The Royal Australian Navy from 1939-2001

This study seeks to lay out the extent to which the function and influence of the Royal Navy (RN) was replaced by the United States Navy (USN) from the years 1939 to 2001, for the Royal Austra-lian Navy (RAN). It attempts to distil each aspect of the RAN’s relationship with the UK and the US, providing a useful and digestible way of understanding the shift in its relationships, while allowing us to more carefully understand the context, purpose, and nature of those current relationships which are particularly pertinent given the creation of AUKUS in 2021. To make this assessment, this study examines the RAN’s relationship with the RN and USN with regards to strategic agreements, cooperation during wartime and conflict, personal relationships, navy culture, joint-exercises, and ship procurement. The extent to which ‘replacement’ can be found over the period of 1939-2001 varies within each category. While it is evident that the function of the RN was largely replaced by the USN within the context of strategic agreements, cooperation during conflict, and joint exercises, it is less clear whether this was entirely the case in terms of ship procurement. Additionally, when it comes to personal relationships and navy culture, there is very little evidence of the USN replacing the RN; rather, the emphasis is on a shift towards the RAN asserting a more unique Australian identity.