CAPT H.A. Showers, RAN, assumed command of HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser). Mrs Ruby Boye, Australia’s only woman Coastwatcher, was appointed Honorary Third Officer, WRANS. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 3 May 1944
In the period 24 April to 3 May, HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), transported 1937 soldiers, and 90 tons of stores, in support of the Australian advance from Langemark to Madang, New ...
Australian Naval History on 1 May 1944
Thirty-six US submarines were operating from Fremantle. Six more were based sporadically at Brisbane. ...
Australian Naval History on 27 April 1944
The Brisbane-based USS BLUEGILL, (submarine), sank the Japanese cruiser YUBARI in the Sonsorol Islands. ...
Australian Naval History on 26 April 1944
HMAS BUNDABERG, (minesweeper), attacked Japanese positions on Sek Island, (off Madang). All the ship’s armament was used in the attack. A landing party made up of soldiers, and some of ...
Australian Naval History on 25 April 1944
HMA Ships VENDETTA, (destroyer), and BUNDABERG, (corvette), provided close support to troops in the capture of Madang, New Guinea. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 April 1944
HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA, and WARRAMUNGA provided covering fire for the landing of troops from the Australian landing ships WESTRALIA, MANOORA, and KANIMBLA, at Humboldt Bay, near Hollandia in ...
Australian Naval History on 21 April 1944
ADML Somerville signalled the British Admiralty after the successful attack on Sabang; ‘We caught the Japs with their kimonos up and their heads down and gave Sabang a good bang’. ...
Australian Naval History on 19 April 1944
HMA Ships NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM, QUICKMATCH, and QUIBERON, (destroyers), operated as part of the British Pacific Fleet in the attack on Sabang, (Operation Cockpit), by carrier-borne aircraft. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 April 1944
The Fremantle-based USS REDFIN, (submarine), sank the Japanese transport KAMAGATA MARU in the South China Sea. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 April 1944
The Fremantle-based USS REDFIN, (submarine), sank the Japanese transport SHINYU MARU, in the South China Sea. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 April 1944
The Fremantle-based USS BONEFISH, (submarine), sank the Japanese destroyer INAZUMA, off North Borneo. LEUT M. H. Shean, RANVR, commanding a midget submarine, successfully laid charges in Bergen Harbour, Norway. A ...
Australian Naval History on 11 April 1944
The Fremantle-based USS REDFIN, (submarine), sank the Japanese destroyer AKIGUMO, off Zamboanga, in the Philippines. The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS JUNEE, was commissioned. JUNEE was laid down at Poole ...
Australian Naval History on 10 April 1944
The Fremantle-based USS COD, (submarine), sank the Japanese destroyer KARUKAYA off Luzon. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 March 1944
HMA Ships NAPIER, NORMAN, NEPAL, and QUIBERON, (destroyers), and HM ships QUALITY and QUEENBOROUGH, participated in Operation Diplomat, the reinforcing of the British Eastern Fleet. HMA Submarine K9, formerly the ...
Australian Naval History on 27 March 1944
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS STRAHAN, was commissioned. STRAHAN was laid down in the State Dockyard, Newcastle, NSW, on 19 October 1942, and launched on 12 July 1943. The ...
Australian Naval History on 26 March 1944
The Coastwatcher’s Navy in far northern waters consisted of, HMAS PALUMA and HDML 1321, commanded respectively by the brothers SBLT P. Palmer, RANVR, and SBLT E. Palmer, RANVR. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 March 1944
Manus Island was captured by the Allies. Seeadler Harbour was developed as a major naval base and by September 1944 it rivalled Pearl Harbour. It was equipped with a 100,000 ...
Australian Naval History on 24 March 1944
The Fremantle based USS BOWFIN, (submarine), sank the Japanese transports SHINKYO MARU and BENGAL MARU. An explosion and fire onboard the Fairmile motor launch, HMAS ML 427, caused the deaths ...
Australian Naval History on 23 March 1944
The Fremantle-based USS DACE, (submarine), landed a coastwatcher reconnaissance party, under CAPT G. C. Harris, on Cape Tanahmerah, Dutch New Guinea, to gather intelligence for the proposed landing at Hollandia. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 March 1944
HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), and ARUNTA, (destroyer), with the USS MULLANY, (destroyer), carried out a sweep of the New Guinea coast east of Tanahmerah Bay and destroyed a number of ...
Australian Naval History on 15 March 1944
Southwest Pacific Force, which included units of the RAN in the Pacific, was re-designated the Seventh Fleet. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 March 1944
HMAS SHEPPARTON, (minesweeper), landed troops at Talasea, New Britain. HMAS BENALLA, (minesweeper), surveyed Seeadler Harbour, Manus Island, while under enemy gunfire. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 March 1944
HMAS ARUNTA, (destroyer), along with US destroyers, closed to 4000 yards to bombard Japanese positions at Seeadler Harbour, Manus Island. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 March 1944
CAPT E. F. V. Dechaineux, RAN, assumed command of HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser). ...