This edition of the Navy’s Annual provides a colourful insight into the activities, roles and developments taking place within the Royal Australian Navy. It includes articles on: a. the Navy ...
HMAS Melbourne II
Recollections of founding the Naval Historical Society
HMAS Melbourne – As it Was, a Bird’s Eye View
BOARDING THE CARRIER MELBOURNE for the first time it was all so baffling. The ship is so huge and her geography so complex I was continually lost as I wandered ...
Oilers in the Royal Australian Navy
IN THE BEGINNING there was COAL!! Lots of it. Dirty, dusty, nostril filling and seemingly unlimited in supply. Coaling Ship was an evolution in which everybody was engaged in the ...
Australian Naval History on 13 June 1985
HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), reached China under tow. The Chinese Navy telexed the following message: ‘Pls B advised that HMAS MELBOURNE arrived at Port Huangpu intact n safely afloat, proud ...
Australian Naval History on 30 April 1985
CDRE John Matthews, RAN, (Retired), was appointed as the Administrator for Norfolk Island. The ex aircraft carrier, HMAS MELBOURNE, was towed in to Moreton Bay, QLD, when heavy winds and ...
Australian Naval History on 27 April 1985
The former aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE, departed Sydney under tow by the Chinese tug DE PING. She was bound for Canton, (Guangzhou), to be broken up. Despite inclement weather, hundreds ...
Australian Naval History on 24 April 1985
A civilian workman was killed onboard the ex-HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), berthed at Garden Island Dockyard, SYDNEY. He fell from the flight deck into the hangar when the aircraft hoist ...
Australian Naval History on 27 June 1984
A former crewman of HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), staged a hunger strike at Sydney in protest against the sale of his old ship to Korea. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 June 1984
The former HMAS MELBOURNE was sold to a Korean consortium for $1.7 million. It was later resold before delivery to Chinese interests. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 June 1984
A flight of Grumman Tracker aircraft flew over the decommissioned HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), to mark the end of fixed wing aircraft in the RAN’s Fleet Air Arm. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 February 1984
A Sydney-based syndicate announced plans to acquire the aircraft carrier, HMAS MELBOURNE for conversion to a floating gambling casino to be moored outside territorial waters off Eden, NSW. The far-fetched ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1982
HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier),paid off at Sydney for disposal. The ship was initially sold in June 1984 to an Australian company for A$1.7 million, however the sale fell through. In ...
Australian Naval History on 25 February 1982
The Australian Government announced it intended to purchase the aircraft carrier HMS INVINCIBLE as a replacement for HMAS MELBOURNE. The carrier was to be renamed HMAS AUSTRALIA. However, as a ...
Australian Naval History on 8 February 1982
Britain’s First Sea Lord, ADML Sir Henry Leach, made a four day official visit to Australia and conferred with cabinet on the possible purchase of HMS INVINCIBLE as a replacement ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1981
HMAS MELBOURNE and HMAS TORRENS rescued a group of 99 Vietnamese refugees from dilapidated vessels in the South China Sea. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 October 1980
The Russian Ship, STOROZHEVOY, (guided missile frigate), shadowed HMA Ships MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and PERTH, (guided missile destroyer), in the Indian Ocean. A Tracker SE2 aircraft from MELBOURNE also sighted ...
Australian Naval History on 21 October 1980
HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), lost her second Skyhawk fighter-bomber on her deployment in the Indian Ocean. The first was lost in the Andaman Sea on 2 October. Both pilots were ...
Australian Naval History on 8 September 1980
An Australian Squadron, consisting of HMA Ships MELBOURNE, PERTH, DERWENT, STALWART, and SUPPLY, and HMAS OTAMA, (Oberon class submarine), was deployed in the Indian Ocean on an extended flag-showing cruise ...
Australian Naval History on 13 July 1977
Westland Wessex Mk.31A, N7-213, 823 ditched in the Sea. The helicopter was performing plane guard duties from HMAS Melbourne on Exercise Highwood in the Irish Sea with Lt(P) Phil Pinniger ...
Australian Naval History on 30 June 1977
A Harrier G-VTOL aircraft was flown for the first time from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier). ...
Australian Naval History on 28 June 1977
HMA Ships MELBOURNE and BRISBANE represented Australia at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Naval Review, at Spithead England. MELBOURNE was the oldest, and the largest ship at the Review. The youngest ...
Australian Naval History on 11 June 1977
HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), launched two of her Wessex helicopters, each carrying a World War II cannon, from a position off Crete, and delivered the pieces to the newly built ...
Australian Naval History on 25 May 1977
A Tracker aircraft from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), located the disabled Dutch ship IMPALA PRINCESS, in the Gulf of Aden, and directed a French destroyer to her assistance. ...
Australian Naval History on 9 May 1977
During exercises in the Indian Ocean, a Sea King helicopter from HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), crashed into the ocean. None of the crew were injured, and they were quickly rescued ...