A Slim Barrier the Defence of Mainland Australia 1939-1945
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A Slim Barrier The Defence of Mainland Australia 1939-1945 Anthony Peter Arnold A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy UNSW School of Humanities and Social Sciences UNSW Canberra at ADFA August 2013 Mainland Australia and the Australia Station 1939. Australia Station: Dashed line. Mainland Australia: Unbroken line around the Australian coast, excluding New Guinea. PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Arnold First name: Anthony Other name/s: Peter Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty: UNSW Canberra at ADFA Title: A Slim Barrier: The Defence of Mainland Australia 1939-1945 Abstract 350 words maximum (PLEASE TYPE) Two questions apply regarding Australia in World War II: what measures were taken to defend mainland Australia, and were those measures effective in meeting the perceived threat to Australia? Mainland Australia is defined as the mainland, Tasmania and the littoral waters out to 200 nautical miles (excluding New Guinea). Mainland defence is assessed at a systemic level, where the major elements of mainland defence are point defence systems, area defence systems, lines of communication, surveillance and intelligence. The minor elements are production capacity and national will. A qualitative assessment is made in each of six shifts in perceived threat. The fit for purpose test is applied: were the elements of mainland defence at that time appropriate to meet the perceived threat? The outcomes of the analysis follow. At the start of the European war the perceived threats were German attacks on shipping (minor scale) or, at a medium scale, sustained attack on shipping and concurrent heavy raids if a war started with Japan. Mainland defence was partially fit for purpose. When France fell and Italy declared war (mid-1940) there were three possible scales of Japanese attack: bombardment, light raids and invasion. Mainland defence was partially fit for purpose. After the start of the Pacific War, events moved rapidly in the first 100 days. Threats were seen as: air attack; naval bombardment; a sea-borne raid; attack to permanently occupy territory; and invasion of Australia. Mainland defence was not fit for purpose. When MacArthur arrived (March 1942) threats were: attacks in force against Australia, including invasion; attacks against Australian lines of communication. By then mainland defence was partially fit for purpose. During the ‘holding war’ (mid-1942 – mid-1943) the Government held that incursion could not be ruled out. However the services saw the threat as sea bombardment, torpedo attack and air attack. By now mainland defence was fit for purpose, with the exception of Anti-Submarine Warfare. Finally from mid-1943 to mid-1944 there was some residual threat. Mainland defence, despite being reduced, was fit for purpose. From mid-1944 on there was no threat, so the questions do not apply. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). Signature Witness Date 11 November 2013 The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for award [intentionally bank] ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed Date 11 November 2013 [intentionally bank] COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed Date 11 November 2013 AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed Date 11 November 2013 [intentionally bank] Table of Contents Page Figures ii Tables ii Maps iii Acknowledgements iv Abbreviations iv Units viii Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Chapter 2. The Development of Australian Defence 1919-1939 26 Chapter 3. The Distant War: Australian Commitment 53 Chapter 4. The Distant War: European Débâcle 94 Chapter 5. One Hundred Days 137 Chapter 6. MacArthur 180 Chapter 7. Mainland Defence During the Holding War 225 Chapter 8. The Reduction of Mainland Defence 281 Chapter 9. Conclusion 311 Attachment 1. Air Raids on Australia 319 Attachment 2. Location of Australian Radar Stations 325 Attachment 3. Reduction in Coast Artillery and Anti-Aircraft 331 Artillery War Establishment September 1943 Bibliography 334 i Figures Page 1.1 Shifts in the Continuum of Perceived Threat to Mainland 20 Australia Tables Page 1.1 Major and Supporting Elements of Mainland Defence 18 1.2 Descriptive model - for each perceived threat 23 1.3 The Elements, Sub-Elements and Case Studies 23 4.1 Resources Sent to Britain 97 4.2 Australian Casualties 125 4.3 Production Figures 134 5.1 Items in Hand Against Items Required 147 6.1 Disposition of Anti-Submarine Craft, 8 April 1942 211 6.2 Initial RDF Equipment Types 216 7.1 Strength and Disposition of Allied Field Army in South-west 232 Pacific Area, 7 November 1942 7.2 Strength and Disposition of Allied Air Forces in South-west 233 Pacific Area, 7 November 1942 7.3 RAAF Expansion Plan, January 1943 247 7.4 Disposition of RAN Anti-Submarine Craft, December 1942 – 250 March 1943 7.5 Australian Army Formations, April 1943 258 7.6 Development of the Australian Radar System, 1942-43 259 7.7 Major Army Units, NT Force, May 1943 263 7.8 Air Forces at Darwin – April 1943 264 7.9 RAAF Radar Units, Darwin Area, May 1943 265 7.10 Sydney Batteries 1943 266 7.11 RAAF Squadrons – Eastern Area – April 1943 269 7.12 RAAF Radar Stations – Sydney – April 1943 269 7.13 Production of Small Arms and Machine-Guns 270 7.14 Munitions Released for Assignment by London Munitions Board, 271 November 1942 8.1 Comparative states of manning 285 8.2 Revised Manning Scales for Anti-Aircraft Defences, January 292 1944 ii 8.3 Deployment of RAAF Squadrons 294 8.4 Army Element of Mainland Defence, March 1944 298 8.5 Revised Scales – Anti-Aircraft and Coast Defences, July 1944 299 8.6 Defended Ports – Reduced Scale of Defence, October 1944 305 Maps Page 1.1 Mainland Australia and the Australia Station 1939 16 3.1 The Australian Railway System 88 3.2 Civil Aviation Routes, 1940 89 4.1 Fortress Sector Darwin, 27 June 1941 128 4.2 Darwin Area 129 5.1 The Japanese Pacific Perimeter 138 6.1 Darwin Area 1942 186 6.2 Australian Military Force boundaries, 9 April 1942 193 6.3 The South-West Pacific Area and the Extent of the Japanese 196 Advance 6.4 Midget Submarine Raid on Sydney Harbour, 31 May – 1 June 205 1942 6.5 Japanese Submarines on the Australian Coast, 1942 212 7.1 North Australia Observer Unit – Company Locations 20 April 236 1943 7.2 The Moultrie Plan area 244 7.3 Japanese Submarine Operations, 1943 251 7.4 NT Force area and Air Bases, April 1943 264 7.5 Sydney Fire Command – Outer Defence 267 7.6 Sydney Fire Command – Inner Defence 268 8.1 Western Australia – Bases 294 8.2 Fixed Coast Defences, 31 August 1944 304 iii Acknowledgements I acknowledge the invaluable assistance given to me by my supervisor, Dr John Connor, and I sincerely thank him for his sage advice.