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Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 47, 24 August 1939, Page 23

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H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA

CRUISER ALMOST READY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, August 18. The modernisation of H.M.A.S. Australia at a cost of £650,000 will be completed this month and her steam and gunnery trials will take place of! the New South Wales coast in September. A belt of armour has been added to the sides of the cruiser, enabling her to withstand heavier gunfire,- and to the deck to give protection to vital machinery. About 140 miles of new electrical, wires have been installed, of which 44 miles are multi-cord. The firing power of the cruiser has been greatly increased by almost rebuilding the bridge to accommodate the latest fire control arrangements for the eight 8-inch guns and other ■ armament. To permit of the installation of four, twin 4-inch high-angle antiaircraft guns to meet high-flying attack j the top gun deck has been removed, j Two-pounder pom-poms have been installed to aid the machine-guns in fighting low-flying aircraft, and the aircraft catapult has been strengthened to launch heavier aircraft and boats. Special tanks have been installed to carry petrol for planes and boats. The machinery has been overhauled. Similar modernisation will be begun on the sister ship H.M.A.S. Canberra about the end of the year. Work on the Australia gave employment to an average of 700 men for sixteen months. By working shifts and overtime the work was accelerated by at least four months.