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United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy ships in Sydney Harbour
United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy ships in Sydney Harbour

United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy ships in Sydney Harbour

Photographer (Australian, 1899 - 1953)
Printer
DateJuly 1925
Object number00020973
NamePhotograph
MediumSilver gelatin print
DimensionsOverall: 67 x 113 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionImage of vessels at night dressed in lights on Sydney Harbour. On 23 July 1925, Sydney hosted eight of the US Navy Battle Fleet's largest ships, including USS CALIFORNIA, USS COLORADO, USS TENNESSEE, USS MARYLAND, USS WEST VIRGINIA, USS NEW MEXICO, USS MISSISSIPPI and USS IDAHO. The fleet departed for New Zealand on 6 August. The four-funelled vessel to the left of the centre is possibly HMAS SYDNEY or HMAS MELBOURNE.SignificanceThis photograph is significant as a souvenir of the 1925 goodwill cruise of the United States Battle Fleet to Australia, which renewed the Australian-American alliance established by the Great White Fleet visit in 1908. The 1925 visit contributes to a long history of US Naval visits to Australian ports starting with the US Exploring Expedition in 1839-1840, followed by the 1908 visit of the Great White Fleet and later visits in the 1940s in the lead-up to World War II.