View source for HMAS Perth (D29)

{{Short description|Light cruiser used by the Australian navy during WWII}}
{{Other ships|HMAS Perth|HMS Amphion}}
{{Good article}}
{{Coord|05|51|42|S|106|7|52|E|type:landmark|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:Australische kruiser HMAS Perth, (1936-1942) (2158 072435).jpg
|Ship caption=''Perth''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Amphion''
|Ship namesake=[[Amphion]]
|Ship builder=[[HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]]
|Ship laid down=26 June 1933
|Ship launched=27 July 1934
|Ship commissioned=15 June 1936
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: I29
|Ship fate=Sold to [[Royal Australian Navy]], June 1939
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=Australia
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
|Ship name=''Perth''
|Ship namesake=City of [[Perth, Western Australia]]
|Ship acquired=1939
|Ship commissioned=29 June 1939
|Ship motto=*''Floreat''
* ({{langx|la|"Let it flourish"}})
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=*Battle honours:
* [[Battle of the Atlantic|Atlantic]] 1939
* [[Malta Convoys]] 1941
* [[Battle of Cape Matapan|Matapan]] 1941
* [[Battle of Greece|Greece]] 1941
* [[Battle of Crete|Crete]] 1941
* [[Battle of the Mediterranean|Mediterranean]] 1941
* [[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|Pacific]] 1941–42
* [[Battle of Sunda Strait|Sunda Strait]] 1942
|Ship identification=Pennant number: D29
|Ship fate=Sunk during the [[Battle of Sunda Strait]], 1 March 1942
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship header=
|Header caption=(as completed)
|Ship class=[[Leander-class cruiser (1931)|Modified ''Leander''-class light cruiser]]
|Ship displacement={{cvt|7040|LT|t|lk=on}} ([[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard]])
|Ship length=*{{convert|562|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[o/a]])
* {{convert|530|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[Length between perpendiculars|p/p]])
|Ship beam={{convert|56|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship draught={{convert|19|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship power=*4 × [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s
* {{cvt|72000|shp|kW|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=4 shafts; 4 × geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{cvt|32.5|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{cvt|7000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|16|kn}}
|Ship complement=622 (36 officers, 586 [[naval rating|ratings]])
|Ship armament=
* 4 × twin [[BL 6 inch Mk XXIII naval gun|BL {{cvt|6|in|0}} guns]]
* 4 × single [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF {{cvt|4|in|0}} guns]]
* 3 × quadruple [[Vickers .50 machine gun|{{cvt|0.5|in|1}}]] [[anti-aircraft machinegun|AA machineguns]]
* 2 × quadruple [[British 21 inch torpedo#21 inch Mark IX|{{cvt|21|in|0}}]] [[torpedo tubes]]
|Ship armour=*[[Belt armor|Waterline belt]]: {{cvt|3|in|mm|0}}
* [[Magazine (artillery)|Magazine]]: {{cvt|2|-|3.5|in}}
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{cvt|1.125|in|0}}
* [[Gun turret]]s: {{cvt|1|in}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMAS ''Perth''''' was one of three [[Leander-class cruiser (1931)|modified ''Leander''-class]] [[light cruiser]]s used by the [[Royal Australian Navy]] (RAN) during the early part of [[World War II]]. She was built for the [[Royal Navy]] (RN) in the mid-1930s and was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] as '''HMS ''Amphion''''' in 1936. The ship spent the next several years as [[flagship]] of the [[Commander-in-Chief, Africa (Royal Navy)|Commander-in-Chief, Africa]] before she was transferred to the RAN in 1939 and renamed as HMAS ''Perth''.

At the start of World War II in September, the ship patrolled the [[Atlantic Ocean|Western Atlantic]] and the Caribbean in search of German shipping and escorting convoys for six months before she was ordered home in early 1940. The ship continued the same types of duties in Australian waters before she was transferred to the [[Mediterranean Fleet]] at the end of 1940. ''Perth'' then helped to escort numerous [[Malta convoys|convoys to Malta]] in early 1941 and played a minor role in the [[Battle of Cape Matapan]] in March. She escorted convoys to [[Battle of Greece|Greece]] and [[Battle of Crete|Crete]] and helped to evacuate Allied troops from both places in the face of the victorious Axis forces. The ship was badly damaged by Axis aircraft in May during the evacuation of Crete.

After repairs were completed in June, ''Perth'' provided [[naval gunfire support]] to [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] forces ashore during the [[Syria-Lebanon Campaign]] and bombarded [[Vichy French]] targets. She returned to Australia in mid-1941 and was tasked with the same sorts of missions as she had been performing at the beginning of the war. The ship continued to perform these tasks after the start of the [[Pacific War]] in December until she was transferred to the [[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command]] in February 1942 to help defend the [[Dutch East Indies]] against the Japanese. ''Perth'' was not damaged during the [[Battle of the Java Sea]], but was torpedoed and sunk by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] at the [[Battle of Sunda Strait]] immediately afterwards.

Over half her crew was killed in the battle and only about two-thirds of the survivors survived captivity to return home after the war. The ship's wreck was discovered in 1967 and was essentially intact; by 2013 the wreck had been partially stripped by unauthorised Indonesian [[Marine salvage#Plunder|marine salvagers]] and was in even worse condition four years later.

