Australia's worst peacetime naval disaster occurred on 10 February 1964, when the Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne sliced the Daring Class Destroyer HMAS Voyager in two, 19 miles south-west of Jervis Bay in New South Wales.

The ships had been involved in night flying operations and were ‘darkened’  with only navigational/operational lighting when the 20,000 tons displacement Melbourne struck the 3,600 tons displacement Destroyer Voyager, causing it to sink quickly.

The disaster resulted in the death of 82 officers and men. The 232 survivors were taken aboard the damaged Melbourne which slowly returned to Sydney to undergo extensive repairs.

There were no casualties aboard the Melbourne.

After two inquiries the Melbourne was cleared of any blame.