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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 63062:  HMAS Australia in the Panama Canal, March 1935

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the AUSTRALIAN NAVY --

HMAS Australia (Heavy Cruiser, 1928-1955)

HMAS Australia, a 9850-ton heavy cruiser of the British Kent class, was built at Glasgow, Scotland. During the first decade of her active career, she mainly served in Australian home waters, but also cruised abroad on occasion. The cruiser was modernized in 1938-39, receiving much improved armor protection plus significant modifications to her forward superstructure, anti-aircraft gun battery, gunfire control systems and aircraft facilities.

After World War II broke out in Europe in September 1939, Australia operated in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic, protecting shipping routes from the threat of German surface raiders. She went to the north Atlantic in mid-1940 and, in September of that year took part in the British Navy attack on Dakar, where she was hit by shells from the French cruisers Georges Leygues and Montcalm. Returning to Australia in 1941, she resumed her shipping protection work in the Indian Ocean.

In early 1942, with Japan now at war with the Allies, Australia was flagship of a small task force assigned to protect the south Pacific eastwards from Australia. In that capacity she engaged enemy aircraft in May, during the Battle of the Coral Sea. In August, she participated in the Guadalcanal Invasion. Thereafter, she mainly served as one of the heaviest ships involved in the fight for New Guinea, initially in a covering role. Beginning in late 1943, with the landings at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Australia provided fire support and surface ship protection for the assault across northern New Guinea. On 8-9 June 1944, she was flagship of the task force that pursued Japanese destroyers off Biak.

Australia later participated in the Leyte invasion in October 1944 and the landings at Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. She was hit by a Japanese plane in the former operation, losing some twenty of her crew. No less than five Kamikazes struck her during the Lingayen operation, taking the lives of over forty crewmen, but she remained on her gunfire support station until no longer needed.

Subsequent repairs and alterations in 1945-46 reduced Australia's main battery from eight to six eight-inch guns, enhanced her anti-aircraft firepower and generally brought her up to date. She remained active in the post-war era, in her final years as a training ship, until she was paid off for the last time in August 1954. HMAS Australia was sold for scrapping in January 1955.

This page features, or provides links to, all our views of the Australian heavy cruiser Australia (1928-1955).

For more images of HMAS Australia, see:

  • HMAS Australia -- Pre-World War II Close-up Views; and
  • HMAS Australia -- World War II Views.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 52686

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken in 1928, soon after the ship was completed and before her smokestacks were raised.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 36KB; 740 x 275 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52683

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken during the 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 500 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52684

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Underway during the 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52685

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Underway during the 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50120

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Off New York City, circa 1932-1933.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52679

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Preparing to dock at New York City, in 1932.

    This photograph was provided by the Navy Recruiting Bureau, New York City, 1932.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50121

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Photograph taken circa 1932-1933.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 425 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52680

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Photographed at Sydney, Australia, 24 October 1934.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63062

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Steaming through the Panama Canal, March 1935.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 52127

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    Transiting the Panama Canal, March 1935.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63063

    HMAS Australia
    (Australian Heavy Cruiser, 1928)

    In the Panama Canal, March 1935.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 157KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     

    For more images of HMAS Australia, see:

  • HMAS Australia -- Pre-World War II Close-up Views; and
  • HMAS Australia -- World War II Views.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 9 March 2002