Modified LEANDER-Class cruiser ordered from HM
Dockyard Devonport on 1st March 1933 and laid down on 15 August that year for the Royal Navy. The ship was
launched on 9th October 1934 as HMS
APOLLO and build was completed on 13th January 1936. Following a
commission under RN command she was refitted and her single 4" secondary armament was replaced by twin
mountings. During this period arrangements were made for transfer to the Royal Australian Navy and she commissioned
as HM Australian Cruiser HOBART on 28th September 1938. She was deployed with
the RAN until the outbreak of war in 1939. No details of her Heraldic data or motto are available in Admiralty records as these
are property of the RAN.
MEDITERRANEAN 1941 - CORAL SEA 1942
- GUADALCANAL 1942-43 - PACIFIC 1945 - VIETNAM 1967-70*
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
September Deployed
on shipping defence patrol in Australian waters.
October Transferred to 4th Cruiser
Squadron on Far East Station at Singapore
November Convoy
escort and patrol duty in Indian Ocean between Colombo
and Aden.
6th Deployed in search for German commerce
raiders in south of Arabian Sea after
sinking
of mercantiles by German paocket
battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE.)
December Deployed
on patrol off Ceylon.
1 9 4 0
January Escorted French military convoy
in Indian
Ocean.
13th Joined HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM
Cruisers CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE in
Hunting Force
"I" based at Colombo for interception duty in Indian Ocean.
30th Relieved HM Cruiser KENT and French cruiser SUFFREN
as escort for Convoy US1 with
EAGLE during
passage in Indian Ocean to Aden.
February On release from US1 took passage
to Colombo.
25th Routine docking at
Colombo.
March Escorted HM River Gunboats
LADYBIRD and APHIS from Colombo to Aden during
passage
to join Mediterranean Fleet.
April Joined Red Sea Escort Force with
LIVERPOOL for support of military
operations in
Somaliland.
12th Intercepted Danish merchant ship AFRIKA
and sent her with armed guard to Colombo.
18th Visited Red Sea ports for diplomatic
purposes.
May Deployed
on patrol in Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
12th Joined escort of Convoy US2 and then
covered landings of Kings African Rifles at
Berbera.
June Supported British military
operations in Somaliland
11th Under air attack
by Italian aircraft in Red Sea.
13th Assisted in AA
defence with CARLISLE during
Italian air raid at Aden. ,..
19th Bombarded Centre Peak W/T
Station at Massawa.
30th Embarked troops at Aden for landings at Berbera on 1/7/^0.
July Escorted troop convoys to Berbera and supported military operations ashore.
August
3rd Carried out
reconnaissance patrol off Cape Guardafui, Italian
Somaliland.
8th Aircraft launched to make attacks at Zeila, British Somaliland after Italian
occupation.
Under air
attack at Berbera on return.
9th Assisted defence
of Tug Argan, British
Somaliland with landing party.
15th Co-ordinated evacuation of allied troops
from Berbera by HM Cruisers CERES ,
CALEDON,
CARLISLE, HM Destroyers KANDAHAR,
KIMBERLEY, HM Sloops SHOREHAM,
AUCKLAND, HM Australian Sloop
PARRAMATTA and auxiliaries,
Sustained slight damage during air attacks.
19th Assisted in
demolition work. Some of landing party taken
prisoner.
(Note: Released later when
territory re-occupied).
21st Returned to Aden.
September Convoy
escort between Port Sudan and Aden and subjected to air
attacks.
12th Escorted military convoy WS2A from Aden for Red Sea passage with HM Cruiser
COVENTRY, HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON. Fast Section
troopships ANDES, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN and
EMPRESS OF CANADA.
14th Detached when mercantiles
dispersed when clear of Italian air threat.
Octoner
19th Taken in hand for
refit at Colombo.
November Post refit trials.
16th Passage to Aden to resume
to Red Sea duties as relief for HM
Cruiser LEANDER.
December
12th Passage
to Australia to rejoin
RAN.
1 9 4 1
January Deployed on patrol and convoy
defence in Australian waters.
4th Escorted convoy US9 from Sydney to Fremantle
February
6th Detached from US9 and retumed to Sydney
March Convoy defence in continuation.
April Escorted troops ships with AUSTRALIA and ACHILLES from Wellington, NZ to Sydney.
