The day Australia went to war with France

[The Sailor]

HMAS AUSTRALIA

War takes strange twists. An Australian warship goes to war with the French.

As part of the Dakar Squadron in July 1940, HMAS AUSTRALIA, in company with HM Ships HERMES, DORSETSHIRE and MILFORD, was patrolling off the French West African coast, shadowing the French fleet.

September 1940 found AUSTRALIA off Dakar, French West Africa, shadowing French cruisers GLOIRE, MONTCALM and GEORGES LEYGUES. It was hoped to install General de Gaulle and a Free French force in Dakar, thereby evicting the existing Vichy government and forestalling any possible German occupation.

It was hoped that the population of Dakar would welcome de Gaulle proved to be illfounded and shore batteries opened fire on the fleet. AUSTRALIA escaped damage, but CUMBERLAND and FORESIGHT were both hit. AUSTRALIA with FURY and GREYHOUND attacked a French destroyer which was set ablaze from end to end. On the following day, 24 September, AUSTRALIA was engaged in a general fleet bombardment of French ships and forts and was twice subjected to high level bombing attacks by French planes. On 25 September AUSTRALIA and DEVONSHIRE moved in towards Dakar to attack French cruisers. During the engagement which followed AUSTRALIA received two hits aft and her Walrus spotting aircraft was shot down. In 13 minutes AUSTRALIA had fired 15 salvoes.

HMAS AUSTRALIA was one of two 10,000 ton County Class heavy cruisers ordered by the Australian Government as part of a five year naval development program begun in 1924 and completed in 1929. She commissioned at Clydebank on 24 April 1928, two months before her sister ship HMAS CANBERRA, under the command of Captain Francis H.W. Goolden RN.

She was built to the Kent Class design of County Class cruisers, her sister ships being HMAS CANBERRA and HM Ships KENT, BERWICK, CORNWALL, CUMBERLAND and SUFFOLK.
My personal opinion is that the Kent Class was the prettiest design of that era.

Photos: HMAS Australia



Statistics
Type County Class Heavy Cruiser
Displacement 10,000 tons (standard)
Length 630 feet (overall)
Beam 68 feet 4 inches
Draught 16 feet 3 inches (mean), 21 feet 8 inches (maximum)
Builder John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank, Scotland
Laid Down 26 August 1925
Launched 17 March 1927
Completed April 1928
Machinery Brown-Curtis Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Horsepower 80,000
Speed 31½ knots
Endurance 10,400 miles (11 – 14 knots)
Armament 8 x 8-inch guns
8 x 4-inch guns
4 x 3-pounder guns
Complement 848 (war), 679 (peace)

[Batstiger]

Here is the full set for you Graeme.

1. Australia. Unfortunately on the way to the scrapyard.
2. Berwick.
3. Canberra.
4. Cornwall.
5. Cumberland.
6. Kent.
7. Suffolk.

Bob.

[The Sailor]

You didn't let the side down Bob. I started to find those pics myself, then I thought, no Bob is better at it than me.
They are all very much alike. Nice looking ships.
The old Australia needs another post for the Japanese war and I will get to it.
A few different companions she knocked around with down there later on.

[herakles]

Not many people know of the Australian army taking Syria from the French in WW2. They were told to wear their famous slouch hats so the French would remember their gallant performance in France in WW1. It didn't work. The battles were bloody and it took quite awhile to capture Syria at last. Especially as the English overall commander placed himself hundreds of miles away.

And when the Aussies entered Syria to start the attack, their guide was a young Mosha Dayan.

And as I recall, during this time, Gen. Slim was given permission to break contact and take his beloved Ghurkas into Persia which he then captured. Later to lead the 14th Army in Burma and the finest general of WW2. Later Governor General of Australia.

[The Sailor]

Yes Herk, check out this site and you will see that the "British Commonwealth" troops did a bit there.
Scroll down to the 8th June 1941.

http://www.worldwar-2.net/timelines/war-in-the-desert/war-in-the-desert-index-1941.htm

[herakles]

Syria was vital in order to cut off supplies of oil from the Hun. As was Persia.

That's an interesting time line. I must say that British involvement in Syria was minimal, despite what this time line says.

But then again, most Australian war successes are usually described as having been made by British forces.

It also shows another interesting fact. That it was Australian forces that inflicted the first defeat on the Axis powers of WW2.

Which reminds me that it was Australian forces that made the first victory of WW1 also. By capturing German New Guinea.

;)