HMAS Australia explained

Two ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have been named HMAS Australia. A third ship was to receive the name, but her transfer from the Royal Navy to the Royal Australian Navy was cancelled:

• The first, an launched in 1911, shortly after the formation of the Royal Australian Navy, and sunk in 1924 in accordance with the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.
• The second, a heavy cruiser launched in 1927 and broken up in 1956.
• The third HMAS Australia was intended to be renamed from the aircraft carrier, which the RAN intended to purchase in 1982. This sale was cancelled following the Falklands War and the 1983 Australian federal election.

Battle honours

Ships named HMAS Australia are entitled to carry ten battle honours:^{[1] [2]}

• Rabaul 1914
• North Sea 1915–18
• Atlantic 1940–41
• Pacific 1941–43
• Coral Sea 1942
• Savo Island 1942
• Guadalcanal 1942
• New Guinea 1942–44
• Leyte Gulf 1944
• Lingayen Gulf 1945

See also

• , an of the Royal Navy completed in 1888 and scrapped in 1905.
• Empress of Australia, three passenger vessels of the name

Notes and References

1. News: Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours . 1 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours . 13 June 2011 . Royal Australian Navy . 23 December 2012.
2. Web site: Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours . 1 March 2010 . Royal Australian Navy . https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf . 14 June 2011 . 23 December 2012.