- Author
- Vickridge, G.L.W., Lieutenant, RANR
- Subjects
- RAN operations
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Wyatt Earp, HMAS Wongala, HMAS Albatross, HMA LST 3501, HMAS Labuan I, HMAS Moresby I, HMAS Whyalla I, HMAS Shepparton I, HMAS Australia II
- Publication
- January 1972 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
The RAN had no other vessel suitable for Antarctic operations and Labuan’s return to Fremantle on 1st March 1951 marked the last operation by an RAN vessel in Antarctic operations.
RAN Antarctic Operations
1948 Heard Island Expedition – HMALST 3501 (LCDR G.M. Dixon, RANVR)
- Sailed: Melbourne 17/11/47
- Called: Fremantle 25/11/47 – 28/11/47
- Arrived: Heard Island 11/12/47
- Sailed: Heard Island 4/1/48 (First sailed from Heard Island for Kerguelen Island 29/12/47, later returned to take off Group Captain S.A.C. Campbell, RAAF)
1948 Macquarie Island Expedition – HMALST 3501 (LCDR G.M. Dixon, RANVR)
- Sailed: Melbourne 28/2/48
- Sailed: Hobart 3/3/48
- Arrived: Macquarie Island 7/3/48
- Sailed: Macquarie Island 23/3/48
- Arrived: Melbourne 2/4/48 after calling at Hobart
1948 Wyatt Earp Expedition – HMAS Wyatt Earp (CMDR K.E. Oom, OBE, RAN)
- Sailed: Melbourne 8/2/48
- Arrived: Melbourne 1/4/48 after calling at Macquarie Island
1949 Heard Island Expedition – HMAS Labuan (LCDR G.M. Dixon, RANVR)
- Sailed: Melbourne 21/1/49
- Arrived: Heard Island 3/2/49
- Sailed: Heard Island 11/2/49
- Arrived: Melbourne 26/2/49 after calling at Kerguelen Island
1949 Macquarie Island Expedition – HMAS Labuan (LCDR G.M. Dixon, RANVR)
- Sailed: Melbourne 22/3/49
- Arrived: Macquarie Island 27/3/49
- Sailed: Macquarie Island 8/4/49
- Arrived: Melbourne 14/4/49
1950 Heard Island Expedition – HMAS Labuan (LCDR D. Shaw, RAN)
- Sailed: Melbourne 22/1/50
- Arrived: Heard Island 11/2/50
- Sailed: Heard Island 25/2/50
- Arrived: Albany 11/3/50 after calling at Kerguelen Island
In July, 1950 HMAS Australia mad a mid-winter dash to Heard Island to take off the Expedition’s medical officer and land two reliefs.
1950 Macquarie Island Expedition – HMAS Labuan (LCDR D. Shaw, RAN)
- Sailed: Melbourne 3/4/50
- Arrived: Macquarie Island 10/4/50
- Sailed: Macquarie Island 24/4/50
- Arrived: Melbourne 29/4/50
1951 Heard Island Expedition – HMAS Labuan (LCDR I.H. Cartwright, RAN)
- Sailed: Melbourne 16/1/51
- Arrived: Heard Island 5/2/51
- Sailed: Heard Island 17/2/51
- Arrived: Fremantle 1/3/51 after calling at Kerguelen Island
Footnote: 1 – Commander Karl Erik Oom, OBE, RAN
Born 27th May 1904 at Chatswood, NSW, and entered the RANC in January 1918. Promoted to Midshipman in 1922, Sub-Lieutenant in 1925, Lieutenant in 1926, Lieutenant Commander in 1935 and Commander in 1943. He specialised in hydrographical work and was engaged in surveying from 1926.
Oom signed on as an Able Seaman in Discovery II for Sir Douglas Mawson’s 1930-31 Antarctic expedition where he met Stuart Campbell for the first time. For his work with the expedition he was awarded the Polar Medal. His next expedition was in HMS Challenger which Oom joined in 1932 for a two year survey off the Canadian northern coast after which he returned to serve in HMAS Moresby.
The hydrographer again returned to Canada, surveying this time in HMS Franklin, in which ship he was serving when World War II broke out. Lieutenant Commander Oom was appointed to command HMS Gleaner during 1941-42 and then returned to Australia to command HMA Ships Whyalla (1942-43) and Shepparton (1943). In 1943 he became Officer-in-Charge of the Hydrographic Branch and Commander Task Group 70.5 Seventh Fleet, a position he held until the cessation of hostilities.
In February 1945 he was awarded the OBE, and his work was also recognised by the award of the United States Legion of Merit. The Royal Geographical Society presented him with the Gill Memorial Prize and the United States again recognised his outstanding contribution to surveying by awarding him the Bronze Star.