www.monumentaustralia.org.au
H.M.A.S. CanberraPrint Page 
26-July-2015
Photographs supplied by Bryan Cole
The plaque commemorates those who served on H.M.A.S. Canberra between 1928 and 1942, and to those who were killed in action when the ship was attacked during World War Two.
On 9 August 1942, Canberra was struck by the opening Japanese shots of the Battle of Savo Island, and was quickly damaged. The Australian cruiser was able to avoid the Japanese torpedoes fired at the start of the engagement, but was on the receiving end of the Japanese cruisers' gunfire. The first two salvos killed or wounded several senior officers, disabled both engine rooms, damaged the bridge and 4-inch gun platform and forced the flooding of her 8-inch magazines. Within two minutes, the cruiser had been hit 24 times; she was immobilised, without power, and listing to starboard, with multiple internal fires and at least a fifth of her personnel dead or wounded. Unable to propel herself, the cruiser was evacuated and sunk in Ironbottom Sound by two American destroyers.
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On 9 August 1942, Canberra was struck by the opening Japanese shots of the Battle of Savo Island, and was quickly damaged. The Australian cruiser was able to avoid the Japanese torpedoes fired at the start of the engagement, but was on the receiving end of the Japanese cruisers' gunfire. The first two salvos killed or wounded several senior officers, disabled both engine rooms, damaged the bridge and 4-inch gun platform and forced the flooding of her 8-inch magazines. Within two minutes, the cruiser had been hit 24 times; she was immobilised, without power, and listing to starboard, with multiple internal fires and at least a fifth of her personnel dead or wounded. Unable to propel herself, the cruiser was evacuated and sunk in Ironbottom Sound by two American destroyers.
Location
| Address: | Sir Edwin Smith Avenue, South Australia Naval Memorial Garden , North Adelaide, 5006 |
|---|---|
| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.914075 Long: 138.600534 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | Multiple |
| Approx. Event Start Date: | 1928 |
| Approx. Event End Date: | 1942 |
Dedication
Front Inscription
Source: RVWM, MAH.M.A.S. Canberra
1928 - 1942
Flagship Australian Squadron
South Atlantic - Indian Ocean - South West Pacific
Naval actions
'Ketty Brovurg' and 'Coburg' sunk
Support vessels to pocket battleship 'Admiral Scheer'
Lost in action 'Savo Island' 9th August 1942 with U.S.N. heavy cruisers Astoria - Quiney - Vincennes during assault on Guadalcanal
Died in action - 86 Wounded - 110
Presented by H.M.A.S. Canberra and Shropshire Association (S.A,)
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au
