- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- Yes - Squadron
- No - I would not like to see HMAS Australia (II) in game.
HMAS Australia on trials after another post war refit. 1950
Background:
HMAS Australia (II) was the first of two County-class heavy Cruisers of the Kent-subclass ordered by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1924 as to replace their ageing capital ship, the Indefatigable-class Battlecruiser HMAS Australia (I).
Two Heavy cruisers were chosen to replace the lone battlecruiser due to numerous factors, the most pressing being operating costs and manning levels. With the interwar RAN believing that the amount of manpower spent on the battlecruiser could be better spent, as the initial threat that led the purchase of the HMAS Australia (I), the Imperial German East Asia Squadron, had been destroyed during the course of the First World War, leaving the Australia (I) as a large, expensive, and manpower draining piece of equipment without anything to counter. There were also issues in procuring new 12" shells, as the RN had phased out such munition types. By comparison, two new heavy cruisers would be cheaper to maintain, as their systems were new, greater availability for fleet operations, with two hulls instead of just one, meaning if one ship had to undergo a maintenance period, another was still left operational. These new cruisers would form the new flagships of the RAN.
With the purchase of new cruisers prioritsed, HMAS Australia (I) was reduced down to a training vessel, this was done instead of placing the vessel in mothball, as such a large crew could not be brought up rapidly as to man her in case of emergency. The battlecruiser’s fate was sealed by the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty, which limited the total tonnage of capital ships used by major powers. Although Australia and thus also the RAN was independent from the Royal Navy at this time, they were counted under the RN tonnage allocations, which was already filled by RN ships, not including any RAN vessels.
For the new Flagship Cruiser design, Australia would select the British County-class, which were the first British cruisers to be designed and built post war. As this class was designed after the Washington treaty, they were built to be relatively small, being forced to fit a lot of capability into a small 10,000t limit. To maximise the amount of equipment installed in this 10,000t the main armour belt was very thin, as a thick belt would take up a significant portion of the displacement, however, the Admiralty had the foresight that any such displacement treaty would go out the window in the case of war, where the County’s thin belt would be useless. So they designed a 4-inch thick external belt that could be rapidly fitted, and pre-produced it.
As they were ordered in the earliest batch of County-class vessels, HMAS Australia and Canberra would be of the Kent-subclass, rather than of the London or Norfolk subclasses that latter ships were built to.
During the initial design stages of the Australian Counties they were identical to the British operated variants as to cut down on R&D cost. As built they had 4x2 BL 8-inch Mk.VIII as their primary armament, 4x1 QF 4-inch Mk.V as their secondary armament with a heavy AA capability as they were on high angle mounts, as well as 4x1 QF-2pdr Pom-Poms and 2x4 21" torpedoes. single mounts for the Pom-Poms were fitted instead of two octuple mounts as a weight saving measure. Numerous rifle calibre MGs were fitted as the light AA.
They were to be built in Scotland, as Australian yards had struggled to complete a small town-class light cruiser, the HMAS Adelaide, as well as the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross, with the yards not yet capable of the construction of a significantly larger vessel.
This suggestion is for HMAS Australia (II) in her 1947 post war refit. She is the second of her name, the first being an Indefatigable-class Battlecruiser in commission with the Royal Australian Navy from 1913-1921.
HMAS Australia’s stern, showing her upgraded AA armament in lieu of X turret. 1949
History:
HMAS Australia (II) was laid down on the Clydebank, Scotland, by John Brown & Company, on the 26th of August 1925, the first of the two Australian orders. She would launch on the 17th of March 1928, fitting out and completing on the 24th of April 1928 with the motto “Endeavour”, which HMAS Australia (I) had. During commissioning ceremonies, HMAS Australia was visited by King George V, who inspected the upper and main decks.
