HMAS Canberra (I33/D33), named after the Australian capital city of Canberra, was a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) heavy cruiser of the Kent sub-class of County-class cruisers. Constructed in Scotland during the mid-1920s, the ship was commissioned in 1928, and spent the first part of her career primarily operating in Australian waters, with some deployments to the China Station.
At the start of World War II, Canberra was initially used for patrols and convoy escort around Australia. In July 1940, she was reassigned as a convoy escort between Western Australia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. During this deployment, which ended in mid-1941, Canberra was involved in the hunt for several German auxiliary cruisers. The cruiser resumed operations in Australian waters, but when Japan entered the war, she was quickly reassigned to convoy duties around New Guinea, interspersed with operations in Malaysian and Javanese waters. Canberra later joined Task Force 44, and was involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Tulagi landings.
On 9 August 1942, Canberra was struck by the opening Japanese shots of the Battle of Savo Island, and was quickly damaged. Unable to propel herself, the cruiser was evacuated and sunk in Ironbottom Sound by two American destroyers. The United States Navy Baltimore-class cruiser USS Canberra was named in honour of the Australian ship.
Photographs of HMAS Canberra
HMAS Canberra in Original Configuration Without Catapult and CraneHMAS Canberra alongside in Portsmouth, 17 July 1928HMAS Canberra Melbourne 14 March 1929HMAS Canberra at Kings Wharf Wellington ca 1930HMAS Canberra, with HMAS Stalwart alongside, in January 1930 with Supermarine Seagull IIIsHMAS Canberra Passing Under the Sydney Harbour Bridge 1930HMAS Canberra fire a salute for the arrival of New South Wales to Governor Sir Murray Anderson, Sydney, 6 August 1936HMAS Canberra Pre-War Paint SchemeHMAS Australia and HMAS Canberra, probably October 1939HMAS Canberra 17 July 1939HMAS Canberra 17 July 1939HMAS Canberra Fremantle 11 May 1940HMAS Canberra off Tulagi Indian Ocean 30 September 1940HMAS Canberra leaving Wellington New Zealand on 22 July 1942HMAS Canberra off Tulagi 7-8 August 1942HMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS CanberraHMAS Canberra lit with electric lights and silhouetted against the Sydney Harbour bridge
Supermarine Seagull III Amphibian
Seagull Amphibian 24 September 1921Supermarine Seagull III A9-5 of101 Fleet Co-operation Flight RAAF next to HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 being hoisted aboard HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull III A9-5 being hoisted aboard HMAS CanberraHMAS Canberra and her Supermarine Seagull IIIHMAS Canberra, with HMAS Stalwart alongside, in January 1930 with Supermarine Seagull IIIs
Supermarine Seagull V Amphibian
Supermarine Seagull V amphibian aircraft prepared for take-off from its catapultSupermarine Seagull V A2-5 on HMAS CanberraSupermarine Seagull V amphibian aircraft being launched from its catapult
HMAS Canberra in Drydock at Cockatoo Island Sydney in the 1930s
Cockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW, 1930s. View from forward looking aft of the portside hullCockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW, August 1940. Port Outer Tailshaft and ScrewCockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW, August 1940. Port Outer Tailshaft and ScrewCockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW, August 1940. Port Outer Tailshaft and Screw
Close Up of Weapons
View over the 8-inch guns and towards the bow of HMAS CanberraHMAS Canberra makes heavy weather of it during a high speed runHMAS Canberra conducts a main armament firing with both of her aft twin 8 inchThe 8-inch guns of HMAS CanberraThe 8-inch guns of HMAS CanberraThe 8-inch guns of HMAS CanberraTwo 4 inch anti-aircraft guns situated amidships on both sidesHMAS Canberra QF4 inch MkV Guns 1932HMAS Canberra conducts a night shoot firing two of its 4 inchA gunnery party conducts an exercise firing drill on a four inch anti-aircraft mountFour inch gun crewAugust 1942. Anti aircraft gun crews wearing flash protection clothingLive firing practice with 0.50 inchAnti Aircraft Guns
Torpedo Practice 1935
Crew members loading a torpedo into one of the ship’s torpedo tubes October 1935A torpedo being fired from one of a bank of four torpedo tubes October 1935A torpedo which has just been recovered from the sea and hauled aboard after a training exercise October 1935
HMAS Canberra Sinking After the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942
HMAS Canberra Sinking After the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942 with US Destroyers in AttendanceHMAS Canberra Sinking After the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942HMAS Canberra Sinking After the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942Port side view of HMAS Canberra sinking, taken from one of the United States (US) destroyers, probably USS Blue or USS PattersonHMAS Canberra Sinking After the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942
