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HMAS AUSTRALIA
HMAS AUSTRALIA

HMAS AUSTRALIA

Artist (Australian, 1881 - 1946)
Date1939 - 1945
Object number00028435
NamePainting
MediumOil on board, wood
DimensionsSight: 230 x 340 mm
Overall: 327 x 435 mm, 0.95 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Ashley McDonald
DescriptionThis painting depicts the Royal Australian Navy cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, leading a line of unidentified naval vessels while at sea. The scene takes place at sunset, or sunrise, with pink clouds across a dark sky, smoke bellows from the AUSTRALIA's funnels.
HistoryHMAS AUSTRALIA was one of the most famous RAN vessels.The AUSTRALIA,commissioned in 1928, proved to be highly active and successful during the Second World War, serving against German, Italian, Vichy French and Japanese forces.
HMAS AUSTRALIA served with distinction in The battles of The Coral Sea, Leyte gulf and Lingayen Gulf, suffering heavy damage and many casualties on two occasions. The Second Australian County Class Cruiser, HMAS CANBERRA was destroyed during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

HMAS AUSTRALIA was paid off in 1954 and broken up in England in 1956 after 26 years in service.

SignificanceHMAS AUSTRALIA was the second vessel of the name in the RAN and the first flushed deck ship to launch aircraft by catapult, also the first ship especially fitted with external anti-torpedo tubes and mount quadruple torpedo-tubes.