During initial sea trials of the British county-class vessels, it was found that smoke from the stacks was not properly clearing the bridge and aft control areas, blocking critical command sight lines. To resolve this, the British ships extended their funnels by 15ft (4.9m), RAN sea trials had found the same issues with the HMAS Australia (II), and so decided to fit even taller funnels to the already completed Australia, and under construction Canberra. These funnels were 18ft (5.49m) taller than the original ones, and 3ft (0.9m) taller than the British extended funnels. This modification solved the problem. During speed trials with the further weight reductions it was found that she could maintain 34kts without stressing her turbines.
With all modifications complete, HMAS Australia would sail for Sydney, Australia via Canada & the USA, departing Portsmouth on the 3rd of August 1928, arriving on the 23rd of October the same year.
During this time the RAN’s fleet was severely reduced due to manpower and finance shortages, with only three ships in active service, being the County-class HMAS Australia and Canberra, plus the seaplane tender HMAS Albatross. A single S-class destroyer would also be kept in active service, albeit with a reduced crew. Australia’s service would be mostly ‘showing the flag’ around the Australian Station. However by 1932 she would embark on a voyage across the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.
In 1934 she would be placed on an exchange with the Royal Navy, with the HMAS Australia moving to British waters, and the HMS Sussex being placed in the Australian station, with each vessel filling the role of the other. HMAS Australia would leave Sydney on the 10th of December 1934, arriving in Portsmouth via New Zealand, Fiji, Balboa, and Kingston, on the 28th of March 1935. During this voyage to the UK, she had The Duke of Gloucester embarked. Upon arrival she was placed in the Mediterranean Squadron, however she would return to the UK from the 21st of June to the 12th of September as to represent Australia at King George V’s Silver Jubilee Naval Review. After this review, she would return to the Mediterranean in time for the Abyssinia Crisis, however this would end before tensions boiled over.
In September 1935 she would finally have her aircraft catapult and octuple pom-poms fitted. Unlike the RN ships, she would not use the Hawker Osprey as her spotting aircraft, instead she would operate with the Supermarine Seagull III, the standard aircraft in service with the RAN at the time. Before this, the aircraft would be lowered into the water by the recovery crane, then the aircraft would take off normally from the sea’s surface.
HMAS Australia’s exchange with the Royal Navy would end on the 14th of July 1936, leaving Alexandria via Aden, bound for Fremantle, then onto Sydney, Australia. She would arrive back home on the 11th of August 1936. Now back on the Australian station, she would serve at Sydney, Jervis Bay, as well as visiting Melbourne in November. During this time the Seagull III Aircraft that she carried would be replaced by a Seagull V, which would later become known as the Walrus I. During this time she also had two quad 0.50" Vickers MGs fitted just aft of the forward superstructure, and a rear HADCT fitted.
In April 1937 she would visit New Zealand, visiting Auckland, Otago, and Wellington, then by July she moved to visit many ports in Queensland, New Guinea, and New Britain. She would return from this trip on the 10th of September at Sydney. Then by November she would visit Melbourne, and in February 1938 she would visit Fremantle before being placed into the reserve for refit on the 24th of April 1938.
Modifications to the HMAS Australia during this refit included replacing her single 4-inch mounts with twin turrets, doubling her secondary firepower, and fitting the additional 4-inch waistline armour plate, modifications were also made to the aircraft and boat facilities as to improve sea-handling. Her four single QF 2pdr Pom-Poms were removed, being replaced by two octuple mounts. Torpedo bulges were also fitted. Some inconsistencies in her technical drawings were found during this time causing delays. She was initially supposed to recommission from these works in March 1939, but these delays caused her to actually recommission on the 28th of August, only leaving the dock on the 28th of September, after Australia’s entry into the Second World War.
