75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINKING OF HMAS CANBERRA

Today marks the 75th Anniversary of the sinking of the HMAS Canberra following the Battle of Savo Island.

 

The HMAS Canberra was in the Soloman Islands working with the US Navy to screen American transports during the landing operations at Guadalcanal and protecting the troops ashore from Japanese attacks.

 

Early on the morning of the 9th of August 1942,  Japanese naval forces launched a surprise attack against a number of US and Australian warships in the channel between Savo Island and Guadalcanal. With the attack beginning at 1.43am, the Royal Australian Navy’s heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra sustained severe damage and was subsequently sunk following the Battle.

 

The HMAS Canberra was the lead ship and first to be attacked, receiving the full force of the barrage. They were hit 24 times in less than two minutes and struck by two torpedos on the starboard side.

 

With 819 personnel serving on board, the attack resulted in 109 wounded and 84 men killed in action.

 

While the HMAS Canberra remains the largest Australian warship ever lost in battle, the Battle was not a strategic victory for the Japanese. The Allied forces would still achieve their objective of preventing the enemy of reaching the transports.

 

Today we pay tribute to those who fought in the Battle of Savo Island and the brave personnel onboard the HMAS Canberra. We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who returned home and whose lives were never the same.

 

Lest we forget.