Recruit School Rankin Division
LCDR Robert William Rankin, RAN was born in Merrylands, NSW in 1907 and entered the RAN College in 1921. He graduated with maximum time and won prizes in engineering and mathematics. Promoted to Midshipman in May 1925 he joined the cruiser HMAS Brisbane (I). Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in 1928, he proceeded to England for his Junior Officers War Course at Greenwich.
On return to Australia LCDR Rankin joined HMAS Moresby (I). He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1929 and Lieutenant Commander in 1937. During the first two years of WWII he engaged in a detailed survey of Pittwater, before assuming command of HMAS Yarra (II).
LCDR Rankin relieved CMDR Harrington in early February 1942. LCDR Rankin’s command of HMAS Yarra (II) was short, but every day saw the sloop in action against the enemy. On 16 February 1942 he brought a small convey of three ships from Oosthaven to Batabia and then continued on to Christmas Island with another convoy. On 27 February 1942 he escorted a third convey to Tanjong Priok while under continuous enemy attack. HMAS Yarra (II) was credited with shooting down four aircraft.
HMAS Yarra (II) sailed on 2 March 1942 as escort for a convey consisting of the merchant ships Anking, Fraancol and the small sweeper MMS51, bound for Fremantle. On 3 March 1942 HMAS Yarra (II) picked up two boatloads of survivors from the Dutch ship Parigi. At 0630 on 4 March 1942 a Japanese squadron of three cruisers and two destroyers were sighted.
LCDR Rankin made an enemy sighting report and ordered the convoy to scatter. He laid smoke to screen the defenceless ships and placed HMAS Yarra (II) between her charges and the enemy. The sloop then pitted her 10cm gun against the twenty-four 20cm guns of the Japanese. One by one the convoy was picked off and sunk by the enemy, LCDR Rankin closed until the enemy guns were firing at point-blank range. By 0800 HMAS Yarra (II) was the last survivor, a smoking wreck, but her guns were still firing. LCDR Rankin was lost with his ships crew in this final engagement.
The submarine, HMAS Rankin, and Rankin Division at Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus are named in Lieutenant Commander Rankin’s honour.
General Entry Intakes
Intake 297 - Course commenced on 22 August 2011 and graduates on 4 November 2011. Images available on Navy's Facebook page.
Intake 294 - Course commenced on 30 May 2011 and graduates on 12 August 2011.
Intake 291 - Course commenced on 7 March 2011 and graduated on 20 May 2011.
Intake 288 - Course commenced on 15 November 2010 and graduated on 25 February 2011.
Intake 285 - Course commenced on 23 August 2010 and graduated on 5 November 2010.
Intake 282 - Course commenced on 31 May 2010 and graduated on 13 August 2010.
Intake 279 - Course commenced on 8 March 2010 and graduated on 21 May 2010.
Intake 276 - Course commenced on 16 November 2009 and graduated on 29 January 2010.
Intake 273 - Course commenced on 24 August 2009 and graduated on 6 November 2009.
Intake 270 - Course commenced on 1 June 2009 and graduated on 14 August 2009.
Links
Visit the Recruit School home page.
