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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HMAS Canberra - FFG 02


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HMAS Canberra (FFG-02) was a long-range escort frigate with roles including area air defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance, and interdiction. The Ship could simultaneously counter threats from the air, surface and sub-surface.


Launched on 1 December 1978 at Todd Pacific Shipyard Corporation in Seattle, USA ,HMAS Canberra was commissioned on 21 March 1981. The FFG was the second RAN ship to bear the name HMAS Canberra. HMAS Canberra was powered by gas turbines for it's main propulsion. Guided-missile frigates could be underway from a cold start in less than 30 minutes. In addition, two forward mounted auxiliary propulsion units provided a secondary means of propulsion and excellent manoeuvrability in confined waters.

 

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HMAS Canberra participated in numerous operations, including Operation DAMASK VI following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait (November 1992 to March 1993), Operation BRANCARD to evacuate Australian nationals from Jakarta (May 1998), and Operation SLIPPER (March to July 2002) as part of the international coalition against terrorism.

HMAS Canberra was decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy at Fleet Base West at 10:00 hrs Saturday 12 November 2005 . The Decommissioning Ceremony was attended by the Minister for Defence, Senator Hill.

She was scuttled at 2pm on Sunday 4 October 2009 in 28 metres of water off Ocean Grove, Victoria to create a artificial reef and diving site.

Go to Image Gallery to view all images

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HMAS Canberra - Ships Crest

History of Ships Crest...More

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HMAS Canberra Battle Honours

EAST INDIES 1940-41
PACIFIC 1941-42
GUADALCANAL 1942
SAVO ISLAND 1942
PERSIAN GULF 2002

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Statistics

Pennant

FFG 02

Class

Adelaide Class

Launched

1 December 1978

Commissioned

21 March 1981

Decommissioned

12 November 2005

Displacement

4,100 tonnes

Length

138.1 metres

Beam

14.3 metres

Armament

76mm rapid fire gun,
Harpoon anti-ship missiles,
Standard surface to air missiles,
Phalanx Mk15 close-in weapon system,
2 triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedoes
Nulka' Anti-Ship Missile Defence

Aircraft

Up to two Seahawk helicopters

Main Machinery

2 General Electric LM2500 gas turbines geared to a single controllable pitch propeller

Speed

More than 30 knots

Image Galleries

 

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Crew at Sea 1981-2005

This Gallery has images of the HMAS Canberra Ships Company whilst at Sea from 1981 until 2004.

 

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Operational Images 1981 -2005.

Operational Images taken over the Operational lifetime of HMAS Canberra, she was involved in many exercises and operations over 24 years HMAS Canberra participated in a number of operations, including Operation DAMASK following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait,, Operation BRANCARD to evacuate Australian Nationals from Jakarta and Operation SLIPPER in 2002

 

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North West Indian Ocean Deployment Cruise Book- 1983

The HMAS Canberra first Major deployment was to the Indian Ocean in 1983, the ship departed Sydney on the 28 of February 1983 on completion of workups in the East Australian Exercise Area off the New South Wales coast

 


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Operation Damask VI- Northern Red Sea Deployment Cruise Book 1992-93

The HMAS Canberra deployed to the Red Sea in late 1992 to participate in Operation Damask VI....More

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North East Asia Deployment Cruisebook - 2000

HMAS Canberra deployed to North East Asia in 2000...More

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2002 Operation SLIPPER Deployment

HMAS Canberra deployed to the Persian Gulf Image Gallery that includes 7 Galleries including Operational Images, Boarding Party's, Replenisment at Sea, the Crew at Sea, Anzac Day Ceremony and ...More

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