Australian home front during World War II

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Australian women were encouraged to contribute to the war effort by joining one of the female branches of the armed forces or participating in the labour force

Although most Australian civilians lived far from the front line of World War II, the Australian home front during World War II played a significant role in the Allied victory and led to permanent changes to Australian society. During the war the Australian Government greatly expanded its powers in order to better direct the war effort, and Australia's industrial and human resources were focused on supporting the Allied armed forces. While there were only a relatively small number of attacks on civilian targets, many Australians feared that the country would be invaded during the early years of the Pacific War.

1 Military production
2 Notes
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Military production

Production of selected weapons for the Australian Army^[1]

Weapon	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	Wartime total
Lee-Enfield 0.303 rifle	n/a	20 942	79 858	101 600	145 900	47 060	15 690	411 050
Vickers MMG	n/a	846	1 971	33 56	2 224	1 993	1 046	11 436
Bren LMG			1 077	5 615	6 812	3 152	778	17 434
2 pounder AT gun			576	924	80			1 580
6 pounder AT gun				192	708			900
25 pounder field gun				877	313	552		1 905
25 pounder field gun (short)			193		112	75	32	219
Bofors 40 mm AA gun				11	186	75	18	290
3.7 inch AA gun		40	138	185	131	3		497
Owen SMG			102	15 096	21 555	8 710		45 463
Austen SMG				2 283	16 565	1 057		19 905
2-inch mortar					1 283	717		2 000
3-inch mortar			1 444	932	837	93		3 006
4.2 inch mortar				1	70	229		300
Machine-gun carrier			1 544	2 251	1 084	104		4 983
Sentinel tank								65
Rover Light Armoured Car								238
Dingo scout car								245

Australian aircraft production during World War II^[2]

Boomerang fighters under construction at Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation's Fisherman's Bend factory

Aircraft	1939–40	1940–41	1941–42	1942–43	1943–44	1944–45	Wartime total
Beaufort			76	285	312	27	700
Beufighter					3	281	329
Wirraway	75	225	320		30	60	717
Wackett		13	187				200
Boomerang				105	102	43	250
Mustang						4	18
Tiger Moth		8	453	508	66	35	1 070
Dragon				87			87
Mosquito					6	82	115

[edit] Notes

^ Beaumont (2001), p 321.
^ Beaumont (2001), p 453.

[edit] References

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Australian home front during World War II

Adam-Smith, Patsy (1984). Australian Women at War. Melbourne: Thomas Nelson Australia. ISBN 0170064085.
Beaumont, Joan (2001). Australian Defence: Sources and Statistics, The Australian Centenary History of Defence. Volume VI. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195541189.
Butlin, S.J. (1955). War Economy, 1939–1942, Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 4 – Civil. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
Butlin, S.J. (1977). War Economy, 1942–1945, Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 4 – Civil. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 0642994064.
Hasluck, Paul (1952). The Government and the People 1939-1941, Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 4 – Civil. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
Hasluck, Paul (1970). The Government and the People 1942-1945, Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 4 – Civil. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. ISBN 6429367X.
McKernan, Michael (1983). All in! Australia During the Second World War. Melbourne: Thomas Nelson Australia. ISBN 0170059464.
McKernan, Michael (2006). The Strength of a Nation. Six years of Australians fighting for the nation and defending the homeland during WWII. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781741147148.
Mellor, D.P. (1958). The Role of Science and Industry, Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 4 – Civil. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.