May Convoy defence in continuation.
June Under
refit at Sydney prior to
detached service.
20th Transferred to Mediterranean and took passage to Suez.
July
12th Assisted in
re-floating and salvage of troopship GLENEARN at Port Tewfik.
August Joined 7th Cruiser Squadron in
Mediterranean Fleet.
12th Embarked troops for passage to Tobruk0
to relieve some of garrison, with HM Cruisers
ABDIEL,
LATONA.HM Australian Destroyers NAPIER and NIZAM.
20th Took part in transfer of Army and RAF
personnel to Cyprus and Haifa from Egypt with
HM Cruisers LEANDER, NEPTUNE, Destroyers of 11th
flotilla, HM Sloops FLAMINGO and
PARAMATTA (RAN) Operation
GUILLOTINE).
September Deployed
with Squadron for Fleet duties.
October Deployed on support of military
garrison at Tobruk with HMAS NAPIER, HMAS NIZAM and
Mediterranean
Fleet ships.
21st Bombarded Bardia- Tobruk road.
November Squadron duties in continuation.
December
7th Escorted Supply Ship HMS BRECONSHIRE
from Malta to Alexandria.
9th Under air attack
at Tobruk with HM Sloops FLAMINGO and YARRA (RAN).
10th Recalled to rejoin RAN after Japan entered war and took passage
to Colombo
18th Diverted to carry
out patrol in Maldives area
following reports of unrest.
24th Joined escort for military convoy BM9A
with HM Cruisers DURBAN and DRAGON for
passage
to Singapore from Bombay.
1 9 4 2
January Transferred to ABDA Command for
convoy defence.
3rd Arrived at Singapore with
convoy BM9A.
See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
7th Sailed from Singapore and diverted to join HM
Destroyers TENEDOS and STRONGHOLD as
as
escort for military convoy MS1 on passage from Australia.
25th Joined Malaya
section of reinforcement military convoy MS1 for escort to Singapore.
29th Nominally transferred to ANZAC Force
with HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA
ADELAIDE and PERTH.
30th Under unsuccessful
air attacks in Banka Strait.
February
2nd Passage to join Western Striking Force
based at Tanjong Prick.
Rescued survivors from ms NORAH MULLER.
5th Patrolled Banka Strait with HM Cruiser EXETER, HM Destroyers JUPITER and
ENCOUNTER to cover passage of
Dutch cruiser JAVA escorting two troopships to Palembang.
7th Relieved HM Cruiser DANAE and HHM
Sloop SUTLEJ (RIN) with HM Destroyer
ENCOUNTER for patrol.
Joined
Evacuation Convoy EMU on passage to Bombay.
10th Relieved HM Cruiser CORNWALL as escort for Military
Convoy JS1 taking Australian
troops
from Middle
East
to Java.
11th Detached to search for Japanese invasion
craft reported on passage to Sumatra
14th Sailed with Dutch cruisers DE RUYTER,
JAVA, TRCMP and HM Cruiser EXETER with
destroyer screen to
intercept Japanese invasion convoy in Banka Strait.
Under heavy air attacks.
17th Deployed with EXETER for escort of JS and SJ
Australian military convoys as far
as Sunda Strait.
25th Deployed with HM Cruisers DANAE, DRAGON,
HM Destroyers SCOUT and TENEDOS
in
Western Striking Force when HM Cruisers EXETER and PERTH (RAN) transferred
to Soerabaya.
Remained with HM Cruisers DANAE, DRAGCN, HM
Destroyers SCOUT and TENEDOS
in the Western
Striking Force when HM Australian Cruisers EXETER and PERTH transferred
to Soerabaya.
(Note: Ship did not sail with Western Striking Force
because delay in refuelling from
RFA WAR SIDAR.)
26th Carried cut unsuccessful search with HM
Cruisers DANAE and DRAGON for Japanese fleet
reported in South China Sea heading for western Sumatra.
27th Carried out
offensive sweep through Sunda Strait with HMS
DANAE, DRAGON and destroyers.
28th As no enemy force was sighted took passage to Trincomalee
since no fuel was available and air
support was available
Destroyers diverted to Padang to embarked
refugees from Singpare for passage to Ceylon.
(For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).
