On This Day

On This Day - 23 November

1915

HMS MARGUERITE, (sloop), was launched at Dunlop Bremner, UK. MARGUERITE was transferred to the RAN in 1919.

1941

The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS DELORAINE, (LCDR D. A. Menlove, RANR(S)), was commissioned. DELORAINE was laid down in Mort's Dock, Sydney, on 19 March, 1941, and launched on 29 July 1941. Dame Mary Hughes, (wife of the Minister for Navy), performed the launching ceremony.

HMAS NAPIER, (destroyer), took off the crew of the transport GLEN ROY, torpedoed by German aircraft near Tobruk. The ship was later beached.

1942

The Tribal class destroyer, HMAS WARRAMUNGA, (CMDR E. F. V. Dechaineux, RAN), was commissioned. WARRAMUNGA was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard on 10 February 1940, and launched on 7 February 1942. Mrs F. M. Forde, (wife of the Minister for the Army), performed the launching ceremony. HMAS URALBA, (minefield tender), was commissioned. The vessel served on the east coast of Australia, and in New Guinea. In 1971, URALBA was sunk in Port Phillip, VIC, to form an artificial reef.

1947

HMAS QUIBERON, (destroyer), returned to Sydney after a cruise to Tasmania, and moored at No.2 buoy in Sydney Harbour. That night the merchant ship KING STEPHEN lost steerage way while entering the harbour, and rammed QUIBERON in the vicinity of the engine room, and caused significant damage. Next day the ship was docked in the King George V Dry Dock at Garden Island for repairs, and was not fit for sea again until early February 1948.

1967

RAN divers from CDT 3 removed a length of heavy steel cable which had wrapped around the starboard propeller of the Australian Army ship HARRY CHAUVEL, at Vung Tau, Vietnam.

1970

ADML Sir Victor Smith, OA, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN, was appointed Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. ADML Smith was the first graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College to reach the rank. VADM Sir Richard Peek, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN, was appointed as Chief of Naval Staff.

1973

VADM Sir Hugh David Stevenson, AC, KBE, was appointed Chief of Naval Staff.

1976

VADM Sir Anthony Synnot is appointed Chief of Naval Staff.

1986

The memorial to HMAS PARRAMATTA, (sloop),which was sunk in 1941, was relocated to the Queens Wharf Reserve in Parramatta. The original memorial had been set up in June 1973 at the Parramatta Bowling Club, but had to be relocated due to the demise of the club.

2018

The future HMAS Supply II, was launched by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia at its Ferrol shipyard.