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| RAN Indefatigable-class battlecruiser 18,500 Tons (Standard) 22,130 Tons (Deep Load) 590' x 80' x 30' 4" 4x2 12" Mark X guns 16 x 4" Mark VII guns 2 x 18" torpedo tubes |
Ship History Built by Brown & Co. Ltd. at Clyderbank, Scotland. Laid down June 26, 1910 as an Indefatigable-class battlecruiser with yard number 402. Launched October 25, 1911 as HMAS Australia. When completed, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill attempted to keep Australia in the United Kingdom on strategic grounds, but was resisted by Admiral George King-Hall, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Australia Squadron. During February 1913 departs for Devonport to begin acceptance trials and afterwards was docked to repair two hull plates damaged wen launched. On June 21, 1913 commissioned in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as the first ship with the name. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 4, 1914 departs Sydney and the next day the British Empire declares war on Germany and proceeds northward to rendezvous with other RAN warships then proceeds to Rabaul to search for and engage any German warships. On August 12, 1914 the force arrives off Rabaul to search for German warships but found none. Over the next two days, Australia and the other ships unsuccessfully search the area then depart for Port Moresby to refuel. On August 17, 1914 departs Port Moresby and three days later meets HMAS Melbourne and the next day reach Nouméa to escort a New Zealand force to bound for German Samoa. On August 30, 1914 they arrived off German Samoa that surrendered. On August 31, 1914 at noon Australia and Melbourne departed to meet the Australian force that will occupy German New Guinea. On September 9, 1914 the Australian invasion force was off the Louisidae Archipelago includes Australia (flagship), cruisers HMAS Sydney and HMAS Encounter, destroyers HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Warrego and HMAS Yarra, submarines HMAS AE1 and HMAS AE2, auxiliary cruiser HMAS Berrima, storeship SS Aorangi, three colliers and an oiler depart bound for Rabaul. On September 11, 1914 at 6:00am deploys two picket boats to secure Karavia Bay for the transports and supply ships then enters Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Later in the day, Australia captured German steamer Sumatra off Cape Tawui then was on standby to provide fire support if needed. On September 15, 1914 departs for Sydney. PARTIAL HISTORY In November 1921, returned to Sydney and went into reserve a month later and decommissioned with equipment removed. During November 1923, Australian Cabinet the ship was further stripped for usable parts for reuse. The battlecruisers main guns were not removed because they and the shells were no longer manufactured. Display The port propeller is displayed at AWM (AWM). Other artifacts are displayed at the Australian National Maritime Museum, and the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre. Fate On April 12, 1924 towed from Sydney Harbor to a point 25 nautical miles northeast of Sydney Heads escorted by HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Brisbane, HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Anzac (G90), and HMAS Stalwart (H14) plus warships from the British Special Service Squadron plus several civilian ferries with passengers. At 2:30pm a scuttling party of former crew set explosive charges and opened all seacocks and departed. When the charges exploded creating a hole in the hull and took 20 minutes before seawater reached holes cut into the waterline. The battlecruiser began to list and the three spare 12" barrels attached to the deck broke free and fell overboard. The warship then capsized and began to sink stern first and was submerged at 2:51pm at Lat 33°53′25″S Long 151°46′5″E sinking to a depth of 890' / 270m. After sinking, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) plane dropped a wreath where it sank and HMAS Brisbane fired a 21 gun salute. References Royal Australian Navy HMAS Australia (I) Contribute
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