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You are here: Home / Archives for Australian Units / HMAS Pioneer

HMAS Pioneer

Letter from Frederick Merrill RAN on the sinking of the S.M.S. Königsberg

David Stratton · Jul 11, 2020 ·

Butcher, 2nd Class Frederick Priest Merrill, R.A.N., H.M.A.S. Pioneer, wrote to his parents in Sheffield with his account of the sinking of the S.M.S. Königsberg in the Rufiji delta, German ...

HMAS Pioneer – Blockading German East Africa, 1915-16

A.N. Other · Sep 1, 2005 ·

The wardroom of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) premier training establishment, HMAS Cerberus, is home to many fine treasures reflecting Australia’s naval heritage. Perhaps the most curious of these is ...

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90 Years on: Rabaul and Sydney/Emden 1914

Perryman, John, LEUT, RANR (Senior Naval Historical Officer) · Dec 31, 2004 ·

This article was originally published in ‘Semaphore’, the newsletter of the Sea Power Centre – Australia. It is republished with the kind agreement of the Sea Power Centre. This year ...

Search for the German Asiatic Squadron – 1914-1916

Jarrett, Hugh · Jul 12, 1992 ·

At the outbreak of war on 4th August, 1914, the German East Asiatic Squadron, commanded by Vice-Admiral Graf von Spee, had its base at the fortified harbour of Tsing-tao on ...

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Letters – HMAS Pioneer as a Midshipman

Letter Writer · Mar 21, 1983 ·

Early in 1914 1 did an extended period of training in HMAS Pioneer, as a Midshipman RANR. One Saturday in April, 1914, when Pioneer was in Corio Bay to give weekend ...

HMAS Pioneer – The RAN’s First Cruiser

A.N. Other · Dec 31, 1982 ·

IN A PREVIOUS ISSUE of the Naval Historical Review we gave a short resume of the career of the 3rd class protected cruiser Pioneer in the Royal Navy. Let us ...

Twins Were Pioneers of the RAN

A.N. Other · Dec 31, 1972 ·

An announcement that two brothers had been appointed to command sister ships in Australia’s Destroyer Squadron has brought to light the careers of twin brothers who were pioneers of the ...

Australian Naval Aviation – Part 1

Issacs, Keith, AFC, ARAeS, Group Captain, RAAF (Retd) · Dec 31, 1972 ·

THE HISTORY OF WORLD naval aviation began, tentatively, in the lighter-than-air era. As far back as November 1861, during the American Civil War, the Union Army – employing maritime techniques – released the Washington balloon from a remodelled coal barge, the G.W. Parke Curtis, to observe the enemy at Budd’s Ferry. ...

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Australian Naval History on 18 February 1931

On This Day · Feb 18, 1931 ·

The bare hull of the former HMAS Pioneer was scuttled off Sydney ...

Australian Naval History on 7 November 1916

David Stratton · Nov 7, 1916 ·

HMAS Pioneer paid off at Sydney. Thereafter she was used as an accommodation ship at Garden Island until 1922. In May 1923 she was handed over to Cockatoo Dockyard by ...

Australian Naval History on 13 June 1916

On This Day · Jun 13, 1916 ·

HMS CHALLENGER and HMAS PIONEER, (cruisers), bombarded Dar Es Salaam, capital of German East Africa. ...

Australian Naval History on 18 March 1916

On This Day · Mar 18, 1916 ·

HMAS PIONEER, (cruiser), intercepted and sank the German supply ship TABORA off Dar Es Salaam, East Africa. ...

Australian Naval History on 12 February 1916

David Stratton · Feb 12, 1916 ·

While HMAS Pioneer was visiting Port Swettenham (Kelang) tensions aboard ship came to a head and seven stokers refused duty, an action that eventually led to their respective court martials. ...

Australian Naval History on 20 December 1915

On This Day · Dec 20, 1915 ·

The last personnel of the RAN Bridging Train, (RANBT), left Suvla Bay at 0430 making them the last Australians to depart the Gallipoli Peninsula. A 50-man team under SBLT C. ...

Australian Naval History on 12 July 1915

On This Day · Jul 12, 1915 ·

SMS KONIGSBERG, (light cruiser), was destroyed in the Rufigi River, East Africa. HMAS PIONEER  participated in the action. The Department of the Navy was created as a separate portfolio, and ...

Australian Naval History on 6 July 1915

On This Day · Jul 6, 1915 ·

HMAS PIONEER, (cruiser), and HMS HYACINTH, (cruiser), bombarded the German cruiser KONIGSBERG, and shore defences in the Rufigi River, East Africa. ...

Australian Naval History on 1 March 1915

On This Day · Mar 1, 1915 ·

HMAS PIONEER joined RN forces blockading the German cruiser KONIGSBERG in the Rufigi River, East Africa. ...

Australian Naval History on 6 February 1915

On This Day · Feb 6, 1915 ·

HMAS PIONEER, (cruiser), arrived at Zanzibar to join the blockade of the German cruiser KONIGSBERG in the Rufigi River, East Africa. ...

Australian Naval History on 3 November 1914

On This Day · Nov 3, 1914 ·

HMAS PIONEER, (cruiser), lost her fore-topmast and suffered other damage in heavy seas, while escorting the first troop convoy in the Indian Ocean. PIONEER returned to Fremantle for repairs. ...

Australian Naval History on 26 August 1914

On This Day · Aug 26, 1914 ·

HMAS PIONEER, (3rd class cruiser), captured the German merchant vessel THURINGEN, off Fremantle, WA. ...

Australian Naval History on 16 August 1914

On This Day · Aug 16, 1914 ·

HMAS PIONEER, (light cruiser), captured the German merchant ship NEUMUNSTER, off Rottnest Island, WA. ...

Australian Naval History on 5 August 1914

On This Day · Aug 5, 1914 ·

The message conveying the news of the outbreak of war with Germany was received in Australia at 12.30pm. The disposition of ships of the RAN, at the declaration of WWI, ...

Australian Naval History on 1 January 1914

On This Day · Jan 1, 1914 ·

HMAS Pioneer was recommissioned as an independent command for service as a seagoing training ship for the Naval Reserve, operating under the orders of the Director of Naval Reserves ...

Australian Naval History on 28 June 1899

On This Day · Jun 28, 1899 ·

HMS PIONEER, (3rd class cruiser), later HMAS PIONEER, was launched at Chatham, England. ...

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