The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS MARY CAM, was commissioned. MARY CAM, (as JOHN FISSER), was laid down in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1918. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 3 October 1942
RAN rates of pay were increased. They were:- Able Seaman, 8s 6d per day;Chief Petty Officer, 12s 6d per day; Midshipman, 7s 6d per day; Sub-Lieutenant, 12s 6d per day; ...
Australian Naval History on 1 October 1942
Foundation date of WRANS. First 14 girls were sworn into the Navy as enlisted personnel with enlisted status. RANNS established with 23 qualified nursing sisters in RAN hospitals and Miss ...
Australian Naval History on 30 September 1942
A Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMAS CANBERRA delivered its report to the Australian Government. It found CANBERRA was not in a state of readiness when attacked by ...
Australian Naval History on 29 September 1942
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), and aircraft, participating in Operation Stream-Line-Jane, intercepted the Vichy French ship AMIRAL PIERRE, off Lourenco Marques The vessel was scuttled on 30 September. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 September 1942
Coastwatcher LEUT W.J. Read, RANVR, signalled from Buka Passage:- “A ship, which may be a cruiser and probably another, entered Kessa 1 pm, believe from the north. Heavy destroyer and ...
Australian Naval History on 27 September 1942
HMA Ships WARRNAMBOOL, and KALGOORLIE, (corvettes), arrived back in Darwin, NT, after rescuing the ship’s company of HMAS VOYAGER, (destroyer), from Betano Bay. Some were wounded, but not a man ...
Australian Naval History on 24 September 1942
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), captured the French Vichy vessel MARECHAL GALLIENI in the Mozambique Channel. LEUT V. Cohen, RANVR, sailed the ship as a prize to Durban. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 September 1942
HMAS STUART re-embarked the Australian 2/10th Battalion, and eight Japanese POWs, from Normanby Island. The prisoners were survivors of the Japanese destroyer YAYOI, sunk off the island by American bombers ...
Australian Naval History on 22 September 1942
HMAS GLENELG, (minesweeper), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. HMAS STUART, (destroyer), landed the Australian 2/lOth Battalion on Normanby Island, New Guinea. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 September 1942
The cutter HMAS MAROUBRA, was commissioned. MAROUBRA was laid down in Brisbane in 1930. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the Australian Petroleum Co Ltd, on 20 ...
Australian Naval History on 20 September 1942
HMAS Nizam and HMS Hotspur chased Vichy ship, the Antral Pierre, but this vessel opened her sea cocks and could not be salvaged. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 September 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS INVERELL, was commissioned. INVERELL was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Sydney, on 6 December 1941, and launched on 2 May 1942. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 September 1942
The Q class destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH, (CMDR R. Rhoades, RAN), was commissioned at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. LEUT R. H. E. Kerruish, RAN, was navigator of HMS COVENTRY, ...
Australian Naval History on 13 September 1942
ML 352, (LEUT R. G. Worledge, RANVR), picked up survivors from damaged landing craft during an assault by Royal Marine Commandos on Mersa Sciause, near Tobruk. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 September 1942
The hulk of HMAS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), was scuttled off Sydney. The Bathurst class minesweeper HMAS BUNDABERG, (LCDR N. D. Pixley, RANR), was commissioned. BUNDABERG was laid down in Evans Deakin ...
Australian Naval History on 10 September 1942
Engaged in Operation Stream-Line-Jane, HMAS NAPIER, (destroyer), entered the Vichy-French port of Morandava, in Madagascar, and landed 50 commandos. The landing was made in a violent thunderstorm, which enabled the ...
Australian Naval History on 9 September 1942
The 7th Destroyer Flotilla, HMA Ships NAPIER, NIZAM, NORMAN, and NEPAL, joined the assault forces for the invasion of Madagascar. The former RAN seaplane carrier, ALBATROSS, was in the naval ...
Australian Naval History on 8 September 1942
The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, announced that the cruiser HMS SHROPSHIRE would be transferred to the RAN, as a replacement for HMAS CANBERRA, lost in the Battle of Savo ...
Australian Naval History on 7 September 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper HMAS ECHUCA, was commissioned. ECHUCA was laid down in Williamstown Naval Dockyard on 22 February 1941, and launched on 17 January 1942. Lady Royle. HrMs Tromp ...
Australian Naval History on 6 September 1942
HMAS ARUNTA escorted the freighter ANSHUN and the hospital ship MANUNDA into Milne Bay. ARUNTA departed the bay at 1500 to screen other ships, and that night a Japanese naval ...
Australian Naval History on 1 September 1942
Australian Coastwatchers LEUT A. F. Kyle, DSC, RANVR, and SBLT G. M. W. Benham, DSC, RANVR, were believed executed by the Japanese in New Ireland. The two officers had radioed ...
Australian Naval History on 31 August 1942
RADM G. C. Muirhead-Gould, Flag Officer-in-Charge, Sydney, presided over the Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser). Muirhead-Gould also served on the Boards which inquired into the ...
Australian Naval History on 30 August 1942
HMA Ships ARUNTA, MATEFELE, and POTRERO towed the torpedoed transport MALAITA to shallow water in Basilisk Passage. ...
Australian Naval History on 29 August 1942
HMAS ARUNTA, (destroyer), sank the Japanese submarine RO33, off Port Moresby. CMDR J. C. Morrow, RAN, was awarded the DSC for the operation. He received the DSO, and was MID ...