HMAS Australia’s initial operations during the Second World War involved mostly hunting for German Merchant Raiders, which could severely damage trade routes, this was done in company with HMAS Canberra & Sydney in the Indian Ocean. From the 1st of December 1939, she would partake in convoy escort, escorting ANZAC convoy US 1 from Sydney to Fremantle, then from Fremantle to the edge of the Australia station as the convoy left her area of responsibility. She would also escort troop transports from New Zealand, which were assembling with Australian transports inside of Australia to form these ANZAC convoys. On the 20th of January 1940 she would return to Fremantle from escorting ANZAC convoy US 1, relieving the HMAS Adelaide at this area. She would be in turn relieved by the HMAS Sydney on the 6th of February. Splinter mattresses were fitted to her bridge to assist in protection against splinters and her masts shortened.
Both HMAS Australia and Canberra would leave Fremantle as to escort ANZAC convoy US 3, bound for Cape Town on the 12th of May 1940. Upon arrival on the 31st of May, both ships would be offered for service with the Royal Navy. This would be accepted, however HMAS Australia would continue convoy escort operations around South Africa. She would only move from this area in July, when she was ordered to sail and meet with the HMS Dorsetshire and Hermes off Dakar. The job of these vessels were to monitor French naval activities off Dakar, including shadowing the Battleship Richelieu. Their job was to ensure that any naval assets in the area did not fall into Vichy French hands. Attempts to disable the Battleship were made by boat and air from the 7th and 8th of July, however these were unsuccessful. On the 8th, she would fire her guns for the first time, when she attacked a French aircraft that was dropping bombs on Allied ships.
HMAS Australia soon after leaving her 1949 refit, her latter pair of 4-inch guns have not yet been replaced, and she still carries the Pom-Pom guns.
She would leave Dakar on the 9th of July for the UK, arriving at the river Clyde on the 16th the same month. After her arrival she was placed onto the strength of the Royal Navies 1st Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow. As part of this unit she would partake in operations searching for the Battleship Gneisenau, which were unsuccessful. In August, HMAS Australia along with HMS Norfolk would search the Faroe Islands for German fishing trawlers, however this was cancelled due to bad weather. By September, she would join Operation Menace, again off Dakar. This was done as the HMS Fiji had just been torpedoed by the U-32, damaging the ships enough for 6 months of repairs. On the 8th of September HMAS Australia would narrowly avoid being torpedoed herself, with U-56 firing a spread at her. This was avoided due to malfunctioning German torpedoes.
On the 19th of September 1940 HMAS Australia and HMS Cumberland would locate three Vichy French Cruisers, the Gloire, Montcalm and Georges Leygues, the allied vessels would start shadowing the vessels, but would loose them as the dark came in. However the Gloire would have engine troubles, and would turn back for Konakri. This would be fortunate for the Aussie cruiser, who intercepted the Gloire. HMAS Australia would be ordered to escort the Gloire to the neutral port of Casablanca, which the French Cruiser agreed to. On the 21st of September Gloire’s Captain promised that she would make independent sailing for Casablanca, which the Australia’s agreed to. The two would split, and HMAS Australia would meet the allied fleet the next day. Gloire would arrive at Casablanca successfully. On the 23rd of September HMAS Australia would be fired upon by shore batteries at Dakar while in the midst of driving off two Vichy French destroyers. She would not sustain any damage during this engagement. On the 25th HMAS Australia and HMS Devonshire would shell Vichy French ships anchored at Dakar, during this operation Australia was hit by two 6-inch shells, and her Walrus aircraft, which was correcting her fire, was shot down with all hands. Operation Menace would be abandoned on the 26th, with the Australia returning to the UK on the 28th.
Her duties on return from the UK were mostly Convoy escort missions from Gibraltar and the UK. During a small refit in November-December 1940, a German aerial torpedo was dropped on the drydock she was berthed in, however this did not hit the water, rather landing alongside the cruiser, and not exploding. The next night she was lightly damaged by a 500lb bomb, which landed near her port beam. Active once again from January 1941, she would continue convoy escort missions. After handing over the escort role of WS5B, bound from the UK to the Middle East to HMS Hawkins while off Mombasa, HMAS Australia would join the search for the Pocket Battleships Admiral Sheer, and the raiders Pinguin and Atlantis in the Indian Ocean, she would sail to Sydney, Australia with two troopships. After arriving back in the Australia station, she would then join convoy escorts from Australia to Suez, collecting staff from Singapore on the first return voyage. Then from June 1941 she would start escorts in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand. In July she would escort US10 to Trincomalee before being moved to the South Atlantic station.
