POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Klaxon that called crew to action on 1928 heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (II)

Object No. K3

This is an electro-mechanical klaxon, named the "Rattler', which was used on board the 1928 heavy cruiser, HMAS Australia (II) to call the crew to action. It was made by Alfred Graham & Co., and comprises a communication technology on board ships which had been developed in 1908. HMAS Australia was the second Australian warship to have this name, the first having been launched in 1913 and scuttled in 1924. Both ships were built by John Brown & Co. Ltd at Clydebank, on the River Clyde, near Glasgow, Scotland. HMAS Australia (II) was a county class heavy cruiser laid down on 26 August 1925, launched in 1927 and commissioned in 1928.