On This Day
1940 > WW2
On This Day - 1940
- August 1, 1940
HMAS BATHURST, (minesweeper), the first of 60 of the class to be built in Australia, was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
The RAN Depot at Fremantle was commissioned as HMAS LEEUWIN. The depot had been created in 1926 when a drill hall was erected in Croke Lane, for the training of naval reservists. The base was moved to nearby Preston Point on 1 July 1942, following the appointment of the first Naval Officer in Charge Fremantle.
The Naval Depot in Brisbane, (HMAS PENGUIN IV), was re-commissioned as HMAS BRISBANE. This name lasted just over two years, before the depot was re-named again; this time as HMAS MORETON.
- July 30, 1940
HMAS PARRAMATTA, (sloop), and HMS REGENT, (submarine), arrived at Aden after an unsuccessful search in the Indian Ocean for the German raider ATLANTIS.
- July 29, 1940
HMAS DURRAWEEN, (auxiliary minesweeper), was commissioned.
HMAS STUART, (destroyer), picked up the pilot of a Gladiator fighter from HMS EAGLE, (aircraft carrier), in the central Mediterranean. The fighter shot down an Italian bomber, but exhausted her petrol and crashed into the sea.
- July 28, 1940
HMAS SYDNEY and HMS NEPTUNE sank the Italian tanker ERMIOMI in the Aegean Sea.
- July 27, 1940
HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN), was near-missed by two bombs which caused minor casualties, and damaged the ship’s new aircraft. ADML A. B. Cunningham saw the cruiser veiled in spray and signalled: ‘Are you all right?’ Collins replied: ‘I hope so’.
- July 26, 1940
HMA Ships VAMPIRE and VENDETTA, (destroyers), with HMS ORION, (cruiser), demonstrated off the Italian-held island of Castellorizo to divert enemy attention from an important convoy bound for Greece.
- July 25, 1940
HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), was painted in camouflage colours at Alexandria. The effectiveness of camouflage on ships at sea was the subject of controversy throughout the war.
- July 22, 1940
HMAS ALFIE CAM, (auxiliary minesweeper), was commissioned.
- July 19, 1940
The cruiser, HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN), sank the Italian ship BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI, (cruiser), off Cape Spada, Crete. BATOLOMEO COLLEONI, and her sister ship GIOVANNI DELLE BANDA NERE, were sighted by the HM Ships HASTY and HERO, (destroyers), 20 miles south of the SYDNEY. The destroyers turned north with the enemy in pursuit. HASTY signalled HERO: ‘Don’t look now but I think we are being followed’. Fifty minutes later SYDNEY opened fire at extreme range. By 9.20 am, the battle was over, with BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI sinking, and GIOVANNI DELLE BANDA NERE withdrawing damaged.The following gallantry awards were gazetted for the action:-CB CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN; DSO CMDR T. J. M. Hilken, RAN; DSO CMDR(E) L. S. Dalton, RAN; DSC LCDR M. M. Singer, RAN; DSC LCDR E. W. Thruston, RAN; DSM CPO A. P. Prior; DSM CPO S. G. Silk; DSM COA W. J. Keane; DSM CS T. Beaumont; DSM Stoker E. C. Evans; Thirteen officers and ratings were MID.
- July 18, 1940
The cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, (CAPT J. A. Collins, RAN), with HMS HAVOCK, (destroyer), left Alexandria to protect four destroyers which were to hunt down Italian submarines, (HM Ships HYPERION, ILEX, HERO, and HASTY), and to intercept Italian shipping in the Gulf of Athens.