2.2 Formation of the RAN, 1904-11

After FederationA federation is a state comprised of a number of self-governing regions (often themselves referred to as states or provinces) united by a central federal government. In a federation the self-governing status of the component states is constitutionally ent of the colonies, obsolete gunboats from their navies were assimilated into the Commonwealth Naval Forces, in 19041904 is a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). Events January 7 The distress signal " CQD" is established only to be replaced two years later by " SOS. February 7 A fire in Baltimore, Maryland destroys over 1,500 buildings in 30. They were assigned to protect harbours and coastal installations while the seaward, or blue water tasks were the responsibility of a Royal Navy squadron subsidised by the Australian Government. A growing number of people, among them Captain William Rooke Creswell , the director of the Commonwealth Naval Forces, demanded an autonomous Australian navy, financed and controlled by Australia. In 1909 Creswell represented Australia at the Imperial Conferences, convened to settle the question of naval defences, and won his campaign for an Australian Navy. His name lives on as the name of base, HMAS Creswell, the site of the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay.

The first Australian warship, the destroyer HMAS Parramatta, was launched at Govan in Scotland on Wednesday 9 February 1910 and its sister ship HMAS Yarra, was launched at Dumbarton in Scotland on Saturday 9 April 1910. Both ships were commissioned into the Royal Navy on Monday 19 September 1910 and sailed for Australia. They arrived at Port Phillip on Saturday December 10 1910 and, as they passed through The Rip, Engineer Lieutenant Commander W. Robertson, RN, was washed overboard from Parramatta and drowned.

In October 1911 King George V fixed his signature to the approval for the Royal Australian Navy and the ships now officially received the prefix "His Majesty's Australian Ship" (HMAS). The manpower of the fleet stood at four hundred officers and men and, for the next two years, ships were built for the fledgling navy. On Saturday 4 October 1913 the first fleet review of the Royal Australian Navy took place, the battle cruiser HMAS Australia, the cruisers HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney, the protected cruiser HMAS Encounter and the torpedo boat destroyers HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Yarra and HMAS Warrego, entered Sydney Harbour to a tumultous welcome.

2.3 World War One

2.3.1 The Pacific campaign

2.3.2 The Sydney sinks Emden

2.3.3 Gallipoli

2.3.4 The RAN in the Atlantic

2.3.5 The North Sea

2.3.6 Summary of RAN personnel in WW1

2.4 1919-39

2.5 World War Two

2.5.1 "Scrap-Iron Flotilla": the RAN 1940-43

2.5.1.1 Early actions

Adelaide at Noumea; Bombardment of Bardia; East Africa

2.5.1.2 Battle of Cape Spada

(a.k.a. Battle of Cerigotto)

2.5.1.3 Battle Of Calabria

2.5.1.4 Dakar

2.5.1.5 Tobruk

2.5.1.6 The Greek campaign

2.5.1.7 Battle of Matapan

2.5.1.8 Later actions in the Mediterranean

Inc. the invasion of Sicily

2.5.1.9 German activity in Australian waters

2.5.1.9.1 The loss of HMAS Sydney

2.5.2 The Pacific War, 1942-45

2.5.2.1 Malaya & Singapore

2.5.2.2 Battle of the Java Sea

2.5.2.3 The Battle of Sunda Strait

2.5.2.4 Other losses in early 1942

Yarra; Vampire

2.5.2.5 Battle of the Coral Sea

2.5.2.6 Japanese submarines in Australian waters

2.5.2.6.1 The attack on Sydney Harbour

2.5.2.7 Guadalacanal campaign

2.5.2.7.1 Battle of Savo Island

2.5.2.8 Actions in the Arafura Sea

2.5.2.9 Bombardments in the Pacific theatre

2.5.2.10 Battle of Leyte Gulf

2.5.2.10.1 Battle of Surigao Strait

2.5.2.11 Later campaigns in the Pacific

2.5.3 Summary of RAN personnel in WW2

RAN reached its peak strength in July 1945: 39,650 personnel, including 2,617 WRANS and 57 nurses; 2,170 dead; awarded 502 medals/decorations.

2.6 1946-49

2.7 Korean War

2.8 1953-65

2.8.1 The RAN aircraft carriers

2.8.2 Malayan Emergency

2.8.3 Loss of the Voyager

2.8.4 Confrontation with Indonesia

2.9 Vietnam War

including Melbourne's collison with Frank E. Evans

2.10 1972-1990

2.11 Gulf War

2.12 1990-2003

2.13 Iraq War

2.14 Prominent former members of the RAN

• Paul D. Scully-Power was the first Australian to go into space, in 1984, and he had previously worked for the RAN as an oceanographer.

2.15 External links

• Royal Australian Navy home page
• 'Virtual Fleet' - on-line computer based 'tour' of ships and aircraft

• Official Biographies:
  • Chief of Navy
  • Maritime Commander
  • Naval Support Commander

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