From the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and through the 200 years since, Australias development has always been linked with things maritime. Australian Ships is a book about Australias maritime heritage-the events and the vessels-ans it is intended for all ship-lovers whose intersts lie with the once majestic sailing fleets.
The Australian Navy officially came into existence on 1 Jully 1911, when the Commonwealth Naval Forces became the Royal Australian Navy, its ships carrying the prefix HMAS.