The German Ships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU, (heavy cruisers), stood off Papeete, Tahiti, and shelled the coal dumps at the port. ADML von Spee intended landing, but the presence of HMAS ...
Australian Units
Australian Naval History on 17 September 1914
Following the Australian occupation of German New Guinea, the British Admiralty ordered VADM Sir George Patey, RN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), with HMS MONTCALM, to cover HMS ENCOUNTER and the ...
Australian Naval History on 14 September 1914
HMAS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), shelled German positions at Toma, New Britain. This was the first occasion a ship of the RAN had fired on an enemy. HMA Submarine AE1, (LCDR T. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 September 1914
The former South Australian gunboat, HMAS PROTECTOR, captured the German merchant ship MADANG, off Herbertshohe, New Britain. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 September 1914
The RAN Brigade, supported by men from Australian warships, landed at Kabakaul, German New Guinea, (New Britain), to seize the German wireless station there. HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY, ENCOUNTER, PARRAMATTA, ...
Australian Naval History on 9 September 1914
HMAS MELBOURNE, (cruiser), landed a party of 4 officers and 21 petty officers, under LCDR M. A. Blanfield, on Nauru, to dismantle the German wireless station on the island. They ...
Australian Naval History on 7 September 1914
A joint Australian army-navy expedition sailed for German New Guinea from Port Moresby embarked on board the auxilliary cruiser HMAS BERRIMA, escorted by HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS SYDNEY, HMAS ENCOUNTER, HMAS WAREGO, and ...
Australian Naval History on 4 September 1914
The cruiser HMS PSYCHE, (later HMAS PSYCHE), and survey ship HMS FANTOME, (later HMAS FANTOME), joined the contraband patrol in the Bay of Bengal. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 August 1914
VADM Sir George Patey, RN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA, arrived of Samoa, and the official surrender of German Samoa took place. The squadron comprised AUSTRALIA, HMA Ships MELBOURNE, and PSYCHE , ...
Australian Naval History on 26 August 1914
HMAS PIONEER, (3rd class cruiser), captured the German merchant vessel THURINGEN, off Fremantle, WA. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 August 1914
The auxiliary cruiser HMAS BERRIMA, (CMDR J. B. Stevenson, RN), was commissioned. BERRIMA was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the P&O Steam Navigation Co Ltd, in August 1914. ...
Australian Naval History on 16 August 1914
HMAS PIONEER, (light cruiser), captured the German merchant ship NEUMUNSTER, off Rottnest Island, WA. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 August 1914
HMAS MELBOURNE, (cruiser), intercepted the collier ALCONDA off Rossel Island, and requisitioned her cargo of coal. ...
Australian Naval History on 12 August 1914
HMA Ships PARRAMATTA, YARRA, and WARREGO, (torpedo boat destroyers), landed parties at Rabaul. HMAS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), captured the German steamer ZAMBESI in St George’s Channel, New Britain. ...
Australian Naval History on 11 August 1914
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), and the Australia Squadron, under VADM Sir George Patey, RN, arrived in St Georges Channel, near Rabaul, on a search for ADML von Spee’s forces. The German ...
Australian Naval History on 7 August 1914
VADM Sir George Patey, RN, wrote the first wartime order for the RAN, and for that matter the Commonwealth of Australia, whilst onboard his flagship, HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser). It was ...
Australian Naval History on 5 August 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 4 August 1914
Great Britain declared war on Germany. The telegram informing Australia of a state of hostilities was not received in Melbourne until 5 August. At the outbreak of war the strength ...
Australian Naval History on 24 May 1914
The RAN’s first two submarines, AE1 and AE2, arrived in Sydney after a record voyage from England. Within a year both submarines had been lost on active service, with AE1 ...
Australian Naval History on 28 February 1914
The E class submarines HMA Ships AE1, (LCDR T. F. Besant, RN), and AE2, (LCDR H. H. G. D. Stoker, RN), were commissioned in Portsmouth, England. AE1 and AE2 were ...
Australian Naval History on 1 January 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 4 October 1913
The first RAN fleet, under the command of RADM Sir George Patey, RN, in HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), entered Sydney Harbour. With AUSTRALIA were her consorts HMA Ships MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, ENCOUNTER, ...
Australian Naval History on 1 July 1913
The administration of the following Sydney Naval Establishments was transferred to the Naval Board of the Commonwealth of Australia; Garden Island Dockyard; Royal Edward Victualling Yard; Naval Ordnance Depot; Spectacle ...
Australian Naval History on 23 June 1913
RADM G. Patey, MVO, hoisted his flag in HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), at Portsmouth. He was knighted the same day on his own quarterdeck by HRH King George V. The Town ...
Australian Naval History on 21 June 1913
The battle-cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, (CAPT S. H. Radcliffe, RN), was commissioned at Portsmouth, England. AUSTRALIA was laid down in John Brown Yard, Clydebank, Scotland, on 23 June 1910, and launched ...