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

HMAS Waterhen

Occasional Paper 3: TOBRUK – THE LIFTING OF THE SEIGE

Editorial Staff · May 15, 2025 ·

December 9, 2016 is the 75th anniversary of the lifting of the siege of Tobruk, the port on the north coast of Libya, that proved such a thorn in Rommel’s ...

Book Review: The Scrap Iron Flotilla

Book reviewer · Mar 8, 2023 ·

The Scrap Iron Flotilla by Mike Carlton. William Heinemann Australia. Paperback of 448 pages. rrp $34.99 On Sunday September 3rd 1939, history was tumbling over itself. In the mess decks ...

The Tobruk Run – The Loss of HMS Auckland

A.N. Other · Jun 25, 2022 ·

By Andreas Biermann A 1200-ton general purpose sloop about to enter the building program was assigned the name HMS Heron, but was renamed and commissioned as HMS Auckland on 16 ...

Occasional Paper 81: Recognition for Scrap Iron Flotilla

Editorial Staff · Jun 24, 2020 ·

The Society was recently gifted a package of assorted papers and photographs collected by the late Petty officer Arthur James Collins. Collins was called up in January 1938 and served ...

Book Review: Flip Side War

Book reviewer · Sep 27, 2005 ·

Title: Flip Side War: Recollections of the author’s experiences in the RAN, World War II Author: Ean McDonald Publisher: Hesperian Press – Carlisle WA 6101 ISBN 0 85905 353 9 ...

Wounded by a Tin of Peaches

Cooper, C.G.M., CPO, RAN · Jun 30, 2005 ·

The Tobruk Spud Run 1941 The three Services, Navy, Army and Air Force were as dissimilar as chalk and cheese, yet we were all bent on one purpose, to beat ...

Australian Naval History on 30 June 2004

On This Day · Jun 30, 2004 ·

The banner of the Scrap Iron Flotilla Association, was laid up at HMAS WATERHEN, (mine-countermeasures shore-base, Sydney), for safe keeping. The date of the loss of HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), during ...

HMAS Perth Part2 – Outbreak of war

William F. Cook, MVO, Captain, RAN (Rtd) · Jun 30, 2004 ·

This is part 2 of an hitherto unpublished personal account was given to the Editor shortly before the death of the author, together with several other brief accounts of his ...

Launching of HMAS Norman II – Minehunter

William F. Cook, MVO, Captain, RAN (Rtd) · Sep 1, 1999 ·

As the bottle of wine (Australian of course) shattered over her bows and Ms Agatha Grey-Wilson intoned the time hallowed words: “I name this ship Norman; may God bless her ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Spectrum of Command -RANVR, RANR(S) and RAN

Thomson, Max · Sep 1, 1995 ·

*The first became Australia’s Minister for Defence. * The second piloted 8463 ships of the world through our major ports to set a record that probably never will be eclipsed. ...

Australian Naval History on 18 November 1994

On This Day · Nov 18, 1994 ·

HMAS Kanimbla II arrived in Sydney for the first time after commissioning in the United States. ...

RAN Minesweepers and Minehunters

A.N. Other · Sep 12, 1993 ·

Catamarans And Auxiliaries The Royal Australian Navy’s Mine Warfare vessels are based at H.M.A.S. Waterhen in Sydney Harbour, which provides homeport facilities to six mine warfare vessels, two landing craft, ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Australian Naval History on 8 February 1992

On This Day · Feb 8, 1992 ·

CMDR Carolyn Brand, RAN, became the first female officer of the RAN to command an operational base when she took command of HMAS WATERHEN, (shore base, Sydney). ...

The RAN’s Destroyers

Ramsay, O.G. · Mar 11, 1991 ·

Surely destroyers are the backbone of our Royal Australian Navy. Thirty-nine destroyers have served in the RAN since Foundation in 1911, from our first destroyers – HMA Ships PARRAMATTA (1), ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

Australian Naval History on 30 April 1990

On This Day · Apr 30, 1990 ·

HMAS CURLEW, the last of the RAN’s Ton class minesweepers, was decommissioned at HMAS WATERHEN, Sydney after 28 years of service and 38 years to the day after her keel ...

HMAS Waterhen – a history

A.N. Other · Sep 13, 1987 ·

THE LATTER STAGES of the Great War saw the introduction into the Royal Navy of a number of capable and high performance destroyers. To operate with these destroyers the Admiralty ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

The Acceptance of the Second HMAS Voyager into Her Majesty’s Service

Acceptance Booklet · Mar 9, 1986 ·

(Reprinted from the Acceptance Booklet issued in 1957) ACCEPTANCE INTO HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE OF HMAS VOYAGER by The Minister of State for the Navy The Honourable C.W. Davidson, OBE, MP ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Captain A.S. Rosenthal DSO and Bar, OBE, RAN

Parker, R.G., OBE, Captain, RAN (Rtd) · Dec 31, 1975 ·

ALVORD SYDNEY ROSENTHAL was born in Sydney on 16th January 1901. He came from a distinguished military family, being the younger son of Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, a Divisional Commander ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

Australian Naval History on 5 December 1962

On This Day · Dec 5, 1962 ·

HMAS WATERHEN, (shore establishment in Sydney), was commissioned. ...

Australian Naval History on 8 December 1941

On This Day · Dec 8, 1941 ·

HMA Ships VAMPIRE and VENDETTA, (destroyers), and BURNIE, GOULBURN, BENDIGO, and MARYBOROUGH, (corvettes), were at Singapore when Japan mounted her first air raid at 0300. MANOORA was also at Singapore, ...

Australian Naval History on 12 July 1941

On This Day · Jul 12, 1941 ·

HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), reached Suez, on her way to replace HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), in the Mediterranean. The loss of HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), on 30 June, raised in the Admiralty the ...

Australian Naval History on 30 June 1941

On This Day · Jun 30, 1941 ·

HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), was heavily damaged in a bombing attack by German aircraft, east of Tobruk. HMS DEFENDER, in going along side to pass a tow to WATERHEN, narrowly averted ...

Australian Naval History on 29 June 1941

On This Day · Jun 29, 1941 ·

HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), sailed on her 13th and last voyage to Tobruk. WATERHEN was sunk off Salum. ‘Chook’, as she was called by her crew, was attacked by dive bombers, ...

Australian Naval History on 31 May 1941

On This Day · May 31, 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 23 May 1941

On This Day · May 23, 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 ...

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