On This Day
1945 > WW2
On This Day - 1945
- October 22, 1945
HMAS Nepal decommissioned after steaming over 200,000 miles for the Royal Australian Navy. She was transferred back to the Royal Navy and was broken up in 1956
- October 20, 1945
HMAS QUEENSBOROUGH was commissioned into the RAN after service in the RN. She replaced HMAS NORMAN on transfer to the RAN.
- October 18, 1945
The Q class destroyer HMAS QUADRANT was commissioned into the RAN after service in the RN. She replaced HMAS NIZAM on transfer to the RAN.
- October 17, 1945
HMAS Nizam paid off and on the same day recommissioned as HMS Nizam. Her complement transferred to HMAS Quadrant and the Royal Navy complement from that ship manned Nizam for return to England. Nizam was scrapped in 1956. The total distance steamed by Nizam on war service was 295,206 miles
- October 16, 1945
The 20th Minesweeping Flotilla was reformed with Swan (Captain RV Wheatley RAN) as Flotilla Leader for mine clearance operations in Australian, New Guinea and Solomon Islands waters.
- October 14, 1945
The DSC was awarded to LEUT E. J. Peel, RAN, and LCDR S. W. S. Scott, RAN(E), for conspicuous gallantry in the Battle of the Philippines. LEUT Peel’s award was for distinguished service while commanding HMAS GASCOYNE, (frigate), during the action off Luzon in January 1945. LCDR Scott’s award was for hazardous operations while commanding the smallest RAN vessel engaged in the Philippines campaign, ML 1074.
- October 9, 1945
Chief Stoker Percy Collins became the first Australian to be awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Medal. He was awarded the DSM for service in HMAS NAPIER off Crete in 1941, and the Bar for service in HMAS STRAHAN in the Pacific in 1945.
- October 3, 1945
HMAS Gympie, in company with HMA Ships Moresby, Hawkesbury (I), Katoomba and Gladstone, were present at Koepang in Portuguese Timor for the surrender of the 48th Japanese Division. A naval detachment, formed from all the ships, was landed for the occasion
- October 1, 1945
The Japanese surrender of Ocean Island was signed on board HMAS DIAMANTINA. The RN was represented by the motor launch HMS KIA KIA.
- September 27, 1945
The British Navies laid 260,000 mines in WWII, which sank or damaged 1588 enemy vessels. The Axis laid 225,000 mines which claimed 1117 victims.