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HMAS Melbourne (1913-1928) |
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In 1909 the Admiralty
proposed the creation of a Pacific fleet consisting of three fleet units
to be operated by Imperial forces in the Pacific region.
Each fleet unit would be built around a battle-cruiser, supported by several light cruisers. One of these fleet units would comprise the Royal Australian Navy. With Australian Government agreement to this concept, work was commenced on the ships. |
| The light cruiser HMAS
Melbourne was built in the United Kingdom and commissioned in January
1913. On 4 October 1913 she entered Sydney Harbour with other ships of
the fleet unit.
Upon the outbreak of war Melbourne was engaged in operations against the German Pacific colonies. She was present at the capture of Samoa and landed a force which took Nauru on 9 September. Returning to Australian waters, she joined the escort of the first troop convoy from Australia to the Middle East, which departed Albany on 1 November 1914. On 9 November, Melbourne, commanding the convoy after the departure of HMS Minotaur, ordered HMAS Sydney to investigate a strange ship sighted off the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which led to the destruction of SMS Emden. Melbourne left the convoy at Colombo on 15 November and proceeded to the Atlantic Ocean. In December 1914, Melbourne was deployed to the Caribbean and based at Bermuda. For the next 18 months, she carried out patrol duties between the islands of the West Indies and along the east coast of North America, in concert with HMAS Sydney. In September 1916 Sydney and Melbourne were transferred to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron for duties with the Grand Fleet in the North Sea. In company with HMS Southampton and Dublin, they undertook patrol, escort and screening duties. In November 1917, Melbourne was fitted with an aircraft launching platform and a Sopwith Ships Pup fighter. On 1 June 1918, both Melbourne and Sydney launched their aircraft to engage two German reconnaissance aircraft. Melbourne’s fighter lost its target in the clouds. Melbourne was present at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918. She returned to Australia in April 1919. After the war, Melbourne carried out routine fleet duties, including exchange duties with the Mediterranean Fleet in 1926. She was disarmed and sailed for Portsmouth in 1928, her crew destined to commission the newly-built HMAS Australia [II]. Melbourne was broken up the next year in Scotland. Casualties
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