Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/January

Units

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Please follow the unit sequence of Navy, Army, Airforce when creating Daily Unit pages

HMAS Success (II) is a Durance class multi-product replenishment oiler currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Success was laid down by the Cockatoo Island Dockyard at Sydney, New South Wales on 9 August, 1980, launched on 3 May, 1984 and commissioned on 23 April, 1986. Success has seen active service during deployments to the Persian Gulf, Timor Leste and Fiji.

The Far North Queensland Regiment is a regiment of the Australian Army. The regiment currently consists of a single battalion, 51st Battalion FNQR, which is active as a Regional Force Surveillance Unit located in north Queensland. The 51st Battalion was first raised in Egypt in 1916 and saw action on the Western Front as part of the Australian 4th Division. The 51st Battalion also saw action in New Guinea and Bouganville during World War II. 51 FNQR is currently responsible for providing surveillance and reconnaissance in northern Queensland.

No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2 OCU) is a Royal Australian Air Force training unit located at RAAF Base Williamtown. 2OCU's main role is to train pilots to operate the F/A-18 Hornet. 2 OCU was initially established as No.2(F) Operational Training Unit in April 1942. Since this time the unit has been responsible for providing conversion training on all of the fighter aircraft operated by the RAAF, including the F-86 Sabre, Mirage III and F/A-18.

HMAS Shropshire was a Royal Navy heavy cruiser of the London sub-class of County class cruisers which was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1943. HMS Shropshire was laid down in February 1926 and completed in September 1929. The ship saw action with the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans during the first years of World War II before being commissioned into the RAN on 20 April 1943. In RAN service HMAS Shropshire saw action off New Guinea and took part in the Battle of Surigao Strait and the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf. Shropshire was present at Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender and remained in service until she was paid off to reserve on 10 November 1949.

The Australian 7th Division was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. The 7th Division was raised from regular army units and new, all-volunteer, infantry brigades from April 1940 onwards. It is sometimes known by the nickname "The Silent Seventh", due to a perception that its achievements were and are unrecognised in comparison to the other 2nd AIF divisions. The 7th Division was one of only a few Allied units to serve with distinction in the Middle East campaign, North African campaign and the South West Pacific Area. The 7th Division, like most of the 2nd AIF, was disbanded during 1946.

No. 43 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol and mine laying squadron of World War II. The Squadron was formed at Bowen in Queensland in May 1943 and was equipped with Catalina aircraft. While No. 43 Squadron was initially allocated a general reconnaissance role it operated almost exclusively in the mine laying role after moving to Darwin in April 1944. Operating alongside the other RAAF Catalina squadrons, No. 43 Squadron conducted mine laying operations throughout South East Asia, venturing as far as the Chinese coast. No. 43 Squadron was disbanded in April 1946.

HMAS Brisbane (II) was a Perth class guided missile destroyer, built by the Defoe Shipbuilding Company at Bay City, Michigan, USA and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on December 16, 1967. She served in the Vietnam War and in the first Gulf War with distinction. Brisbane and was decommissioned on October 19, 2001, and was marked to be sunk as a dive wreck. Brisbane was sunk on July 31, 2005 approximately 5 kilometres off the coast of Mudjimba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, in 30 metres of water. Her bridge was removed and preserved at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The 26th Brigade was an Australian Army infantry brigade of World War II. The 26th Brigade was raised in 1940 and formed part of the Australian 9th Division throughout the war. The 26th Brigade saw action in North Africa, New Guinea and Tarakan Island. The 26th Brigade was disbanded in Brisbane in January 1946.

No. 37 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1943 and currently operates C-130H Hercules and C-130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond. No. 37 Squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft during World War II and the Vietnam War. The Squadron has also supported Australian peacekeeping operations around the world, including in East Timor and Iraq.

HMAS Tobruk (D-37) was a Battle-class destroyer built by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company at Sydney and commissioned in May 1950. Tobruk completed two deployments to Korean waters during the Korean War in 19515–2 and 1953. Tobruk was accidentally hit by a shell from her sister ship Anzac while exercising with the fleet off the east coast of Australia in September 1960 and paid off into reserve on 9 October 1960.

The Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) was a battlegroup that formed Australia's main ground force contribution to the Multinational force in Iraq. The AMTG was established in April 2005 and ceased to exist in July 2006 when the Australian force was relocated to Dhi Qar Governorate as Overwatch Battle Group (West). The AMTG was made up of around 450 personnel and consisted of a headquarters, a cavalry squadron, an infantry company, a training team and supporting elements.

