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  HMAS Australia (D84)
RAN
County-class
Heavy Cruiser

9,850 Tons
13,450 Tons (full load)
630' x 68.25' x 16.25'
8 x 8" guns
4 x 4" guns
4 x 3 pounders
1 x Seagull or Walrus

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USN/RAN March 1935

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RAN January 3, 1942

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RAN September 14, 1944

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RAN October 21, 1944

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RAN January 1945
Ship History
Built by John Brown & Co. Ltd. at Clyderbank, Scotland. Laid down August 26, 1925 as County-class heavy cruiser, as one of two Kent-subclass ships for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Launched March 17, 1927 as HMAS Australia (D84) as the second ship with that name, the first was HMAS Australia (C6/09/81). Commissioned April 24, 1928 at Clydebank in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) under the command of Captain Francis HW Goolden.

On July 17, 1927 inspected by King George V who inspected the upper and main decks. After trials, departs Portsmouth on August 3, 1928 via Montreal, Quebec, Halifax, Boston, New York, Annapolis, Kingston, via Panama Canal then across the Pacific to Tahiti, Wellington and Brisbane before arriving at Sydney on October 23, 1928. Afterwards, operates off Australia. In 1932 cruise to Pacific Islands. During 1933 visits New Zealand.

On December 10, 1934 departs for England, with The Duke of Gloucester embarked on exchange duty with the Royal Navy steaming via New Zealand, Fiji, via Panama Canal during March 1935 to Kingston then to England. During May 1935 departs for the Mediterranean Sea for service with British forces until July 1936. On July 14, 1936 departs Alexandria via Aden and Fremantle to Sydney August 11, 1936. During November 1936 visits Melbourne then returns to Sydney.

Wartime History
During World War II, Australia was involved in the North African campaign then back to Australia.

On December 3, 1941 ordered to escort Convoy WS12X until hand off to HMS Dorsetshire then returns to Australia. On December 29, 1941 became the flagship of the Australian Squadron. On January 31, 1942 Australia and HMNZS Leander depart Sydney bound for Wellington. In February 1942, became the flagship of the newly formed ANZAC Squadron. In early March 1942 was to shell Gasmata but was recalled to provide long range support U.S. carriers then departs for Noumea. On April 22, 1942 the ANZAC Squadron was reclassified as Task Force 44 (TF 44) and Australia remained the flagship. In late April 1942 returned to Sydney for a week of repairs.

On May 1, 1942 departs with HMAS Hobart to rendezvous with U.S. Navy warships in the Coral Sea.

Battle of the Coral Sea
During the Battle of the Coral Sea, Australia was the flagship for RAN Rear Admiral John Crace who was commander the joint Australian and U.S. Navy Task Force 44 (TF 44). On May 7, 1942 at 7:00am ordered his warships to the Jomard Passage and reach the patrol area around 2:00pm then targeted by eleven unidentified planes without any damage. At 2:27pm twelve G4M1 Betty bombers launched a torpedo attack against the warships and Australia successfully maneuvers to avoid two torpedoes. At 3:16 a formation of nineteen bombers targeted the warships with a spread of bombs landing around Australia but suffered no direct hits. Finally attacked by three bombers at high altitude that were actually B-17s but their bombs missioned. Overnight, the force moved to 250 miles off Port Moresby. On May 10, 1942 at 1:00am ordered to withdraw south to Whitsunday Island.

On June 13, 1942 embarked RAN Rear Admiral Crutchley who took command of Task Force 44 (TF 44). On July 14, 1942 departs Brisbane leading Task Force 44 bound for Wellington to rendezvous with the U.S. amphibious force. On July 22, 1942 departs with the invasion force for rehearsal landings off Koro Island at the end of the month. On August 1, 1942 south of Fiji rendezvous with the rest of the invasion force and depart for the Solomon Islands.

On August 6, 1942 Australia led Squadron X comprised of four cruisers, nine destroyers, nine transports and six stores ships bound for Guadalcanal. On August 7, 1942 escorted the landing force and provided pre-invasion bombardment of Red Beach on Guadalcanal and helped repel a Japanese air raid with anti-aircraft fire. That night, Australia leading Canberra, USS Chicago, and two destroyers on patrolled south of Savo while another group patrolled to the north without any contact. The same patrol was planned for the next evening.

On August 8, 1942 at 8:45pm, Australia left the patrol group for a meeting with Rear Admiral Turner aboard USS McCawley (APA-4) and afterwards, Australia was ordered to protect the transport group in Lunga Anchorage and missed the Battle of Savo Island. On August 9, 1942 the warships withdrew and Australia four days later reached Noumea and replenished. On August 19, 1942 rejoins the carrier groups and Admiral Crutchley aboard Australia was placed in command of the carrier surface defense force. On August 31, 1942 Task Force 44 detached bound for Brisbane arriving three days later. On September 7, 1943 departs escorting a task force bound for Milne Bay but did not make contact and afterwards patrols the Coral Sea then performs other patrol duty until the end of the year.

