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1940
Australian built sloops Parramatta and Warrego commissioned. RAN destroyers,
together with four RN destroyers form the 10th Destroyer Flotilla under
command of Commander H.M.L Waller RAN. First AIF convoy sails from Fremantle
20th January. Yarra in ops in Persian Gulf. Sydney and Stuart bombard
Bardia. Battle of Cape Spada - Sydney destroys Italian Cruiser Bartolomeo
Colleoni. Hobart in evacuation of Berbera, British Somaliland. Sydney,
Stuart, Voyager and Vampire in battle Of Calabria. Australia in action
at Dakar (Africa). Stuart sinks Italian Submarine Gondar. German Raiders
Orion and Komet sink five ships off Nauru. Raider Pinguin and her Auxiliary
Passat mine Sydney approaches, the Hobart Entrance, Bass Strait and
St. Vincent's Gulf. Tribal Class Destroyer Arunta launched at Cockatoo
Dockyard. Bathurst, first of 60 Australian-built Minesweepers (corvettes)
launched at Cockatoo.
1941
Canberra intercepts to German Supply ships in Indian Ocean. 10th Destroyer
Flotilla assigned to Tobruk ('The Spud Run'). Mediterranean Operations
continued, evacuation of Greece - Perth, Stuart, Vampire, Voyager,
Vendetta and Waterhen. Evacuation of Crete - Perth, Stuart, Napier,
and Nizam. Battle of Matapan - Perth, Stuart and Vendetta. Nestor
Sinks German U Boat 127. Waterhen sunk on 'Tobruk Ferry Run". Kanimbla
and Yarra seize vital areas in Persian Gulf. Parramatta sunk by German
U Boat off Tobruk. Sydney lost with all hands after sinking German
Raider Kormoran off Western Australian Coast. Perth in Syrian Campaign.
Perth and Destroyers leave Mediterranean. Japanese bomb Singapore
and Pearl Harbour. Vampire rescues survivors of Prince of Wales and
Repulse sunk by Japanese aircraft in Malacca Straits. Womens Royal
Australian Navy Service (WRANS) founded.
1942
Vampire
and HMS Thanet in action with Jap Destroyers off Malayan Coast. First
air raid on Darwin 19th February seven RAN sailors killed. Yarra rescues
survivors from burning troopship Empress of Asia at Singapore. Evacuation
of Sumatra - six RAN ships take part. Perth takes part in Battle of
Java Sea. Allied withdrawal from Java proceeds. Perth Sunk in Battle
of Sunda Strait, 1st March. Yarra sunk in gallant fight against strong
cruiser force. Vampire sunk by Jap dive bombers off Ceylon. Australia
and Hobart in Coral Sea Battle. Napier, Nizam and Norman in Madagascan
operations. Japanese midget submarines attack shipping in Sydney Harbour,
depot ship Kuttabul sunk with loss of 21 sailors including two RN.
Nestor sunk by German dive bombers in the Mediterranean. Deloraine
sunk by Jap Sub I-124 off Darwin. Arunta sinks Jap Submarine RO33
off Port Moresby. Australia, Hobart and Canberra in Guadalcanal Campaign
marking the beginning of the Allied Offensive against Jap forces in
the Sth West Pacific. HMAS Quiberon sinks German U Boat 411. Loss
of Canberra in Battle of Savo Island. Voyager wrecked off coast of
Timor whilst landing guerilla troops. Iron Chiefton torpedoed, first
vessel sunk by Jap Submarines off Australia's coast. Armidale sunk
by Jap aircraft in Arafura Sea.
1943
Australian warships continue there support in the New Guinea Campaign.
Hospital ship Centaur sunk by Jap Submarine off Queensland Coast. Japanese
submarine attacks in Australian coastal waters cease after sinking of
Portmar; 19 ships sunk in two years but campaign defeated by convoy
system. Shropshire commissioned into RAN to replace Canberra. Eight
RAN minesweepers support landings in Sicily. Australia, Shropshire,
Arunta and Warramunga engaged in landing at New Britain. Gascoyne, first
Australian built frigate launched at Mort's Dock, Sydney.
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1944
Australian Squadron operates as bombardment group in the Admiralty
Islands prior to landings. Pre landing bombardment of New Guinea,
Biak and Morotai by RAN units. Australia, Arunta, Shropshire, Warramunga,
Gascoyne, Manoora, Kanimbla and Westralia in Leyte - Philippines
Campaign. Australia hit by Kamikazes. Shropshire and Arunta in battle
of Surigao Strait, last naval surface battle of WW11. British Pacific
Fleet formed 10th December, Captain J.A. Collins CB RAN appointed
as Commodore 1st Class in command of Australian Squadron. First
RANC graduate, in the first 1913 entry, appointed to the command.
1945
RAN Units take part in Lingayen Landings. Australia suffers severe
damage from Kamikazes, Germany Surrenders 7th May. RAN ships support
first Borneo landings of the AIF 9th Div. RAN "N" Class destroyers
in Burma Campaign. "N" and "Q" Class Destroyers take part in assault
on Japanese home islands (July). First Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima
5th August. Japan surrenders 15th August. RAN reaches peak strength
in July of 39,650, including 2,617 WRANS and 57 Nursing Sisters. RAN
personnel war casualties 2,170 dead. RAN personnel awarded 502 British
Medals and decorations. Nizam landed to occupy Yokosuka dockyard.
Shropshire, Hobart and seven other RAN ships present at Japanese surrender
ceremony aboard USS Missouri. Five RAN ships present at surrender
at Rabaul. Three RAN ships present at surrender at Balikpapan.
1946
General demobilization begins. Frigate Condamine commissions. Naval
occupation force includes RAN ships.
1947
Minesweeper Warranambool lost during sweeping operations in Barrier
Reef at the cost of four lives. Australian ships continue to form
part of the Occupation Forces in Japanese waters. Australia re commissioned
after extensive repairs and refit. Battle Class destroyer Tobruk launched.
Commodores J.A. Collins and H.B Farncomb promoted to Rear Admirals.
First RANC Graduates to achieve Flag Rank.
1948
Occupation Duties continue. Last member of WRANS discharged. Minesweeping
of Australian coast ends. RANS disbanded. RAN Fleet Air Arm established.
Three landing ships tank join RAN. Survey work intensifies. Rear Admiral
Collins succeeds Admiral Sir Louis Hamilton as First Naval Member
and Chief of Naval Staff. First RANC graduate to hold appointment.
1949
HM Australian Squadron becomes HM Australian Fleet. Many RAN Ships
are paid off to reserve. Adelaide scrapped. RAN ships still in Japanese
waters as part of occupations forces.
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