ISSUE 142

December 2011 Angus Houston’s Vision for the ADF Maritime Search & Rescue Australian Navy Sea Power Conference 2012 Indonesia’s Anti-ship Missiles Sub-standard Ships & Human Costs of Piracy AE-1’s fate and Nordenfelt Gun possibilities An Australian at Jutland... The French Navy: New Capabilities, Current Operations & Future Challenges New RN Air Warfare – Daring class

Journal of the

Issue 142 3 Snapshot Contents

“My vision for the ADF is that we be a balanced, deployable and networked defence force” – ACM Angus Houston 4

Maritime Search and Rescue as Everyone’s Responsibility 7

National Security and Prosperity headline Sea Power Conference in 2012 10

Indonesia’s Anti-ship Missiles: New Development in Naval Capabilities 12

Sub-standard Ships and Human R etired naval officer DavidH obbs spied this “block’ of the future RN carrier Queen Costs of Piracy: The case of Captain Prem Kumar 14 Elizabeth recently on a trip in Britain. Artists concept image below. (Courtesy RN) ICE WARRIOR 16

Focus on the outcome: the debate over the future of maritime aviation warfare officers inN aval Aviation 19

What Happened to AE1? 26

An analysis of probable Nordenfelt F ront page photograph: Gun effectiveness in an engagement Tongan passengers with a surfaced submarine 29 travelling back home to assist family and An Australian at Jutland: the story of friends affected by the Robert Walker onboard HMS Shark 41 disaster on the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu Errata: The French Navy: New Capabilities, A photo in the September edition did Viraat. He rose to the rank of Flag leave the ship on one of Current Operations and Future not clearly name Vice Admiral Nirmal Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the HMAS Tobruk’s RHIB’s. Challenges 44 Kumar Verma, the current Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, and was HMAS Tobruk has , who took office on August appointed Chief of the Indian Navy delivered equipment Prospects for maritime security and supplies to assist 31, 2009. upon the retirement of Vice Admiral cooperation ‘of coral made’ 48 Admiral Verma took charge of Sureesh Mehta. During his career he in the aid effort for the communities affected the Naval Academy in Goa, and has been awarded several decorations, New RN Air Warfare Destroyers – by a recent tsunami. subsequently became commander of a including the Param Vishisht Seva Daring class 52 series of Indian Navy ships, including Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. INS Ranvir, and aircraft carrier INS Book Reviews 70 Issue Number 142

Printed by Visions from the Vault 79 Everbest Printing SPONSORS: Company

- RAYTHEON - BOOZ & COMPANY - AUSTAL Style Notes for Headmark 81 ISSN 1833-6531 - THALES NAVAL GROUP - DMS MARITME - QINETIQ - ATI - SAAB ANI Membership Application Form 83 Design & DTP by - AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE CREDIT UNION - LOPAC - BLOHM+VOSS NAVAL Diane Bricknell [email protected] Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 4 “My vision for the ADF is that we be a balanced, deployable and networked defence force” – ACM Angus Houston Interview with Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe

fter more than 40 years service in the A(ADF), and holding down the top job in Defence, Angus Houston has faced the challenges of commanding military forces at all levels. As the Chief of the Defence Force, ACM Houston outlined his view on the major challenges facing the ADF, the current situation in Afghanistan and Australia’s military contribution to the multinational coalition, the ADF’s role in building force structure and capacity, and his vision for the future of Australia’s Defence forces.

