February 5th - On This Date - Royal Australian Navy

1788

Governor Arthur Phillip allocated Garden Island, Sydney, to HMS SIRIUS for use as a ship’s garden.

1909

The Fisher Government in Australia adopted the 24 destroyer plan. Without consulting  British Admiralty, the Australian Government ordered three River class torpedo boat destroyers, later named HMAS PARRAMATTA, YARRA, and WARREGO, to be built forwith in the United Kingdom.

1940

The auxiliary anti-submarine vessel HMAS BINGERA, was commissioned. BINGERA was laid down in Denny Bros Ltd, Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1935, for the Australian Steam Navigation Co Ltd, and requisitioned for the RAN on 2 December 1939.

The auxiliary minesweeper HMAS BONTHORPE was commissioned. BONTHORPE was laid down in 1927 as a fishing trawler.

1941

HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), arrived in Fremantle from the Mediterranean.

HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser), arrived in her namesake city, Sydney, to an enthusiastic welcome. The Governor-General, Lord Gowrie, thanked the men on behalf of King George VI, and Sydney’s Lord Mayor unveiled a plaque on the quarterdeck, commemorating the victory over the Italian cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI. Every man in the crew received a replica of the plaque.

1942

HMAS YARRA, (sloop), took off 1304 troops from the burning troop transport EMPRESS OF ASIA near Sultan Reef, Singapore. The rescue was effected under heavy air attack. LCDR W H Harrington, RAN, captain of YARRA recorded: “I was becoming a little dubious of the stability of HMAS YARRA and on getting clear gave orders for all hands to sit”. YARRA shot down one aircraft confirmed and was credited with two probables.

1943

Reverend L. N. Kentish, Methodist missionary, was executed by Japanese troops on Dobo Island in the Arafura Sea. The Japanese rescued Kentish from the sea after HMAS PATRICIA CAM was sunk. He was suspected of organising Coastwatcher operations in the Arafura Sea.

1945

HMAS NEPAL struck an uncharted obstruction in the Kaliendaung River in Burma, damaging her starboard propeller. The destroyer was withdrawn to Colombo for repairs.

1951

The destroyers, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and USS LIND, inflicted heavy damage and casualties on North Korean forces when they foiled an attempted ambush. The ships were returning to a pre-arranged rendezvous with an intelligence group landed several days before by USS LIND. The recognition flashed from the shore was incorrect, and the destroyers replied with their full armament.