==Design and description==
[[File:HMAS Perth (AWM 301166).jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of ''Perth'' in 1940]]
{{Main|Leander-class cruiser (1931)#Modified Leander group|l1=Modified Leander class}}
The design of the ''Leander''-class cruisers was adapted for the 1932–1933 Naval Programme to separate their propulsion machinery [[Unit system of machinery|arranged into separate units]]. This was intended to improve their survivability as each unit of paired [[boiler]]s and [[steam turbine]]s could operate independently and a single hit could not immobilise the ship.<ref>Friedman, ''British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After'', p. 163; Raven & Roberts, ''British Cruisers of World War Two'', p. 156</ref> As built ''Amphion'' had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|562|ft|4|in|m|1}},<ref name=Cassells92>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 92</ref> a length [[between perpendiculars]] of {{convert|530|ft|m|1}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|56|ft|8|in|m|1}}, and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|19|ft|5|in|m|1}} at [[deep load]].<ref name=f9>Friedman, ''British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After'', p. 399</ref> The ship [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|7040|LT|t|lk=on}} at [[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard load]] and {{convert|9140|LT|t}} at deep load. This gave her a [[metacentric height]] of {{cvt|4.5|ft|m|1}} at deep load.<ref>Raven & Roberts, ''British Cruisers of World War Two'', pp. 156, 416</ref> Her crew numbered 36 officers and 586 [[naval rating|ratings]].<ref name=f9/>

The modified ''Leander''s were powered by four [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared turbines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by four [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s. The turbines, rated at {{convert|72000|shp|lk=on}}, were intended to give the ships a maximum speed of {{convert|32.5|kn|lk=in}}<ref name=f9/> The unit system necessarily meant that each machinery unit had its own [[funnel (ship)|funnel]].<ref name=Frame15>Frame, ''HMAS Sydney'', p. 15</ref> The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of {{convert|7000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|16|kn}}.<ref name=r6>Raven & Roberts, ''British Cruisers of World War Two'', p. 416</ref>

===Armament and protection===
[[File:HMAS Perth - men astride gun turret, 1941.jpg|thumb|upright=0.5|left|Sailors astride one of ''Perth''{{'}}s main guns, 1941]]
The [[armament|main battery]] of the Modified ''Leander'' class consisted of eight [[BL 6 inch Mk XXIII naval gun|BL {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}} Mk XXIII guns]] arranged in two pairs of [[superfiring]] twin-[[gun turret]]s fore and aft of the [[superstructure]]. Their [[secondary armament]] consisted of four [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} Mk V guns]] in open single mounts abreast the aft funnel. For short-range air defence, the ship was fitted with three quadruple mounts for [[Vickers .50 machine gun|Vickers {{cvt|0.5|in|1}}]] [[anti-aircraft machinegun|AA machineguns]]. They were also armed with eight {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s in two above-water quadruple mounts, one on each [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]].<ref name=Cassells93>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 93</ref>

Most of the armour protecting parts of the ship consisted of [[non-cemented armour]]. The machinery spaces were protected by a {{convert|3|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[Belt armor|waterline belt]] and the deck above them consisted of {{convert|1.125|in|mm|0}} of [[high-tensile steel]]. The sides of the [[magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazines]] consisted of {{convert|3.5|in|mm|0|adj=on}} armour plates and their roofs were protected by {{convert|2|in|mm|0|adj=on}} plates.<ref name=r6/> The gun turrets had {{convert|1|in|mm|0}} thick sides and roofs.<ref>Lenton, ''British & Empire Warships of the Second World War'', p. 57</ref>

==Construction and career==
''Amphion'' was originally ordered for the RN as part of the 1931–1932 Naval Programme, but the order was suspended until the design of the Modified ''Leander'' class was finished.<ref>Friedman, ''British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After'', p. 167</ref> The ship was [[laid down]] at [[HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]] on 26 June 1933 and was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] by the [[Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland|Marchioness of Titchfield]] on 27 July 1934. ''Amphion'' was commissioned on 15 June 1936 and was completed on 6 July.<ref name=Cassells93/> The cruiser served as the flagship of the [[Commander-in-Chief, Africa (Royal Navy)|Commander-in-Chief, Africa]] and the [[6th Cruiser Squadron]] (Vice-Admiral Sir [[Francis Tottenham]]) from 1936 to 1938.<ref>Morris, ''Cruisers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies'', pp. 194, 201</ref>

In early 1939 the ship was refitted and her Mk V four-inch guns were replaced by four twin-gun mounts for [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XVI|QF four-inch Mk XVI]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s. The base for a rotating aircraft [[Aircraft catapult#Interwar and World War II|catapult]] and its associated [[crane (machine)|crane]] were also installed.<ref name=r1>Raven & Roberts, ''British Cruisers of World War Two'', p. 161</ref>

===Australian service===
''Amphion'' was sold to the RAN and was commissioned into service on 29 June 1939. She was renamed HMAS ''Perth'' on 10 July by [[Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark|Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent]]. On entry into Australian service, the ship's company stood at 646 (35 officers and 611 ratings).<ref name=Cassells93/> Most of the ship's company had departed Australia in May 1939 aboard {{SS|Autolycus}}: the enlisted men had to live and sleep in the ship's livestock holds.<ref>Frame & Baker, ''Mutiny!'', p. 145</ref> In early August, while en route to Australia, ''Perth'' was used to represent her nation at the [[1939 New York World's Fair]].<ref name=Cassells93/> While at New York City, there was a minor "mutiny" aboard. The cause was orders that sailors ashore for [[shore leave]] would have to return to the ship at 18:00 and change from [[Royal Navy uniform|white uniforms to blue uniforms]], although the overall treatment of the sailors by the officers had been an issue since the cruiser was taken over by the RAN. Over 60 sailors gathered on the ship's [[forecastle]], where they were confronted by officers with [[Sidearm (weapon)|side arm]]s (the first time RAN officers had been armed to deal with a mutiny) and were ordered below decks, but they refused. The [[warship]]'s commanding officer, [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] [[Harold Farncomb]], next approached the sailors and informed them that if they did not follow orders to disperse, he would treat their actions as a mutiny. The standoff could be seen from the wharfside, and a heavily armed force from the [[New York City Police Department]] was dispatched but did not intervene. Farncomb successfully defused the situation by making the offer that any sailor wanting to wear blue uniform all day ashore could do so after asking permission; an offer taken up by almost every sailor taking shore leave.<ref name=FrameBaker146>Frame & Baker, ''Mutiny!'', pp. 145–146</ref>

