On This Day
1942 > WW2
On This Day - 1942
- October 23, 1942
LEUT P. G. Evatt, DSC, RANVR, in HMS UNITED, (submarine), participated in wolf-pack attacks on Axis ships running supplies to Rommel’s Africa Korps. The operations of British submarines spelt disaster to the Germans at the Battle of El Alamein.
- October 22, 1942
ining. The surveying vessel HMAS STELLA, (LEUT J. J. Cody, RAN), was commissioned. STELLA, (as WAREEN), was laid down in Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, in 1938. She was requisitioned for the RAN on 1 October 1942.
- October 21, 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS KAPUNDA, was commissioned. KAPUNDA was laid down in Poole & Steel Ltd, Sydney, on 27 August 1941, and launched on 23 June 1943.
The minesweeper HMAS LAUNCESTON, (LCDR P. G. Collins, RANR), rescued 64 of the crew of the merchant ship MARIABAN, which was sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Northern Indian Ocean on 13 October.
- October 20, 1942
HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), were fired at by the STEPHEN A DOUGLAS, (ammunition carrier). NIZAM and FOXHOUND were rendezvousing with the ammunition carrier to escort her into Cape Town, and were mistaken for German submarines.
- October 15, 1942
The war diary of HMS CARADOC, (cruiser), reported on the shortage of meat. ‘Some meatless days are inevitable in the Persian Gulf. On one or two occasions HMS ALAUNIA was able to come to our rescue. Once, a bullock, slaughtered on board by an RANVR officer in the absence of a butcher, provided a supply of meat and a good profit to the Crown’.
- October 13, 1942
HMAS LAUNCESTON, (minesweeper), rescued 61 of the crew of the merchant vessel MARTABAN, which was torpedoed south of Ceylon.
- October 12, 1942
The RAN Nursing Service was established. Twelve nursing sisters were appointed at both Sydney and Melbourne.
- October 10, 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS PIRIE, (LCDR C. F. Mills, RAN), was commissioned. PIRIE was laid down in Broken Hill Pty Co’s Yard, Whyalla, SA, on 19 May 1941, and launched on 3 December 1941. Mrs R. T. Kleeman performed the launching ceremony.
HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), attacked the German submarine U 159 on the surface, 150 miles south- east of Cape Town. The submarine dived and escaped.
- October 9, 1942
HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), picked up survivors from the Dutch ship GAASTERKERK, torpedoed off Cape Town by German submarines.
- October 8, 1942
Coastwatcher LEUT R. Woodroffe, RANR, was believed executed by the Japanese on Amir Island.
HMAS NIZAM and HMS FOXHOUND, (destroyers), picked up survivors from the Greek ship KOUMOUNDOUROS, torpedoed off Cape Town.