Visible here are her three original 'short' funnels. The forward funnel would later be damaged during the hotly contested fight for the Philippines.Back Left to Right: Clive Douglas (Photographer), Flying Officer Davis (Pilot) , Lieutenant Gerrett (Navigator), Gordon Poole (Fitter 2A), Arthur Litt (Clerk) Middle Left to Right: Ray Bennett (Fitter 2E), Bluey Ross (Fitter 2H), Eric Payne (Armourer) Front Row: Eric Atkins (Mess AB), Vic Davis (TAG).One of Australia's gun's crews during a lull in the action.The damage to Australia's bridge and foremast following the aerial attack of 21 October 1944.Left: Captain EFV Dechaineux who, along with 29 officers and sailors, was killed in the Japanese dive bomber attack of 21 October 1944. Jenkins, David, "Battle Surface - Japan's Submarine War against Australia 1942 - 44", Random House Australia, 1992 . Citizen Military Forces personnel service records 1937-47 (Series B884). Goorangai - Minesweeper Auxiliary. 30/6/41. Here she was subjected to repeated suicide attacks, this time there was no doubt of the kamikaze nature of the Japanese planes. We are no longer accepting comments on this article.Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media GroupRemarkable discovery of 18th century shipwreck of 'floating gin palace'Labour MP Dawn Butler gets pulled over by MET PoliceBBC director general apologises for broadcasting n-wordDramatic footage shows prison van overturned in horror collisionHundreds of revellers flock to illegal rave on Kent beachKate Garraway says husband Derek 'still has lots of challenges'Ferocious thunder and lightning batters town in North WalesFinding Freedom author: Meghan's 'Duchess Difficult' label was racistReporters press Trump on falsely claiming he's signed Veteran's ActPolice helicopters desperately hunt for missing girl in Scottish RiverHeatwave comes to an end in Wales as torrential rain falls Right: An imposing view of two of Australia's three funnels. It was taken under fire and retired to the westward. German U-Boat attacks off the Australian Coast during WW2 Attacks one ship and sinks two others . After a period escorting convoys to Freetown, Durban, Suez and Colombo, The early months of 1943 were spent in support of the Coral Sea Group and patrolling the east coast of Australia. As one part of this commemoration, DVA … Dame Mary Cook, wife of Australian High Commissioner, UKHMAS Australia fitting out. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. In July of the same year the ship paid a brief visit to New Caledonia and also visited New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomon Islands. Collided with MV DUNTROON in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria 20/11/40. (Image used with permission of Ken Royall)Left: One of HMAS Australia's 8-inch gun barrels on display in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial Canberra. The National Archives holds the service records of Australians who served with the Army in World War II. Service records. Sank off Libya after German air attack. German Commerce Raiders mine Australian Waters four ships sunk and one severely damaged . Right: Lieutenant DJ Hamer, RAN was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry, skill and devotion to duty while serving in HMAS Australia during the successful assault operations in the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island.Left: Captain JM Armstrong, RAN in conversation with Mr SM Bruce, the Australian High Commissioner to England, in July 1945 following the ship's arrival at Plymouth. During her visit to the Solomon Islands a ceremony was held to commemorate the sinking of her sister ship, HMAS On 4 May 1954 the Governor-General, Sir William Slim, Lady Slim and their staff were embarked for a voyage to the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Passage. There was a large explosion and an intense fire was started in the air defence position and bridges. HMAS Australia (II) 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 was built to the Kent Class design of County Class cruisers, her sister ships being HMAS Canberra and HM Ships Kent, Berwick, Cornwall, Cumberland and Suffolk.

Centaur . Right: A similar barrel as fitted to the ship when in commission. The fire was brought under control very quickly and by 0635 the large quantity of wreckage on the compass platform and ADP had been cleared away. (Courtesy Ian Collis)Australia arriving at Barrow-in-Furness for breaking up, 5 July 1955.

It was then turned east again and although under heavy fire, passed up the port side of Australia and crashed into the foremast at 06:05. After this action By 5 January 1945 she was back in action in the Lingayen Gulf covering the allied invasion of Luzon Island. Centaur was a motorship of British registry built in 1924 of 3,222 grt. During the dawn stand-to, a low-flying aircraft approached from the land between Australia and Shropshire. Proceeding via New Zealand, Fiji, Balboa and Kingston, The optimistic belief that the population of Dakar would welcome de Gaulle proved to be ill-founded and shore batteries opened fire on the fleet. After the bombing of Darwin that same month, all RAN ships in the Mediterranean theatre, as well as the 6th and 7th Divisions, returned to defend Australia. Waterhen - Destroyer. Right: One of the aircraft relics now preserved and on display at the RAN Heritage Centre, Sydney.HMAS Australia, Culgoa and Arunta berthed at Princes Pier Melbourne 4 April 1947.HMAS Australia's ship's company on the occasion of a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, March 1954.Her fighting days behind her Australia swings peacefully at a buoy in Sydney Harbour, circa 1954. She was built to the Kent Class design of County Class cruisers, her sister ships being HMAS She commissioned at Clydebank on 24 April 1928, two months before her sister ship HMAS She spent the first six years of her commission on the Australia Station, mostly in home waters.