On This Day

On This Day - 18 January

1913

The Town class light cruiser, HMAS MELBOURNE, (CAPT M. L'Estrange Silver, RN), was commissioned. Mrs F. F. Braund, (Daughter of Mr R. Barr-Smith), performed the commissioning ceremony. MELBOURNE was laid down in Cammell-Laird Yard, UK, and launched on 30 May 1912.

1925

HMAS ADELAIDE, (light cruiser), joined the 1st Cruiser Squadron, HM Ships DEHLI and DRAGON, at Gibraltar.

1941

The Australian armed merchant cruiser, ARAWA sighted searchlight beams and gun flashes from the German raider KORMORAN in the South Atlantic. The raider escaped before ARAWA could close her.

1943

First training course for WRAN officers began at Flinders Naval Depot. The Australian tanker MOBILUBE was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-21, 60 miles from Sydney.

1969

HMAS LAE, (patrol boat), rescued injured and removed dead when Cyclone Ada devastated northern Queensland coastal resorts. For conspicuous gallantry in the rescues the following awards were announced:-MBE LEUT J. Scott, RANBEM ERA K. MattersBEM RO Sehi

1971

The River class destroyer escort, HMAS TORRENS, (CMDR I. W. Knox, RAN), was commissioned. Dame Zara Holt, (Wife of former Prime Minister Harold Holt), performed the commissioning ceremony. TORRENS was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard on 28 September 1968. The River class were modified Type 12 frigates.

1984

HMA Ships WARNAMBOOL and BARBETTE, (patrol boats), escorted a Taiwanese motor trawler apprehended poaching in Australian waters off Great Detached Reef, into Cairns. The trawler was found guilty by a special court and fined $3000.

1985

The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Hawke, announced the cancellation of the combined United States, New Zealand and Australian naval exercise, Sea Eagle, following New Zealand's refusal to provide port facilities to U.S. nuclear armed warships. The action posed a threat to the ANZUS Treaty and Australian naval defence.