No. 87 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air intelligence squadron. No. 87 Squadron was first formed in September 1944 to provide photo reconnaissance support for Allied air force operations in the Netherlands East Indies. While the Squadron was disbanded in 1946 it was reformed in 1948 to conduct survey flights over Australia until being disbanded a second time in 1953. No. 87 Squadron was reactivated as an air intelligence squadron on 1 July 2006. The Squadron's headquarters is located at RAAF Base Edinburgh and Intelligence Flights from the squadron are stationed at most major RAAF bases.

The first HMAS Diamantina was a River class frigate built by Walkers Limited at Maryborough, Queensland and commissioned in April 1945. Diamantina paid off to reserve on 9 August 1946, but was recommissioned as an oceanographic survey ship on 22 June 1959. As an oceanographic survey ship Diamantina was responsible for discovering the deepest point in the Indian Ocean in 1961, which was named Diamantina Trench. HMAS Diamantina paid off again on 29 February 1980, and was the last World War II-era frigate to serve with the Royal Australian Navy. Diamantina was handed over to the Queensland Maritime Museum Association and is currently on display in a dry dock adjacent to the Museum.

The 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (4 RAR) was an Australian Army infantry battalion. 4 RAR was first formed as an infantry battalion in February 1964 and saw active service in South Vietnam as part of the 1st Australian Task Force. Following the Australian withdrawal from South Vietnam 4 RAR was linked with 2 RAR in August 1973 to form 2/4 RAR. 2/4 RAR was unlinked in 1995 and 4 RAR began converting to a commando battalion in 1997. In 2009, it was renamed as the 2nd Commando Regiment.

No. 67 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron of World War II. No. 67 Squadron was formed at RAAF Base Laverton in January 1943. Equipped with Avro Anson aircraft the Squadron conducted anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols around southern Australia throughout its existence. Due to the very low level of Axis naval activity in this area the Squadron does not appear to have sighted any enemy ships or submarines during the war. No. 67 Squadron was disbanded on 10 November 1945.

HMAS Burnie (J-198/B-238/A-112) was a Bathurst-class corvette which served with the Royal Australian Navy from 1941 to 1946. Burnie was launched in October 1940 in Sydney and was commissioned in April 1941. After performing patrol and escort duties around Australia the corvette took part in evacuation of civilians from the Dutch East Indies in early 1942 and joined the British Eastern Fleet in September 1942. As part of the Eastern Fleet Burnie conducted patrols in the Indian Ocean until she returned to Australia in 1944. Burnie served as a minesweeper and escort vessel in the Pacific until the end of the war. HMAS Burnie was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy in July 1946.

The Australian 2nd Armoured Division was an Australian Army division of World War II. The Division was established in February 1942 by redesignating and reorganising the 2nd Motor Division (which was previously the 2nd Cavalry Division). As an armoured division the division was equipped with M3 Grant medium tanks and M3 Stuart light tanks. The 2nd Armoured Division was disbanded in Queensland in February 1943, though the headquarters of its 6th Armoured Brigade was retained and redesignated headquarters 4th Armoured Brigade.

No. 82 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's Strike and Reconnaissance Wing. It is currently headquartered at RAAF Amberley, Queensland, and operates the F/A-18F Super Hornet and Pilatus PC-9 Forward Air Control aircraft. No. 82 Wing was established in 1944 to command the RAAF's B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadrons. Shortly after the war it moved to its present location at RAAF Amberley and converted to Avro Lincoln bombers. These aircraft were replaced with English Electric Canberra jet bombers in 1953. In 1973 the wing accepted its first F-111 bombers, which it operated until 2010 when it was re-equipped with the Super Hornet.

The third HMAS Sydney was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy. Sydney was laid down as HMS Terrible in 1943 and was commissioned as HMAS Sydney in December 1948. Sydney saw active service during the Korean War between October 1951 and January 1952. After the jet aircraft-capable HMAS Melbourne entered service Sydney served as a training ship from April 1955 until she was paid off to reserve in May 1958. She was reactivated as a fast transport in March 1962 and, from 1965, made 24 troop transport trips to South Vietnam in support of the Australian forces deployed there. HMAS Sydney paid off for disposal in November 1973.

The Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC) is the branch of the Australian Army responsible for providing medical care to Army personnel. The RAAMC was formed in 1903 by combining the medical services of the Colonial armies. The Corps' first deployment was to the Second Boer War. The RAAMC has seen service as part of all subsequent Australian Army deployments, including wars, peacekeeping missions and exercises.

