On This Day

On This Day - 21 September

1906

CAPT William Creswell's report on the establishment of an Australian navy, and the role it could play in the defence of Australia, (submitted to the Committee of Imperial Defence in London), was condemned as being based 'on imperfect conception of the requirements of naval strategy'.

1914

The German Ships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU, (heavy cruisers), stood off Papeete, Tahiti, and shelled the coal dumps at the port. ADML von Spee intended landing, but the presence of HMAS AUSTRALIA, (battle-cruiser), in the Pacific, changed his mind. The only Allied warship at Papeete was the small French gunboat ZEILE, which was scuttled by her crew.

1916

HMAS MELBOURNE, (cruiser), joined the Second Light Cruiser Squadron for operations in the North Sea. The squadron was based at Rosyth, Scotland.

1929

HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), ran aground at Broome, WA . Damage was minor, and the cruiser re-floated herself.

1941

The production of mines in Australia reached 3000 per year. Orders were received for 1500 for the Admiralty, 2500 for the RAN, 300 for New Zealand, and 100 for Noumea

1942

The cutter HMAS MAROUBRA, was commissioned. MAROUBRA was laid down in Brisbane in 1930. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the Australian Petroleum Co Ltd, on 20 March 1942.

1965

HMAS MILDURA, (minesweeper), was sold out of service for breaking up at Brisbane. For the last 10 years of her life, she served as a stationary training ship for the RANR at Brisbane.

1988

The Australian Submarine Museum was opened at HMAS PLATYPUS, (submarine base),in Sydney.

1991

HMAS DARWIN, (guided missile frigate), visited her name-city, on completion of her first deployment to the United Nations' fleet in the Arabian Gulf