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HMAS Canberra - World Naval Ships Directory

HMAS Canberra

Name : HMAS Canberra
Laid Down : 9th September 1925
Launched : 31st May 1927
Completed : 10th July 1928
Type : Cruiser
Class : County
Builder : John Brown
Country : Australia
Pennants : I33, D33
Fate : Scuttled following battle 9th August 1942.

John Brown and Company of Clydebank J Brown launched this County class heavy cruiser on 31 May 1927 for the Royal Australian Navy and she entered service on 9 July 1928. After five months in British waters, the CANBERRA first arrived in Australia at Fremantle, Western Australia on 25 January 1929. The new cruiser remained in her home waters until September 1931 when she made her first voyage outside of Australia to visit New Caledonia and Fiji. CANBERRA visited China in 1932 and 1937, and New Zealand three times. In 1934 she served as escort to HMS SUSSEX during His Royal Highness Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester's visit to Australia.

During the first nine months of World War II, CANBERRA performed escort duty in her home waters and the Tasman Sea. In 1940 she took part in the unsuccessful search for the German raiders ATLANTIS and PINGUIN and, in early 1941, in the fruitless hunt for the German pocket battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER. In March, CANBERRA and LEANDER intercepted the German supply ship COBURG and the ex-Norwegian tanker KETTY BROVIG, which the raider ATLANTIS had captured the previous month. CANBERRA spent the rest of 1941 as a convoy escort in various parts of the Indian Ocean.

After serving as convoy escort in January 1942, Canberra underwent a three month refit in Sydney. As part of Task Force 44, in June she participated in offensive sweeps of the Coral Sea. In August CANBERRA operated with the naval force supporting the Allied invasions of Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

Just before 0145 on 9 August 1942 CANBERRA received the opening shots of the Battle of Savo Island from a powerful Japanese cruiser force. Within the first two minutes of the battle two torpedoes and over 20 salvoes of shellfire struck her. With power lost and the ship listing, the wounded and survivors transferred to PATTERSON and BLUE. Rear Admiral R. K. Turner ordered that if CANBERRA could not steam by 0630 hours, she would be abandoned and scuttled. At 0800 hours she was sunk by ELLET and SELFRIDGE, who fired over 260 five inch (127 mm) shells and several torpedoes into her hulk.

CANBERRA suffered 193 casualties during the Battle of Savo Island, including her captain, Frank Getting. Nine officers and 65 ratings were missing believed killed. One officer (the captain) and nine ratings died of wounds. Ten officers, 96 ratings, and three civilian canteen staff were wounded.

HMAS Canberra Photos for Sale
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HMAS Canberra, 1928.


HMS Canberra, 1928.


HMAS Canberra, 1928.

Timeline Entries :


31st May 1927 - Launched
9th August 1942 - Sunk

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Database Currently Holds : 6284 ships and 6289 crew!

Last edited : 12:42, July 20, 2011
By : tjstoneman

First Added : 17:18, January 27, 2011
By : kc


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