On This Day
1942 > WW2
On This Day - 1942
- September 22, 1942
HMAS GLENELG, (minesweeper), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
HMAS STUART, (destroyer), landed the Australian 2/lOth Battalion on Normanby Island, New Guinea.
- September 21, 1942
The cutter HMAS MAROUBRA, was commissioned. MAROUBRA was laid down in Brisbane in 1930. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the Australian Petroleum Co Ltd, on 20 March 1942.
- September 20, 1942
HMAS Nizam and HMS Hotspur chased Vichy ship, the Antral Pierre, but this vessel opened her sea cocks and could not be salvaged.
- September 17, 1942
The Bathurst class minesweeper, (corvette), HMAS INVERELL, was commissioned. INVERELL was laid down in Mort’s Dock, Sydney, on 6 December 1941, and launched on 2 May 1942.
- September 14, 1942
The Q class destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH, (CMDR R. Rhoades, RAN), was commissioned at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
LEUT R. H. E. Kerruish, RAN, was navigator of HMS COVENTRY, (anti-aircraft cruiser), when it was sunk by German bombers, during a British Commando raid near Tobruk. He was also serving in HMS ARK ROYAL, (aircraft carrier), during the operations against the German-pocket battleship GRAF SPEE, in 1939.
The training ship/tender/store-carrier HMAS KOOPA, was commissioned. KOOPA was laid down in Ramage & Ferguson Ltd, Leith, Scotland, in 1911. She was requisitioned for the RAN, from her owners, the Brisbane Tug & Steamship Co Ltd, on 10 August 1942.
- September 13, 1942
ML 352, (LEUT R. G. Worledge, RANVR), picked up survivors from damaged landing craft during an assault by Royal Marine Commandos on Mersa Sciause, near Tobruk.
- September 12, 1942
The hulk of HMAS ENCOUNTER, (cruiser), was scuttled off Sydney.
The Bathurst class minesweeper HMAS BUNDABERG, (LCDR N. D. Pixley, RANR), was commissioned. BUNDABERG was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, on 7 June 1941, and launched on 1 December 1941. Mrs W. S. Hurwood, (Wife of a Director of Evans Deakin), performed the launching ceremony.
- September 10, 1942
Engaged in Operation Stream-Line-Jane, HMAS NAPIER, (destroyer), entered the Vichy-French port of Morandava, in Madagascar, and landed 50 commandos. The landing was made in a violent thunderstorm, which enabled the commandos to surprise the defenders, who laid down their arms after the exchange of a few shots. NAPIER returned to Diego Suarez with six prisoners, including the Mayor of Morandava. HMA Ships NIZAM and NORMAN covered the assault on Majunga, and were later engaged in intercepting small craft attempting to escape from the port.
- September 9, 1942
The 7th Destroyer Flotilla, HMA Ships NAPIER, NIZAM, NORMAN, and NEPAL, joined the assault forces for the invasion of Madagascar. The former RAN seaplane carrier, ALBATROSS, was in the naval force.
- September 8, 1942
The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, announced that the cruiser HMS SHROPSHIRE would be transferred to the RAN, as a replacement for HMAS CANBERRA, lost in the Battle of Savo Island. SHROPSHIRE was built with subscriptions from the people of the county of Shropshire, and her name was not changed.