The Australian Navy during the First World War. Captain Backhouse inspecting the company of the Australian battlecruiser HMAS Australia. Royal Navy photographer. Source: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain.

Formation and Early Years

The Royal Australian Navy was officially established on March 10, 1901, following the federation of the Australian colonies. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the RAN was a relatively small force, but it quickly expanded to meet the demands of the conflict.

The Royal Navy during the First World War. The battleships of the Grand Fleet patrolling & escorting trade vessels. Imperial War Museum. Source: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain.

Operations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans

The RAN played a vital role in patrolling and securing the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Australian naval vessels were involved in escorting troop transports, protecting trade routes, and conducting anti-submarine operations.

 Australian Navy submarine AE2 at sea. AE2, and its sister ship AE1, were the first submarines allocated to the Royal Australian Navy arriving in Sydney Harbour on 24 May 1914 under RN command. On the outbreak of WW1 both submarines were dispatched to New Britain under escort. AE2 was later based at Suva returning to Sydney in November 1914. On 31 December 1914 AE2 departed from West Australia with the second ANZAC convoy. The submarine was towed across the Indian Ocean and eventually arrived in the Gallipoli area joining the Britisn Naval Squadron. In April 1915 AE2 was ordered to attempt the passage through the Dardanelles to the Sea of Marmora and disrupt enemy shipping. The passage was successful. On 30 April 1915 AE2 moving to meet a RN submarine which had arrived after the RAN vessel was forced to dive but technical problems made the vessel impossible to handle and the captain was forced to surface and surrender after opening all tanks to sink AE2. Between 1914 and 1915. Donor W M Warburton. Source: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain.

Submarine Activities

The RAN operated submarines during World War I, conducting patrols and engaging in anti-submarine warfare. The most notable RAN submarine during this period was HMAS AE2, which operated in the Dardanelles during the Gallipoli Campaign.

Sailors of the Royal Australian Navy stand in formation during an inspection of the troops by Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead, escorted by Vice Adm. Russ Crane, Chief of Navy of the Royal Australian Navy, at the HMAS Kuttabul Naval Base in Sydney.  Source: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain.

Post-War Developments

Following World War I, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) underwent significant modernisation and strategic re-evaluation. Beginning the conflict with 16 ships and 3,800 personnel, including contributions from the Royal Navy, the RAN expanded to 37 ships and 5,000 personnel by war’s end.

The war experience emphasised the importance of naval power, shaping Australia’s maritime strategy in the interwar years and influencing the RAN’s evolution. The navy’s contributions during World War I were integral to Australia’s commitment to the British Empire’s war effort and had enduring effects on its development and capabilities.