Q: What have been the major challenges in your role as CDF? T he-then Chief of ACM Houston: In terms of major actually there. What we need is a country that can the Defence Force Air challenges, we have had the highest This year, with the Queensland work, that can be reasonably stable, Chief Marshal Angus operational tempo for many years, floods, we deployed nearly 2, 000 and one that has secure borders. That Houston, AC, AFC certainly since the Vietnam War. personnel. For Cyclone Yasi in north really is what it is all about. and the-then Chief In terms of operational diversity Queensland we committed another The coalition have developed a of Navy Vice Admiral Russell Crane, AO, and complexity the ADF’s current 1,500 or so, and then for the floods in fully integrated counterinsurgency CSM, RAN speaking commitments are probably the most Victoria, about 100 personnel. We also strategy, which is properly resourced at a press conference. serious since World War II, because committed some reservists into floods for the first time with around 140,000 (Photo by Lauren Vietnam was focused only on Vietnam. in the Carnarvon areas in Western coalition troops and an increasing Black – ADF) At one stage we had Iraq and Australia. In January this year, we had number of Afghans – fast closing on Afghanistan at the same time, and on 3,500 people committed to natural 300,000 personnel. The Afghan security top of that a fairly difficult situation in disasters in Australia. Counting the forces are probably around 280,000 at Timor-Leste during 2006. Indeed, in 3,300 on overseas operations, we had the moment, but later this year they 2006 we ran five evacuation operations more than 6500 people committed to will have reached 305,000 personnel. including one out of Lebanon. We operations. If you add 300,000 plus the 140,000 have completed 39 operations, and we coalition troops we are talking about a still have another 17 ongoing right now. Q: What is the current situation in total security force strength of around We have committed around 11,000 Afghanistan? 440,000 personnel. That is a huge troops to operations, which includes ACM Houston: We are in Afghanistan increase over the numbers we had in those deployed, those in training and to ensure that it never again becomes 2005. preparing to be deployed, and those a haven for terrorists. We do not want Q: Tell us about Australia’s military who have just returned. Even though to see Al Qaeda training with impunity, contribution to Afghanistan? the number deployed at any one time as they were before 9/11. We would like ACM Houston: Afghanistan came might be in the order of 3,300 overseas, to see Afghanistan being able to take at the start of my time as CDF when we have to sustain that over time so it care of its own affairs and to provide the government had been invited involves a lot more people than those security and governance for its people. to basically join the ISAF Stage 3 Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 5