No. 77 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The squadron was first formed in 1942 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown. No. 77 Squadron first saw combat over Darwin and operated in the ground attack and escort roles over New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Netherlands East Indies and Borneo. Following World War II the squadron formed part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, and served over Korea throughout the Korean War. No. 77 Squadron was based in Malaya from 1958 to 1969 and took part in the Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation. A detachment from No.77 Squadron provided air defence to Diego Garcia during the US-led liberation of Afghanistan and later deployed to the Middle East in 2015–2016 to undertake operations against ISIL.

HMAS Cook (A-219), named for Captain James Cook, was an oceanographic survey vessel laid down by HMA Naval Dockyard at Williamstown in Victoria on 30 September 1974, launched on 27 August 1977 and commissioned on 30 April 1981. HMAS Cook paid off on 31 October 1990 and was sold for conversion to a merchant vessel.

The 1st Siege Artillery Battery was an Australian Army artillery battery of World War I. The Battery was formed in Victoria during April 1915 and served on the Western Front during World War I as part of the 1st Siege Artillery Brigade. The 1st Siege Artillery Battery was renamed the 54th Siege Artillery Battery on 28 September 1915. The battery was equipped first with four 8 inch howitzers but was expanded to six howitzers from July 1917. In March 1918 the battery was assigned to the Australian Corps Heavy Artillery and resumed its original title.

No. 285 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1999 and is responsible for providing training to Air Lift Group's aircrew and ground support staff. While the Squadron does not operate any flying aircraft, it manages flight simulators which are used to provide training on C-130 Hercules and Boeing 707 aircraft. The Squadron is also allocated three decommissioned C-130 airframes for training purposes. Since its formation the Squadron has been located at RAAF Base Richmond in the western suburbs of Sydney.

HMAS Rankin is a Collins-class submarine which is currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy. Rankin was the sixth and final boat of her class and was laid down by the Australian Submarine Corporation in May 1995. She was launched on 7 November 2001 and commissioned on 29 March 2003. HMAS Rankin is based at Fleet Base West in Western Australia and forms part of the Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service.

The Australian Defence Force consists of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force. The ADF was established in 1976 to better coordinate the activities of the three services and has become increasingly integrated over time. The Australian Department of Defence administers the Australian Defence Organisation which consists of the ADF and the civilian personnel supporting the ADF.

The Medium Tank Trials Unit (MTTU) was a temporary Australian Army unit formed to test M60 Patton and Leopard 1 tanks to determine the most suitable replacement for the Army's Centurion tanks. The MTTU was formed in early 1972 by converting B Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment. The tank trials commenced in late 1972 and were conducted at Puckapunyal and the Tully - Innisfail region of north Queensland. The trials were completed in March 1973 and the MTTU reverted to B Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment on 1 June 1973. The Leopard 1 tank was selected on the basis of the results of the trials and entered service with the Australian Army in 1976.

No. 83 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in February 1943 and was initially equipped with P-39 Airacobra fighters. The squadron conducted defensive patrols over Brisbane until moving to Melville Island in the Northern Territory in December 1943. Prior to this move the squadron was re-equipped with Australian-designed Boomerang fighters in September. After only a month at Melville Island the squadron was re-located to Gove in January 1944. In August the squadron moved south to Camden, New South Wales and was disbanded in Menangle in September 1945 without seeing action.

The first HMAS Kanimbla was an armed merchant cruiser and troop ship of World War II. Kanimbla was built as a motor vessel and was completed in April 1936. The ship operated a passenger service between Cairns, Queensland and Fremantle, Western Australia until the outbreak of World War II when she was converted to an armed merchant cruiser at Sydney and commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Kanimbla on 6 September 1939. She arrived back in Sydney in April 1943, was converted to a Landing Ship Infantry (LSI) and commissioned as HMAS Kanimbla on 1 June 1943. Kanimbla paid off at Sydney in March 1949 and was returned to her owners in December 1950.

The Royal Western Australia Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the Australian Army based in the state of Western Australia. The Regiment was formed in 1960 as a result of the amalgamation of all the Citizen's Militia Force infantry battalions in WA but can trace its history as far back as 1861. The size of the regiment has fluctuated between one and three infantry battalions. The Royal Western Australia Regiment currently consists of two battalions; the 11th/28th and 16th Battalions both based at Karrakatta. The motto of the Regiment is Vigilant.

No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force VIP transport squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1942 and operated through World War II as a transport unit before being disbanded in June 1946. The Squadron was reformed in March 1948 as a VIP transport and reconnaissance unit and has operated in the VIP transport role since July 1959. No. 34 Squadron is currently based at Canberra International Airport where it operates two Boeing 737 Business Jets and three Bombardier Challenger 604s.