HMA Ships Sydney and Tobruk and HMAS/M Oxley represented the Royal Australian Navy as part of the International Fleet assembled for the Anniversary of the Landings at Gallipoli on 25th ...
Australian Units
The Collins Class Submarines
In an unprecedented break from Australian naval tradition, the new submarines have been named not after capital cities, towns or former vessels, but distinguished naval personnel in World War 2. ...
A Visit to Piraeus, Greece 1941
The RAN’s Forgotten War Dead
Australian Naval History on 6 May 1990
Thirty three members of the crew of HMAS OXLEY, (submarine), were given a private audience by Pope John Paul II. It was the first occasion any Australian warship was so ...
Australian Naval History on 4 May 1990
HMAS SYDNEY, (frigate), visited the French port of Toulon while on her circumnavigation of the world, following the commemoration services at Gallipoli in April. She was the first ship of ...
Australian Naval History on 30 April 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 ...
Australian Naval History on 27 April 1990
HMAS OXLEY, (submarine), sailed through the Dardanelles to the Sea of Marmora, thus emulating the Australian submarine AE2, which had undertaken the same action some 75 years before. ...
Australian Naval History on 25 April 1990
Three RAN vessels, (HMA Ships SYDNEY, TOBRUK and OXLEY), represented the RAN at the 75th Anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli. SYDNEY was chosen as her namesake had escorted the ...
Australian Naval History on 11 April 1990
HMAS Gladstone, a Cairns-based patrol boat, pursued and apprehended a Taiwanese fishing trawler off the North Australian coast. The vessel was poaching in Australian waters. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 April 1990
HMAS BUNBURY, (patrol boat), rescued 118 Indo-Chinese boat people off Koolan Island, on the Kimberley coast of WA. ...
A sailor’s prayer
By the Late Petty Officer H.B. SHIPSTONE. Lost in HMAS “SYDNEY”, November 19, 1941 Let me Live, O Mighty Master, Through this War — Yet if I’m Slain Tasting Triumph and ...
HMAS Shropshire War Record
A very brief resume of HMAS Shropshire’s war record during its 18½ months in the South West Pacific and firing its last salvo on July 9, 1945. Operations and Battles – ...
Australian Naval History on 28 March 1990
HMAS WESTRALIA, (oil replenishment ship), conducted her first dual replenishment at sea, with HMA Ships TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy), and SYDNEY, (guided missile destroyer). ...
Book Review: Silencing debate on Shropshire
Mr Stan Nicholls wants to silence debate on what did and did not happen to HMAS Shropshire during World War II. So he has written a 330-page hard-cover book on ...
Letters – HMAS SYDNEY-KORMORAN
Bryan Clark’s article titled ‘Australia’s Forgotten Son’ (Naval Historical Review, December, 1989) was excellent reading. Brian and I have had a good number of dealings relating to the loss of ...
HMAS Mermaid commissioned 4 Dec 1989
MERMAID, commissioned on December 4 , 1989 – Lieut. Cdr. Spencer,R AN – is the second ship in Her Majesty’s Service to bear the name and to work in Australian waters. The first ...
Seal and Porpoise – Minesweepers sold at auction
Finding a new home for two Royal Australian Navy minesweepers caused a few waves at a Sydney auction recently. More than 320 tonnes of steel and maple went under the ...
Dry Land Sailors – The Navy at Gallipoli
Australian Naval History on 20 March 1990
The fourth and last survey motor launch built for the RAN, HMAS BENALLA, was commissioned at Adelaide. Her sister- ships are HMAS PALUMA, MERMAID, and SHEPPARTON. ...
I’ve Been To Bali Too
HMAS Australia – Battle of Leyte Gulf
Westralia – Appleleaf
Australian Naval History on 9 March 1990
The first RAN Seahawk helicopter landing on a guided missile frigate was made on HMAS ADELAIDE, in Sydney Harbour. HMAS STALWART, (destroyer tender), was decommissioned after 22 years service. She ...