===World War II===
[[File:Overhead view of HMAS Perth (D29) in March 1940.jpg|thumb|Overhead view of ''Perth'', passing through [[Gatun Lake]] in the Panama Canal, 2 March 1940]]
While still en route to Australia, ''Perth'' was steaming off the coast of [[Venezuela]] when World War II began.<ref name=Frame149.50>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', pp. 149–150</ref> As she was initially the only [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] warship in the Caribbean and western Atlantic, the cruiser began searching the region for German shipping<ref name=Frame149.50/> and escorting convoys.<ref>Rohwer, ''Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two'', p. 6</ref> ''Perth'' did not leave the area until March 1940, sailing via the [[Panama Canal]] to reach Australian waters for the first time on 31 March.<ref>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', pp. 126–127</ref> On arrival, ''Perth'' was refitted at Sydney's [[Garden Island (New South Wales)|Garden Island Naval Base]] until 29 April, during which her catapult was installed. She initially carried a [[Supermarine Seagull (1921)|Supermarine Seagull V]], later a [[Supermarine Walrus]]. The ship was assigned to convoy escort duty and patrols along the Australian coasts in May. On 6 June Captain Sir [[Bowyer-Smyth baronets|Philip Bowyer-Smyth, Bt.]] assumed command of ''Perth'' and [[Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] [[John Gregory Crace|John Crace]] hoisted his flag aboard the cruiser as commander of the [[Australian Squadron]].<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 133–136, 146</ref> These duties continued through November 1940, when she was sent to the Mediterranean to relieve her [[sister ship]] {{HMAS|Sydney|D48|2}}.<ref name=Cassells93/><ref>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 160</ref> Escorting a troop convoy from Australia to the [[Red Sea]] en route, ''Perth'' reached [[Alexandria, Egypt]], on 24 December, after a short spell of escort duty in the Red Sea.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', p. 148</ref> She was assigned to the [[7th Cruiser Squadron]] of the Mediterranean Fleet.<ref name=Bastock127>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 127</ref>

During [[Operation Excess]] in early January 1941, the ship escorted a convoy from Malta to Alexandria along with other elements of the Mediterranean Fleet.<ref>Admiralty Historical Section, ''The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: November 1940 – December 1941'', pp. 44, 46</ref> While docked in [[Grand Harbour]], Malta, on 16 January, ''Perth'' was damaged by a near-miss from a bomb that temporarily knocked out her power and caused some flooding. During the bombing, her crew helped to put out the fire aboard the [[ammunition ship]] {{SS|Essex}} and rendered assistance to the damaged [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Illustrious|87|6}}. The cruiser departed Malta that evening and reached Alexandria on the 18th where she entered the dockyard for temporary repairs.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 173–179</ref> On 22 January she departed to rendezvous with ''Illustrious'' and escort her to  Alexandria and then returned to Greece where she patrolled the sea between Crete and [[Piraeus]], Greece.<ref>Whiting, ''Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 5–6</ref> While returning to Alexandria for more permanent repairs, ''Perth'' encountered a severe sandstorm while approaching the harbour on the night of 6/7 February, only to find out that the ship was going to be inspected by the [[Prime Minister of Australia]], [[Robert Menzies]], the following morning and thus had to be cleaned before his arrival.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 185–186</ref>

[[File:HMASPerth1942.jpg|thumb|right|''Perth'' underway after her February 1941 refit]]
The ship entered the floating drydock on 9 February and remained there for 10 days. During this time, her catapult was removed and replaced by a pair of captured Italian [[Breda Model 35|{{convert|20|mm|adj=on|1}} Breda]] AA guns, one on each side of the catapult mount. In addition, a non-rotating [[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 286|Type 286]]  [[search radar]] was installed.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 194–195</ref> On the morning of the 27th, she was one of the escorts for [[destroyer]]s carrying reinforcements for [[Operation Abstention]], the attack on the island of [[Kastellorizo]], off the Turkish coast in the Italian [[Dodecanese Islands]]. Arriving there that night, the British ships found that the Italians had reinforced their garrison; after landing the reinforcements, the army commanders decided to evacuate the island as they were outnumbered by the garrison.<ref>O'Hara, ''Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945'', pp. 82–83</ref>

===Battle of Greece===
{{main|Battle of Greece}}
[[File:Perth from Gloucester during the Battle of Matapan.jpg|thumb|''Perth'' seen from {{ship|HMS|Gloucester|62|6}} amidst the smokescreens during the Battle of Matapan, 28 March 1941]]
Beginning on 7 March, ''Perth'' supported the [[Operation Lustre|Allied reinforcement of Greece]] by transporting soldiers from Alexandria to Piraeus along with patrolling the waters between Greece and Crete. On 17–24 March she escorted another convoy to Malta.<ref name=Bastock127/><ref name=Goldrick127>Goldrick, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 117</ref><ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 201–204</ref> ''Perth'' played a minor role in the [[Battle of Cape Matapan]] on 26–29 March as her squadron was spotted by the Italian fleet and pursued as they retreated towards the main body of the British fleet.<ref>O'Hara, ''Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945'', pp. 85–90</ref> Undamaged during the battle, she resumed her previous duties. Sometime in April, the ship was fitted with a quadruple [[QF 2 pounder naval gun#QF 2-pounder Mark VIII|2-pounder ({{cvt|40|mm|in|1}}) Mk VIII "pom-pom"]] AA gun mounted on the catapult base.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 228, 253</ref> She escorted a convoy to Malta during 18–20 April and on the return journey, she covered the battleships of the Mediterranean Fleet as they bombarded [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] Harbour, in [[Italian Libya]], on the morning of 21 April.<ref>O'Hara, ''Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945'', pp. 112–113; Rohwer, ''Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two'', p. 69</ref> On 25 April the ship was assigned to help in the [[Operation Demon|evacuation of Allied troops]] from Greece. The troops and refugees were loaded at night to minimise the ability of the Axis forces to interfere with them and the ships had strict orders to depart in time to be well away from the coast by dawn, even if troops remained ashore. On the night of 28/29 April, Bowyer-Smyth was in charge of the force sent to evacuate troops from [[Kalamata]]. He sent a destroyer forward to reconnoitre the situation in the port while his other ships remained offshore. When the destroyer reported fighting in the harbour, he decided that it was not worth risking his ships being silhouetted again the fires and explosions in the port and ordered a return to Crete. By the time that the destroyer was able to report that the harbour had been secured, Bowyer-Smyth felt it was too late to return.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 254–259</ref>

