H.M.A.S. CanberraPrint Page

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.

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.

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Details

Monument Type:	Plaque
Monument Theme:	Conflict
Sub-Theme:	Multiple
Actual Event Start Date:
Approx. Event Start Date:	1928
Actual Event End Date:
Approx. Event End Date:	1942
Designer:
Artist:
Monument Manufacturer:
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Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:

Source: RVWM, MA