On This Day

On This Day - 1 November

1894

RADM Cyprian A. G. Bridge, RN, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding the Australia Station. His flagship was HMS ORLANDO.

1897

RADM Hugo L. Pearson, RN, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding the Australia Station. His flagship was HMS ROYAL ARTHUR.

1900

RADM Sir Lewis A. Beaumont, KCMG, RN, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding the Australia Station. His flagship was HMS ROYAL ARTHUR.

1914

The first convoy of 28 troop ships sailed from Albany, WA, for Egypt. The escort comprised HMA Ships MELBOURNE and SYDNEY, (cruisers), HMS MINOTAUR, and the Japanese cruiser IBUKI.

1920

The Ex-Navalmens Association was inaugurated in Melbourne, with approximately 100 members. In 1922, the China Naval Contingent Association, (which had been formed in 1901), was amalgamated with the Association. In 1960 the name was changed to The Naval Association of Australia, and currently has 90 sub-sections throughout Australia, and 52 Ship Associations which are affiliated with the Association.

1937

ADML Sir Ragnar Colvin, RN, was appointed First Naval Member and Chief of Naval Staff.

1939

RADM John George Crace, CB, an Australian-born officer of the RN, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Squadron, taking over from CDRE W. Patterson, RN. His flagship was HMAS AUSTRALIA.

1941

HMAS AUSTRALIA arrived at Desolation Island to search for a German raider. The cruiser laid a minefield before departing. Post-war records showed the island had been used by the raider ORION for a refit, some time before AUSTRALIA's visit. CMDR A. S. Rosenthal, RAN, was awarded the DSO for outstanding gallantry while commanding HMAS NESTOR during Operation Substance, the passing of a convoy from the west to Malta, on 15 December CMDR A. S. Rosenthal, RAN, was awarded a Bar to the DSO for the sinking of a German submarine in the Atlantic. HMAS Ballarat (I) sailed for Jervis Bay to give anti-submarine protection to the transport Queen Mary. That ship and another giant liner of the Cunard Line, Queen Elizabeth, were to comprise Convoy US13 to the Middle East, the troops embarked being mainly from the 6th, 7th and 9th Australian Divisions

1942

HMAS QUIBERON, (destroyer), was part of Force 'Q' which destroyed an Italian supply convoy. HMAS QUICKMATCH, (destroyer), was involved in the destruction of the Italian ship CORTELLAZZO off Capr Finisterre.

1944

HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser), narrowly evaded torpedoes fired by USS ABNER READ, (destroyer), off Leyte. Minutes before, the destroyer had been turned into a fireball when a Japanese kamikaze aircraft crashed into her.

1962

725 Squadron recommissioned flying the first two Westland Wessex 31A helicopters delivered to the RAN for ASW training and support to 817 Squadron, the Fleet Air Arm's (FAA) front line Wessex Squadron

1968

New Queen's Colours were presented to the RAN by His Excellency, the Governor General at a special parade held at Olympic Park No.2 in Melbourne.

1971

Following the expiration of the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement, the Strategic Reserve was replaced by ANZUK, under the Five Power Defence Arrangement plans for the defence of Singapore and Malaysia. A highlight to the changeover was a farewell review of units of the Far East Fleet. HMA Ships Derwent and Swan participated in this event, which marked significant changes in Britain's defence role in South East Asia, and ended the role of the previous naval command which had existed for 150 years

1979

The Australian 200 nautical mile fishing zone was proclaimed, greatly increasing the surveillance role of the RAN.

1985

HMAS Canberra intercepted and shadowed the large Soviet cruiser Frunze and her escorts. The Soviet Surface Action Group (SAG) comprised the Kirov Class cruiser Frunze, the Sovremenny Class guided missile destroyer (DDG) Osmotritelny and the Kashin Class DDG Strogiy. The intercept took place following a three day high-speed transit by Canberra through the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malacca Straits. Over the next five days Canberra remained in close company as the Soviets transitted the Malacca and Singapore Straits before entering the South China Sea. During the mission Canberra used her embarked helicopter to gather addtional information. On breaking away from the Soviets, pleasantries from both navies were exchanged as was the practice during Cold War encounters

1986

The mine hunter inshore HMAS RUSHCUTTER, (LCDR G. Mapson, RAN), was commissioned at Sydney. Her sister-ship HMAS SHOALWATER, was commissioned a year later. A plan to bring into service six of the class was envisaged, (others to be named WESTERNPORT, DISCOVERY, ESPERANCE, and MELVILLE), however this never eventuated.

1989

DISCON, the first totally secure communication system, was inaugurated in Australian Defence Forces.

2024

The Evolved Cape class patrol boat ADV Cape Schanck was officially accepted by the RAN