On This Day

On This Day - 7 July

1916

The Australian Government introduced the Active Service Moratorium Regulations, exempting members of the RAN, and the Army, and their dependents, from repaying the principal of any mortgage until six months after the cessation of hostilities.

1917

All six ships of the Australian Torpedo Boat Destroyer Flotilla operated together for the first time.

1940

HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), was straddled by a stick of bombs while operating with the Mediterranean Fleet. The C in C, ADML A.B. Cunningham, recorded in his journal: 'On this day I saw the SYDNEY, which was in company, disappear in a line of towering pillars of spray as high as church steeples, to emerge unharmed'. HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), and HM Ships DORSETSHIRE, (cruiser), and HERMES, (aircraft carrier), covered the attack on the French battleship RICHELIEU at Dakar, by a British Fleet. After a preliminary bombardment by guns of the fleet a motorboat entered the enemy harbour and dropped depth charges under the battleship's stern, but because of the shallow water they failed to explode. A flight of torpedo bombers from HERMES then attacked the enemy battleship causing damage to her stern.

1945

HMAS DIAMANTINA, (frigate), engaged Japanese gun positions on Sohano Island, Torokina, with gunfire.

1948

HMAS QUIBERON, (destroyer), encountered a typhoon near Guam, while en-route from Sasebo, Japan, to Manus Island, New Guinea. As well as the crew, there were 60 Australian soldiers and airmen onboard. The soldiers were returning to Australia from occupation duties in Japan, and the RAAF personnel were gaining sea experience before transferring to the newly created RAN Fleet Air Arm.

1994

The Department of Defence placed a $23 million contract with AWA Defence Industries, to develop an active missile decoy to protect RAN ships from skimming type missiles.

2002

HMS NOTTINGHAM, (Type 42 destroyer), ran aground on Wolf Rock at Lord Howe Island, and suffered significant damage to her hull and electrical systems. The ship was only saved from foundering by the excellent damage control skills of her crew. RAN and RNZN clearance divers later flew to Lord Howe Island, to assist in stabilizing the vessel, before she was towed to Sydney for repairs. Eventually, the vessel was placed onboard a heavy lift ship, in Sydney, and returned to the United Kingdom for extensive repairs. Four of NOTTINGHAM's officers, including the Commanding Officer, were court-martialled in 2003, and found guilty of various offences leading to the grounding. After extensive repairs NOTTINGHAM returned to service in July 2004.

2007

The Armidale class patrol frigate HMAS CHILDERS was commissioned at Cairns, Queensland.