March Passage to Australia from Ceylon.
April
6th Under refit at Sydney
15th Nominated for service with ANZAC Force
ships as part of US Navy Task Force 44 in SW Pacific.
Passage to join TF44
May Deployed
in sea area north of Australia on
anti-invasion patrol.
4th Joined combined Task Forces 11 in
south of Coral Sea with HMAS AUSTRALIA, US
Navy Cruiser
USS CHICAGO and two US Navy destroyers. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
5th Joined US TF17 in Hervey Bay with TF11 ships.
Nominated for service as a
Support Group for combined Forces as Task Group 17.3 in view of
impending action with Japanese invasion ships
7th In action in
defence of Tulagi with US TG17-3 and under heavy air
attacks.
(Battle of Coral Sea – See
above reference for details).
8th Detached to
refuel in Brisbane.
June Deployed on convoy escort
between Australia and SW Pacific islands.
14th Sailed from Brisbane with HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMAS CANBERRA in US TF44
for amphibious
operations.
July
19th Met US Amphibious Force off Wellington, NZ.
22nd Part of Task Group 62.2 for escort of
military convoy to Fiji area.
28th Preparation for assault landings on Guadalcanal with Task Force 62 (South
Pacific Amphibious
Force) as Task
Group 62.2.
31st Joined US 4th Fleet Task Force TF44 on
formation with HMAS AUSTRALIA, US cruise USS
PHOENIX and five
USA Navy destroyers.
(Operation
WATCHTOWER –See WAR WITH JAPAN.)
August
7th Took part in covering eastern
approaches during approach of US assault ships.on
Tulagi with USS
SAN JUAN
8th Provided naval gunfire support during
landings
Under air attacks
Deployed for patrol to cover anchorages with US cruiser SAN JUAN screened by
two US Navy
destroyers
9th Not present at
Battle of Savo Island when Japanese warships attacked
ships of TG62 in anchorage.
(Note:
HMAS CANBERRA was sunk in this engagement. See
above reference and THE SHAME
OF SAVO.)
19th Passage from Noumea with HMAS AUSTRALIA and three destroyers (Task
Force 44) to join
US Task Force
61 off Guadalcanal.
21st Deployed with
TF61 and patrolled SE of Solomon Islands with same ships.
24th Deployed with HMAS AUSTRALIA, US Navy cruisers USS
MINNEAPOLIS and USS NEW
ORLEANS as screen for US Navy
aircraft carrier SARATOGA during air attacks on Japanese
Diversion Force.
Later came under heavy and sustained air attacks. See
WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
31st Joined reformed TF44 with HMAS AUSTRALIA, US Navy cruiser USS PHOENIX
and three
US Navy
destroyers for passage to Brisbane.
September Passage
to Brisbane on release from WATCHTOWER to refuel.
4th Under minor
repair at Brisbane.
7th Sailed from Brisbane with HMAS HOBART, US Navy
cruiser PHOENIX and five US Navy
Destroyers to join for support
of operations by TF44 against Japanese invasion in New Guinea.
11th Rejoined Task Force 44 at Milne Bay for patrol duty off New Guinea ships to intercept
destroyers
evacuating
Trobriand Islands.
(Note:
The interception was not successful)
October Under
refit at Sydney.
November Deployed
on support of US operations in SW Pacific
December Deployed
on patrol in Coral Sea as part of Task Force 44
1 9 4 3
January Task Force 44 deployment
in continuation.
to
February
March Nominated
for service with TF74
(Ships
of TF44 had been transferred to US 7th Fleet.)
15th Joined TF74 with HMAS AUSTRALIA, US Navy cruiser PHOENIX, HM Australian Destroyers
ARUNTA, WARRAMUNGA and seven US Navy destroyers of
DESDRON 4 for duty with US 7th
Fleet in support of amphibious
operations in SW Pacific.
Released from detached service for
refit.
25th Taken in hard for refit at Sydney
Aircraft facilities removed.
20mm Oerlikon weapons fitted to improve close range defence
against
air attack.
April
14th Refit completion.
On
completion of post refit trials deployed for convoy escort and patrol based at Brisbane.
May Deployment in Australian waters
continued..
June Nominated for detached service
with US Navy.