The cruiser was one of the escorts for the [[Operation Battleaxe#Tiger Convoy|Tiger Convoy]] between Malta and Alexandria in early May. When the Germans [[Battle of Crete|invaded Crete]] on 20 May, ''Perth'' was part of Force C that consisted of two cruisers and four destroyers, patrolling in the vicinity of the [[Kasos Strait]], northeast of Crete. The following day they were repeatedly attacked by German and Italian aircraft that sank one of the destroyers. Now assigned to Force D, ''Perth'' and her consorts intercepted a German invasion convoy of small ships on the morning of the 22nd, escorted by the Italian [[torpedo boat]] {{ship|Italian torpedo boat|Sagittario|1936|2}}. ''Perth'' sank a straggler from another convoy before the main convoy was spotted at 08:47. The torpedo boat had been trying to collect stragglers and her commander ordered his convoy to disperse while he laid a [[smoke screen|smokescreen]] and then engaged the Allied ships with little effect. His diversion and the lack of visibility caused by his smokescreen, coupled with repeated aerial attacks that peppered the ships with shrapnel, allowed the convoy to escape with only the loss of two ships. Upon her return to Alexandria, ''Perth'' spent a few days under repair.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 275–281, 286–287; O'Hara, ''Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945'', pp. 120–121; Rohwer, ''Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two'', pp. 72, 75</ref>

On the evening of 28 May, the ship was assigned to Force D, three cruisers, three destroyers and a [[troopship]], which was sent to evacuate soldiers from [[Sphakia]], a small port on the southern coast of Crete, after their defeat by German paratroopers. ''Perth'' carried two small [[landing craft]] to ferry troops aboard. The Allied ships were not attacked during the following day as they embarked the soldiers and they departed before dawn on the 30th. Beginning at 09:30 Force D was repeatedly attacked by German aircraft, with ''Perth'' suffering several near-misses before being struck by a bomb which exploded in the forward [[Fire room|boiler room]] shortly before 10:00 with 4 of her sailors and 9 of the 1,188 embarked soldiers killed. The explosion temporarily knocked out her power and the cruiser came to a halt before it could be restored a half-hour later. It also bent the starboard inner propeller shaft and badly damaged the [[galley (kitchen)|galley]], the [[HACS|high-angle fire-control computer]], the [[Admiralty Fire Control Table]] for the six-inch guns and started many leaks in the hull plating.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 287–298</ref><ref>Goldrick, in Stevens, ''The Royal Australian Navy'', p. 118</ref><ref>Frame, ''No Pleasure Cruise'', p. 161</ref><ref>Raven, ''British Cruiser Warfare: The Lessons of the Early War, 1939–1941'', p. 125</ref><ref>Whiting, ''Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 17–18</ref>

The cruiser was able to reach Alexandria the next day and was under repair until 22 June. ''Perth'' sailed for [[Haifa]], [[British Palestine]], three days later to participate in the invasion of [[Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon|Vichy Syria and Lebanon]]. On the 27th she helped to lay a minefield off [[Damour]] and then provided gunfire support to Allied forces and bombarding Vichy facilities through to the end of the campaign before returning to Alexandria on 15 July. While she was waiting to be relieved by her sister {{HMAS|Hobart|D63|2}}, the quadruple "pom-pom" and the two Breda guns were removed and her catapult was reinstalled.<ref name=f6>Friedman, ''British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After'', p. 166</ref><ref>Raven, ''British Cruiser Warfare: The Lessons of the Early War, 1939–1941'', p. 126</ref><ref>Whiting, ''Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 19–24</ref>

===Return to the Pacific Ocean===
''Perth'' returned to Australia for permanent repairs, arriving in Sydney on 12 August. The release of her crew for shore leave was delayed by a speech from Menzies that same day that was not well-received. In addition to the required repairs, the Type 286 radar was removed and two quadruple 0.5-inch machinegun mounts were reinstalled on her [[quarterdeck]]. She also probably received four [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20-millimetre Oerlikon]] AA guns in single mounts installed on the superfiring turrets' roofs and in the superstructure near the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]].<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 315–316, 318–319, 324–325</ref><ref name=f6/><ref>Whitley, ''Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia'', p. 19</ref> Bowyer-Smith was relieved of his command and sent back to Britain on 1 September and Captain [[Hector Waller]] assumed command on 24 October. Completion of the refit at [[Cockatoo Island (New South Wales)|Cockatoo Island]] was delayed by a month after a fire melted the electrical cables leading to the [[List of British ordnance terms#DCT|director-control tower]] on the roof of the bridge; on 24 November the ship conducted her full-power sea trials.<ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 327, 337–338</ref><ref>Whiting, ''Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 24–28</ref> After the refit's completion, ''Perth'' and the heavy cruiser {{HMAS|Canberra|D33|2}} steamed on 12 December from Sydney to Brisbane. Three days later, they met with the light cruiser {{HMNZS|Achilles|70|6}}, and formed up as the heavy escort for the [[Pensacola Convoy]].<ref name=Gill510>Gill, ''Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942'', p. 510</ref> ''Perth'' continued convoy escort duties in home waters until the end of January 1942.<ref name=Cassells93/><ref name=Gill580>Gill, ''Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942'', p. 580</ref>