In this new station she would inspect the Kergulen islands for German merchant raider activity, and after uncovering evidence of such activities, she would lay sea mines. On the 3rd of December 1941 she was replaced in convoy escort of WS12X (St. Helena-Capetown) by HMS Dorsetshire, as she was urgently needed in the Australia station, due to the loss of the HMAS Sydney and the further deteriorating situation in the Far East. On the 24th of December, Rear Admiral Crace would transfer his flag from HMAS Canberra to HMAS Australia. Her first operation back as Flagship would be escorting convoy ZK-5 from Brisbane to Port Moresby, along with HMAS Canberra, Perth, and HMNZS Achilles. This convoy included 4,250 troops and 10,000t of supplies. During her time in this area she would have RDF, splinter shields for her 4-inch guns, and paravane breasthooks fitted.
On the 12th of February 1942 HMAS Australia became the flagship for the ANZAC Squadron (Also known as Task Group 11.7) under Rear Admiral Crace, but falling under Vice Admiral Leary USN. This Squadron comprised the heavy cruisers HMAS Australia, USS Astoria, Chicago, and Louisville, the light cruisers HMNZS Achilles and Leander, and the Destroyers USS Anderson, Sims, Hammann, and Hughes. This Squadron was to defend the north of the South Pacific from Japanese attack. Their first operation was going to take place in early March, shelling Gasmata, New Britain. However this was cancelled, and used as a long range screening force for the USS Lexington and Yorktown, who were launching an air raid on Salamaua–Lae, as it had recently been invaded by the Japanese. After this operation’s success, the Squadron sailed for Noumea. During one of these operations, one of Australia’s stokers was murdered aboard her. By the 22nd of April 1942, the ANZAC Squadron became known as Task Force 44 when it was absorbed by South West Pacific Area Command under MacArthur. The RNZN cruisers HMNZS Leander & Achilles would move to South Pacific area command.
HMAS Australia would return to Sydney for a maintenance period from late April to early May in which she got new masts and removed the torpedoes. She and the HMAS Hobart would join USN forces in the Coral Sea. Rear Admiral Crace would take HMAS Australia and Hobart, as well as the USS Chicago, Walke, and Farragut towards the Jomard passage as to block Japanese movements south en route to Port Moresby. This was done at the same time as US Carriers launched aircraft as to attack Japanese forces also moving south. Task Force 44 would engage 11 unidentified aircraft inside their patrol area on the 7th of May, being later attacked by 12 Japanese twin engined torpedo bombers, no damage was sustained by the ships, but 5 of the torpedo bombers were shot down. Later they were attacked by 19 level bombers, with Chicago sustaining light splinter damage. 3 USAF B-17s would also attack the group without any success as they had no naval recognition training. As no further orders had been issued, Crace ordered Task Force 44 to move 220nmi from Port Moresby, where they would stay for the rest of the battle, until he ordered they withdraw down south to Whitsunday Island.
After this battle Crace was promoted to Vice Admiral, and control of Task Force 44 moved to Rear Admiral Crutchley. The task force would move to Wellington, New Zealand, as to meet with the amphibious assault force bound for the landings at Guadalcanal. During her time here she would gain lots of additional AA, including eight single 20mm Oerlikons, with two being fitted in tubs atop B and X turrets, as well as aft, and in the wings of the lower forward superstructure.
