by Michael Griggs
1/600 Ship Collection (Airfix/Revell)
Australia purchased two of the Royal Navy's Kent Class 'Washington Treaty' Heavy Cruisers during the 1920s. They were intended to replace the battlecruiser HMAS Australia I scuttled in 1924 to comply with the Treaty. The names chosen were to commemorate the first Australia and that of the new Australian capital city Canberra.
The two ships alternated as flagship of the fleet during the 1930s. In 1939 Australia was modernised along lines pioneered in the RN's Kent Class ships. War broke out before Canberra could be brought up to date. Australia served in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Western Pacific during WWII She was hit three times by kamikazes during her time with the US 7th fleet. Canberra was lost with three US Cruisers in the disastrous Battle of Savo Island off Guadalcanal in 1942.
My models are modified Airfix's 1/600 HMS Suffolk an RN Kent Class cruiser. Gold Medal after market railings are added.
