HMAS Canberra


This site is dedicated to all Royal Australian Navy and Australian Defence Force personnel who have served in HMAS CANBERRA.

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HMAS CANBERRA (1) D 33 from the 9th of July 1928 until she was sunk in action off Savo Island on the 9th of August 1942.

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HMAS CANBERRA (2) FFG-02 from the 21st of March 1981 until Decomissioning on the 12th of November 2005.

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HMAS Canberra (3) LHD-02 from Commissioning on the 23rd of November 2014.

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Commissioning Crew Image Gallery

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Harry O'Hare, Ray Graham ,Bill Blair, Kym Parry, Trevor Smith, Horse Windly, Richard Phillips.

The Commissioning Crew were selected from all over Australia, it was a great privilege to be posted to the United States to Commission the new Guided Missile Frigates being built in the US, to conduct the US Navy Training, work the ship up and bring her back to Australia.

Some members of the crew and there Families had been in the US up to 2 years prior to the Commissioning to undergo specialist weapons electrical and engineering training, a substantial number of the crew arrived in country in September 1980 followed by the balance crew in February 1981...More

 

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Commissioning Ceremony 1981

The Guard of Honour marching onboard HMAS Canberra during the Commissioning Ceremony at Todd Ship Yards in Seattle, Washington USA. 21st March 1981...More

 

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Commissioning Book

The Commission Book outlines the Commissioning Ceremony for HMAS Canberra and has information and images of the Commissioning Crew...More

A Nominal list, images of the Commission Crew is also available ...More

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The Families 1980-1982

The Families Gallery features the Australia Families that accompanied the Commissioning Crew to the United States of America 1980-1982...More

 

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Ship Arriving in Australia 1982

Images of the Ships arrival in Sydney Harbour February 1982, most members of the Crew had spent 12 to 24 Months away from Australia and were glad to be home...More

 

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Final Searide - 2005

The Ship conducted its final searide for Family members of the Decommissioning Crew, it was also the last opportunity for Commissioning Crew members to go to see on HMAS Canberra, the ship departed Fleet base West and sailed to Fremantle, the HMAS Darwin crew manned the side and gave HMAS Canberra 3 cheers as the ship pulled out of Fleet base West...More

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Freedom of the City

HMAS Canberra Ships Company challenged the rite of the personnel to march with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, banners flying and drums beating in 1982, 1986 and 2005, a matter of custom in the centuries old tradition and upon production of HMAS Canberra’s Freedom of Entry scroll she stepped aside and let the march continue...More

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HMAS Canberra Memorabilia 1981-2005

This Gallery showcases the Memorabilia from HMAS Canberra from Commissioning in 1981 until Decommissioning in 2005...More

 

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SS Canberra 1981

Images of the Cruise Liner SS CANBERRA and the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS CANBERRA took a unique historic maritime opportunity to meet at sea in the Pacific Ocean off California in 1981...More

 

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Reunions

The first Reunion of the Commissioning Crew was conducted in 2001, a part of the Reunion was conducted in HMAS Canberra where a Cocktail Party was held onboard hosted by the Commanding Officer, Commander Roger Boyce RAN, a Reunion was held in 2005 when the ship decommissioned and prior to the Ships scuttling in 2009...More

 

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