HMAS Wewak decommissioned at HMAS Moreton, and the following day departed for Cairns for refit and operational lay-up. ...
Australian Units
Australian Naval History on 16 July 1985
HMAS BENDIGO, became the first patrol boat to circumnavigate Australia. ...
Messages from the Clouds Highlighted a Night of High Drama
FOR COUNTLESS GENERATIONS seamen have navigated by the stars. But it was a ‘Message from the Clouds’ that held the key to the rescue of several hundred servicemen after a ...
Kimbla – Alias ‘The Snail’
HMAS KIMBLA was laid down in 1953 and was launched by Mrs. J.W.N. Bull, wife of Captain John Bull who, at the time, was General Overseer Eastern Area. Kimbla’s launch ...
The War Cruises of I27 – Part 2
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 31 May 1985
The Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS WOLLONGONG, (LCDR I. Gulliver, RAN), was extensively damaged when she ran aground at Gabo Island during a storm. LCDR Gulliver was court-martialled, and found ...
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 23 April 1985
The prestigious Royal Geographic Society of Australia’s J. P. Thompson Foundation Gold Medal, was awarded to the survey vessel, HMAS FLINDERS, (LCDR G. J. Bond, RAN), for the survey of, ...
Australian Naval History on 19 April 1985
HMAS BETANO was the first landing craft heavy, (LCH), in the RAN, to be assigned to survey duties. Over the next eight years other LCH’s were used as interim survey ...
The War Cruises of I27 – Part 1
HMAS Platypus in Darwin during blitz 19 February 1942
HMAS PLATYPUS was built in England during WWI as a Submarine Tender to the ’J’ class Submarines and as such she had workshops, oil stowage and storage for torpedoes. Platypus ...
Australian Naval History on 4 March 1985
The Indonesian Navy patrol boat KRI SIADA, ex HMAS BARBETTE, ran aground on North West Reef off Cape York, QLD. She was later re-floated and towed to Thursday Island for ...
Australian Naval History on 3 March 1985
HMA Ships CESSNOCK and IPSWICH, (patrol boats), each apprehended two Indonesian fishing boats poaching in Australian waters off Melville Island. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 February 1985
HMAS BARBETTE, (patrol boat), was transferred to the Indonesian Navy as a gift and renamed KRI SIADI. ...
Australian Naval History on 15 February 1985
HMAS Kimbla paid off. During her long career Kimbla steamed 363,038 nautical miles at an average speed of just seven knots. At the time of her decommissioning Kimbla held the ...
Australian Naval History on 11 February 1985
HMAS ATTACK, name-ship of the RAN’s Attack class patrol boats, sailed from Sydney streaming a 38.7 metre paying off pennant. The patrol boat was transferred to the Indonesian Navy as ...
Australian Naval History on 1 January 1985
Position of Director WRANS abolished ...
Australian Naval History on 15 December 1984
The Fremantle class patrol boat HMAS BUNBURY, was commissioned. BUNBURY was laid down in Cairns, QLD, and was the last of fifteen Fremantle class patrol boats built for the RAN. ...
Naval Chapel Windows for Cruisers Unveiled
Turkish Treatment of British Naval Prisoners
Australian Naval History on 2 November 1984
The last of the Australian-built Fremantle class patrol boats, HMAS BUNBURY, was launched at Cairns, QLD. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 October 1984
The Australian Government announced that HMA Ships ATTACK, BARBETTE, and BUCCANEER, (patrol boats), would be transferred as a gift to the Indonesian Navy. ...