HMS
AMPHION was the last of three Modified Leander Class
cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the 1930's and later
transferred to the Royal Australian Navy.
AMPHION was launched at Portsmouth on
the 7th January 1934 and commissioned on the 15th
June 1936 under Capt. R.L.Burnett O.B.E. RN. He would
later win fame in World War ll at the Battle of the Barents
Sea and at the sinking of the German battleship SCHARNHORST
After trials at Spithead she sailed south for
Simonstown , South Africa.
On the way she stopped at Tenerife in the Canary Islands
where General Franco was trying to overthrow the Spanish
Government. She stayed there until relieved by HMS
LEANDER in October. After a brief stop at the
island of Saint Helena, she proceeded to Simonstown arriving
on 3rd October 1936. Here she became flagship of the
6th Cruiser Squadron under Vice Admiral Sir Francis L. Tottenham.
During her stay on the Africa Station, AMPHION
was mainly involved in "Showing the flag" cruises.
In the latter part of 1936 she did a cruise of the West
coast as far north as Freetown and Bathurst. A stop a Dakar
was cancelled due to an outbreak of yellow fever.
In April 1937 she did a short cruise up the East coast
as far as New London calling at several ports on the way.
In June she once again cruised the East coast as far north
as Port Amelia of the tip of Madagascar. On
the 14th July, while approaching her anchorage in Bazaruto
Bay she ran aground on soft sand. After being stuck
for 49 minutes she managed to free herself with no damage.
In January 1938, AMPHION took part in the Navy Week
celebrations at Simonstown Naval Base. As well as
AMPHION, HMSs NEPTUNE, PENZANCE, and
BRIDGEWATER were open to the public.
An unfortunate incident occurred during the week when the
Osprey floatplane K5747, attached to HMS NEPTUNE,
crashed into a mountain opposite the base killing the pilot,
Lt. J.C.H.Price, and an observer from AMPHION, AB
L.V Hammond. Lt. Price was later buried at sea with full
military honours. AB Hammond was buried at sea on 22nd January
1938
AMPHION continued her cruises up the West Coast in July
and August. On the 9th September she hosted a day cruise
for local politicians who were treated to gunnery and air
attack displays.
On the 3rd December 1938 the flag of the CinC was transferred
to HMS NEPTUNE and AMPHION left Simonstown
for the last time. She arrived at Portsmouth on 15th
December 1938 where she paid off and underwent a long refit
before being handed over to the R.A.N. as HMAS PERTH.
During her commission, AMPHION steamed over
58,000 naut. miles.
 |
Capt.R.L.Burnett
and Vice Adm.F.L.Tottenham |
