This site began as an attempt to fill a gap. The Royal Australian Navy played an active part in World War II, yet was small enough so that every ship could be listed easily. Even so, while researching the subject I could never find a single resource which did so. So I decided to make up my own.
This site is also a small commemoration. The RAN and its wartime achievements have always had to compete for public awareness. In the Mediterranean, the Royal Navy took centre stage; in the Pacific, the US Navy. The Historians of both have understandably made much of their own, and too easily overlooked the contribution of Australia's small and improvised navy. Even in Australia, the Navy and its achievements seem second in public awareness to the Army.
Out of affection and respect for the subject, I have tried to be accurate, comprehensive and concise - but these three criteria don't always fit together comfortably. Any ommissions or inaccuracies are my own responsibility. If at any time you spot something missing or an inaccuracy, or just want to start an argument over fine points of historical detail, email me
Major sources for this web site
include the RAN official web site (see "Links"), particularly its fine collection of ship histories. Small Ships at War and The Corvettes, both by Iris Nesdale, are excellent sources which I relied on heavily for the sections on auxilliaries and minesweepers respectively. Cruisers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies by Douglas Morris was my main source for the "Cruisers" section. V&W Class Destroyers 1917 - 1945 by Anthony Preston and The British Destroyer by TD Manning, together provided the bulk of my section on Destroyers. The unbelievably concise and complete Warships of World War II by HT Lenton and JJ Colledge, now almost certainly out of print, was by far the most complete listing of ships of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies that I found. Without it I would scarcely have been able to extend my research into any ship-type smaller than a destroyer. HMAS, HMAS Mark II, HMAS Mark III and HMAS Mark IV were official wartime publications of the RAN, excellent for atmosphere; if your browser can manage frames, the pic you will see in the top left corner is a detail from the front cover of "HMAS". The Navy Day by Day and Historic Naval Events of Australia Day By Day, both by Lew Lind, and Time-Life's Royal Australian Navy, were also valuable resources. Maritime Power in the Twentieth Century - the Australian Experience by David Stevens gives a brilliant discussion of HMAS Adelaide's adventure. Finally, of course, I must mention the official history, Australia in the War of 1939 - 1945 - Royal Australian Navy (two volumes) by GH Gill, without which no-one should even begin investigating the subject.