In July 1947, the Commonwealth Defence Council approved the formation of a Fleet Air Arm which would be controlled and operated by the RAN. The initial planning included purchase of two aircraft carriers, aircraft and establishment of shore facilities. The carriers were named HMA Ships Sydney and Melbourne, and the shore facilities were at Nowra. HMAS Albatross was commissioned in August 1948 and the 20th Carrier Air Group, comprising Sea Fury and Firefly aircraft, was brought from England to Australia by HMAS Sydney. These aircraft, operated by 805 and 816 Squadrons, disembarked to Nowra in May 1949. In November 1950, they were joined by the Carrier Air Group of 808 and 817 Squadrons, also flying Sea Furies and Fireflies. HMAS Albatross has been expanding ever since. As more capable aircraft have been acquired, so ground support facilities have had to be built. In 1955, Sea Venoms and Gannets arrived, requiring radar workshops and test facilities. More aircraft necessitated stricter standards of air traffic control and a new control tower was built in 1958. In 1964 the introduction of Wessex helicopters, with a dunking sonar capability, required a further expansion of services. In 1965, it was decided to buy American aircraft to replace the ageing British Gannets and Sea Venoms. McDonnell Douglas Skyhawks and Grumman Trackers were chosenand additional avionics facilities were built to service the complex equipment they carried. The helicopters now based at HMAS Albatross have restored to the RAN much of the anti-submarine capability lost when the Tracker squadron was disbanded in 1983. In recent years significant redevelopment has taken place, continuing the operation of HMAS Albatross and recognising its strategic importance as the sole Royal Australian Navy Air Station.Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Albatross H.M.A.S. Albatross

HMAS Voyager (D31) was a 'W' class destroyer. Commissioned into the Royal Navy (RN) in 1918. She remained with the RN until 1933, when she was transferred to the RAN. The destroyer remained in service until 23 September 1942, when she ran aground and was scutted. HMAS Voyager (D04) was a Daring class destroyer commissioned into the RAN in 1957. The ship was lost in a collision with the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne on 10 February 1964Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Voyager H.M.A.S. Voyager

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Royal Australian Navy Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Perth (D29), a modified Leander-class light cruiser. Commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Amphion in 1936, she was sold to the RAN three years later. The ship served until 1 March 1942, when she was sunk during the Battle of Sunda Strait. HMAS Perth (D 38), the lead ship of the Perth-class guided missile destroyers. Built as a Charles F. Adams-class destroyer derivative for the RAN and commissioned in 1965, the ship served until decommissioning in 1999. She was sunk as a dive wreck off the coast of Albany, Western Australia, in 2001. HMAS Perth (FFH 157), an Anzac-class frigate commissioned in 2006 and active as of 2012Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Perth H.M.A.S. Perth

HMAS Stuart (D00), an Admiralty type destroyer leader, launched in 1918 for the Royal Navy. She was transferred to the RAN in 1933, and served during World War II. The ship was paid off in 1946, and sold for scrap. HMAS Stuart (DE 48), one of six River class destroyer escorts (based on the British Type 12 frigate) built for the RAN. She was commissioned in 1963, paid off in 1991, and sold for scrap. HMAS Stuart (FFH 153), an Anzac class frigate commissioned in 2002 and active as of 2012Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Stuart H.M.A.S. Stuart

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Navy Supply Navy Supply

HMAS Stirling (ICAO: YGAD) is the Royal Australian Navy's primary base on the west coast (Fleet Base West) of Australia. It is located on Garden Island in the state of Western Australia, near the city of Perth. Garden Island also has its own airport on the island (ICAO: YGAD). HMAS Stirling is currently under the command of Captain Angela Bond, RAN.Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Stirling H.M.A.S. Stirling

HMAS Otama (SS 72/SSG 72) was an Oberon class submarine of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Built in Scotland, the submarine was commissioned into the RAN in 1978; the last of the class to enter service. Otama remained in service until late 2000, when she was decommissioned and sold to a Victorian community group, who planned to preserve the submarine as a museum ship.Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Otama H.M.A.S. Otama

HMAS Arunta (I30), a Tribal-class destroyer commissioned in 1942, which served during World War II. The ship remained in service until 1968, and sank while being towed to China for scrapping. HMAS Arunta (FFH 151), an Anzac-class frigate commissioned in 1998 and in active service as of 2012Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Arunta H.M.A.S. Arunta

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Royal N.Z. Armoured corps. Royal N.Z. Armoured corps.

