HMAS Australia

1927 On Thursday of last week, March 17th, there was successfully launched from the Clydebank Yard of John Brown and Co, the cruiser Australia, which is the first of the two light cruisers which the firm is constructing for the Commonwealth Government. Her sister vessel, the HMAS Canberra, is still on the stocks. She is in a well-advanced condition and it will not be very long before she, too, is ready to take the water. It will be recalled that the first Australia was also built at Clydebank, being launched in 1911, and that as a battle cruiser she performed honourable service in the war. The new Australia was ordered in 1925, and in dimensions and power is generally similar to the light cruisers of the 'County' class, which are now being built for the Admiralty. Her displacement is 10,000 tons and with machinery of 90,000 S.H.P. she is expected to have a speed of between 31 and 32 knots. The propelling machinery consists of a four-screw arrangement of Brown-Curtis geared turbines, steam being raised in oil-fired Yarrow and Co water-tube boilers. In conformity with the limitations in armament imposed by the Washington agreement, she will carry eight 8in. guns and four 4in. high-angle guns, which will be supplemented by deck torpedo tubes. The Australia was named by Lady Cook, the wife of Sir Joseph Cook, the High Commissioner for Australia.

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