HMAS Canberra


This site is dedicated to all Royal Australian Navy and Australian Defence Force personnel who have served in HMAS CANBERRA.

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HMAS CANBERRA (1) D 33 from the 9th of July 1928 until she was sunk in action off Savo Island on the 9th of August 1942.

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HMAS CANBERRA (2) FFG-02 from the 21st of March 1981 until Decomissioning on the 12th of November 2005.

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HMAS Canberra (3) LHD-02 from Commissioning on the 23rd of November 2014.

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Image Galleries


The HMAS Canberra Web site contains many Image Galleries that showcase a visual history of the 3 Ships.

It includes some great images of the Ships over her Operational life and more importantly images of the fine Sailors that served in the Royal Australian Navy for the Defence of Australia, it also has images of some of the Families and important ceremonials occasions the ships were involved in over their Operational life.

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HMAS CANBERRA (1)

 

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HMAS Canberra 1 - Crew 1928-1942

This Gallery has images of the Commission Crew of HMAS Canberra 1 in 1927, Operation Crew 1928-1942 and the Crew that survived the sinking of HMAS Canberra 1 at Savo Island in August 1942 after engaging the Japanese Imperial Navy she was scuttled...More

 

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HMAS Canberra 1 - Operational Image 1928-1942

Operational Images of HMAS Canberra 1, HMAS CANBERRA was one of two 10,000 ton County Class heavy cruisers ordered by the Australian Government as part of a five year naval development program begun in 1924 and completed in 1929. She commissioned at Clydebank on 9 July 1928...More

 

 

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HMAS Canberra 1 - News Articles 1927-1992

Newspaper Articles of HMAS Canberra 1, from her launching in the United Kingdom in 1927 to when she was sunk in World War 2 and beyond..More

 

 

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HMAS Canberra 1 Memorabilia 1927-1942

Memorabilia from HMAS Canberra 1 the County Class heavy cruisers...More

 

 

 

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HMAS Canberra 1 Memorials

Images of Memorials and Memorial Services conducted in the memory of the 84 Sailors that lost their lives in HMAS Canberra 1 on the 9 August 1942, Lest we Forget...More

 

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HMAS CANBERRA (2)

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Launching of HMAS Canberra -1978

HMAS Canberra was launched on the 01 December 1979 at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle Washington USA, Lady Marjorie Tange was the HMAS Canberra’s Launching Lady and the wife of the then Secretary of the Australian Department of Defence, Sir Arthur Tange. ... More

 

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The Construction of the Ship 1978-1981

HMAS Canberra was laid down on the 01 March 1978, construction took place from 1978 until 1981. The ship was built at Todd Shipyards in Seattle Washington USA...More

 

 

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Ship Builders - Trials 1980

HMAS Canberra underwent extensive Building trails with the Todd Pacific Shipyards and the USN in December 1980 in Seattle, Washington USA, this was conducted prior to conducting Acceptance Trails of HMAS Canberra... More

 

 

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Ship Acceptance - Trials 1981

HMAS Canberra underwent extensive acceptance trails with the Royal Australian Navy in February 1981 in Seattle, Washington USA prior to Commissioining...More

 

 

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Commissioning Ceremony 1981

The Guard of Honour marching onboard HMAS Canberra during the Commissioning Ceremony at Todd Ship Yards in Seattle, Washington USA. 21st March 1981...More

 

 

 

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Commissioning Book

The Commission Book outlines the Commissioning Ceremony for HMAS Canberra and has information and images of the Commissioning Crew...More

A Nominal list, images of the Commission Crew is also available ...More

 

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Crew at Sea 1981-2004

This Gallery has images of the HMAS Canberra Ships Company whilst at Sea from 1981 until 2004...more

 

 

 

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The Crew Ashore 1981-1982

This Gallery features the HMAS Canberra commissioning Crew Ashore 1981-1982, the images were taken in the United States of America...More

 

 

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The Families 1980-1982

The Families Gallery features the Australia Families that accompanied the Commissioning Crew to the United States of America 1980-1982...More

 

 

 

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Ship Arriving in Australia 1982

Images of the Ships arrival in Sydney Harbour February 1982, most members of the Crew had spent 12 to 24 Months away from Australia and were glad to be home...More

 

 

 

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Operational Images 1981 -2005

Operational Images taken over the Operational lifetime of HMAS Canberra, she was involved in many exercises and operations over 24 years HMAS Canberra participated in a number of operations, including Operation DAMASK following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait,, Operation BRANCARD to evacuate Australian Nationals from Jakarta and Operation SLIPPER as part of the International Coalition Against Terrorism...More

 

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North West Indian Ocean Deployment Cruise Book- 1983

The HMAS Canberra first Major deployment was to the Indian Ocean in 1983, the ship departed Sydney on the 28 of February 1983 on completion of workups in the East Australian Exercise Area off the New South Wales coast....More

 

 

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North West Indian Ocean Deployment Cruise Book- 1986

The HMAS Canberra deployed to the Indian Ocean in 1986, the ship departed Sydney on the 14 of April 1986 on completion of workups in the East Australian Exercise Area off the New South Wales coast....More

 

 

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Australia - Bicentennial Images 1988

HMAS Canberra played a major role in Australia's Bicentennial Celebrations in 1988, she escorted the Tall ships from Hobart, Tasmania to Sydney Harbour, fired a 88 Gun salute prior to the fireworks display to celebrate Australia Day 1988 and escorted Her Majesties Royal Yacht Britannia with the HRH Queen Elizabeth embarked from Sydney to Brisbane to celebrate Expo 88...More

 

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Top Jack 1987-1988

Top Jack was created in 3 Mess HMAS Canberra in 1987, it was a very successful and enduring association of the Sailors that served in HMAS Canberra, it was a great way of having fun and included all members of the Mess...More

