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Attack on Bandar Shapur, enemy ships on fire
Attack on Bandar Shapur, enemy ships on fire

Attack on Bandar Shapur, enemy ships on fire

Date1941
Object numberANMS0303[045]
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin print
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionDuring the Allied attack on the Iranian port of Bandar Shapur German and Italian crews attempted to scuttle their ships to prevent them falling into enemy hands.HistoryBandar Shapur was a strategically important port in Iran. Though Iran declared itself netural at the start of 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. In the attack the Allies seized eight Italian and German merchant ships as well as two Iranian gunboats.