[[File:Perth in February 1942.jpg|thumb|''Perth'' in 1942 with 20&nbsp;mm guns atop her turrets]]
''Perth'' was scheduled to remain in eastern home waters within the [[ANZAC Area]] while the ''Canberra'' underwent refit. The War Cabinet agreed to meet a request by the United States for deployment of ''Perth'' to the [[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command|American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Area]] immediately and, in doing so, escort a convoy proceeding to ABDA. On 31 January ''Perth'' sailed from Sydney, reaching [[Fremantle]], Australia, on 10 February and relieved the old light cruiser {{HMAS|Adelaide|1918|6}} on 15 February as escort for the convoy of four empty [[oil tanker]]s and two cargo vessels on a mission to claim as much oil from the [[Dutch East Indies]] as possible before the Japanese invaded. After [[Fall of Singapore|Singapore was captured]] (endangering the destination port of [[Palembang]]), all but ''Perth'' and the cargo vessel {{SS|'s Jacob|1907|6}} were ordered to return to Fremantle. Although joined en route by the Dutch ships {{SS|Swartenhondt}} and {{SS|Karsik|1938|6}}, the operation was cancelled on 21 February, when the ships were {{convert|600|nmi}} from the [[Sunda Strait]], separating [[Java]] and [[Sumatra]]. ''Perth'' escorted the three other vessels back to within {{convert|700|nmi}} of Fremantle before turning north to join ABDA's Western Strike Force. She arrived at [[Tanjung Priok]], Java, on 24 February and was not damaged by a Japanese air raid later in the day.<ref name=Gill580/><ref>Carlton, ''Cruiser: The Life and Loss of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', pp. 404–406</ref>

====Battle of the Java Sea====
{{main|Battle of the Java Sea}}
After a Dutch [[reconnaissance aircraft]] spotted the Japanese eastern invasion fleet on the 25th, heading to their landing site west of [[Surabaya]], Java, ''Perth'', together with the British heavy cruiser {{HMS|Exeter|68|2}} and destroyers {{HMS|Jupiter|F85|2}}, {{HMS|Electra|H27|2}} and {{HMS|Encounter|H10|2}}, then proceeded to Surabaya, where they joined ABDA's eastern strike force under [[Rear-Admiral]] [[Karel Doorman]]. The force now consisted of the heavy cruisers ''Exeter'' and {{USS|Houston|CA-30|6}}, three light cruisers (Doorman's flagship {{HNLMS|De Ruyter|1935|6}}, {{HNLMS|Java|1921|6}} and ''Perth''), five modern destroyers (three British and two Dutch) and four elderly American destroyers. On the evening of the 26th, they [[sortie]]d in an unsuccessful search for the Japanese ships.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', p. 34</ref>

The Japanese received reports that the Allied ships were near their planned route at 11:00 on the 27th. Their cruisers launched [[floatplane]]s to confirm these reports and they spotted Doorman's ships heading east at 12:35. Five minutes later Doorman turned south to refuel in Surabaya. The Japanese observed this turn and they decided to continue with the landing at 13:40. Shortly after the Allied ships had passed through the minefield protecting the harbour entrance, Doorman received a report at 14:27 that the Japanese ships were {{cvt|50|nmi}} northwest of Surabaya. He reversed course almost immediately intending to attack the convoy. The Japanese floatplanes observed his movements, despite attacks by Allied fighters at 14:18 and 14:30, and their report caught the invasion force widely separated as it prepared to conduct the landing that evening.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 34–35 and fn. 39</ref>

''Electra'' spotted the Japanese light cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Jintsū||2}} at 16:12 which turned southwest and opened fire at a range of {{cvt|16000|yd|m}} shortly afterwards. The heavy cruiser {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Nachi||2}}, trailing far behind, opened fire at {{cvt|28000|yd|m}} at 16:17. The Allied heavy cruisers returned ''Nachi''{{'}}s fire three minutes later. At 16:21 Doorman turned slightly southwards to prevent the Japanese from [[Crossing the T|crossing his 'T']] and Rear-Admiral [[Takeo Takagi]], commander of the invasion escort force, turned slightly away to open up the range as the shooting on both sides had been accurate, although no hits were made. Doorman turned [[west southwest]] at 16:27 to better prevent his 'T' from being crossed, a manoeuvre that kept the range too far for the Allied light cruisers to contribute their gunfire. Both Japanese destroyer squadrons were manoeuvring during this time to make torpedo attacks using their powerful [[Type 93 torpedo|Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes]].<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 38–39</ref>

Both squadron [[flagship]]s opened fire beginning at 16:30 with the destroyers of Rear Admiral [[Shoji Nishimura]]'s 4th Destroyer Squadron following between 16:40 and 16:45 at ranges from {{cvt|13000|to|15000|yd|m}} with a total of 31 torpedoes aimed at the Allied ships, all of which missed. ''Nachi''{{'}}s sister {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Haguro||2}} contributed eight torpedoes at 16:52 at long range, which also missed. The gunfire duel continued while the torpedoes were being launched and ''Perth'' reported "tight salvos landing around [the ship], first {{cvt|25|yd|m}} short, then 25 yards over".<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 39–40</ref> About ten minutes later, Takagi realised that the Allied ships were closing in on the invasion convoy's route and he ordered an all-out attack to prevent them from reaching the convoy. About the same time, Doorman turned slightly northwards, closing the range. At 17:08, one of ''Haguro''{{'}}s 203-millimetre shells struck ''Exeter'' at a distance of 22,000 yards, detonating inside one of her boiler rooms. The shell set the ship on fire and knocked six of her eight boilers offline, and cut her speed to 5 knots.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imperial Cruisers |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/haguro_t.htm |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.combinedfleet.com}}</ref> The British cruiser fell out of formation and rapidly began to lose speed. The following cruisers assumed that this turn was deliberate and followed ''Exeter''; once Waller realised that she had been crippled, he ordered ''Perth'' to circle her, laying a smokescreen to conceal her.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 41–42</ref> ''Haguro'' then launched her torpedo battery again at 22,000 yards, with a single torpedo hitting the destroyer [[HNLMS Kortenaer (1927)|Kortenaer]], which blew in half and sank.

