Name of official flagship when Sydney harbour Bridge was opened in 1932?

Answer 1

Parrotjohn is right. This is a TOUGH question.

I tried to get at a solution "the other way around", by checking the histories of the principal Australian warships in the early 1930's. I have to believe that the official flagship at the opening ceremonies was Australian, not British: not only as a matter of national pride; but also because the Australians had paid for the bridge, so why should the Brits steal any of the thunder?

If there had been an HMAS Sydney at the time of the opening, that would have been the logical choice for flagship. But the 1914-era Sydney (the one that sank the Emden) was de-commissioned in 1928; and the next HMAS Sydney did not arrive until 1935.

My suspicion is, therefore, that the flagship for the ceremonies had to be either HMAS Canberra or HMAS Australia (both modern heavy cruisers in 1932). But there is no mention of any such role in their histories.

Sorry.

For what it is worth (not much!) you could trawl around the website below, which gives you the history of just about every Australian Navy warship. Who knows, maybe you will find your flagship in one of them!

Answer 2

Whoa, a seriously difficult question. I searched the three sites below, which all have lots on the opening, but nothing on a flagship at the 1932 opening.

Answer 3

HMAS Australia ,a heavy cruiser of the County Class, was the flagship of the Australian Fleet at that time.

I hope that answers your question .

I'm a Royal Navy and it's ancillary imperial fleets buff. Read British Cruisers of World War II for more infomation.