Action of 13 December 1964
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The action of 13 December 1964 was a minor naval action between the
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
n minesweeper and two Indonesian vessels on 13 December 1964 during the
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation The Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation or Borneo confrontation (also known by its Indonesian / Malay name, ''Konfrontasi'') was an armed conflict from 1963 to 1966 that stemmed from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of the Federation of ...
. HMAS ''Teal'' was engaged by Indonesian vessels in the Singapore Strait. Return fire from the Australian ship killed three, whilst four other Indonesians were subsequently captured.Coulthard-Clark (2001), p. 274.


Action

HMAS ''Teal'' whilst conducting patrols of the Singapore Strait intercepted two Indonesian sampans 1 mile from
Raffles Lighthouse Raffles Lighthouse (Chinese: ; ms, Rumah Api Raffles; ta, ராஃபில்ஸ் கலங்கரை விளக்கம்) is a lighthouse located on Pulau Satumu in the Singapore Strait, about south of the main island of Singapore ...
. Upon interception of the unlit sampans, ''Teal'' was fired upon with automatic weapons from the sampans. The sampans turned towards Indonesian waters, however one sampan was overpowered by ''Teal'' following further small arms engagements that killed three of the seven Indonesian crew members. The remaining crew, including an officer of the Indonesian Marines, surrendered. On board the sampan, a quantity of explosives, weapons and military equipment was found.


Aftermath

Lieutenant Keith Murray was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...
, for his coolness and judgement during the action. The Distinguished Service Cross was the only award for gallant or distinguished service made to the Royal Australian Navy during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.


See also

*
Military history of Australia during the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation The Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation ( id, Konfrontasi) was fought from 1962 to 1966 between the British Commonwealth and Indonesia. Indonesia, under President Sukarno, sought to prevent the creation of the new Federation of Malaysia that emerg ...


Notes


References

* {{Cite book, last=Coulthard-Clark , first=Chris , title=The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles , year=2001, edition=Second , publisher=Allen and Unwin , location=Crows Nest , isbn=1-86508-634-7
Conflicts in 1964 1964 in Malaysia Battles of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Battles of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation involving Australia Naval battles involving Australia Battles involving Indonesia December 1964 events in Asia