The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS BERMAGUI was commissioned. BERMAGUI was laid down in Ailsa Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Troon, Scotland, in 1912. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the ...
Australian Naval History on 11 December 1939
Australian Naval History on 9 December 1939
HMAS Swan became leader of the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla, formed that day and comprising initially HMA Ships Swan, Yarra (II), Doomba and Orara ...
Australian Naval History on 7 December 1939
The Australian War Cabinet considered a memorandum from VADM Sir Ragnar Colvin, RN, the British First Naval Member and Chief of Naval Staff, which advocated that HMA Ships CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, ...
Australian Naval History on 4 December 1939
The 20th Minesweeping Flotilla, HMA Ships SWAN, YARRA, ORARA, and DOOMBA, commenced operations on the east coast of Australia. ...
Australian Naval History on 2 December 1939
The German pocket battleship GRAF SPEE took the first Australian naval POW’s of WWII, after sinking the merchant ships DORIC STAR and TAIROA, in the South Atlantic. The Australians were ...
Australian Naval History on 30 November 1939
Mr A. R. Nankervis is appointed as the Permanent Head of the Naval Board. He was previously Finance and Civil Member of the Board. Mr G. L. Macandie continued as ...
Australian Naval History on 16 November 1939
CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN, was appointed in command of HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser). ...
Australian Naval History on 15 November 1939
Separate ministers for the Army, Navy and Air Force were appointed in the Australian Cabinet. Sir Frederick Stewart was made Minister for the Navy. ...
Australian Naval History on 13 November 1939
The Department of the Navy was re-created as a separate portfolio. ...
Australian Naval History on 7 November 1939
An Australian Government order-in-council was signed, and transferred all vessels and personnel of the Commonwealth Naval Forces, and personnel of the RAAF, to the King’s Naval and Air Forces. The ...
Australian Naval History on 4 November 1939
HMAS KOALA, (boom defence vessel), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney. ...
Australian Naval History on 3 November 1939
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS UKI, was commissioned. UKI was laid down in Port Glasgow, Scotland, in 1923. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the North Coast Steam ...
Australian Naval History on 2 November 1939
The Australian liner WESTRALIA was requisitioned by the Australian Government for conversion to an armed merchant cruiser. ...
Australian Naval History on 1 November 1939
RADM John George Crace, CB, an Australian-born officer of the RN, was appointed Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Squadron, taking over from CDRE W. Patterson, RN. His flagship was HMAS ...
Australian Naval History on 22 October 1939
The Australian merchant ship TREVANION was sunk by the German pocket battleship GRAF SPEE, in the South Atlantic. TREVANION was the first Australian ship sunk in WWII. ...
Australian Naval History on 20 October 1939
The examination vessel HMAS ADELE, was commissioned. ADELE was formerly commissioned as HMAS FRANKLIN, on 14 September 1915. ...
Australian Naval History on 14 October 1939
The Australian coastal passenger liner MANOORA was requisitioned by the RAN, and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. In 1943 she was converted to a landing ship infantry. ...
Australian Naval History on 10 October 1939
HMA Ships Australia, Canberra and Adelaide searched for suspected German minelayers off Gabo Island from the 10th to the 13th. Following the sighting HMA Ships SWAN and YARRA commenced the ...
Australian Naval History on 9 October 1939
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS BERYL II, was commissioned. BERYL II was laid down in 1914. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, Cam & Sons Pty Ltd, Sydney, ...
Australian Naval History on 6 October 1939
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS GOOLGWAI, was commissioned. GOOLGWAI was laid down in Collingwood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ontario, Canada. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners Red Funnel Trawlers ...
Australian Naval History on 4 October 1939
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS TONGKOL, was commissioned. TONGKOL was laid down in 1926. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owner, Mr A. A. Murrell, Sydney, on 4 October ...
Australian Naval History on 25 September 1939
The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS DOOMBA, was commissioned. DOOMBA, (as HMS WEXFORD), was laid down in the UK in 1919. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the Doomba ...
Australian Naval History on 22 September 1939
CMDR B. M. Long, LCDR E. Feldt, and LCDR R. B. A. Hunt, set up the organisation for the RAN’s Coastwatcher Service. ...
Australian Naval History on 18 September 1939
The former steam yacht HMAS ADELE, (auxiliary patrol vessel), was commissioned. The vessel was first commissioned in 1914 as HMAS FRANKLIN, and served as a tender to the Royal Australian ...
Australian Naval History on 10 September 1939
HMS OXLEY, (submarine, ex-HMAS OXLEY), was sunk in error by HMS TRITON, (submarine). The Commanding Officer, and one rating, survived the sinking. OXLEY was the first British submarine lost in ...