T wo P3 Orions parked expansion, which required us to The Special Operations Task Group 30,000 Iraqi troops by the time we at the airbase in the partner with the Dutch in Uruzgan is also deployed, and their job is to withdrew, and the ADF battle group United Arab Emirates. Province. We ended up putting a small provide enhanced security and force did an excellent job. No. 11 Squadron Provincial Reconstruction Team in protection for our people who are In Afghanistan, the mentoring and operates two P3 Orions in the Intelligence, there, preceded by the insertion of doing the mentoring work with the reconstruction task force has evolved Surveillance and a Special Operations Task Group. Kandaks (battalions). They go out and into a training and mentoring task force. Reconaissance role in Initially, we conducted what NATO target Taliban sanctuaries and leaders, We train the battalions as they come support of Operation might call a stabilisation operation, but and have been successful in disrupting out of the training school in Kabul after Slipper. (LAC Aaron the Taliban were resurging as we have the Taliban. Indeed over the last three only a few weeks training. They arrive Curran - ADF photo) seen in the past few years. to four weeks we have had a very good in the province and we teach them the Australia is the largest contributor run – basically detaining, capturing or basics of combat: how to patrol and to of forces outside of NATO. We are in killing over 10 medium value Taliban organise themselves; how to provide fact the tenth-largest contributor to leaders, including a shadow district the necessary support to patrols that are the ISAF coalition, with an average of governor. out there, logistics, fire support, and so 1550 people deployed in Afghanistan at Although we have regained the on; and how to integrate the operations any one time. In terms of Afghanistan momentum, the gains are still fragile of two patrols in the same area of we have a very effective contribution and still reversible. The next fighting operations, and so on. in Uruzgan, and at this point of the season will be crucial for the coalition. This campaign in Afghanistan will campaign I would say the strategy is It starts in May-June this year and I not be won by military means alone, right. expect the upcoming fighting season to but if we can train and mentor the 4th While all this is going on we be very demanding. I think the Taliban Brigade we will improve the security are also undertaking governance, will present a very capable insurgency of Uruzgan Province. If we can do development and police work. We force and we will have to confront that that we have basically achieved an have large number of people involved with our Afghan allies to prevail. important part of the mission. If we in embedded positions within the can hold the ground then we can build, coalition structure. We have an Q: Describe the ADF’s role in and with a lot of patrol bases around Australian heading up the Provincial capacity building initiatives to train the province we are in a position to Reconstruction Team in Uruzgan who local Afghan security forces? hold the ground. The build part of the is working very effectively with the new ACM Houston: We are training mission can be then be provided by aid structure, a combined team in Uruzgan the 4th Brigade, which is a different agencies and the Afghan Government. under an American colonel. We have experience from Iraq where we had What is challenging is to be able fundamentally a partnership between training teams to train the trainers to provide for all the people of the Australia and the US, called Combined and the Iraqi troops. Our contribution province so they feel that the future Team Uruzgan. Singaporeans, New was significant. I was involved with lies with the government, not with the Zealanders and Slovakians are also part the deployment of our battle group Taliban. In essence, that is the most of the team. through its entirety. We trained over challenging part of it. This integrated Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 6 “My vision for the ADF is that we be a balanced, deployable and networked defence force” – ACM Angus Houston approach is a challenge, but Australia is about 51,000 in 2005 to almost 58,000 at a map of Australia, except for the now delivering that in a very effective today. brigades in and Darwin, way. As part of the intent of the Defence most of our combat power is either The kandaks we are training are White Paper we have increased the southeast or southwest Australia. now effective and they are quite size of the Navy by 700, to get a better We need to be balanced because capable now of planning patrols by balance between the training force and we have strategic challenges into the themselves. We are moving up now the trained force. Previously, there future in our region, but we also need into a higher level of mentoring, which were too many ‘bottlenecks’ in the to be able to go out into the South involves talking to them about planning navy training system, and the objective Pacific to help the small nations in our larger scale operations involving more was to eliminate those training region through any problems that they than a patrol or a sub unit, rather inefficiencies. We have also increased might have, be it a tsunami, a disaster of employing all elements of a kandak. At the Air Force by about 1,000. The some other kind, or indeed challenges the moment we are about to take on Army has increased by almost 4,000, of governance. The ADF needs to be a six kandaks, made up of four infantry which included the two additional flexible and deployable defence force. t kandaks, a combat support kandak, a battalions. We have actually grown combat services support kandak, and quite substantially. the brigade headquarters. We have gone to a lot of trouble Where we are headed with our to basically improve the environment mentoring now, particularly once for the Reserves, now being deployed the next changeover occurs, is into on operations. We have given them higher level functions, enabling us to a job to do with the Rapid Reaction eventually leave the Kandaks to operate companies in each state, and as Work continues as by themselves. We are currently a consequence we have actually troops from the mentoring the brigade headquarters, improved the participation level of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task which is a level above the Kandak. Reserves. Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe is a senior Force 1 carry out a The other training that we do is with When you look at our geography, works inspection the artillery training school, and there Australia is a big country and we live analyst at -based strategic think on the progress of are people that have been through in a big region so we need to be able tank Future Directions International. the Primary School that school. They are now out there to operate effectively throughout that This interview was originally published redevelopment basically using guns to provide fire area. We have to be an expeditionary in Tarin Kowt, in Defence Today, (Volume 9 Number Afghanistan. support for other Afghan units. I would force able to deploy to northern 1 – June 2011). (Photo by ADF imagine over the next few years we will Australia if the need arises. If you look Corporal Ricky Fuller) achieve our objective of being able to hand over security for the province to the Afghan National Army’s 4th Brigade. That fits very well with the transition plans that have been developed by NATO.

Q: What is your vision for the future of the ADF? ACM Houston: In terms of being a deployable defence force, my vision for the ADF is that we be a balanced, deployable and networked defence force. We have increased the size of the ADF substantially in my time from Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 7 Maritime Search and Rescue as Everyone’s Responsibility B y Stuart Kaye

