Modified Leander Class -
HMA Ships Perth, Sydney and Hobart

These three cruisers were ordered by the British Admiralty for the RN in 1933. HMS Apollo and HMS Amphion were later to be commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Hobart and HMAS Perth.

Sydney was commissioned directly into the RAN from the outset, although she was originally to be named HMS Phaeton.

Each of these cruisers were fitted with the same Seagull Mk V Aircraft like the other 3 cruisers already in service in the RAN.

Displacement (Tons): Standard 7,105, Hobart 6,980, Perth 6,830, Sydney Full Load 9,000
Dimensions: (Feet); Length 555, Beam 56.8, Draught 19.6
Machinery; Parsons geared turbines, 4 Screws, 80,000 s.h.p.
Speed (Knots): 32.5
Range (Miles): 7000 @ 16 Knots
Armament: Eight 6-inch (4x2), Eight4-inch (4x2) except Sydney 4x4" Single, Four three Pdr, three 4 barrelled o.50Cal Machine Guns, Eight 21-inch Torpedo Tubes, One Seagull 3 Amphibian.

HMAS SYDNEY returns to Sydney, Australia after a triumphant tour of duty in the Mediterranean, where, included in her famous victories was the Sinking of Italian Cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni on the 19th July 1940.

Ship	Pendant Number	Builder	Const. Time	Comm.	Fate
Hobart	163 D63 - 1940	Devonport Dockyard	2 years 5 months	28/9/38	sold 22/2/62
Perth	129 D29 - 1940	Portsmouth Dockyard	3 Years 1 month	29/6/39	Sunk Sunda Strait 1/3/42
Sydney	148 D48- 1940	Swan Hunter	2 Years 2 months	24/9/35	Sunk Cocos Islands 19/11/41

Each Ship caried the Seagull V amphib. aircraft with a 53 Feet long revolving catapult operating amidships just forward of the after funnel (see avove). Prior to being commioned into the RAN all three ships were refitted where Perth and Hobart had their 4-inch Single Gun Mountings replaced by twin 4-inch mountings. Upon declaration of war in 1939 Sydney's refit was cut short and she maintained her single 4" mountings until her loss in 1941. Between January and February 1941 Perth was armed with a quadruple Pom-Pom amidships, but was again removed in July where 20mm Oerlikons were mounted on top of both A and B 8-inch Turrets.

 

HMAS SYDNEY was lost with all hands and without trace on 19th December 1941 after an action with the German raider Kormoran near the Cocos Islands (Indian Ocean). The loss of Sydney with all hands was a devastating blow for both the Navy and the Australian people. Less than a month later the Japanese entered the war and began their advance South towards Australia and all this did little to raise the morale of the Australian people. The total, unexplained loss of this now 'famous' ship was felt deeply by all members of the small Australian population.

To this day , 60 years later, mystery, controversy, argument and debate still abound. The subject raises its head in Australian Parlimentary discussion regulary. Veterans organisations and various interested parties have tried in vain, over the past 60 years to pressure the Australian Government into conducting a full official enquiry into her sinking.

Many books and articles on the loss of HMAS Sydney (Captain J. Burnett, RAN) have been written and produced over the years, naval histroians and academics debate theories of incompetence and conspiracy.

The exact location of where Sydney took 645 of Australia's finest is not known and will continue to be the subject of lively, passionate discussion until the cold depths of the Indian Ocean at last gives up its dark secret.

What makes the whole story more remarkable is that although Kormoran was itself sunk by the heated, close range engagement, many of her crew survived. Thus becoming prisoners of war in Australia, including her Captain, T. A. Detmers. The Kormoran survivors who were not kept isolated from each other after their subsequent rescue all attested that Sydney was last seen by them as a glow on the horizon.

What happended to Sydney? Why didn't she use her radio? Were there war crimes committed? There are also many more unanswered questions. Maybe these questions to Australia's greatest maritime mystery and tragedy, one day, will be answered and maybe they will not; thus leaving Sydney to be what it has been for 60 years - A mystery and subject of forever, endless, passionate debate and speculation both within and outside the Naval community.

HMAS PERTH

Another cruel blow to the Australian people's morale was the loss of HMAS Perth, only 3½ months after Sydney's loss, when along with the cruiser USS Houston they encounted the entire Japanese invasion force in the narrow Sunda Straight (Indonesia).

Although these two ships were overwhelmed by a greatly superior force their heroic stand ranks highly in the annals of naval warfare. The survivors subsequent capture and their brutal treatment at the hands of the Japanese is another epic story of courage and endurance.

By June 1943 Australia's relatively small fleet had lost its 15th ship of the war.

The Battle Of Sunda Straight is covered in more detail in the World War 2 Section on the left hand menu. HMAS Perth - The Gallant Ship.

HMAS Perth just prior to her sinking in the Battle Of Sunda Straight

HMAS HOBART

Hobart's refit in Devonport in the latter part of 1942 saw her catapult removed and the addition of 1 single and 5 twin 20mm Oelikons. Furthermore another two quadruple Pom-Poms were fitted.

In July 1943 A considerable number of RAN Warships were despatched to assist in the landing operations at Kiriwina situated in the Coral Sea, whilst patrolling with Task Force 74 on route to Espiritu Santo HMAS Hobart was attacked by a Japanese submarine. Hobart was struck by one torpedo causing considerable damage along with killing 7 Officers and Six Sailors. Australia's cruiser force was now seriously depeleted with only Australia and Adelaide in seagoing condition. To compensate for the loss of HMAS Canberra at Savo Island the British Admiralty offered HMS Shropshire in its place. Australia gratefully accepted and intended to rename it Canberra.

By this time though the United States had already decided to name a new cruiser of their own in honour of her former Australian counterpart. USS Canberra was a heavy cruiser of 13,600 Tons, built at Quincy, Massachusetts and commissioned in October 1943. USS Canberra then carried on from where HMAS Canberra left off - taking the fight to the Japanese in the Pacific Campaign.

Hobart Torpedo Damage

So HMS Shropshire was to become HMAS Shropshire and she too served with distinction in the remaining Pacific campaign.

Go To HMAS Shropshire Page

Go To RAN Cruisers Page 1