HMAS Australia during her post war 1948 refit, the aft pair of 4" HA guns have been removed as to make room for a single 40mm Bofors,
This group would leave New Zealand on the 22nd of July for Fiji, where they would have rehearsal landings at Koro Island until the 31st. On the 1st of August they would meet with three carrier groups + transports, and move for the Solomon Islands. This large group would split on the 6th, with HMAS Australia leading Squadron X (5x Cruisers, 9x Destroyers, 9x transports) towards the main landing site. On the 7th they would transit the channel between Guadalcanal and Savo Island. During the landing the warships would provide fire support when needed. Several air attacks occurred during this time, however in the initial waves Australia herself did not sustain damage. During the night Crutchley split Squadron X in two, HMAS Australia, Canberra and Chicago + 2x DDs, and a second group of three CAs + 2DDs. The former was labeled as Southern Patrol, and the latter as Northern Patrol. They would not be attacked on the first night, but on the second Crutchley was recalled to meet with Admiral Turner aboard the USS McCawley to discuss the withdrawal of the carrier groups, due to this HMAS Australia had to be withdrawn from Southern Patrol. Instead of returning to Southern Patrol on the completion of this meeting, Crutchley ordered Australia to patrol around the transports, during which Southern Patrol was attacked by aircraft, during which HMAS Canberra was severely damaged and could not be saved. After the transports had completed unloading, they would withdraw to Nomea.
She would again sail on the 19th as to support US carrier groups against a Japanese naval buildup against the Solomon Islands. This group of Japanese shipping was driven off by air attack alone. After this Task Force 44 would patrol the Coral Sea, a job which they would withdraw from on the 10th of January 1943. They would be sent to exercise at Moreton Bay, moving to Sydney by February. In Sydney, HMAS Australia would gain two extra 20mm Oerlikons amidships, and S.C, Type 291 radar, and type 284 radars. She would continue convoy escort missions. By March, a new naming scheme for Task Groups came about, and Task Force 44 became Task Force 74 of the USN’s Seventh Fleet. By April she would investigate the Gulf of Carpentaria for Japanese landings, but found nothing. She would then continue convoy escort operations. On the 16th of July, the force moved to Espiritu Santo to reinforce the 3rd Fleet. On return to Australia on the 20th of July, HMAS Hobart was hit by a torpedo fired from a Japanese submarine, torpedoes were also fired at the Australia, but it missed.
In October, the Australia would sail for Milne Bay in case of retaliatory attacks, but none came. They then moved to Port Purvis on Florida Island on the 11th of November. By mid December 1943 HMAS Australia had been sent to support the landings at Arawe, performing escort and bombardment missions. In January 1944, HMAS Australia would return to Sydney for refit. This included the fitting of four single 40mm Bofors mounts, two of which replaced single 20mm Oerlikons. On completion she continued supporting landing operations throughout the combat area in the Solomon Islands. In one of these missions, the Australia and her Task Group spotted three Japanese Destroyers via aircraft, however they fled upon being fired upon. Crutchley would leave command of the Australia on the 12th of June 1944, being replaced by Commodore Collins in command of Task Force 74 & the Australian Squadron. By the 22nd of July Commodore Collins would move his flag to the HMAS Shropshire as the Australia moved to Sydney for maintenance.
During this refit period, her radars were again modernised, and her aircraft catapult was removed. Her 20mm Oerlikons were landed, being replaced by a number of twin 40mm Bofors, at a rate of 1:1, these included the positions atop the turrets for a total of 8.
After her maintenance period and refit, HMAS Australia would return to operations supporting landings. On the 11th of October 1944, Task Force 44 merged with Task Unit 77.3.2, and was assigned to the landings at Leyte. Upon her arrival, Commodore Collins would move his flag back. Shelling commenced on the 20th, and Japanese air attacks began on the 21st. One of these aircraft, a Aichi D3A dive bomber dove for HMAS Shropshire, but broke away after heavy return fire, in which it was damaged. The aircraft flew up alongside the port broadside and flew into the Australia, striking the mainmast with it’s wing root. This was the first Kamikaze to strike a RAN ship, and killed seven officers including her Captain as well as 23 sailors. A further nine officers and 52 sailors were wounded, including Commodore Collins. She would sail for repairs at Espiritu Santo, returning to the area of operations on the 4th of December 1944.
