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Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial
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HMAS Canberra (1942)
The plaque reads ...
HMAS 'Canberra'
'Kent" class heavy cruiser
1942 part of Pacific Task Force 44.
Escorted Squadron Y to Tulagi landings
09.08.1942 mortal night attack while
on patrol south of Savo Island.
Known Tasmanian crew members lost
during WW2 - 2 from illness 1941
and 4 from Savo Island action 1942.
HMAS Canberra was hit by two enemy torpedoes and shellfire causing the vessel to list, lose power and become unsalvagable. Following the transfer of survivors to USS Patterson and USS Blue and the vessel, it was ordered that the Canberra be sunk. Of the 819 personnel there were 193 casualties. The loss of the Canberra was a severe blow to Australia's small navy.