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Scottish Regiment N.Z. Scottish Regiment N.Z.

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Defence Cataloguing Authority Defence Cataloguing Authority

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of 1 Armoured Regiment 1 Armoured Regiment

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of 2/2 Pioneer Battalion A.I.F.2/2 Pioneer Battalion A.I.F.

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of 2/8 Armoured Regiment Association 2/8 Armoured Regiment Association

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Royal Australian Artillery Royal Australian Artillery

This regiment 2/3 Anti-tank later was known as the 2/3 Tank Attack Regiment. The colors are sometimes shown as the reverse of the above.http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awmohww2/army/vol1/awmohww2-army-vol1-app4.pdf The "T" shape of the colour patch denotes the Regiment served at Tobruk Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Plaque Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery 2/3 Anti Tank Regiment Plaque Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery 2/3 Anti Tank Regiment 2/3 anti-tank regiment, 2/3 tank attack regiment, tobruk

Wooden Plaque 25cm x 20cm with insignia of Joint Defence Space Communication Station Joint Defence Space Communication Station

HMAS Warramunga (I44), a Tribal class destroyer commissioned in 1942. The ship fought during the latter half of World War II, and in the Korean War. She was decommissioned in 1959, and sold for scrap. HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152), an Anzac class frigate commissioned in 2001 and in active service as of 2012Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S Warramunga H.M.A.S Warramunga

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Joint Defence Space StationJoint Defence Space Station

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of 39 Infantry Btn. 39 Infantry Btn.

The Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME; pronounced Raymee) is a corps of the Australian Army that has responsibility for the maintenance and recovery of all land electrical and mechanical equipment. RAEME has members from both the Australian Regular Army and The Army Reserve. Prior to being given the title of 'Royal', the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (AEME) were raised on 1 December 1942. Some 64 years later, on 1 December 2006, the last independent RAEME Workshop was disbanded. RAEME soldiers continue in their role to provide support through attachment to other units in Tech Support Troops, Sections or Platoons.Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of 1st Platoon 5 I R C Newman (Pilbara Regiment) 1st Platoon 5 I R C Newman (Pilbara Regiment)

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Rats of Tobbuk Rats of Tobbuk

HMAS Brisbane (1915), a Town class light cruiser launched in 1915 and decommissioned in 1935 HMAS Brisbane (naval base), a naval base operated in Brisbane between 1940 and 1942 HMAS Brisbane (D 41), a Perth class guided missile destroyer launched in 1966 and decommissioned in 2001 HMAS Brisbane (DDGH 41), a Hobart class air warfare destroyer predicted to enter service in 2017Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S Brisbane H.M.A.S Brisbane

HMAS Orion (S 71) was an Oberon class submarine of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). One of six submarines ordered by the RAN during the 1960s, Orion, named after the constellation in a break from ship-naming tradition, was built in Scotland and commissioned in 1977. Orion was decommissioned in 1996, marked for disposal in 2003, and broken up for scrap in 2006. Several sections of the submarine remain intact as memorials and museum piecesWooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S. Orian H.M.A.S. Orian

HMAS Warramunga (I44), a Tribal class destroyer commissioned in 1942. The ship fought during the latter half of World War II, and in the Korean War. She was decommissioned in 1959, and sold for scrap. HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152), an Anzac class frigate commissioned in 2001 and in active service as of 2012Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S Warramunga H.M.A.S Warramunga

HMAS Yarra (D79), a River class torpedo boat destroyer commissioned into the Australian Commonwealth Naval Forces in 1910, transferred to the RAN on its foundation in 1911, operated until 1929, and scuttled HMAS Yarra (U77), a Grimsby class sloop commissioned in 1936 and was lost on 4 March 1942 while defending a convoy from five Japanese warships HMAS Yarra (DE 45), a River class destroyer escort commissioned in 1961 and in service until 1985 HMAS Yarra (M 87), a Huon class minehunter commissioned in 2003 and in active service as of 2012Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of H.M.A.S Yarra H.M.A.S Yarra

Wooden Plaque 15cm x 13cm with insignia of Royal Australian Signals Corps Royal Australian Signals Corps