HMAS Sydney (III) R17 was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy. Laid down on 19 April 1943, she was launched as HMS Terrible on 30 September 1944. World War Two ended before she was complete and the ship was sold to Australia in 1947 and commissioned into the RAN in 1948.
HMAS Sydney operated off the Korean coast during 1951, providing aircover and flying strike missions.
With the arrival of Sydney’s sister ship in 1955, she was retasked as a training vessel (with a new pennant number A214) until 1958 when she was placed in reserve. Sydney was reactivated in 1962 as a fast transport, making 25 voyages to Vietnam during Australia’s involvement there. She was decommissioned in 1973 and sold for scrap in 1975.
HMS Terrible Under Construction August 1944HMS Terrible Being Launched 30 September 1944HMAS Sydney seen in 1948 before commissioning.April 1949 HMAS Sydney arriving in Australia for the first time.HMAS Sydney (III) R17HMAS Sydney (III) 1948HMAS Sydney (III) 1950sHMAS Sydney berthing at Station Pier, Port Melbourne, circa 1950July 10, 1971 HMAS Sydney P-214 seen arriving at San Francisco, California.HMAS SydneyHMAS SydneyHMAS Sydney (III)HMAS Sydney (III) as a TransportHMAS Vengeance and HMAS Sydney togetherHMAS Sydney operating as a transportHMAS Sydney in Sydney Harbor. Four Hawker Sea Fury fighter planes fly in formation over the aircraft carrier, circa 1949Testing a Bofors gun on HMAS Sydney(III), while en route to Vietnam. c. 25 May-11 June 1966HMAS Sydney (A 214), Melbourne (R 21), Supply (AO 195) and Yarra (DE 45)
