On This Day

On This Day - 20 July

1852

VADM Sir W. R. Creswell, KCMG, KBE, 'Father of the RAN', was born at Gibraltar where his father was the postmaster.

1916

The RAN Bridging Train maintained bridges across the Suez Canal for the army fighting in the Sinai. Heavy air raids were experienced at El Shatt and Port Tewfik during this period.

1943

HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-G011, while steaming to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. Seven officers and six ratings were killed, and six officers and one rating wounded. HOBART was extensively damaged, and after temporary repairs at Espiritu Santo proceeded to Sydney for repairs. The torpedo which struck HOBART was fired at a range of 10 miles.

1970

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), carried out a night bombardment of a concentration of 400 Viet Cong troops on the border of U Minh, Vietnam.

1973

The Australian Government decided to pay off HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport).

1975

CAPT A. S. Rosenthal, DSO and Bar, OBE, RAN, died in Melbourne.

1991

HMAS GERALDTON, (patrol boat), was dispatched to sea to act as a communication link between the disabled Greek tanker KURKI, disabled off the coast of WA, and shore stations.

2002

RADM Raydon Gates, CSM, RAN, was appointed Maritime Commander Australia.