The sloop HMAS PARRAMATTA, (CMDR J. H. Walker, RAN), was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U559, while on passage to Tobruk. Of the ships complement of 162, there ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 26 November 1941
CAPT Theodor Detmers, (German raider KORMORAN), claimed the last signal hoisted by HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), was the two flags IK:- ‘You should prepare for a hurricane or a typhoon’. The ...
Australian Naval History on 25 November 1941
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), and HM Ships JERVIS, JACKAL, and HOTSPUR, (destroyers), picked up 450 survivors from HMS BARHAM, (battleship), sunk by the German submarine U331 south of Crete. ...
Australian Naval History on 23 November 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS DELORAINE, (LCDR D. A. Menlove, RANR(S)), was commissioned. DELORAINE was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Sydney, on 19 March, 1941, and launched on 29 ...
Australian Naval History on 19 November 1941
HMA Ships HOBART NAPIER and NIZAM, (destroyers), supported the Battle Fleet in the bombardment of key German and Italian defences in the Halfaya Pass, Libya. The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT ...
Australian Naval History on 17 November 1941
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. Burnett, RAN), handed over the escort of the troop ship ZEALANDIA, to HMS DURBAN in Sunda Strait. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 November 1941
HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), was damaged in a collision with the transport KATOOMBA, at Fremantle, WA. HMAS VAMPIRE, (destroyer), was damaged in a collision with the steamer PERAK, off Keppel Harbour, ...
Australian Naval History on 13 November 1941
HMS ARK ROYAL, (aircraft carrier), was torpedo by the German submarine U81, 25 miles east of Gibraltar. LEUT V. A. T. Smith, RAN, was awarded the DSC for outstanding service ...
Australian Naval History on 11 November 1941
HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), sailed on her last voyage as escort to the transport ZEALANDIA. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 November 1941
LEUT Ashley-Brown, while commanding a boat from HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), found the abandoned French sealing vessel L’ESPERANCE, grounded on Cat Island in the Kerguelen Group. The ship had been abandoned ...
Australian Naval History on 1 November 1941
HMAS AUSTRALIA arrived at Desolation Island to search for a German raider. The cruiser laid a minefield before departing. Post-war records showed the island had been used by the raider ...
Australian Naval History on 30 October 1941
The cable repair ship HMAS INNISFAIL, was commissioned. INNISFAIL was laid down in Mackie & Thompson Ltd, Govan, Scotland, in 1912. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, ...
Australian Naval History on 27 October 1941
The destroyer HMAS NORMAN, (CMDR Henry Burrell, RAN), embarked a British Trade Union delegation at Archangel, Russia, for passage to England. ...
Australian Naval History on 26 October 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS WOLLONGONG, (LEUT G. A. Keith, RANVR), was commissioned. WOLLONGONG was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, on 29 January 1941, and launched on ...
Australian Naval History on 24 October 1941
CAPT H. M. L. Waller, DSO and Bar, RAN, was appointed to HMAS PERTH, (cruiser). ...
Australian Naval History on 22 October 1941
CAPT J. Burnett, RAN, informed the crew of HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), that a German raider was operating in Australasian waters. The identity of the raider, STIERMARK, (the original name of ...
Australian Naval History on 20 October 1941
HMAS VENDETTA departed Alexandria for Singapore and passed through the Suez Canal on the 21st. HMAS HOBART and HM Ships AJAX and GALATEA bombarded enemy batteries east of Tobruk. ...
Australian Naval History on 17 October 1941
HMAS CESSNOCK, (minesweeper), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. CESSNOCK was sold out of service in 1947, and was renamed NAN-AU ...
Australian Naval History on 14 October 1941
HMAS Lithgow swept a German mineoff Tasman Island ...
Australian Naval History on 9 October 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS TOOWOOMBA, (LCDR P. H. Hurst, RAN), was commissioned. TOOWOOMBA was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, on 6 August 1940, and launched on ...
Australian Naval History on 7 October 1941
N. J. O. Makin became Minister for the Navy, succeeding W. M. Hughes. HMAS CAIRNS, (minesweeper), was launched at Walker’s, QLD. The ship was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy ...
Australian Naval History on 6 October 1941
HMAS BROOME, (minesweeper), was launched at Evans Deakin, QLD. ...
Australian Naval History on 4 October 1941
The German submarine U111 was sunk by HMS LADY SHIRLEY, (trawler), off the Canary Islands. Forty German prisoners were taken by the trawler. For outstanding courage in the action, the ...
Australian Naval History on 30 September 1941
HMAS NESTOR, (destroyer), arrived at Devonport, England, for docking and repairs after being damaged by a premature depth charge explosion off Gambier. Several turbine feet were broken, and structural damage ...
Australian Naval History on 27 September 1941
HMAS STUART, (destroyer), arrived home at Williamstown, VIC, for a refit ...