CMDR G. G. O. Gatacre, DSC, RAN, was awarded a Bar to the DSC for conspicuous gallantry while serving in HMAS AUSTRALIA during the Battle of the Solomon Islands. LEUT ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 10 February 1943
HMAS WARRAMUNGA, (Tribal class destroyer), picked up survivors from the merchant-ship STARR KING, torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-21 east of Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 8 February 1943
HMA Ships TOWNSVILLE and MILDURA, (corvettes), were escorting a convoy when the Japanese submarine I-21, (CAPT Matsumura), torpedoed the Australian merchant ship IRON KNIGHT, off Montague Island, NSW. Some survivors ...
Australian Naval History on 5 February 1943
Reverend L. N. Kentish, Methodist missionary, was executed by Japanese troops on Dobo Island in the Arafura Sea. The Japanese rescued Kentish from the sea after HMAS PATRICIA CAM was ...
Australian Naval History on 2 February 1943
HMAS MANOORA returned to service after conversion from an armed merchant cruiser to a landing ship, infantry. HMAS WHYALLA, (minesweeper), bombarded Japanese fortifications at McLaren Harbour, New Guinea. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 February 1943
HMS WELSHMAN, (minelayer), was sunk off Crete. LCDR L. Gellatly, DSC, RAN was serving in the ship when she was lost, but he survived the sinking. He had been awarded ...
Australian Naval History on 29 January 1943
HMAS KURU, (patrol vessel), rescued 16 survivors of HMAS PATRICIA CAM from Marchinbar Island in the Arafura Sea. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 January 1943
The examination vessel HMAS JOHN OXLEY was commissioned. JOHN OXLEY was laid down in Bow, McLachlan & Co, Paisley, Scotland, in 1927, and requisitioned from her owners, the Queensland Government ...
Australian Naval History on 26 January 1943
HMAS Abraham Crijnssen while escorting a Sydney bound convoy through Bass Strait, Crijnssen in company with the corvette HMAS Bundaberg made a firm ASDIC contact displaying all the characteristics of ...
Australian Naval History on 23 January 1943
The examination vessel HMAS MATTHEW FLINDERS was commissioned. MATTHEW FLINDERS was laid down in Fleming & Ferguson Ltd, Paisley, Scotland, in 1914. She was requisitioned by the RAN from the ...
Australian Naval History on 22 January 1943
The Japanese submarine I-21 torpedoed the merchant ship PETER H BURNETT 420 miles east of Sydney. The destroyer USS ZANE, and corvettes HMAS DELORAINE and HMAS GYMPIE, were sent to ...
Australian Naval History on 18 January 1943
First training course for WRAN officers began at Flinders Naval Depot. The Australian tanker MOBILUBE was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-21, 60 miles from Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 January 1943
Japanese submarine I-21 sank the merchant ship KALINGO, 110 miles east of Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 January 1943
Brisbane-based US submarines GREENLING and GROWLER, sank the Japanese transports KINPOSAN MARU and CHIFUKU MARU off Rabaul. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 January 1943
Stoker G. H. McCredie and Steward R. Smith, of HMAS PERTH, died of wounds following the bombing of the POW ships MIKITIEI MARU and MOJI MARU by Allied planes in ...
Australian Naval History on 10 January 1943
The destroyer, HMAS ARUNTA, (CMDR J. C. Morrow, RAN), arrived at Darwin with 24 officers and 258 other ranks of Lancer Force, and 31 Portuguese evacuated from Betano Bay, Timor. ...
Australian Naval History on 5 January 1943
The following awards were made to HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), “for courage, endurance and devotion to duty” while under Japanese air attack in dock at Singapore, and during the tow of ...
Australian Naval History on 3 January 1943
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS BUNBURY, (LEUT J. S. Bell RANR(S)), was commissioned. Mrs F. A. Cooper, (Wife of the Treasurer of Queensland), performed the launching ceremony. BUNBURY was ...
Australian Naval History on 2 January 1943
HMAS WHYALLA, (corvette), and survey vessels STELLA and POLARIS, were attacked by 18 Japanese aircraft while surveying in the Milne Bay area. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 January 1943
HMAS MINDARI, (gunnery instruction centre), was commissioned at Woolloomooloo, Sydney. CMDR N. K. Calder, RAN, was appointed to OBE for dedicated service while commanding HMAS BUNGAREE in mine-laying operations in ...
Australian Naval History on 23 December 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS WAGGA, (LEUT D. K. Cracknell, RANR), was commissioned. WAGGA was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Sydney, 9 March 1942, and launched on 25 July ...
Australian Naval History on 21 December 1942
HMAS QUIBERON, (destroyer), took off troops and crew from the bombed and burning transport STRATHALLAN, torpedoed off North Africa. ...
Australian Naval History on 19 December 1942
HMAS KALGOORLIE, (minesweeper), picked up 29 survivors from HMAS ARMIDALE’s whaler, 150 miles north-west of Darwin. ARMIDALE was sunk by Japanese bombers off Timor. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 December 1942
HMAS CASTLEMAINE, (minesweeper), beat off Japanese aircraft attacks on the convoy she was escorting on the north Australian coast. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 December 1942
HMA Ships COLAC, BALLARAT, BROOME, and WHYALLA, (minesweepers), landed troops at Buna, New Guinea. ...