Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

HMAS Shropshire WW2

THe RAN lost a number of its capital ships early in the Pacific War.  Cruisers HMAS' Sydney, Perth and Canberra were all lost in action in the period November November 1941-August 1942.

With no capacity to build replacements locally, and in recognition of the unstinting commitment made by the RAN since the outbreak of war, the British Government approved the transfer of HMS Shropshire to the Royal Australian Navy as a replacement. The transfer was announced in the House of Commons on 8 September 1942 by the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill. Mr Churchill said:

His Majesty's Government consider that the Commonwealth should not bear this grievous loss following the sinking of other gallant Australian ships. We have therefore decided to offer, freely and unconditionally, to transfer His Majesty's 8-inch gun cruiser Shropshire to the Commonwealth Government, this offer has been most warmly received.

The decision to transfer Shropshire to the Royal Australian Navy brought her recall from service on the South Atlantic Station. Captain JT Borrett OBE RN relinquished his command at Chatham on 23 December 1942, and five days later Commander David H Harries RAN assumed command to supervise refit and transfer to the Royal Australian Navy. At this stage in her history Shropshire had steamed some 363,000 miles of which 220,000 had been on war service. During the refit the ship's aircraft and catapult were landed. She did not carry an aircraft during her Australian service.

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