On This Day
1960-1975 > Vietnam era
On This Day - 1960-1975
- March 21, 1973
HMA Ships Derwent and Perth sailed into Massawa, Ethiopia’s chief port , firing a 21 gun salute which was returned by the Imperial Ethiopian Navy. His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie dined onboard Perth during the visit. Whilst at Massawa, numerous sailors took the opportunity to ride a camel, the traditional ‘ship of the desert
- March 9, 1973
The landing craft heavy HMAS LABUAN, (LEUT Henry Old, RAN), was commissioned. LABUAN was laid down at Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in October 1971, and launched on 29 December 1971. Eight of this class of vessel were ordered, LABUAN being the third completed, and the second commissioned into the RAN.
The landing class heavy HMAS BUNA was commissioned. BUNA was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD.
- January 31, 1973
HMAS KARA KARA, (boom defence vessel), and a former Sydney vehicle ferry, was sunk as a combined surface gunnery and aerial missile target off Sydney Heads.
- January 23, 1973
RADM A. M. Synnot was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet.
- January 5, 1973
The landing craft heavy, HMAS BRUNEI, (LEUT D. Sando, RAN), was commissioned. BRUNEI was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in July 1971, and launched on 15 October 1971.
- December 5, 1972
HMA Ship ODIN, (submarine), an RN submarine on loan to the Australian Fleet for training purposes, joined the First Australian Submarine Squadron at Sydney.
- August 24, 1972
HMAS Parramatta gained the distinction of being the 1000th vessel to enter the Captain Cook graving dock in Sydney since it commissioned in 1945.
- August 18, 1972
The Australian Government purchased outright HMAS DUCHESS, (Daring class destroyer), from the British Admiralty. The purchase price was $ 150,000.
- July 25, 1972
HMAS Duchess was at sea carrying out surface and anti-aircraft firings before joining Melbourne on rescue destroyer duties. At 12:35, during a surface firing run, a 4.5-inch round from ‘B’ turret hit the right-hand barrel of ‘A’ turret, which had ‘run away’ to maximum elevation, and holed the barrel. Fortunately, there were no injuries and the ship was able to complete the exercise before heading back to Sydney for repairs and a Board of Enquiry.
- July 6, 1972
HMAS GASCOYNE, (frigate), left Melbourne under tow for breaking up in Japan.