Doorman needed some time to reorganise his forces and ordered ''Exeter'' to head back to Surabaya, escorted by the British destroyers and the surviving Dutch destroyer. The remaining ships laid copious amounts of smoke and circled around as the Japanese attempted to sink the crippled ship with torpedoes. The light cruisers were the first to fire at 17:50 and were followed by the heavy cruisers and the destroyers; a total of 98 torpedoes that all missed. Two of the British destroyers charged through the smoke in an attempt to disrupt the attacks, ''Electra'' being sunk in the manoeuvre, and the Allied cruisers took up a course parallel to ''Exeter''{{'}}s. At 18:10 the American destroyers also charged out of the smoke and fired 24 of their torpedoes at ''Nachi'' and ''Haguro'', all of which missed. By this time, Takagi could see the [[lighthouse]] at Surabaya and he decided to break contact in the gathering darkness lest any of his ships enter a minefield defending the port.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 42–43</ref> At 18:12 ''Perth'' claimed a hit on ''Haguro'',<ref>Whiting, ''Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew'', p. 78</ref> but postwar research showed that the cruiser was not damaged during the battle.<ref>Lacroix & Wells, ''Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War'', p. 298</ref>

Doorman was determined to continue the battle and reversed course at 18:31 and his ships were spotted on their new course at 18:46. The Japanese ships were widely dispersed after their attacks and it took Takagi some time to organise them. In the meantime, Nishimura ordered the invasion convoy to turn westward at 19:04. After a brief engagement with ''Jintsū'', Doorman decided to disengage and then circle around to the south and try to get behind the Japanese escorts at 21:00. The American destroyers, low on fuel and out of torpedoes, independently decided to return to Surabaya at that same time. As Doorman was turning his ships north at 21:25, ''Jupiter'' struck a Dutch mine and lost all power before sinking. During this time, Takagi was aware of Doorman's movements as one of ''Jintsū''{{'}}s floatplanes was dropping [[flare]]s to track the Allied ships. At 21:20 ''Naka''{{'}}s floatplane relieved it, but it lost contact with Takagi at 22:00 which left both sides searching blindly.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 43–44</ref>

At 23:02 ''Nachi''{{'}}s lookouts spotted the Allied cruisers and the sisters manoeuvred to deliver a torpedo attack. Doorman's ships spotted the Japanese cruisers about the same time and they opened fire at 23:10. ''Nachi'' fired her torpedo battery, and it was one of these torpedoes that struck ''Java'', which broke in half and sank. Meanwhile, ''Haguro'' followed up with her torpedo battery, one of which hit ''De Ruyter'', which sank to progressive flooding over three hours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Imperial Cruisers |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/haguro_t.htm |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.combinedfleet.com}}</ref> ''Perth'' and ''Houston'' were the only large Allied ships to survive the battle, and they withdrew to Tanjung Priok afterwards on the morning of 28 February. The two ships attempted to resupply, but fuel shortages meant that ''Perth'' could only load half her normal fuel capacity, and a lack of ammunition left her with only the 160 six-inch shells remaining after the previous day. The cruisers and the Dutch destroyer {{HNLMS|Evertsen|1926|2}} were ordered to sail for [[Tjilatjap]] via the Sunda Strait that night.<ref name=Cassells94>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', p. 94</ref><ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 44–45</ref>

====Battle of Sunda Strait====
{{main|Battle of Sunda Strait}}
''Perth'' and ''Houston'' sailed at 19:00 (''Evertsen'' was delayed), low on fuel and ammunition, with ''Perth'' leading as Waller was in overall command as the senior officer present. The Allies believed that Sunda Strait was free of enemy vessels, but the Japanese western invasion force had assembled at [[Bantam Bay]] on the northwestern tip of Java without their knowledge. The cruisers were heading west when they were spotted at 22:39 by the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Fubuki|1927|2}} on patrol east of the bay at a range of {{cvt|11000|yd}}. After reporting to Rear Admiral [[Kenzaburo Hara (IJN officer)|Kenzaburo Hara]], commander of the escort force, the destroyer trailed the Allied ships. Hara's flagship, the light cruiser {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Natori||2}}, saw them at 22:48 at a range of {{cvt|18500|yd}}; Hara concluded that the silhouettes were enemy cruisers at 22:59 and intended to use ''Natori'' as bait to lure ''Perth'' and ''Houston'' away from the transports.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 48–50</ref>

At 23:06 lookouts on ''Perth'' sighted an unidentified ship and challenged it, expecting to see one of the Australian [[corvette]]s supposedly on station. When an unintelligible reply was received in return and the ship turned away and made smoke, Waller recognised the silhouette of a Japanese destroyer ({{ship|Japanese destroyer|Harukaze|1922|2}}), turned north to follow and opened fire at 23:15. ''Fubuki'' was {{cvt|3000|yd}} behind ''Houston'' when the Allied ships turned north and she fired nine older [[Type 90 torpedo|61-centimetre Type 90 torpedoes]] as she turned in pursuit as well as 16 rounds from her [[12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval gun|{{convert|12.7|cm|adj=on|0}} guns]]; all of which missed. Realizing that Waller was reacting to the nearby destroyer movements, Hara cancelled his plan when Waller opened fire and summoned all of his ships to attack. ''Harukaze''{{'}}s sister {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatakaze|1924|2}} was the first to close firing her [[12 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{convert|12|cm|adj=on}} guns]] at ''Perth'' before she turned northeast at 23:38. The cruiser was struck twice by light shells, once at 23:26 and again six minutes later, but was only slightly damaged.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 50–51</ref>

