World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseHMAS Australia, a 10,240-ton County-class (Kent-sub-class) heavy cruiser, was built at Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. 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 between 1938 and 1939, receiving much improved armor protection plus significant modifications to her forward superstructure, anti-aircraft gun battery, gunfire control systems and aircraft facilities.

ww2dbaseAfter WW2 broke out in Europe in Sep 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 Sep of that year took part in the British Navy attack on Dakar, French West Africa, 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.

ww2dbaseIn 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 in the Solomon Islands. Thereafter, she mainly served as one of the heaviest ships involved in the fight for New Guinea island, initially in a covering role. During 1942, the torpedo tubes and machine gun mountings were removed, replaced by seven single 20-millimeter guns with full radar suite (fire control, surface search, and air warning).

ww2dbaseBeginning 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.

ww2dbaseIn Mar 1944, the aircraft and catapult were removed, and the 20-millimeter guns were placed on twin mountings. In Aug 1944, the starboard crane was removed, the derricks and samson posts were substituted, and radar was upgraded.

ww2dbaseHMAS Australia participated in the Leyte invasion in Oct 1944 and the landings at Lingayen Gulf in Jan 1945, both in the Philippine Islands. She was hit by a Japanese plane in the former operation, losing some twenty of her crew. No less than five special attack aircraft 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.

ww2dbaseIn Feb 1945, her X turret was removed, and two 8-barreled 2-pounder "pom pom" guns were added; additionally, two quadruple, one twin, and two single 40-millimeter Bofors guns were also installed. 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.

Heavy Cruiser Australia (D84) Interactive Map

Photographs

Australia Operational Timeline