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HMAS CANBERRA medallion's case
HMAS CANBERRA medallion's case

HMAS CANBERRA medallion's case

Date1981
Object number00044567
NameCase
MediumPlastic, fabric
DimensionsOverall: 65 x 65 mm
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis medallion is in commemoration of the commissioning of the ship HMAS CANBERRA III which was launched on 1 December 1978 and commissioned on 21 March 1981. CANBERRA's role was to operate with other maritime forces to help keep the world's sea lanes open and free and to provide protection for military and merchant convoys. HMAS CANBERRA III was decommissioned on 12 November 2005.HistoryHMAS CANBERRA III was a long range escort frigate that undertook many roles including area air-defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. HMAS CANBERRA III, was the third to bear this name with the original being a RAN Kent Class Heavy Cruiser which served from 1928 until it was damaged and sunk at the Battle of Savo Island in 1942. The second was a United States Baltimore Class Navy Heavy Cruiser, USS CANBERRA, named in honour of the first ship. USS Canberra is the only US Navy ship so far to be named for a capital city outside the United States of America. HMAS CANBERRA III was built for the Royal Australian Navy by Todd Pacific Shipyard Corporation's Seattle Division and has five sister frigates, HMA Ships ADELAIDE, SYDNEY, DARWIN, MELBOURNE, and NEWCASTLE which were the first RAN ships to be powered by gas turbines for their main propulsion. HMAS CANBERRA III was launched on 1 December 1978 and commissioned on 21 March 1981. CANBERRA's role was to operate with other maritime forces to help keep the world's sea lanes open and free and to provide protection for military and merchant convoys. The ship's motto is 'For Queen and Country' which is an abbreviation of the first HMAS CANBERRA's motto 'Pro Rege et Lege et Grece' translated as 'For the King, the Law and the People'. HMAS CANBERRA participated in numerous operations, including Operation DAMASK following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait (November 1992 to March 1993), Operation BRANCARD to evacuate Australian nationals from Jakarta (May 1998), and Operation SLIPPER (March to July 2002) as part of the international coalition against terrorism. HMAS CANBERRA III was decommissioned at the Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia on 12 November 2005. In 2006, the Victorian Artificial Reef Society began its campaign to sink the ex-HMAS CANBERRA off Victoria as an artificial wreck dive site.