On This Day

On This Day - 16 November

1915

'These men', wrote CMDR L. S. Bracegirdle, RN, commanding the RAN Bridging Train at Gallipoli, 'took pride in the fact they were the only Australian naval unit serving in the European theatre of war'.

1916

HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), joined the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron at Rosyth, Scotland.

1917

HMAS PARRAMATTA, (torpedo boat destroyer), took in tow the torpedoed Italian transport ORIONE. While the lines were being passed to the disabled ship, a torpedo was fired by an enemy submarine that missed PARRAMATTA.

1939

CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN, was appointed in command of HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser).

1940

HMAS GOULBURN, (minesweeper), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. Collins, RAN), took part in troop transport operations to Greece.

1942

The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS GLENELG, was commissioned. GLENELG was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, on 2 March 1942, and launched on 22 September 1942. Mrs H. V. Evatt, (Wife of the Attorney- General and Minister for External Affairs), performed the launching ceremony.

1943

HMAS JUNEE, (minesweeper), was launched at Poole & Steel, Sydney.

1952

On this day, 16 November 1952, the Battle class destroyer, HMAS Anzac (II) (Captain GGO Gatacre, DSC, RAN), came under fire from North Korean shore batteries in the vicinity of Cho Do. During the ensuing engagement, Anzac, assisted by HMS Comus and HMCS Crusader, fired 174 rounds of counter-battery fire. The shore batteries were silenced 23 minutes after the first rounds were fired. Approximately 50 rounds of enemy fire were observed to fall near Anzac during the engagement.

1955

HMS NIZAM, (destroyer, ex-HMAS NIZAM), was paid off for breaking up.

1973

HMAS BANDOLIER, (patrol boat), was transferred to the Indonesian Navy and renamed SIBARAU.

2016

After an earthquake on Nov 14 HMAS Darwin arrived at Kaikoura, New Zealand on 16 November in company with HMNZ Ships Te Kaha, Endeavour and Canterbury, USS Sampson, and HMCS Vancouver. Working parties were sent ashore to assist in restoring essential services such as electricity and water; welfare checks were carried out as well as basic reconstruction tasks and clean-up duties