HMAS PARRAMATTA, (sloop), picked up 164 survivors from HMS AUCKLAND, sunk by German dive bombers off Tobruk. They were escorting the small petrol carrier PASS OF BAHAMA to Tobruk. ...
On This Day
Australian Naval History on 23 June 1941
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), and HM Ships NAIAD, LEANDER, JAGUAR, and KINGSTON, engaged the French destroyers GUEPARD and VALMY, in a running battle 10 miles north of Beirut, Syria, (now Lebanon). ...
Australian Naval History on 18 June 1941
The examination vessel HMAS SOUTHERN CROSS, was commissioned. SOUTHERN CROSS was laid down in 1933. She was requisitioned for the RAN from her owners the Melanesian Mission on 29 March ...
Australian Naval History on 17 June 1941
CAPT J. A. Collins, CB, RAN, was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff to the C in C, China. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 June 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS LITHGOW, (CMDR A. V. Knight, RANR), was commissioned. LITHGOW was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Balmain, Sydney, on 19 August 1940, and launched on ...
Australian Naval History on 12 June 1941
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS MARYBOROUGH, (LCDR G. L. Cant, RAN), was commissioned. MARYBOROUGH was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, on 16 April 1940, and launched on ...
Australian Naval History on 11 June 1941
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS NARANI, was commissioned. NARANI was laid down in E Wright Yard, Tuncurry, NSW, in 1914. She was requisitioned for the RAN from her owners, The Illawarra ...
Australian Naval History on 9 June 1941
MV LEAVING, (RN landing barge SD15), arrived at Sidi Barrani. The vessel was stolen from the Germans in Crete, and was sailed across the Mediterranean by a crew of Australian ...
Australian Naval History on 8 June 1941
HMAS Narani was commissioned as an auxiliary minesweeper. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 June 1941
The captured Italian vessel GIOVANNI, (schooner), commanded by Australian LEUT A. Palmer, DSC, RNR, ran aground in the approaches to Tobruk, and was destroyed by German ground fire. GIOVANNI and ...
Australian Naval History on 4 June 1941
LCDR R. C. Robison, RAN, was awarded the DSC for ‘bravery and enterprise’ while serving in HMAS STUART, (destroyer), at the battle of Matapan. Robison was later to command HMAS ...
Australian Naval History on 31 May 1941
The evacuation of Crete ended. During the campaign the RAN committed HMA Ships PERTH, STUART, VAMPIRE, VOYAGER, VENDETTA, WATERHEN, NAPIER, and NIZAM. Despite frequent attacks by enemy aircraft, only PERTH ...
Australian Naval History on 30 May 1941
The sloop HMAS PARRAMATTA, (LCDR W.H. Harrington, RAN), re-floated the streamer MOUNT OTHRYS, which had run aground on a sand bar near Port Suez. HMA Ships NAPIER and NIZAM, (destroyers), ...
Australian Naval History on 29 May 1941
HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), and HM Ships CALCUTTA, COVENTRY, GLENGYLE, JERVIS, JANUS, and HASTY, evacuated over 6000 Allied troops from the beach at Sfakia, Crete, PERTH’s total being 1188. During the ...
Australian Naval History on 28 May 1941
HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), embarked two landing barges, and sailed for Crete with HM Ships PHOEBE, CALCUTTA, COVENTRY, GLENGYLE, JERVIS, JANUS, and HASTY. The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS BOMBO, was commissioned. BOMBO ...
Australian Naval History on 27 May 1941
The German battleship BISMARCK was sunk in the North Atlantic Ocean. HMAS NESTOR, (destroyer), was one of the ships involved in the hunt. Other RAN personnel, then serving in British ...
Australian Naval History on 26 May 1941
HMA Ships VOYAGER and VENDETTA, (destroyers), along with HM Ships HEREWARD and DECOY, (destroyers), escorted the damaged HMS FORMIDABLE, (aircraft carrier), to Alexandria. HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), and HM Ships ABDIEL ...
Australian Naval History on 25 May 1941
HMA Ships VENDETTA and VOYAGER, (destroyers), were part of the screen protecting the 1st Battle Fleet in its air strikes on Scarpanto, in the eastern Mediterranean. Aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE ...
Australian Naval History on 24 May 1941
The sloop HMAS YARRA, (CMDR W. H. Harrington, RAN), was involved in the attack on Iraqi positions at Habib Shawi, and landed Gurkha troops to neutralize the position. On completion, ...
Australian Naval History on 23 May 1941
HMA Ships STUART, VOYAGER, and VENDETTA were sent to help HMS FIJI reported sinking after aircraft attack. Ordinary Seaman Ian Rhodes, a RAN Volunteer Reserve sailor, was awarded the Conspicuous ...
Australian Naval History on 22 May 1941
Six ratings from HMAS YARRA, (sloop), disguised as Arab fishermen, carried out a daring reconnaissance of Maqil, Iraq. This was in preparation for Operation Scoop, which was the British invasion ...
Australian Naval History on 21 May 1941
HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), in company with HM Ships JERVIS and ILEX, bombarded enemy airfields at Scarpanto, which were being used by the Germans to re-supply their forces in Crete. HMAS ...
Australian Naval History on 20 May 1941
The Battle of Crete commenced, and lasted until 31 May, 1941. HMA Ships PERTH, STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA, VOYAGER, WATERHEN, NAPIER and NIZAM, (destroyers), were all involved in evacuating Allied troops ...
Australian Naval History on 18 May 1941
The sloop HMAS YARRA, (LCDR W. H. Harrington, RAN), provided close support for British troops landing at Basra, Iraq, during the Allied takeover of the country. HM Ships FALMOUTH, COCKCHAFER, ...
Australian Naval History on 16 May 1941
HMAS Vampire (I) delivered 102 troops & stores to Tobruk to support the besieged 7th & 9th AIF Divisions. Vampire departed Tobruk the next day just as an air raid ...