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2 unusual facts about Carley float


Carley float

The float is now displayed at the HMAS Sydney exhibit of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Though its occupant did not survive, a shrapnel-ridden Carley float carried the body of an unknown man to land on Christmas Island in February 1942.


German submarine U-172

The only survivor of this attack was Poon Lim, who eked out an existence for 133 days in the South Atlantic on a Carley float, (a type of liferaft).

HMAS Heros

In late November and early December 1941 she took part in the search for survivors from HMAS Sydney and found one of the ship's carley floats: one of only two items found from the cruiser, and currently on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.


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