1944-02-27. PORT BEAM VIEW OF THE LANDING SHIP INFANTRY HMAS WESTRALIA (I) ONE DAY OUT FROM ...

1944-02-27. PORT BEAM VIEW OF THE LANDING SHIP INFANTRY HMAS WESTRALIA (I) ONE DAY OUT FROM SYDNEY, EN ROUTE TO MILNE BAY. LANDING CRAFT VEHICLE PERSONNEL ARE STOWED ABOARD THE SHIP AND SLUNG FROM THE DAVITS. A LANDING CRAFT MECHANISED IS CARRIED AFT. SHE RETAINS A SINGLE 6 INCH GUN, MOUNTED ON THE STERN, AND TWO 3 INCH AA GUNS, MOUNTED AT THE END OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE, FROM HER SERVICE AS AN ARMED MERCHANT CRUISER. SINGLE 20 MM OERLIKON AA GUNS CAN BE SEEN AT THE BOW AND IN THE BRIDGE WINGS, ABREAST AND ABAFT THE FUNNEL AND ABREAST THE DECKHOUSE AFT. A TYPE 271 RADAR LANTERN IS MOUNTED ON THE FORWARD SUPERSTRUCTURE AND AN SC RADAR AERIAL IS CARRIED ON THE FOREMAST. SAMPSON HAVE BEEN STEPPED ON THE SUPERSTRUCTURE AND A MAINMAST AFT. ALL MASTS HAVE BEEN FITTED WITH DERRICKS TO HANDLE THE LANDING CRAFT. (NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTION)