18 Apr 1941. First WRANS appointed
ON this day in 1941 the Minister for the Navy approved the employment of twelve female telegraphists and two attendants at the Harman Wireless...
17 Apr 1967 Hobart’s Vietnam action
17 April – On this day in 1967, the guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart was in action conducting a bombardment of North Vietnamese ferry...
14 Apr 1944. Midget sub attack in Norway
ON this day 14 April 1944, Lieutenant Maxwell Henry Shean, RAN, commanded the midget submarine X-24 in a solo raid on an important floating...
13 Apr 1918 Commander Warren drowned
ON this Day 13 April 1918 Commander William Warren, DSO RAN, commander of the Australian Torpedo Boat Destroyer Flotilla, was accidently drowned in Brindisi...
12 Apr 1924. HMAS Australia scuttled
ON this day 12 April 1924, the battle cruiser HMAS Australia (I) was ceremonially scuttled off Sydney under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Keeping her manned and operational had become impractical in the reduced circumstances of the post war RAN. 11 Apr 1941. HMAS Pirie attacked
ON this day in 1943, during Operation Lilliput to supply army operations near Buna in New Guinea, the Bathurst class corvette HMAS Pirie was subjected to a particularly determined air attack by a large force of Japanese fighters and dive bombers while escorting the British tanker Hanyang from Milne Bay to Oro Bay. 10 Apr 1941 Siege of Tobruk begins
ON this day in 1941, the Siege of Tobruk began. Over the next 242 days, Australian, British, Indian and Polish troops, supported by Australian and British Navy ships defended the Fortress of Tobruk against German and Italian forces. 9 Apr 1942 HMAS Vampire sunk
ON this day in 1942 Japanese aircraft sank HMAS Vampire and the RN light carrier HMS Hermes. Hermes was torpedoed sank with the loss of 300 men. Bombs broke Vampire’s back when they struck amidships. 6 Apr 1940. VC awarded mainly on enemy testimony
On this Day, 6 April 1940, Lieutenant Commander J.K. McLeod, RAN and Able Seaman R.E. Bampton and were killed in action when the Royal Navy destroyer in which they were serving, HMS Glowworm, (Lieutenant Commander G.B. Roope, RN) engaged and rammed the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper in a one-sided action in Norwegian Waters. 5 Apr 1990. Women serve on warships
On this Day, 5 April 1990, then Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral M.W. Hudson, announced that, subject to the availability of suitable accommodation,...