Cruisers: County Class; HMAS Canberra
Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2020 7:02 am
The ill fated (Kent Sub-Class),County Class Heavy Cruiser HMAS Canberra pictured c1939.Built at John Brown & Company Shipyards,Clydebank in 1928.She 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, she was involved in the hunt for several German Auxiliary Cruisers. She 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.She later joined Task Force 44, and was involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Tulagi landings.
On August 9th 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, and is the only American warship named for either a foreign warship.
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, she was involved in the hunt for several German Auxiliary Cruisers. She 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.She later joined Task Force 44, and was involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Tulagi landings.
On August 9th 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, and is the only American warship named for either a foreign warship.