During further landing operations, she was again struck by kamikaze aircraft, once on the 5th of January 1945, killing 25, once again a day later, killing 14. One further aircraft lined up on the Australia, but was shot down. On the 8th she would be struck by two more kamikaze aircraft, the first a twin engine bomber which hit the water next to her port beam before slamming into her hull, and the second a single engine type, which was shot down just before contacting the port beam. This aircraft did not hit the ship, however the bomb carried by it caused flooding and a 5 degree list. Yet another aircraft hit the Australia on the 11th, it missed it’s intended target of the bridge, instead striking the forward funnel. This attack caused no casualties, but knocked out her radar suite and parts of her radio sets. Accumulated damage at this point was enough to withdraw the cruiser for temporary repairs at Sydney.
HMAS Australia after her 1943 refit, her aircraft catapult is still in place and she doesn’t have any 40mm Bofors Guns
As Australian shipyards had been told to prioritise repairs of the British Pacific Fleet, HMAS Australia would sail to the UK via the Panama canal for total overhaul. She docked on the 2nd of July 1945, and was placed into refit in August. This work was extensive, her superstructure was repaired and slightly modified. Initial plans of this refit included massive amount of AA, replacing the single 40mm Bofors on the lower bridge wings with US quad mounts, replacement of X turret with a deck house and another quad 40mm Bofors mount, two single 40mm Bofors being placed amidship aft of the latter 4-inch gun. In addition to the existing AA armament of 8x1 40mm bofors
Thus planned armament for this refit was; 3x2 8-inch guns, 4x2 4-inch guns, 2x8 40mm Pom-Poms, 3x4 40mm Bofors, 10x1 40mm Bofors, and some .303 MGs. These works however would not complete as deigned, as Japan had surrendered in August 1945, and thus a lower peacetime compliment was expected. This meant that the guns that replaced the 20mm Oerlikons would be removed, but the fitting of 40mm Bofors amidships would continue. This led to her final armament consisting of 3x2 8-inch guns, 4x2 4-inch guns, 2x8 40mm Pom-Poms, 3x4 40mm Bofors, and 2x1 40mm Bofors. In addition to change in armament, her sensors would greatly change, being fitted with Type 274, Type 285, Type 277, Type 293, and Type 960 radars being fitted.
She would recommission from these works In December 1946, arriving in Sydney in February, where she was placed into the reserve. She would recommission on the 16th of June 1947 for service with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, where she remained until the 10th of December. In 1948 she would visit New Zealand, and New Guinea in 1949, during 1949 the Flagship would transfer from the HMAS Australia to the Aircraft Carrier HMAS Sydney. In January 1950, HMAS Australia was assigned as a training vessel.
In a visit to New Zealand on the 31st of March 1950, she would collect Heard Island’s doctor, who had appendicitis, and would move him to a mainland hospital for surgery. In May 1951, HMAS Australia would transport the Governor of NSW to Lord Howe Island for Jubilee celebrations, then in July 1951, she would visit New Caledonia. Through to 1954 she would visit many Pacific nations, and would serve as escort to the Royal Yacht Gothic during a royal tour.
HMAS Australia (II) was decommissioned on the 31st of August 1954, after 26 years of service, the longest lasting RAN vessel at the time. She was sold in January 1955 and scrapped in the UK over the course of 1956.
