The Duke of Gloucester’s Cup
History
The Duke of Gloucester’s Cup was instituted in 1946 when His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester presented a silver cup to the Royal Australian Navy as a prize for the ship which shot down the greatest number of sleeve targets, in proportion to the number of rounds fired, during a calendar year.
Such a competition proved to be impracticable and consequently the cup has traditionally been awarded as a prize for the RAN unit displaying the highest level of overall proficiency.
The first RAN major fleet unit to be awarded the prize was HMAS Hobart (I) in 1947. The first submarine to win the coveted award was HMAS Onslow in 1977 while in 2011, RAN Clearance Diving Team Four wrested the cup from the fleet to become the first Clearance Diving Team to be awarded the prestigious award.
Several RAN units have won the cup multiple times, notably HMAS Hobart (II) which took the prize on eight separate occasions during her long commission. Others have won the award in successive years - HMA Ships Quadrant, Vampire (II), Sydney (III), Hobart (II) and Darwin.
Visible recognition
On those occasions when a fleet unit wins the award a five pointed gold star is painted in a prominent position on the vessel concerned in recognition of the achievement. The star is removed only when the award is won by another RAN unit.
| Year | Unit |
|---|---|
| 1947 | HMAS Hobart (I) |
| 1948 | HMAS Shoalhaven (I) |
| 1949 | HMAS Arunta (I) |
| 1950 | HMAS Sydney (III) |
| 1951 | HMAS Murchison |
| 1952 | HMAS Hawkesbury (I) |
| 1953 | HMAS Australia (II) |
| 1954 | HMAS Quadrant |
| 1955 | HMAS Quadrant |
| 1956 | HMAS Queenborough |
| 1957 | HMAS Anzac (II) |
| 1958 | HMAS Melbourne (II) |
| 1959 | HMAS Quickmatch |
| 1960 | HMAS Vampire (II) |
| 1961 | HMAS Vampire (II) |
| 1962 | HMAS Melbourne (II) |
| 1963 | HMAS Vampire (II) |
| 1964 | HMAS Vendetta (II) |
| 1965 | HMAS Sydney (III) |
| 1966 | HMAS Sydney (III) |
| 1967 | HMAS Hobart (II) |
| 1968 | HMAS Stalwart (II) |
| 1969 | HMAS Supply |
| 1970 | HMAS Hobart (II) |
| 1971 | HMAS Brisbane (II) |
| 1972 | HMAS Melbourne (II) |
| Year | Unit |
|---|---|
| 1973 | HMAS Stuart (II) |
| 1974 | HMAS Swan (III) |
| 1975 | HMAS Hobart (II) |
| 1976 | HMAS Stuart (II) |
| 1977 | HMAS Onslow |
| 1978 | HMAS Torrens (II) |
| 1979 | HMAS Hobart (II) |
| 1980 | HMAS Brisbane (II) |
| 1981 | HMAS Perth (II) |
| 1982 | HMAS Hobart (II) |
| 1983 | HMAS Stalwart (II) |
| 1984 | HMAS Adelaide (II) |
| 1985 | HMAS Orion |
| 1986 | HMAS Sydney (IV) |
| 1987 | HMAS Jervis Bay (I) |
| 1988 | HMAS Hobart (II) |
| 1989 | HMAS Derwent |
| 1990 | HMAS Success (II) |
| 1991 | HMAS Darwin |
| 1992 | HMAS Hobart (II) |
| 1993 | HMAS Tobruk (II) |
| 1994 | HMAS Hobart (II)/Darwin |
| 1995 | HMAS Darwin |
| 1996 | HMAS Brisbane (II) |
| 1997 | HMAS Canberra (II) |
| 1998 | HMAS Adelaide (II) |
| Year | Unit |
|---|---|
| 1999 | HMAS Success (II) |
| 2000 | HMAS Arunta (II) |
| 2001 | HMAS Anzac (III) |
| 2002 | HMAS Arunta (II) |
| 2003 | HMAS Kanimbla (II) |
| 2004 | HMAS Rankin (III) |
| 2005 | HMAS Sheean |
| 2006 | HMAS Stuart (III) |
| 2007 | HMAS Rankin |
| 2008 | HMAS Parramatta (IV) |
| 2009 | HMAS Newcastle |
| 2010 | HMAS Melbourne (III) |
| 2011 | AUSCDT 4 |
| 2012 | HMAS Anzac (III) |
| 2013 | HMAS Huon (II) |
| 2014 | HMAS Success (II) |
| 2015 | HMAS Melbourne (III) |
| 2016 | HMAS Rankin |
| 2017 | HS BLUE |
| 2018 | HMAS Melbourne (III) |
| 2019 | HMAS Parramatta (IV) |
| 2020 | HMAS Arunta (II) |
| 2021 | HMAS Childers |
| 2022 | HMAS Perth (III) |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 |
Gallery
Rear Admiral H.D. Stevenson, Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Fleet, presents the Duke of Gloucester Cup and the Commodore Wardle Cup to HMAS Hobart in recognition of stellar service. c.1970.
Left: Captain Adrian Cummins and Commander Don Chalmers, HMAS Perth (II) are presented with the Duke of Gloucester's Cup by the then Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen AK, GCMG, GCVO, PC, QC in recognition of Perth's achievements in 1981.
The Governor-General of Australia Sir Ninian Stephen presents Captain MS Unwin, RAN with the Duke of Gloucester's Cup onboard HMAS Stalwart in 1983.
The Governor-General of Australia Sir Ninian Stephen presents the ship’s company of HMAS Orion with the Duke of Gloucester's Cup in 1985.
HMAS Orion proudly wearing the gold star on her fin indicating her status as the 1985 Duke of Gloucester’s Cup winner.
The Governor-General of Australia Sir Ninian Stephen presents CMDR GA Wellham, RAN with the Duke of Gloucester's Cup onboard HMAS Hobart (II) in 1988.
Commander M Bell, RAN, accepts the award of the Duke of Gloucester's Cup from the then Governor-General, the Honourable Bill Hayden, on behalf of HMAS Darwin's ship's company in 1991.
Commander KB Taylor, CSC, RAN accepts the Duke of Gloucester's Cup on behalf of HMAS Tobruk's ship's company in 1993. Rear Admiral D Chalmers, AO, RAN looks on.
The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO, presents the 2006 Duke of Gloucester's Cup to the Commanding Officer of HMAS Stuart, Commander Jason Hunter RAN. 2006.
Able Seaman Seamus O'Reilly (left) and Able Seaman Cameron Johnson from HMAS Huon stand proudly with the Duke of Gloucester's Cup after it had been presented to HMAS Huon by His Excellency General The Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC (Ret'd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, 2013.
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret'd), presents the Commanding Officer HMAS Rankin, Commander Michael Jacobson, CSM, RAN, with the Duke of Gloucester's Cup at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia.
Left: Commanding Officer HS Blue Crew, Lieutenant Commander Dean Battilana accepts the Duke of Gloucester’s Cup from His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales at a ceremony onboard HMAS Leeuwin. Right: The Duke of Gloucester’s Cup, which was awarded to HS Blue Crew for 2017.
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret'd) and Lady Cosgrove with the crew of HMAS Melbourne during the presentation of the Gloucester’s Cup for 2018 at Garden Island, Sydney.
Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley and The Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) present the 2020 Duke of Gloucester’s Cup to HMAS Arunta Commanding Officer, Commander Anthony Nagle, CSC at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.
