While escorting the troopship AQUITANIA to Batavia, Netherlands East Indies, HMAS CANBERRA, (cruiser), sighted a Japanese submarine directly ahead of the troopship. The submarine dived and escaped before CANBERRA could ...
Australian Naval History on 4 February 1942
Australian Naval History on 3 February 1942
HMAS TOOWOOMBA, rescued the crew of the bombed merchant vessel LOCH RANZA in the Rhio Strait, Malaya. The United States Navy transferred its submarine base from Darwin to Fremantle. The ...
Australian Naval History on 2 February 1942
HMAS VENDETTA, (destroyer), was towed by HMS STRONGHOLD from Singapore to Java. VENDETTA was in the middle of an extended refit and was immobilised. The former Chinese river boats PING ...
Australian Naval History on 1 February 1942
Twenty Australian built corvettes, (or ocean minesweepers), were in commission with the RAN. The 650 ton ships were being launched at the rate of one a month. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 January 1942
The British Far Eastern Fleet, which included HMA Ships NAPIER, NIZAM and NESTOR, (destroyers), passed within 90 miles of a superior Japanese fleet in the Indian Ocean. ...
Australian Naval History on 30 January 1942
HMAS GYMPIE, (minesweeper), was launched at Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane. ...
Australian Naval History on 28 January 1942
HMA Ships NIZAM, NAPIER, and NESTOR, (destroyers), escorted HMS INDOMITABLE, (aircraft carrier), which was carrying 48 pilots and their Hurricane fighter aircraft, bound for Malaya. The aircraft were flown off ...
Australian Naval History on 27 January 1942
HMAS VAMPIRE and HMS THANET, (destroyers) launched a night attack on a superior Japanese force landing troops at Endau, Malaya. The destroyers penetrated the enemy line and engaged vessels on ...
Australian Naval History on 26 January 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS CESSNOCK, (A/LCDR Marchington, RNR),was commissioned at Sydney. Lady Gordon, (Wife of a Director of Cockatoo Dockyard), performed the commissioning ceremony. CESSNOCK was laid down ...
Australian Naval History on 25 January 1942
HMA Ships CANBERRA, (cruiser), and VAMPIRE, (destroyer), arrived in Singapore, having escorted the liner AQUITANIA, which was carrying troops from Australia. HMAS NIZAM, (destroyer), on an early morning anti-submarine sweep ...
Australian Naval History on 23 January 1942
HMAS ARMIDALE was launched at Mort’s Dock, Sydney. ADML Royle informed the Australian War Cabinet that an invasion of Australia by the Japanese was a distinct possibility. ...
Australian Naval History on 22 January 1942
HMAS Katoomba was involved in a collision with the US tanker Pecos just outside Darwin Harbour. Holed on the port side and taking water, she was in danger of sinking. ...
Australian Naval History on 21 January 1942
Off Darwin, NT, HMA Ships DELORAINE, KATOOMBA, and LITHGOW, (corvettes), with the USS EDSALL, (destroyer), took part in depth-charge attacks which destroyed the Japanese submarine I124, the first warship of ...
Australian Naval History on 17 January 1942
HMAS ECHUCA was launched at Williamstown Naval Dockyard, VIC. The lugger, HMAS ST. FRANCIS, (LEUT (Brother) Andrew Smith, RANVR), sighted a Japanese submarine on the surface off Melville Island. In ...
Australian Naval History on 16 January 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS GEELONG, (LCDR C. G. Hill, RANR(S)), was commissioned. GEELONG was laid down at Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, on 16 October 1940. Lady Dugan, (Wife of ...
Australian Naval History on 10 January 1942
HMAS Canberra departed Sydney with convoy MS.2 (troopship AQUITANIA) for Ratai Bay in the Sunda Straits, arriving on the 20th ...
Australian Naval History on 8 January 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS WHYALLA, was commissioned at Whyalla, SA. Lady Barclay-Harvey, (wife of the Governor of South Australia, Sir Malcolm Barclay-Harvey), performed the launching ceremony. WHYALLA was ...
Australian Naval History on 7 January 1942
HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), joined the ABDA Fleet at Batavia. The cruiser was returning to Australia after service in the Mediterranean when she was diverted to the Far East. ...
Australian Naval History on 6 January 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS COLAC, (LCDR D. C. Northern, RANR(S)), was commissioned at Sydney. Miss M. Heady Sr, (staff of Morts Dock), performed the launching ceremony. COLAC was ...
Australian Naval History on 5 January 1942
CMDR S. H. K. Spurgeon, DSO, RAN, assumed command of HMAS STUART, (destroyer), at Williamstown, VIC. He commanded HMS ECHO in 1940, and took part in the Norwegian Campaign, He ...
Australian Naval History on 4 January 1942
Coastwatcher SBLT C. L. Page, RANVR, reported 22 Japanese heavy bombers passing over Tabar Island bound for Rabaul. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 January 1942
HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), arrived in Singapore with a convoy under escort, and was subjected to Japanese air attack at the naval base. A signal from the Dutch destroyer HMNS ISAAC ...
Australian Naval History on 2 January 1942
HMA Ships AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA, and PERTH, (cruisers), with HMS ACHILLES escorted the first large troop reinforcement convoy to Port Moresby. ...
Australian Naval History on 31 December 1941
HMA Ships NAPIER, NIZAM, and NESTOR, (destroyers), joined HM Ships AJAX, KINGSTON, ARROW, and GURKHA in the bombardment of German defence posts on the outskirts of Bardia. ...
Australian Naval History on 24 December 1941
CAPT H. B. Farncomb, RAN, assumed command of HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), at Sydney. ...