On This Day
1945 > WW2
On This Day - 1945
- July 17, 1945
HMA Ships QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH, (destroyers), with HM Ships FORMIDABLE, NEWFOUNDLAND, BLACK PRINCE, BARFLEUR, GRENVILLE, TROUGHBRIDGE, and UNDINE, bombarded the Japanese coast north of Tokyo. QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH were the only RAN ships to fire on the Japanese home islands.
- July 15, 1945
The RAN reached its peak WWII strength. Ships in commission numbered 315. Personnel totalled 39,650, of whom 2,617 were WRANS, and 57 nursing sisters.
- July 12, 1945
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), reported the finding of a small roll of paper, identified as a carrier-pigeon message, in the stomach of a shark caught off Saposa, New Guinea. The message was translated and found to be an appeal for assistance from the 42nd ALC Company, Japanese Army, 7 July, 1945.
- July 10, 1945
The Fremantle-based USS HAMMERHEAD, (submarine), sank the Japanese transport SAKURA MARU, and the tanker NANMEI MARU, in the Gulf of Siam.
- July 9, 1945
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), bombarded enemy positions and installations on Sohana Island.
- July 8, 1945
CDRE H. B. Farncomb, complained of the few targets available for his flagship, HMAS SHROPSHIRE, (cruiser). ‘The few targets allocated to HMAS SHROPSHIRE, the long delays and poor co-ordination experienced, indicated that the officers concerned in the Division were not fully indoctrinated in the effective use of heavy Naval gunfire.’ The Commodore was referring to the Australian 7th Division at Balikpapan.
- July 7, 1945
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), engaged Japanese gun positions on Sohano Island, Torokina, with gunfire.
- July 6, 1945
The services reconnaissance department (SRD) craft HMAS NYANIE, (LEUT R. F. Saunders, RAN), was commissioned.
- July 2, 1945
HMAS WARREGO, (survey ship), surveyed the approaches, and buoyed the channels, for the Australian landing on Balikpapan.
The Naval Post Office at HMAS PENGUIN was opened. This post office had the distinction, at the time, of being staffed solely by women. The Commanding Officer of PENGUIN, CAPT H. L. Howden, RAN, had the honour of posting the first letter from the post office. This letter was addressed to Senator Cameron, who was then the Postmaster General.
- July 1, 1945
HMA Ships ARUNTA, HOBART, SHROPSHIRE, KANIMBLA, MANOORA, and WESTRALIA, participated in the assault on Balikpapan, Borneo.
HMAS MINDARI, (gunnery instruction centre), was commissioned at Woolloomooloo, Sydney.