10th Joined Task Force 44 as part of
reorganisation on US Pacific Fleet
(Note: Other ships in TF44
included USS CHICAGO and nine US Navy destroyers designed
as
DESDRON 4
24th Deployed in Task Force 44 with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS CANBERRA, HMAS ARUNTA,
HMAS
WARRAMUNGA and US Destroyer LAMSON to
cover US landings on New Georgia.
(Operation CARTWHEEL).
July
4th Detached with
Task Force 74 to refuel in Flinders Group.
16th Deployed with Task
Force 74 to reinforce naval support off New
Guinea after recent losses.
See WAR AGAINST JAPAN (HMSO).
20th Hit on port side aft by torpedoed from
Japanese submarine Ro-106 (111) during assault landings
in Solomons.
Power and steering failed with
structural damage.
Took on list and escorted to Espiritu Santo by HMAS WARRAMUNGA and HMAS
ARUNTA.
21st Under temporary repair at Espiritu Santu..
August Temporary
repair in continuation.
21st Took passage to Sydney and Paid
off.
September
1st Taken in hand
for repair at Sydney.
40mm Bofors mountings with
Fire-control radar fitted in place of 20mm Oerlikons.
4" mountings repositoned.
Tripod masts fitted.
Twin Hazemere radar
controlled mountings fitted for pom-pom weapons.
October Under repair
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Under
repair.
to
November
December
7th Re-commissioned.
Post Refit trials.
1 9 4 5
January Worked-up for operational
service at Melbourne.
February On
completion of work-up and storing prepared to resume operational duties.
6th Passage to Manus.
16th Sailed to rejoin Task Force 74 with HMAS
WARRAMUNGA as TASK Group 74.3 for
support of Luzon landings (Operation VICTOR
I).
Provided naval gunfire support.
26th Bombarded Japanese positions before
landings in Cebu area (Operation VICTOR II)
March Support deployment in
continuation.
April Transferred for support Borneo landings with US 7th Fleet
ships and took passage
via Mondoro Strait, Sulu Sea and Sibutu
Passage.
26th Intercepted rafts taking Japanese to Borneo.
28th Bombarded Japanese positions south of Tarakan with USS PHOENIX, USS BOISE,
HMAS WARRAMUNGA and
five US destroyers of DESDRON 21
(Operation OBOE I)
deployed
as Task Group 74.3
30th Released from OBOE I)
May
4th Sailed to join HM Cruiser NEWFOUNDLAND, HM Australian Destroyer
ARUNTA and
HM Australian Destroyer
WARRAMUNGA to support military operations in New Guinea.
10th Bombarded Cape Hoem with HMAS
ARUNTA.
11th Bombarded Dove Bay before
landings (Operation DELUGE).
12th Provided naval gunfire support at Wewak with HMAS NEWFOUNDLAND during landings by 6th
Australian
Division.
June
5th Sailed from Morotai to join invasion force off Brunei.
8th Bombarded targets at Brunei.
9th Released from
Naval Gunfire Support duty in Solomons.
Power and steering failed with
structural damage.
Took on list and escorted to Espiritu Santo by HMAS WARRAMUNGA and HMAS
ARUNTA.
10th Covered minesweeping operations and
provided naval gunfire support prior to landings at
Brunei with Task
Group 74.3 (Operation OBOE VI).
17th Joined HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE (RAN) at Tawi
Tawi, Borneo and formed Task Group 74.2.
27th Commenced bombardment of enemy shore
batteries at Balikpapan with HMAS SHROPSHIRE
and
ships of 'Bask Group 74.1 before landings of 7th Australian Infantry Division.
July
1st Took part in Pre
assault Bombardment after escorting assault ships for landings at Balikpapan.
Provided further naval gunfire
support during landings with
HMAS SHROPSHIRE and
HMAS ARUNTA (Operation OBOE VII).
9th Withdrew from assault area and went to
Subic Bay for R&R period.
August Deployment with
US Task Force in continuation.
17th Passage to Japan via Manila and Okinawa.
31st Joined Commonwealth warships with HMAS SHROPSHIRE,
HM Destroyer BATAAN (RAN),
HMAS WARRAMUNGA and
RAN minesweepers for formal Japanese surrender ceremony.
September
2nd Present at surrender ceremony.
Passage to Sydney to refit.
