The Australian sailors sailors of the Perth light cruiser (HMAS Perth) sit on the barrel of a 152-mm gun of the main caliber.
The Australian sailors photo taken in the Mediterranean.
Perth light cruiser from the end of 1940 operated in the Mediterranean. May 30, 1941 was damaged by German bombers near the island of Crete. At the end of 1941 he returned to Australia. In February 1942, Perth cruiser managed to survive after the defeat of the Allied Navy during the battle in the Java Sea. During the battle against the Japanese navy in the Sunda Strait on February 28, 1942, the Perth was hit by four torpedoes and a multitude of 203-mm shells. March 1, 1942 at 0.25 the ship went to the bottom. Of the team of 681 people, 353 died during the battle; 4 more died on the shore; the rest were captured. Of those captured, 106 died in captivity; 4 sailors were released in September 1944, when the ship carrying them was sunk; 214 Australian sailors returned to Australia after the war.
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Photo date: 1941