- HMAS Westralia (1939)
The first HMAS "Westralia" was an
auxiliary cruiser of theRoyal Australian Navy . It was built at theHarland and Wolff shipyard inGlasgow for theHuddart Parker company as a twin screw motor vessel, being completed in 1929. "Westralia" was requisitioned for war service by the Australian government in 1939 as anarmed merchant cruiser . She was fitted with 6 inch guns, and 3 inch AA guns, commissioning into the Royal Australian Navy in January 1940.Operational history
"Westralia"’s time as an AMC was spent escorting convoys in the Pacific and Indian oceans, especially from
Australia andNew Zealand . One major event occurred in May 1942 when "Westralia", in company with the cruiser USS "Chicago", sighted a Japanese submarine just outsideSydney Harbour . This was just before theattack on Sydney Harbour bymidget submarine s which led to the sinking of HMAS "Kuttabul". [cite book |last=Jenkins |first=David |title=Battle Surface! Japan's Submarine War Against Australia 1942–44 |year=1992 |publisher=Random House Australia |location=Milsons Point |isbn=0-09-182638-1 |pages=pp 193–194 |chapter=]In 1943, "Westralia" was converted into a
Landing Ship, Infantry (LSI). In this role, "Westralia" was used primarily for the transport ofUnited States Marine and Army units. The ship took part in landings atCape Cretin ,Leyte Gulf , thePhilippines andBorneo . After the end of the war, "Westralia" was used for the repatriation of Australian troops, before being paid off in September 1946. However, as she was being refitted for a return to civilian service, "Westralia" was taken up again for use on the run betweenSydney and Kure for theBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force . However, she was not commissioned into the RAN in this role, instead having amerchant navy crew.She ended her time with the BCOF in April 1949. However, she was then chartered as a troop carrier by the British
Ministry of Transport , and served in theMediterranean until March 1950. "Westralia" was finally returned to her owners in March 1951. "Westralia" was sold to the Asian and Pacific Shipping Co Ltd in 1959, serving as a livestock carrier, until she was eventually sold for scrap in 1961.References
*cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Westralia_(I) |title=HMAS Westralia (I) |accessdate=2008-09-15 |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia
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