Shortly before 23:40, the destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatsuyuki|1928|2}} and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shirayuki|1928|2}} closed to {{cvt|4000|yd}} before emptying all nine of their torpedo tubes and turning away under the cover of smoke. ''Perth'' hit the latter's bridge with a six-inch shell, killing 1 man and wounding 11 more. None of these torpedoes hit their targets and Waller's ships continued to loop around to the south and west. ''Harukaze'', ''Hatakaze'' and their sister {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Asakaze|1922|2}} closed to attack, although the former ship was struck at least three times by Allied shells that killed three men and wounded 15. She was forced to fall out of formation and ''Hatakaze'' could not fire because of the frequent near-misses surrounding the cruisers. ''Asakaze'' was able to fire her six torpedoes, but they missed as well. At 23:44 ''Natori'' engaged ''Perth'' with 29 shells from her [[14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{convert|14|cm|adj=on}} guns]] and fired four torpedoes with no known effect before turning away two minutes later. By this time, the destroyers were no longer in the line of fire of the heavy cruisers {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Mikuma||2}} and her sister {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Mogami|1934|2}} which targeted ''Perth'' with six torpedoes each at a range of {{cvt|12000|yd}} at 23:49, none of which hit their target. About this time ''Perth'' and ''Houston'' began shooting at the Japanese heavy cruisers, but consistently shot ahead of them, possibly because both ships were streaming [[paravane (weapon)|paravane]]s which increased the size their bow waves and made the Allied ships overestimate their speed. ''Perth'' received an inconsequential hit around 23:50.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', pp. 51–53</ref><ref name=lw6>Lacroix & Wells, ''Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War'', p. 486</ref>

After reversing course and slightly closing the range, ''Mogami'' and ''Mikuma'' opened fire at ''Houston'' with their main guns at a range of {{cvt|11200|m|yd|order=flip}} at 23:52 using their [[searchlights]]. Three minutes later the Allied ship hit ''Mikuma'', killing six and wounding eleven men. With ''Perth'' down to firing practice rounds, ''Harukaze'' and ''Hatakaze'' closed in to {{cvt|4200|yd}} before firing eleven torpedoes between them during 23:56–23:58. Two minutes later the destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shirakumo|1927|2}} and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Murakumo|1928|2}} fired nine apiece at {{cvt|5000|yd}} and ''Natori'' contributed four more at {{cvt|9000|yd}}. About this time, a near-miss damaged the propeller of the Japanese destroyer {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Shikinami|1929|2}}, which was escorting the heavy cruisers.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', p. 53</ref><ref name=lw6/>

At 00:05 five of ''Mogami''{{'}}s torpedoes that had missed ''Perth'' struck and sank four transports and blew a [[minesweeper]] in half. About this time, Waller ordered his ship to try to force a way through to the Sunda Strait. Just as ''Perth'' settled on her new heading, she was hit by a torpedo in the forward [[engine room]], probably from ''Harukaze''. A second torpedo hit two minutes later that punched a hole in the hull near the bridge and two others followed shortly after, probably from ''Shirakumo'' and ''Mirakumo''.<ref>O'Hara, ''The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945'', p. 54</ref> Waller gave the order to abandon ship after the second torpedo impact.<ref>Bastock, ''Australia's Ships of War'', p. 128</ref> After some further close-range fire from the destroyers, ''Perth'' ''capsized'' to port and sank at 00:25 on 1 March 1942, with 353 killed: 342 RAN (including Waller), 5 Royal Navy, 3 [[Royal Australian Air Force]], and 3 civilian [[Cafeteria|canteen]] workers.<ref name=Cassells94/> ''Houston'' was torpedoed and sank about 20 minutes later. Of the 328 survivors, 5 died after reaching shore, while the rest became [[prisoners of war]]; 106 died during their internment: 105 naval and 1 RAAF, including 38 killed by Allied attacks on Japanese "[[hell ship]]s". The surviving 218 were repatriated after the war.<ref>Cassells, ''The Capital Ships'', pp. 95, 103–106</ref>

===Unauthorised salvage===
The wreck was discovered by [[David Godwin Burchell|David Burchell]] in 1967; at the time, the ship was reasonably intact, lying on its side at a depth of about {{cvt|35|m}}.<ref name="hos1">{{cite web |last1=Hosty |first1=Kieran |title=The Sad Fate of HMAS Perth (I) |url=https://www.sea.museum/2018/02/28/the-sad-fate-of-hmas-perth-i/ |publisher=Australian National Maritime Museum |access-date=10 August 2019 |date=28 February 2018}}</ref> In late 2013, divers found that the wreck of ''Perth'' was being stripped by unauthorised Indonesian [[Marine salvage#Plunder|marine salvagers]]. Reports in September indicated that crane-equipped barges had stripped off most of the wreck's superstructure, forward turrets, and forward decking, and that explosives had been used to break the ship up for easier recovery. These actions compromised the structural integrity of the wreck site, and have potentially exposed live munitions and oil tanks. ''Perth''{{'}}s wreck is not protected as a [[war grave]], either through the [[UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage]] (Australia and Indonesia are not signatories to the treaty) or through legislation in either nation. The stripping of ''Perth''{{'}}s wreck was not publicly reported until December 2013; the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] speculated that the government departments made aware of the issue tried to keep it under wraps to avoid further deterioration of [[Australia–Indonesia relations|relations between Australia and Indonesia]], particularly following the [[Australia–Indonesia spying scandal]].<ref name=salvage>{{cite news |last=Besser |first=Linton |title=HMAS Perth: WWII Warship Grave Stripped by Salvagers |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-13/outrage-as-warship-grave-stripped-by-salvagers/5156320 |access-date=14 December 2013 |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |date=14 December 2013}}</ref>

[[File:HMAS Perth (D29) wreck photo 01 in October 2015.JPG|thumb|right|A photograph taken of the wreck of ''Perth'' during the 2015 United States-Indonesia survey]]

In October 2015, United States Navy and [[Indonesian Navy]] divers embarked aboard {{USNS|Safeguard|T-ARS-50|6}} undertook a nine-day survey of ''Perth'' and ''Houston''.<ref name=TF73PA>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91710 |title=Navy Divers Survey Historic WWII in Sunda Strait |author=Task Force 73 Public Affairs |work=Navy News Service |publisher=United States Navy |date=26 October 2015 |access-date=8 January 2016 |archive-date=27 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027132123/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91710 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Divers documented the condition of the two shipwrecks, and identified signs of unauthorised salvage.<ref name=TF73PA/><ref name=USPFPA>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91776 |title=Partner Nations Preserve, Protect Sunken WWII Wrecks |author=U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs |work=Navy News Service |publisher=United States Navy |date=29 October 2015 |access-date=8 January 2016 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030133246/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91776 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The operation was a prelude to a conference in Jakarta on preserving and preventing the unauthorised salvage of wartime shipwrecks in the Java Sea.<ref name=USPFPA/>

