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Burial service after the capture of Bandar Shapur by Allied forces led by HMS KANIMBLA
Burial service after the capture of Bandar Shapur by Allied forces led by HMS KANIMBLA

Burial service after the capture of Bandar Shapur by Allied forces led by HMS KANIMBLA

Date1941
Object numberANMS0297[001]
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin print
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionBandar Shapur was a strategically important port in Iran. Though Iran was neutral during WWII an Allied force let by HMAS KANIMBLA captured the port in August 1941 to prevent its use by Axis forces and to allow war matériel to be sent to Russia via the trans-Iranian railway.HistoryOn the night of 24 August 1941 HMS KANIMBLA led flotilla in a surprise attack on the Iranian port of Bandar Shahpur, capturing eight German and Italian merchant vessels, two Iranian gunboats. The German and Italian crews attempted to scuttle their ships so could not be used by the enemy, the Allied crews boarded their ships to prevent this. The KANIMBLA remained in the area until 11 October, supervising the port and carrying out salvage work on the captured vessels.