USS Canberra
Statement
Hon Phil Twiss (5:25 pm) : I rise today to speak on a matter of profound historical resonance and contemporary significance. I am wearing on my left lapel a pin representing the star-spangled kangaroo. This was given to me by a recently retired US Navy captain who was involved with the AUKUS project in Western Australia. Since the 1980s, it has been customary for all Australian major surface fleet units—that is, warships—to bear a kangaroo on the funnel or superstructure to identify them as Australian ships. The custom has been used sporadically over the years since the First World War to proudly identify Australian ships, especially when combined with other fleet units in wartime operations. The star-spangled kangaroo, however, is unique to just one warship: the USS Canberra. For those not familiar with the terminology, "USS" means United States ship. The USS Canberra is also unique compared with every other ship in the United States Navy, in that it is the only US warship to be named after a foreign capital.
The USS Canberra is not just another ship in the United States Navy; it is a tribute. It is a living, sailing memorial to the HMAS Canberra, a proud Australian heavy cruiser that was tragically sunk during the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942. It was the lead ship in a taskforce of US Navy and RAN warships, where it provided a protective screen for American transports to the US Marine landing operations at Guadalcanal, when it was severely damaged during a surprise attack from the powerful Japanese Navy. In the darkness and confusion of the early hours of the morning, the Canberra, as the lead ship, bore the brunt of the Japanese attacks and was hit 24 times in less than two minutes, with 84 of her crew killed, including Captain Frank Getting. The Japanese wreaked havoc with all the other Allied vessels before withdrawing. However, despite all this, US Marine landing operations at Guadalcanal continued successfully. Then, following an order to abandon ship, the Canberra was sunk the next day by a torpedo from a US destroyer.
In recognition of this heroic work, President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognised the sacrifice of the Australian Navy in protecting US Marines and renamed the new Baltimore-class heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh, the USS Canberra. The loss of HMAS Canberra was a painful moment in our naval history, but it also marked the beginning of a deep and resilient alliance forged in the crucible of war. In naming a United States warship after an Australian vessel, the US Navy made a powerful statement. It was not merely an act of remembrance; it was an act of respect. It was an act of recognition of the courage and sacrifice of Australian sailors, and an affirmation of the bond between our two nations.
In 2021, the latest USS Canberra, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, was delivered to the US Navy from the Austal shipbuilding facility in Mobile and was due to be commissioned at a home port at San Diego naval base. Austal is the only company outside the US that builds US warships—an Australian-founded and based company. Instead, she sailed, non-commissioned, across to Sydney, where she was later commissioned at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East on 22 July 2023. The commissioning of USS Canberra in Sydney was a first for any US Navy warship in Australia, demonstrating the special relationship between Australia and the United States. This ship, a littoral combat ship, has been designed for agility and versatility in nearshore operations, and represents more than military capability; it represents trust, shared values, democracy, freedom and the rule of law. It represents a partnership that has grown stronger over decades, through conflicts and crises, through peacekeeping and humanitarian missions and through joint exercises and strategic planning.
As we look to the future, the USS Canberra will serve as a floating ambassador to our alliance. It will patrol the Indo-Pacific, a region where stability and cooperation are more important now than ever. It will participate in joint operations, strengthen interoperability and demonstrate our shared commitment to a free and open maritime domain. It is important to remember that ships like USS Canberra are more than steel and technology; they are stories and they are symbols. They are commitments made visible, and, in this case, they are a testament to the enduring mateship between Australia and the United States.
It would be remiss of me to not mention the broader strategic framework in which this partnership continues to evolve, namely the AUKUS agreement. This trilateral pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States represents a generational leap in defence cooperation. It is not only about submarines and advanced technologies; it is about trust, transparency and a shared strategic vision. The USS Canberra is a tangible symbol of that vision and of our commitment to maintaining peace, security and a technological edge in a rapidly changing world.
Just a few years ago, the world was in a period of relative peace. Today we find ourselves in a time of strategic uncertainty with current hot wars being fought across the globe and with various threats posed to democratic institutions and international stability. In this context, partnerships like AUKUS are more important now than ever. They ensure that like-minded nations stand in defence of peace, sovereignty and the values we hold dear. May the USS Canberra sail safely and proudly, carrying with it the legacy of those who served before and the promise of continued cooperation between our great nations.
