The International Naval Fleet Review starts tomorrow, so this morning on 2SER breakfast I thought it would be good to talk to Tim about HMAS Sydney. It is anticipated that approximately 40 warships and 16 tall ships will participate in the review. And it's all going to be centred on the harbour. The International Fleet Review commemorates the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy's fleet into Sydney. On 4 October 1913, the flagship HMAS Australia led the new Australian Fleet Unit comprising HMA ships Melbourne, Sydney, Encounter, Warrego, Parramatta and Yarra into Sydney Harbour for the first time. Of particular interest is HMAS Sydney which is closely connected to the city of Sydney.* The first HMAS Sydney escorted ANZAC troop carriers during WWI, and engaged the German ship Emden in battle, sinking it. The Emden Gun in Hyde Park is a war trophy from this early wartime battle. HMAS Sydney II saw service during WWII and was sunk by the German ship Kormoron off the Western Australian coast. The wrecks were only discovered in 2008. The third HMAS Sydney was the first aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy. The current HMAS Sydney was commissioned in 1983. It has been deployed in the Middle East, Iraq and also in East Timor.

The Dictionary has a lot of content related to the navy. As well as HMAS Sydney, you can discover great images and stories about:

• Cockatoo Island, which was a dockyard for the Royal Australian Navy
• Garden Island, which is now a navy base
• you can learn about the challenges of defending Sydney Harbour in the 19th century, and
• there is even an entry on radar!

--- * Sydney is the name given over the last century to four warships in the Royal Australian Navy, whose home base is the port city of Sydney.