Feature Histories








Title Summary Author Year
The RAN, the Strategic Reserve and the Malayan Emergency Less than three years after World War II ended Communist terrorists began a bold policy of hit and run violence in Malaya aimed at demoralising the elected leaders... John Perryman 1948
The Korean War In the first decade of the 20th century, the Korean Peninsula was something of a pawn in power struggles between greater expansionist powers; primarily Japan and Russia... Petar Djokovic 1950
The History of the Radford-Collins Agreement Many students of world history would be aware of the security treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America dated 1 September 1951, commonly referred to as the ANZUS Treaty. Commander Andrew Brown 1951
Indonesian Confrontation At the end of the Malayan Emergency Australia agreed to keep forces in Malaya-Singapore as part of the British Commonwealth Strategic Reserve, and the RAN had two frigates, Yarra and Parramatta there on duty when the Indonesian policy of ‘confrontation’ began with the new nation of Malaysia... John Perryman 1964
Naval Operations in Vietnam Between 1965 and 1972 elements of the RAN undertook continuous operational service in Vietnam. During this period the Navy performed a variety of operational tasks at sea, ashore and in the air... Jozef Straczek 1965
The RAN Fleet Air Arm - Ashore in Vietnam On 30 April 1975, a North Vietnamese, Soviet supplied, T-54 tank smashed through the gates of the presidential palace in South Vietnam’s capital, Saigon. John Perryman 1967
Disaster Relief - Cyclone Tracy and Tasman Bridge During the early hours of Christmas Day 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin with winds in excess of 160 knots, killing 49 people ashore and a further 16 at sea. Brett Mitchell 1974