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You are here: Home / On This Day / Australian Naval History on 20 February 1942

Australian Naval History on 20 February 1942

On This Day · Feb 20, 1942 · Print This Page

HMAS PLATYPUS, (depot ship), made the following signal to all RAN units in northern waters:- “Intention is to hold Darwin”. The signal was repeated during all subsequent Japanese air attacks on Darwin.

HMAS BALLARAT, (minesweeper), returned to Oosthaven after the port had been evacuated and salvaged vital aircraft spares and ammunition.

HMAS WARRNAMBOOL, (minesweeper), rescued 73 survivors from the bombed merchant ship DON ISIDRO on Bathurst Island.

The merchant ship KOOLAMA was bombed by Japanese aircraft and driven ashore west of Darwin.

The auxiliary boom defence vessel HMAS KURAMIA was requisitioned as an auxiliary boom defence vessel, and commissioned on 30 June 1942. KURAMIA was built in 1914, and served as a Sydney Harbour ferry. The ship was sunk as a target by aircraft from HMAS SYDNEY, (aircraft carrier), in 1953.

On This Day, On This Day - 1942

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