The wreck was surveyed by a team from the [[Australian National Maritime Museum]], the [[Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (Indonesia)|Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries]] and the Indonesian National Research Centre for Archaeology (ARKENAS) in May 2017. As of that date, the ship's six-inch gun turrets, starboard-side armour belt and its associated hull plating and the propellers had all been removed, as had almost all of the propulsion machinery, most likely because it is [[low-background steel]]. "ARKENAS has proposed that the site be declared a Situs Cagar Budaya (Cultural Heritage Site) under Indonesian cultural heritage legislation, while the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries also intends to list the site as a Marine Conservation Zone."<ref name=hos1/>

==Legacy==
The cruiser's wartime service was later recognised with the [[battle honour]]s "Atlantic 1939", "Malta Convoys 1941", "Matapan 1941", "Greece 1941", "Crete 1941", "Mediterranean 1941", "Pacific 1941–42", and "Sunda Strait 1942".<ref name="newhonours">{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="honourslist">{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/enwiki/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/enwiki/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref> The RAN named a submarine, {{HMAS|Waller}}, after Captain Waller.<ref>{{cite web |title=HMAS Waller |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-waller |website=www.navy.gov.au |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=17 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

The HMAS ''Perth'' Memorial Regatta is held annually by the Nedlands Yacht Club, Perth, in honour of Waller, the crew, and the ship.<ref name="NYC2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.wa.yachting.org.au/newsletter/newsletterDisplay.asp?ID=1540 |title=2008 HMAS Perth Regatta a Doubly Poignant Event |work=Making Waves |publisher=Yachting Western Australia |year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514200836/http://www.wa.yachting.org.au/newsletter/newsletterDisplay.asp?ID=1540 |archive-date=14 May 2013 |access-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> The original [[ships' bells]] of the cruiser ''Perth'' and the Cold War-era destroyer [[HMAS Perth (D 38)|of the same name]] are displayed at the [[Perth Town Hall]].<ref name="cop">{{cite web |title=A Place with a Past |url=http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/web/Living/Community-Services-and-Facilities/Perth-Town-Hall/A-Place-with-a-Past/ |work=City of Perth website |publisher=[[City of Perth]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518150227/http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/web/Living/Community-Services-and-Facilities/Perth-Town-Hall/A-Place-with-a-Past/ |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> There is a memorial plaque in [[St John's Anglican Church, Fremantle|St John's Anglican Church]], King's Square, Fremantle, and a memorial service is held annually in the church in late February.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navyclub.com.au/index.php/traditions|title=History of the Navy Club & City of Fremantle NAA|publisher=Navy Club|location=Fremantle, Western Australia|access-date=29 June 2015|archive-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701072442/http://www.navyclub.com.au/index.php/traditions|url-status=dead}}</ref>

HMAS ''Perth'' is the only foreign warship commemorated in the grounds of [[Arlington National Cemetery]] in [[Arlington, VA]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Navy|first=corporateName=Royal Australian|title=HMAS Perth (I)|url=https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-perth-i|access-date=2021-10-25|publisher=www.navy.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== General references ==
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* {{cite book |last=Frame |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Frame (bishop) |title=HMAS Sydney: Loss and Controversy |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=Rydalmere, New South Wales |year=1993 |isbn=0-340-58468-8 |oclc=32234178}}
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* {{cite book |last1=Frame |first1=Tom |last2=Baker |first2=Kevin |title=Mutiny! Naval Insurrections in Australia and New Zealand |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St. Leonards, New South Wales |year=2000 |isbn=1-86508-351-8 |oclc=46882022|name-list-style=amp}}
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* {{cite book|last1=Lacroix|first1=Eric|last2=Wells II|first2=Linton |title=Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=1997|isbn=0-87021-311-3 |name-list-style=amp |author-link2=Linton Wells II}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7}}
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* {{cite book |last1=O'Hara |first1=Vincent | author-link = Vincent P. O'Hara |year=2009 |title=Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1-59114-648-3}}
* {{cite book | last = O'Hara | first = Vincent P.| year = 2007 | title = The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat 1941–1945 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 978-1-59114-650-6 }}
* {{cite book | last1= Perry | first=Roland | title=Red Lead: The legendary Australian ship's cat who survived the sinking of HMAS Perth and the Thai-Burma Railway | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = Crows Nest, NSW | date=2020 | isbn = 9781760297145}}
* {{cite book|last1=Raven|first1=Alan|last2=Roberts|first2=John|title=British Cruisers of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1980|isbn=0-87021-922-7|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book |last1=Raven |first1=Alan |title=British Cruiser Warfare: The Lessons of the Early War, 1939–1941 |date=2019 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |location=Barnsley, UK |isbn=978-1-5267-4763-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2|author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last=Whiting|first=Brendan|author-link=Brendan Whiting|title=Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=St Leonards, New South Wales|year=1995|isbn=1-86373-653-0}}
* {{cite book | last = Whitley  | first = M. J.  | author-link =Michael J. Whitley | year = 1999| title = Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia  | publisher = Brockhampton Press | location =London | isbn = 1-86019-874-0|orig-year=1995}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMAS Perth (D29)}}
* [http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-perth-i HMAS Perth (I)], Royal Australian Navy webpage on the ship

{{Leander class cruiser 1931}}
{{March 1942 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perth (D29)}}
[[Category:1934 ships]]
[[Category:Leander-class cruisers (1931) of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Leander-class cruisers (1931) of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in March 1942]]
[[Category:Ships built in Portsmouth]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of Australia]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Java Sea]]