HMAS STRAHAN, (minesweeper), was launched at Newcastle, NSW. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 10 July 1943
The invasion of Sicily, (Operation Husky), began. Among the escort ships for the troop convoys were HMA Ships CAIRNS, CESSNOCK, GAWLER, GERALDTON, IPSWICH, LISMORE, MARYBOROUGH, and WOLLONGONG, (corvettes). Over the ...
Australian Naval History on 9 July 1943
HMAS GAWLER, (minesweeper), escorting a convoy for the invasion of Sicily, (Operation Husky), dropped back to investigate a transport which had fallen behind. GAWLER signalled ‘Follow father’. At first light ...
Australian Naval History on 6 July 1943
Coastwatchers LEUT H. Josselyn, RANVR, and SBLT R. Firth, RANVR, rescued 165 survivors of the USS HELENA, (cruiser), sunk off Vella Lavella Island by Japanese destroyers, in a night engagement. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 July 1943
The following message was delivered to Coastwatcher LEUT P. Mason, RANVR, in Bougainville: ‘My dear Ansacs. We all admire your bravery. You have done your best for Great Britain. You ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1943
HMAS HARMAN, (shore establishment in Canberra), was commissioned. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1943
Coastwatcher LEUT F. A. Rhoades, RANVR, landed with the first echelon of assault troops at Rendova, Solomon Islands, and led the initial attack on Japanese positions. Rhoades killed seven of ...
Australian Naval History on 26 June 1943
The training submarine K9, was commissioned. K9 was laid down in K. M. de Shelde, Flushing, Holland, in 1922. She served with the Royal Netherlands Navy until 31 May 1942, ...
Australian Naval History on 25 June 1943
The cruiser HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (CAPT J. A. Collins, CB, RAN), was commissioned. SHROPSHIRE was laid down in Wm Beardmore & Co Ltd, Dalmuir, Scotland, on 24 February 1926, and launched ...
Australian Naval History on 22 June 1943
HMA submarine K9 was commissioned for anti-submarine training. As KIX she had been a unit of the Netherlands Navy. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1943
HMAS IPSWICH, (minesweeper), contributed one officer and ten ratings to the guard of honour to welcome HRH King George VI, at Tripoli. The Brisbane based USS GATO, (submarine), sank the ...
Australian Naval History on 17 June 1943
HMA Ships GAWLER and LISMORE, (minesweepers) and two motor minesweepers, picked up 1353 survivors from the troop ship YOMA, sunk by a German submarine off Derna, Libya. Operation Lilliput ended. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 June 1943
The Japanese submarine I-174 torpedoed the merchant vessel PORTMAR, and the landing ship LST 469, off Smoky Cape, NSW. PORTMAR sank, but LST 469 was towed to Byron Bay, NSW, ...
Australian Naval History on 12 June 1943
The minesweeper HMAS DUBBO, (LEUT N. G. Weber, RANR(S)), picked up survivors from HMAS WALLAROO, sunk in a collision west of Fremantle WA. Three of WALLAROO’s complement were lost in ...
Australian Naval History on 11 June 1943
HMAS WALLAROO, (minesweeper), sank in a collision with the American merchant ship HENRY GILBERT COSTIN, 60 miles west of Fremantle, WA. 3 ratings lost their lives. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 June 1943
HMAS Kanimbla commissioned into RAN as a Landing Ship (Infantry) after conversion in Sydney from April to June 1943. She had served in the RN since 1939. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1943
The landing ship infantry HMAS WESTRALIA, (CMDR A. V. Knight, RANR), was re-commissioned. WESTRALIA was first commissioned into the RAN on 17 January 1940. ...
Australian Naval History on 26 May 1943
HMA Ships GAWLER, IPSWICH, LISMORE, and MARYBOROUGH, (minesweepers), were formed into the 21st Minesweeping Flotilla at Alexandria, Egypt. The Fremantle based USS TROUT, (submarine), landed a party of American agents ...
Australian Naval History on 15 May 1943
A RAAF Avro Anson, which was providing air escort to USS MUGFORD, (destroyer), and the British steamer SUSSEX, sighted survivors from the HMAS CENTAUR, (hospital ship), off the coast of ...
Australian Naval History on 14 May 1943
HMAS CENTAUR, (hospital ship), was sunk by a Japanese submarine, (believed to be I178), off the Queensland coast near Brisbane. CENTAUR was on her second journey north to Port Moresby ...
Australian Naval History on 12 May 1943
The Japanese submarine I-180 sank the Australian merchant ship ORMISTON, off Coffs Harbour, NSW. The ship reached port under its own steam. The Fremantle-based USS GUDGEON, (submarine), sank the Japanese ...
Australian Naval History on 10 May 1943
On the 10th of May 1943, whilst on a return voyage from Thursday Island to Darwin, Maroubra was strafed by a fleet of nine Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi Zero fighters ...
Australian Naval History on 9 May 1943
HMAS LATROBE, (minesweeper), suffered heavy air attacks off the south coast of New Guinea. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 May 1943
HMAS ADELE, (auxiliary patrol vessel, formerly HMAS FRANKLIN), was wrecked on the breakwater at Port Kembla. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 May 1943
HMAS ABRAHAM CRIJNSSEN, (minesweeper), was returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Dutch minesweeper had escaped from the Netherlands East Indies in 1942, and had been commissioned into the RAN. ...