 


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Operation Damask VI- Northern Red Sea Deployment Cruise Book 1992-93

The HMAS Canberra deployed to the Red Sea in late 1992 to participate in Operation Damask VI....More


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North East Asia Deployment Cruisebook - 2000

HMAS Canberra deployed to North East Asia in 2000...More


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2002 Operation SLIPPER Deployment

HMAS Canberra deployed to the Persian Gulf Image Gallery that includes 7 Galleries including Operational Images, Boarding Party's, Replenisment at Sea, the Crew at Sea, Anzac Day Ceremony and ...More

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Refit 2003

HMAS Canberra underwent a Refit in 2003 at Fleet Base West at Garden Island in Western Australia...More

 

 

 

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Decommissioning Crew - 2005

The last voyage completed by the Decommissioning Crew was 280 days away from home port with visits to China, Japan, South Korea, Guam, Singapore and Malaysia as well as visits to Mackay, Sydney, Adelaide and more recently Geraldton, Albany and Fremantle...More

 

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Decommissioning Ceremony - 2005

HMAS Canberra was decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy at Fleet Base West at 10:00 hrs Saturday 12 November . The Decommissioning Ceremony was attended by the Minister for Defence, Senator The Hon Robert Hill, the Fleet Commander, former CO's and crew members...More

 


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Decommissioning Ball - 2005

The ships company and veterans enjoyed a formal decommissioning ball on 5 November in Fremantle, with music provided by the rock band, The Hoodoo Gurus, and the Royal Australian Navy Band...More



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Hoodoo Guru's - 2005

The Hoodoo Gurus have a long history with HMAS Canberra.
Lead singer Dave Faulkner's father was a survivor from HMAS Canberra I, and the RAS song for Canberra played when breaking away from a replenishment at sea) has been the band's popular hit, 'A Thousand Miles Away'...More

 

 

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Final Searide - 2005

The Ship conducted its final searide for Family members of the Decommissioning Crew, it was also the last opportunity for Commissioning Crew members to go to see on HMAS Canberra, the ship departed Fleet base West and sailed to Fremantle, the HMAS Darwin crew manned the side and gave HMAS Canberra 3 cheers as the ship pulled out of Fleet base West...More

 

 

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Scuttling Preparation 2008-2009

The ex HMAS Canberra was stripped of its Weapon System at Fleet Base West and towed from Western Australia to Geelong Victoria in June 2008 where she was prepared for Scuttling as a Diving Wreck...More

 

 

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Scuttling of HMAS Canberra - 2009

Ex- HMAS Canberra was scuttled off Ocean Grove, Victoria on October 5th, 2009 at 1400 est, she took 2 minutes 20 Seconds to sink after 16 explosive charges took her swiftly to the bottom...More

 

 

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Diving Wreck Image Gallery

The ex-HMAS Canberra dive site was opened to the public on December 5, 2009. Lying in approximately 28 metres of water, the wreck provides spectacular diving for experience...More

 

 

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Freedom of the City

HMAS Canberra Ships Company challenged the rite of the personnel to march with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, banners flying and drums beating in 1982, 1986 and 2005, a matter of custom in the centuries old tradition and upon production of HMAS Canberra’s Freedom of Entry scroll she stepped aside and let the march continue...More

 

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HMAS Canberra Memorabilia 1981-2005

This Gallery showcases the Memorabilia from HMAS Canberra from Commissioning in 1981 until Decommissioning in 2005...More

 

 

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New Articles 1981-2009

Images of various New Article collected from 1980 until 2009...More

 

 

 

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Video Clips

A collection of Video Clips, HMAS Canberra 1, HMAS Canberra 2 at Sea, Decommissioning Ceremony, Searide and Reunions...More

 

 

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Reunions

The first Reunion of the Commissioning Crew was conducted in 2001, a part of the Reunion was conducted in HMAS Canberra where a Cocktail Party was held onboard hosted by the Commanding Officer, Commander Roger Boyce RAN, a Reunion was held in 2005 when the ship decommissioned and prior to the Ships scuttling in 2009...More

 

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Ship Scuttling Reunion 2009

 

The ship was sunk as a Diving Wreck off Geelong on the 09 October 2009, this provided a great opportunity to hold a Reunion for former members of the Ship's Company...More

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Operation Damask VI Reunion 2011

The HMAS Canberra Operation Damask VI Reunion was held at the Bells Hotel at Woolloomooloo NSW on the 02 April 2011.The Reunion was attended by 50 personnel and was a resounding success...More

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HMAS Canberra 30th Anniversary Reunion 2011 - Dinner Dance

The HMAS Canberra 30th Anniversay Reunion Dinner Dance was held at the Maroochy RSL on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday ...More

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HMAS Canberra 30th Anniversay Reunion 2011

The HMAS Canberra 30th Anniversay Reunion was held at the Maroochy RSL on the Sunshine Coast Fri 21 Oct - Sun 23 Oct 2011...More

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HMAS CANBERRA (3)

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HMAS Canberra 3 - Launching

The HMAS Canberra 3

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USS CANBERRA

 

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USS Canberra 1943-1970

The USS Canberra (CA-70) was commissioned on October 14, 1943. At the request of President Franklin Roosevelt, the U.S. cruiser was named to honour the Australian cruiser HMAS Canberra, which had been sunk the previous year in the battle of Savo Island, near Guadalcanal...More

 

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SS CANBERRA

 

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SS Canberra 1981

Images of the Cruise Liner SS CANBERRA and the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS CANBERRA took a unique historic maritime opportunity to meet at sea in the Pacific Ocean off California in 1981...More

 

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