The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
During the movement of some 58,000 troops from North Africa to Greece, an Italian fleet ventured to strike at the convoy route. Pre-warned, three British and an Australian cruiser (HMAS Perth) of the Mediterranean Fleet intercepted leading cruisers of the enemy force. An exchange of fire resulted in the Italian ship making off, shadowed by the British force while another three battleships and an aircraft carrier headed out to sea. That night the combined British battle fleet attacked two Italian cruisers and disabled them with a few salvos. Three Italian destroyers then attacked, these were engaged by the battleships and driven off by the ever-present destroyer divisions, on this occasion under Captain H.M.L Waller, in HMAS Stuart. The destroyers then went on to sink two of the enemy destroyers and finish off three previously-crippled cruisers. By dawn the sea was clear of Italian ships, and the air sweep from the carrier HMS Formidable found no trace of the survivors. The British fleet returned to base at Alexandria under almost constant air attack, but intact. Because it occurred off Cape Matapan in Southern Greece, the fight became known as the Battle of Matapan.
No. 10 Squadron, RAAF, was the first Australian unit to be deployed and the only unit to serve continuously for the duration of the Second World War. Formed in 1939, they joined the RAF Coastal Comman
This painting of the Battle of Matapan (29th March 1941) was made by Norton in late October 1941 when he joined HMAS Stuart in Alexandria, Egypt. Captain Waller who was the Commanding Officer of HMAS
On 21 November 1918 the German High Seas Fleet of five battle cruisers, nine battleships, seven light cruisers and 49 destroyers surrendered at sea to the British Grand Fleet following the defeat of G
Blue felt souvenir pennant commemorating the Battle of Matapan, a sea battle which took place off Cape Matapan in southern Greece on 27-28 March 1941 between British, Australian and Italian forces, re
After service in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and in the Mediterranean, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth transferred to the Pacific to reinforce the Allied naval forces opposing Japan. With B
Royal Australian Navy white ensign. The canton section holds the Union Jack, the remaining three quarters are white with the prominent red cross of St. George in the centre. A rope and brass fittings
Tobruk January 1941, panoramas of the harbour taken from the shore - first from elevated position and then from sea level- shows warships and transport ships at anchor, black smoke and sunken ships. L
