The service reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS GRASS SNAKE, (SBLT Bromley), was commissioned. Egypt became the last nation to declare war on the Axis Powers. Turkey, Iceland, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 22 February 1945
Garden Island Naval Dockyard was formally acquired by the Commonwealth of Australia. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 February 1945
HMAS NAPIER, serving with the 7th Destroyer Flotilla, bombarded Japanese positions on the Burma coast in support of Allied land advances. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 February 1945
Fremantle-based US Submarines GUAVINA and PARGO sank a Japanese tanker and a destroyer. GUAVINA torpedoed the tanker EIYO MARU off Malaya, and PARGO torpedoed the destroyer NOKAZE off the east ...
Australian Naval History on 19 February 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS RIVER SNAKE, (LEUT J. P. Gowling, RAN), was commissioned at Fremantle. HMAS WARREGO, (sloop), completed a survey of Lingayen Gulf in preparation for ...
Australian Naval History on 16 February 1945
HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser), with HMA Ships ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA, (destroyers), shelled enemy positions on Corregidor Beach in the Philippines. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 February 1945
The River class frigate HMAS LACHLAN was commissioned. LACHLAN was laid down at Mort’s Dock, Sydney, and launched on 25 March 1944. LACHLAN, carrying the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, ...
Australian Naval History on 13 February 1945
The air/sea rescue vessels, (search and rescue craft), HMA Ships AIR HOPE, (LEUT R. W. Dunn, RANVR), and AIR SPRAY, (SBLT W. A. Booth, RANVR), were commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 February 1945
HMAS Nizam, twelve miles off Cape Leeuwin Light and while altering course, the ship struck a freak wave and rolled very heavily, 75 to 80 degrees, to port and 10 ...
Australian Naval History on 10 February 1945
The main body of the British Pacific Fleet arrived at Sydney. At its peak strength the BPF numbered 336 vessels. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 February 1945
Carrier-borne aircraft from the British Pacific Fleet landed at Nowra, NSW. The air station was in use by the RAAF from 7 May 1942 until it was transferred to the ...
Australian Naval History on 8 February 1945
The air/sea rescue vessels, (search and rescue craft), HMA Ships AIR FAITH, (LEUT R.R. Lewis, RANVR), and AIR TRIAL, (SBLT V.G. Maddison, RANVR), were commissioned. These vessels were built (along ...
Australian Naval History on 5 February 1945
HMAS NEPAL struck an uncharted obstruction in the Kaliendaung River in Burma, damaging her starboard propeller. The destroyer was withdrawn to Colombo for repairs. ...
Australian Naval History on 4 February 1945
The main units of the British Pacific Fleet, one battleship, four fleet carriers, three cruisers and 10 destroyers arrived at Fremantle. The BPF was to number 336 vessels at its ...
Australian Naval History on 30 January 1945
HMAS WARREGO (sloop), and her US tender, YMS 316, carried out inshore surveys and buoyed wrecks off Bataan Peninsula while US troops fought their way off the landing beaches. ...
Australian Naval History on 29 January 1945
HMAS WARREGO and US motor minesweeper YMS 316 marked inshore shoals for the US landings at Subic Bay, Philippines. The vessels continued this activity until 19 February, often landing armed ...
Australian Naval History on 26 January 1945
HMAS NORMAN, (destroyer), supported RN units in Operation Sankey, the assault on Cheduba Island, Burma. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 January 1945
HMAS NAPIER, (destroyer), supported RN units involved in Operation Matador, which was the assault on Rameree Island, Burma. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 January 1945
A fire broke out at No. 8 Berth, North Wharf, (Port of Fremantle), and engulfed the merchant ship MV PANAMANIAN, which was alongside loading flour. The fire took seven days ...
Australian Naval History on 16 January 1945
Japanese aircraft sank the Fremantle-based British submarine HMS PORPOISE, in Malacca Strait. PORPOISE had been involved in the ill-fated operation RIMAU, when she conveyed Z force operatives to the Singapore ...
Australian Naval History on 12 January 1945
HMAS NAPIER, (destroyer), and the Royal Indian Navy ships JUMNA and NARBADA, supported by HDML1248 and ML854, launched the assault on Myebon, Burma, (operation Pungent). ...
Australian Naval History on 11 January 1945
Twenty German POWs escaped via a tunnel from the officers’ POW camp at Dhuringle, VIC. One of the escapees was CAPT Theodore Detmers, who was the Commanding Officer of the ...
Australian Naval History on 10 January 1945
HMA ships COWRA and KAPUNDA, (minesweepers), bombarded Japanese troop positions at Halmahera, New Guinea. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 January 1945
HMAS AUSTRALIA suffered her fifth kamikaze attack. The Japanese aircraft struck the cruiser on the top of her third funnel. CMDR G.H. Gill, RANVR, reported: “Australia was the recipient of ...
Australian Naval History on 8 January 1945
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), was hit twice by kamikaze bombers in 15 minutes. The first aircraft skidded into the ship’s port side and the second exploded alongside, blowing a hole 4.3m ...