Australian Navy tribute - Australian Navy with war heroes song.

Australian Navy tribute - War heroes song

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Established in 1901, the RAN was formed out of the Commonwealth Naval Forces to become the small navy of Australia after federation, consisting of the former colonial navies of the new Australian states. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom continued to provide blue-water defence in the Pacific until World War II, when expansion of the RAN saw the acquisition of aircraft carriers, and other large surface vessels.

Today the RAN is one of the largest naval forces in the Pacific region and has a significant presence in the Indian Ocean, and has undertaken operations in support of military campaigns and peacekeeping missions worldwide.

During WW1 the RAN was initially responsible for capturing many of Germany's colonies in the South Pacific and protecting Australian shipping from the German East Asia Squadron. For the remainder of the war most of the RAN's major ships operated as part of Royal Navy forces in the Mediterranean and North Seas.

During the 1920s and early 1930s the Royal Australian Navy was greatly reduced in size. As international tensions increased, however, the RAN was modernised and expanded. During the early years of WW2 ships from the RAN again operated as part of the Royal Navy, with RAN ships serving with distinction in the Mediterranean. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War and the virtual destruction of the Royal Navy force in Asia the RAN increasingly operated independently or as part of United States Navy forces. By the end of the war, the RAN was the fifth largest navy in the world.

While the size of the RAN was greatly reduced after World War II, the Navy gained new capabilities with the delivery of two aircraft carriers. The RAN saw action in many Cold War era conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region and operated alongside the Royal Navy and United States Navy off Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam. Following the end of the Cold War the RAN has participated in Coalition forces in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean and has formed a critical element in Australian-led operations in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

On 19 November 1941, during WW2, the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German auxiliary cruiser HSK Kormoran fought each other in the Indian Ocean, off Western Australia. The two ships destroyed each other and Sydney was lost with all 645 hands. Most of the crew from Kormoran were rescued and became prisoners of war.

NEW: The wreckage of HMAS Sydney, sunk off the West Australian coast in 1941, has been found. The Sydney's entire crew of 645 went down with the ship in the Indian Ocean and its location has been a mystery for 66 years.

At about 4pm on 19 November, somewhere west of Shark Bay, Western Australia, Sydney sighted what she believed to be a merchant ship about 20 kilometres (11 nmi) away and challenged her. The other ship identified herself as the Dutch ship Straat Malakka. She was, in fact, the German merchant raider Kormoran sailing under a false flag. According to survivors from Kormoran, the ill-prepared Sydney closed to within 1,000 metres (1,100 yd), and was surprised and overwhelmed when the crew of the heavily armed raider opened fire at nearly point-blank range with concealed artillery and torpedoes.

Kormoran was also badly damaged in the ensuing battle and had to be abandoned and scuttled due to a fire that was burning out of control. Survivors from Kormoran were rescued by the Aquitania and they reported that Sydney was last seen down by the bow and on fire as she disappeared over the horizon.

If you would like to know more about the song go to http://www.australianwarheroes.com
You can email the author at peterbarnes@australianwarheroes.com
Watch a new video tribute to those that serve in Australia's armed forces http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSv21Uqx89U

The song on this video is timeless and honours the memory of those who have died in the service and defence of Australia in war.

There is also a video on the Australian army at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o97V0a-Qq_U
Watch a new video tribute to those that serve in Australia's armed forces http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSv21Uqx89U
You can also watch a video of the song relating to WW1 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t256Gwcr4k4
You can also watch a video of the song relating to the Korean War at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYNf5v2VK0c
You can also watch a video of the song relating to WW2 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeK9oTV37yA
You can also watch a video of the song relating to the Vietmam War at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWxUiOlSxo4

More Australian songs by the author at http://www.australian-songs.befoundonline.com.au/

'Can you hear Australia's heroes marching?
© Peter Barnes 2001 - 2009. All Rights Reserved. All content remains the property of the respective copyright holders.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• australian
• navy
• war
• heroes
• naval
• pacific
• world
• ships
• tribute
• ww2
• ran
• hmas
• sydney
• sea
• battle
• ww1
• korea
• vietnam
• german
• song
• kormoran

[revelation100]

"Can You Hear Australia's Heroes Marching? is a national war memorial song and a tribute to the ANZAC spirit of mateship, courage, and sacrifice." - comment by the author of the song

[drahcirdier]

It was the HMS Sydney, not the HMAS Sydney.

[revelation100]

HMS is British.  HMAS is Australian.

[Bathbx]

Great song - Navy Vietnam Vet

Jim

[revelation100]

Great to get a comment from a Vietnam Navy vet.

Thanks.

[Teza1984]

Don't be a Twat mate, you blokes are as part of our history as any other. We all fought in the trenches/oceans/ and airfields together and our history is common. God bless the Commonwealth and God bless those that have fough for her. May those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice, rest in peace. Lest we forget.

[73828]

Down with the Republic, God save the Queen!!

[sanzac100]

the war memorial anzac at kota kinabalu sabah...at school smk sanzac kota kinabalu sabah malaysia...

[dustyRN]

Is this a gay video?

[theawsomefurryraver]

@turkanator123 you should be proud mate :D

[turkanator123]

I hate our airforce logo.. seems so fking old.. USAF logo better than ours :( not that i should be complaining about which logo is better lol

[WELLBRAN]

HMAS Perth March 42 never forgotten Australians are tough people, and the best.

[forevayours100]

you are a morron mate i am in the australian amry 3 rar and the hmas sydeny was not the hms sydney she was Australias greatest warship

i have lost four mates in combat over in afganistan so who ever created this movie you are a great Australian rest in peace to all our fallen heroes

[NavyboyRyan]

proud to be australian, and a part of the australian navy!!

1 of a kind and there always there to step up to the plate..

[1234bonesrules]

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! OI OI OI!!!!

[blondeinstein]

@Fluxskimskate i know who this is now... my dear brother lol.... that is my dear father too