PARTIAL HISTORY

On October 11, 1944 Task Force 74 (TF 74) was absorbed into Task Unit 77.3.2 to provide close support for the upcoming U.S. landings on Leyte in the Philippines. On October 13, 1944 departs with Task Group 77.3 bound for Leyte arriving a week later.

Leyte Gulf
On October 20, 1944 at 9:00am Australia participates in the pre-invasion shore bombardment of eastern Leyte and provides gunfire support during the day. On October 21, 1944 at 6:00am Australia was in Leyte Gulf when Japanese planes approach that are misidentified as Nells, Jills, Bettys, and Vals. In fact, the enemy planes were Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) planes including five Ki-43 Oscars, two Ki-61 Tonys, three Ki-48 Lilys six Ki-51B Sonias from 65th Hiko Sentai and 66th Hiko Sentai. At 6:05am lookouts aboard Australia spots a Val [sic Ki-51B Sonia] approach from 10° off the stern and the warship opened fire with a 40mm Bofors and pair of 20mm cannons scoring hits before the plane crash into the foremast superstructure at the wing root causing burning fuel cover the bridge before the plane crashed into the sea. The impact causes fires and explosions that result in 25 killed including Captain Emile F. V. Dechaineeux and 55 wounded. Although this Sonia was likely damaged and collided with the warship, it was incorrectly credited as being the first kamikaze attack.

Afterwards, Australia was escorted by HMAS Warramunga south to Seeadler Harbor off Manus Island and then to Espiritu Santo for repairs.

Kamikaze Attack
After repairs, the Australia was back in action covering Allied landings at Lingayen Gulf. Australia was subjected to Kamikaze attacks on four occasions over five days including January 5, 1945, January 6, 1945, January 8, 1945 and January 9, 1945 which resulted in the loss of another 44 killed plus almost 70 others wounded.

Postwar
On February 16, 1946 returned to Sydney and placed into reserve status and a refit was completed. On June 16, 1947 recommissioned as flagship of the "Australia Squadron". On August 18, 1947 departs Sydney bound for Tokyo to serve as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force then returned on December 10, 1947.

In 1948 Australia steamed to New Zealand and in 1949 visited New Guinea then stayed in Australian waters for the next three and a half years. In 1949, the flagship was transfered to aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney (R17).

In 1950 used for training and made another visit to New Zealand. On July 27, 1950 departed on a spontaneous trip to remote Heard Island to transport the doctor to Fremantle arriving on August 14, 1950 but due to the rough sea conditions suffered structural damage. In May 1951 transported the governor of New South Wales to Lorde Howe Island for jubilee celebrations and in May visited New Caledonia.

In 1952 visited New Guinea, New Britain, Solomon Islands and during September to October a training cruise to New Zealand. In October 1953 again visited New Zealand. In February to March 1954 escorted the Royal Yacht Gothic, during the Australian leg of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation world tour. In May Australia transported Governor-General Sir William Slim on a cruise of the Coral Sea and towed a disabled Dutch vessel to Cairns.

Fate
On August 31, 1954 paid off and marked for disposal after 26 years in service, the longest of any RAN warship as of that date. On January 25, 1955 sold to British Iron & Steel Corporation for scrap and afterwards towed from Sydney Harbor by tugboat Rode Zee and later joined by two more tugs on the ship's final voyage via the Suez Canal before arriving at Barrow-in-Furness on July 5, 1955. Afterwards, broken up for scrap at Thos W. Ward Shipbreaking Yard between 1955-1956.

Display
Several artifacts from the ship are displayed in Australia. One of the 8" guns is displayed outside the Australian War Memorial (AWM). A piece of the D3A Val that hit the ship on October 21, 1944 is displayed in the Second World War Hall at Australian War Memorial (AWM).

Memorials
On May 1, 2011 a memorial to the ship's company including those killed in World War II was dedicated at Henley Beach in South Australia.

References
List of HMAS Australia (D84) kamikaze casualties October 21, 1944.
List of HMAS Australia (D84) kamikaze casualties January 5-6, 1945
Royal Australian Navy HMAS Australia
AWM The first Kamikaze attack? (2004) by Robert Nichols
J-Aircraft "First Kamikaze? Attack on HMAS Australia -- October 21st, 1944 or Crash at Biak -- May 27th, 1944 (2002, 2005) by Richard Dunn
The Journal of Australian Naval History (2002) "Reconsidering the Attack on HMAS Australia October 21st, 1944" by Richard Dunn
Ten Days to Kamikaze – Part VI – The First Official Kamikaze Mission by Richard Dunn

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Last Updated
October 21, 2024

 

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August 8, 1942

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