On This Day - 18 May

1917
The Australian Naval Brigade provided guards for the principal wireless stations throughout Australia.
1941
The sloop HMAS YARRA, (LCDR W. H. Harrington, RAN), provided close support for British troops landing at Basra, Iraq, during the Allied takeover of the country. HM Ships FALMOUTH, COCKCHAFER, EMERALD and LEANDER, were also involved in the landing.
1945
HMAS COLAC, (minesweeper), towed the damaged ML427 off Moem Reef to Madang, (New Guinea). The motor launch had run aground on the reef two days before
1948
HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), took the disabled merchant vessel MADONNA in tow, in rough seas, near Lady Elliott Island, (off the coast of QLD), and towed her to Gladstone, QLD.
1956
HMA Ships BOWEN and LATROBE, (minesweepers), were sold out of service for breaking up in Hong Kong.
1980
China's first Inter Continental Ballistic Missile landed in the Pacific Ocean north west of Fiji. The splashdown was observed by HMA Ships VAMPIRE, (destroyer), and JERVIS BAY, (training ship). A fleet of eighteen Chinese warships was also in the area to observe the splashdown.
1984
The RAN established the world's first seabed mine de-magnetising range, at Shark Point, Sydney. Ships passing over the range are automatically de-magnetised.
1987
A $3.9 billion contract to build six Kockum Type 471 submarines for the RAN, (later designated Collins class), was awarded by the Australian Government to the Australian Submarine Corporation, Adelaide.
1996
The ANZAC class guided missile frigate, HMAS ANZAC was commissioned. ANZAC was laid down at Tenix Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, and launched on 16 September 1994. Lieutenant Colonel V. Statham, AO, MBE, ARRC, ED, FNM, performed the launching ceremony.
1999
RADM J. R. Lord, AM, RAN, was appointed as Maritime Commander Australia.
2000
HMAS ANZAC, (frigate), arrived at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for a good will visit.
Credit:
'On This Day' is based on the book "Navy Day by Day: Historic Naval Events in Australia and Abroad" written by the late Lew Lind. More information.

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