On This Day

On This Day - 26 September

1884

The Queensland Navy gunboats GAYUNDAH and PALUMA completed shipbuilder trials on the Tyne River England. Both vessels attained a speed of 10 knots.

1914

A landing party from HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), destroyed the German wireless station at Angaur in the Palau Islands.

1917

The Castle class trawlers GUNUNDAAL and KORAAGA were requisitioned by the RAN as auxiliary minesweepers. They were manned by members of the RAN Brigade, and conducted minesweeping operations off the NSW and VIC coastlines, searching for mines laid by the German raider WOLF.

1940

CAPT H. L. Waller, RAN, (CAPT(D) 10th destroyer flotilla), transferred his flag to HMAS VAMPIRE, (destroyer), whilst HMAS STUART, (destroyer), underwent a refit at Malta

1943

Z Special Force, (Operation Jaywick), operatives enter Singapore Harbour in kayaks, and planted limpet mines on seven Japanese merchant ships. They then escaped undetected, to rendezvous with HMAS KRAIT. The raid was a complete success, with 37,000 tons of Japanese shipping sunk or damaged.

1945

HMAS STRAHAN was damaged by a mine explosion while sweeping a minefield off the China coast. The ship returned to Hong Kong for repairs.

1959

HMAS QUIBERON, (frigate), escorted the Bass Strait ferry PRINCESS OF TASMANIA on her maiden voyage from Melbourne to Devonport.

1967

HMAS Perth (II) arrived off the coast of Vietnam on her first deployment as Australia’s contribution to the US 7th Fleet operation during the Vietnam War. As a unit of the US Navy’s Operation SEA DRAGON, Perth was tasked with firing on enemy shore positions and engaging small coastal craft carrying supplies

1980

RADM D. W. Leach, Chief of Naval Personnel, announced that it took:- 4 years and cost $6,300, to train a Leading Seaman Quarter Master Gunner; 6 years and $60,000 a Petty Officer Electrical Technical Systems; 12 years and $200,000 a Commanding Officer of a submarine; 6 years and $400,000 a helicopter pilot.

1988

One of the largest fleets to operate in Australian waters, more than thirty warships, led by the USS New Jersey, (battleship), made a ceremonial entry into Sydney Harbour.

2019

The lead elements of a RAN task group left Sydney to participate in bilateral and multinational activities in North and South-East Asia over four months. Vessels involved included HMA Ships Hobart, Parramatta, Stuart, Ararat, Sirius, Arunta, Leeuwin, Gascoyne and Diamantina plus four combat helicopters

2023

HMA Ships Benalla II and Shepparton II decommissioned at Cairns

2023

HMAS Launceston II was decommissioned at Darwin

2023

The Evolved Cape class patrol boat ADV Cape Woolamai was officially accepted

2023

The Evolved Cape class patrol boat ADV Cape Woolamai was officially accepted