On This Day - 12 February
- 1912
- The Commonwealth Naval Forces commenced the building of a naval training depot at Hanns Inlet, VIC. It was commissioned as Flinders Naval Depot in September 1920.
- 1917
- On 12 February 1917 HMAT Afric was sunk in the English Channel after being torpedoed by the German submarine SM UC-66, whilst sailing outbound between Liverpool and Plymouth, 12 miles (19 km) south south-west of the Eddystone Lighthouse, there were 145 survivors, but 22 people lost their lives. The wreck lies at the position (49°59′N 04°18′W) at a depth of around 70 metres (229.7 feet), and has been filmed by divers
- 1942
- Garden Island, Sydney, the RAN's main base, was joined to the mainland by coffer-dams in the course of the building of the Captain Cook Graving Dock. A temporary road laid on the earth fill supporting the dams was known as the "Burma Road". Lt. Richard Saunders RANVR commanded Royal Navy MTB 44 and attacked Prinz Eugen during Operation Cerberus when German Naval vessels traversed the Dover Straits on their way from France to Germany. After the attack the MTB also rescued Sub Lts. Lee and Rose after their Swordfish aircraft was shot down attacking the German vessels. Saunders was awarded the DSC for the attack.
- 1943
- CMDR G. G. O. Gatacre, DSC, RAN, was awarded a Bar to the DSC for conspicuous gallantry while serving in HMAS AUSTRALIA during the Battle of the Solomon Islands. LEUT G. Howe, RANR(S), piloted a captured Japanese sampan at night through the enemy-held Russell Islands on a reconnaissance mission by US troops. He was awarded the USA Legion of Merit for contributing to the strategic planning of the Allied campaign in the region.
- 1944
- The Japanese submarine I-27 attacked a troopship convoy south of the Maldive Islands. The submarine fired a salvo of torpedoes of which two struck the troopship KHEDIVE ISMAIL, which sank in two minutes. Of the 1550 personnel onboard there were only 200 survivors. Among those lost were a number of RAN ratings. I-27 was then attacked and sunk by the destroyers HMS PETARD and HMS PALADIN.
- 1957
- The Daring class destroyer HMAS VOYAGER, (CAPT G. J. B. Crabb, DSC, RAN), was commissioned. VOYAGER was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, and launched on 1 March 1952. Mrs Menzies, (Wife of the Prime Minister Mr. R. G. Menzies), performed the launching ceremony. VOYAGER was tragically sunk on 10 February 1964, when rammed by HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), whilst on exercise south-east of Jervis Bay, NSW.
- 1971
- RADM H. B. Farncomb, CB, DSO, MVO, an original entry of the Royal Australian Naval College, and the first graduate to reach the rank of Captain, died in Sydney.
- 1985
- The Australian Government announced a $4000 million plan for the replacement of destroyer escorts still in service.
- 1992
- The third HMAS PARRAMATTA, (destroyer escort), left Fremantle on her way to Southeast Asia to be broken up for scrap.
- 2000
- The Huon class mine hunter coastal HMAS HAWKESBURY, was commissioned. HAWKESBURY was laid down in ADI Yard, Newcastle, NSW, and launched on 24 April 1998.
'On This Day' is based on the book "Navy Day by Day: Historic Naval Events in Australia and Abroad" written by the late Lew Lind. More information.