1 March 1945
The air/sea rescue vessel, (search and rescue craft), HMAS AIR SENSE, (SBLT J. R. Young, RANVR), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 February 1945
The air/sea rescue vessels, (search and rescue craft), HMA Ships AIR MERCY, (SBLT E.J. Johnson, RANVR), and AIR SPEED, (SBLT J.C. Williams, RANVR), were commissioned. HMS MAJESTIC, (aircraft carrier), later ...
Australian Naval History on 25 February 1945
HMAS SWAN engaged enemy troop concentrations in the Wewak-Aitape area of New Guinea with gunfire. HMAS Adelaide (I) paid off in Sydney. ...