Operation Hurricane were considered. The Admiralty suggested that the Monte Bello Islands might be suitable, so the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Clement Attlee, sent a request to the Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Menzies. The Australian government formally agreed to the islands being used as a nuclear test site in May 1951. In February 1952, Attlee's successor, Winston Churchill, announced in the House of Commons that the first British atomic bomb test would occur in Australia before the end of the year. A small fleet was assembled for Operation Hurricane under the command of Rear Admiral A. D. Torlesse; it
Action of 12 October 1950 be destroyed during operations in that area. Sometime in 1952, Lieutenant McMullen received an anonymous package containing the "Pirate"s battle flag and on May 28, 1985, it was donated to the Naval Historical Center and is on display at the Korean War exhibit. Action of 12 October 1950 The Action of 12 October 1950 was a battle fought during the Korean War. While conducting Operation Wonsan against sea mines in Wonsan Harbor, a squadron of US Navy warships was attacked by North Korean Army (KPA) batteries. During the operation, two US ships struck mines and sank while the remaining vessels