History

Welcome to the Royal Australian Navy’s history web page. Here you will find an ever-growing account of the deeds of those who have served in Australia’s multifarious naval forces from the passing of the Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865 to present day.
This page is hosted by the Naval History Section which is part of the Sea Power Centre – Australia, situated in Canberra. Enquiries in connection with historical web page content may be directed to navy.history@defence.gov.au
"Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
Winston Churchill
Ships and Submarines
Base Histories
Videos
- Sea Power
- The Grey Funnel Line
- It's Different Today
- Sea Eagles
- Operation Navy Help
- SEATO Exercise Sea Devil
- On The Gunline
- The Vung Tau Ferry
- Their Campus The Sea
- Sailors in the Making
- Navigating The Sepik
- Looking At Leeuwin
- Women in the Navy
- A Trade For Tomorrow
- 5-4-3-2-1 Birds Away
- HMAS Yarra's Gallant Last Stand
- The Fate of HMAS Armidale
Navy Museums
Reference Material
- Admiralty Fleet Orders
- Australia Station Intelligence Summaries 1952-1957
- Commemorative Publications
- Commonwealth Naval Orders
- Daily Operational Narratives 1939-1954
- HMAS Creswell/Royal Australian Naval College Magazines
- Navy List
- Navy News Newspapers
- Recommendations of Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson
- Reports of Admiral Jellicoe Volume I-IV
- Reports of Proceedings, HMA Ships and Establishments
- World War I Naval Staff Monographs
World War II Reference Material
- World War II Naval Staff Histories
- South-West Pacific Anti-Submarine Warfare Reports (WWII)
- Royal Australian Navy Monthly Naval Warfare Review (WWII)
- WWII Combined Operational Intelligence Centre Naval Summaries
- The Naval Auxiliary Patrol
- World War II Daily Escort Situation
- World War II Daily Movement Summaries
- WWII Merchant Ship Movement Records - Australia
- WWII Damage Control
- HM Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action in WWII