One of her 8-inch Main guns survives at the Australian War Memorial, serving as a memorial.
| General Characteristics: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: HMAS Australia II | |||||
| Country: Australia | |||||
| Type: Heavy Cruiser | |||||
| Class name: Kent | |||||
| Year of commission: 1928 | |||||
| Refit: 1947 | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Dimensions: | |||||
| Length: 630 ft 1 in (192.05 m) | |||||
| Beam: 68.25 ft (20.80 m) | |||||
| Draught: 21 ft 4 in (6.50 m) | |||||
| Displacement: 10,000t | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Propulsion: | |||||
| Powerplant: 8x oil fired boilers, w/ 4x geared turbines @ 80,000shp (59,655kW) across 4 screws | |||||
| Speed: 31.5kt | |||||
| Endurance: 13,200nmi @ 12kt | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armament & sensors: | |||||
| Compliment: 820 | |||||
| Primary armament: 3x2 BL 8-inch Mk.VIII | |||||
| Secondary armament: 4x2 QF 4-inch Mk.XVI | |||||
| Tertiary armament: 3x4 40mm Bofors on Mk.2 mounting, 2x1 40mm Bofors Mk.VII, 2x8 QF-2pdr M.VIII on Mk.VIA (?) mount | |||||
| Radar: Type 274, Type 285, Type 277, Type 293, Type 960 | |||||
| Sonar: - nil | |||||
| Other: Type 91 Jammer w/ FV1 radar Direction finder, RDF | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armour: | |||||
| Waterline Belt: : 1 in (25mm) RHA + 4 in (101.6mm) RHA | |||||
| Magazine: Magazine: 1-4 in (25 to 101.6 mm) RHA | |||||
| Deck: 1.375 in (3.49 cm) RHA, 3in (76mm) RHA over magazine | |||||
| Gun turrets: 1-2 in (25mm) RHA | |||||
| Bulkheads: 1 in (25mm) RHA |
General Arrangement:
Sources:
NAA: MP551/1 114A/12 - HMAS AUSTRALIA - General arrangement - Profile - As fitted
NAA: MP551/1 114A/219 - HMAS AUSTRALIA - General Arrangement - Lower Deck - As Fitted
NAA: MP551/1 114A/221 - HMAS AUSTRALIA - General Arrangement - Main Deck - As Fitted
NAA: MP551/1 114A/222 - HMAS AUSTRALIA - General Arrangement - Upper Deck - As Fitted
NAA: MP551/1 114A/223 - HMAS AUSTRALIA - General Arrangement - Hold Plan - As Fitted
NAA: MP551/1 114A/199A - HMAS AUSTRALIA - General arrangement - As fitted - Platform deck
NAA: MP551/1 114A/216 - HMAS AUSTRALIA - General Arrangement - Bridges and Superstructure
NAA: MP551/1 114B/2148 - HMAS AUSTRALIA & CANBERRA - Stroud Type FQ2 Rangefinder
NAA: MP551/1 114/376D/2 - HMAS AUSTRALIA & CANBERRA - Arrangement of boats & 4-inch lockers with torpedo tubes.
NAA: MP551/1 114/376D/1 - HMAS AUSTRALIA & CANBERRA - Reconstruction positions for 4" HA twin mountings, 2pdr Pom-Poms, rearrangement of catapult.
HMAS Australia’s bridge and additional light AA on top of B turret. 1944
Extra Images:
Sources:
Gillett, R. (1983). Australian and New Zealand Warships 1914-1945 (pp.80-84)
Hermon.G (1957). Royal Australian Navy, 1939-1942 (pp.25-117, 170-221, 365, 430-487, 507-551, 598)
N.Friedman (2010) British Cruisers, Two World Wars and After. (pp.125, 137, 240-242)
NAA: MP1049/5, 2037/7/1464 - HMAS Australia Modification of Radar type 960 to reduce fire risk
HMAS Australia (D84) - Wikipedia
https://seapower.navy.gov.au/history/units/hmas-australia-ii
HMAS Australia (D 84) of the Royal Australian Navy - Australian Heavy cruiser of the Kent class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net
HMAS Australia (II) Archives - Naval Historical Society of Australia
https://www.world-war.co.uk/Kent/australia.php
