Gun Barrel

This barrel is from the second HMAS Australia, which saw service in the Atlantic before being recalled to Australia in December 1941. It was involved in the battle of the Coral Sea, and later provided support for a number of Pacific island assaults. It suffered repeated kamikaze attacks in the Leyte and Lingayen invasions of the Phillipines in 1944-45. Six direct kamikaze hits caused extensive damage, killing 74 crew members and leaving 130 wounded.

The barrel was removed from the ship for relining in January 1944. This process required new engineering skills, which Australia rapidly developed. Such relined guns were test-fired at Port Wakefield in South Australia using the "Amiens gun" carriage.

The photograph below shows HMAS Australia in 1943. This barrel was mounted in the B turret (second turret from the bow).