n the debate over asylum seeker boat most infamous case involved asylum responsibility. The Law of the Sea arrivals, some attention has been seekers lost in the SIEV X disaster in Convention provides all vessels at sea Idirected at the circumstances under 2001, when some 421 passengers were must render assistance to those in which people journey to Australia – aboard a 19.5 metre boat which was distress, as far as they are able, without specifically the small boats in which lost en route to Australia resulting in putting themselves or their vessel they cross the expanse of ocean before the deaths of over 350 people. In more in undue danger. This requirement ever reaching our shores. This journey recent times, the explosion and loss of is reflected in a range of other is necessarily a dangerous one, and SIEV 36 near the Ashmore Islands, and international agreements including large numbers of individuals have lost the wreck of SIEV 221 off Christmas the International Convention on their lives. This necessarily raises the Island have highlighted the dangers Maritime Search and Rescue and the question, who has responsibility to inherent in people sailing to Australia Salvage Convention. It is also part of rescue and protect these individuals, in small and often unseaworthy craft. Australian law, being incorporated into and what the extent of the Australian These dangers raise the issue the Navigation Act. Government’s responsibility to rescue of what obligations does Australia This duty to render assistance is actually encompasses? have in respect of vessels around our deeply engrained in the culture of The boats used in people smuggling coasts. The answer is a complex web all those who spend time out on the are typically small Indonesian fishing of international and domestic law, ocean, whether at work or play. It vessels, with limited range and even which inform the manner in which makes it clear that everyone at sea more limited ability to handle adverse search and rescue is conducted, has not merely a moral obligation, but weather conditions. To maximise and our responsibilities in respect a duty to assist all those in distress, Border protector - the smugglers’ returns, these vessels of ship safety. To begin, search and regardless of where they have come HMAS Armidale leaves are often severely overloaded. The rescue is potentially every mariner’s from and how they came to be in those Darwin (Courtesy RAN)

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute

Issue 142 9 Maritime Search and Rescue as Everyone’s Responsibility

circumstances. It also makes it clear it emphasises that search and rescue law has long recognised that everyone is not the responsibility of Government is a shared responsibility, not merely has a responsibility to render assistance alone, through the Navy or Customs a Government one, and one which at sea. t Service, but of everyone. For most mariners are generally happy to seafarers this as a fundamental element discharge when the occasion arises. of life at sea, and how deeply it is Whether Australia can and should ingrained is evident in a variety of do more to prevent disasters like those ways, most notably the many volunteer that befell SIEVs X and 221 is a difficult organisations scattered around the question. It has been suggested in Australian coastline who provide some quarters that a single agency assistance to anyone at sea who is in should absorb Australia’s search and need. Seafarers recognise the necessity rescue under one umbrella, and this of this mutual obligation as reflected in would improve and enhance our international law, as the vast expanses capabilities to cope with disasters like of the world’s oceans, and the extensive SIEV 221. While attractive on some coastlines of so many countries, are levels, it is worth noting whether simply far too great for any national centralised or not, already international body to undertake search and rescue and Australian law obliges every vessel alone. at sea – foreign or Australian - to do Government’s role is reflected what it can to render assistance to Stuart Kaye is Dean of Law at the in Australia’s domestic law and vessels in distress, and this of itself University of ; has international obligations. In terms means we are maximising the reach of of rescue, Australia has undertaken efforts to assist those in distress. While written a number of books, including to coordinate rescues at sea in a truly this will not always be the best vessel Australia’s Maritime Boundaries vast area of ocean around our coasts or crew for the job, with 10% of the (2001), The Torres Strait (1997), – stretching from more than halfway planet to coordinate search and rescue International Fisheries Management across the Tasman in the Pacific, north over, we would need more vessels than (2001) and Maritime Claims in the to Indonesia, almost to India in the exist in all the world’s navies and coast Indian Ocean and south to Antarctica. guards combined to take on the task Indian and PacificO ceans (2011), It represents 10% of the surface of the of ensuring the best vessel is always on and holds the rank of Commander in globe, and bears no relation to the hand. the Royal Australian Navy Reserve, maritime jurisdiction countries have We have in AMSA a remarkably principally providing advice in respect over fishing or offshore petroleum. It is efficient organisation to coordinate of international law. the one of the largest search and rescue getting the nearest practical assistance regions in the world. to a vessel in distress as quickly as As vessels in distress are often in possible. Unfortunately search and remote areas, away from shipping rescue by its very nature must be lanes, when a distress call comes, reactive, and the size of our maritime the Australian Maritime Safety responsibilities so large, it is difficult Authority (AMSA), as the agency for almost to the point of impossibility coordination of search and rescue to pre-position our finite resources over this vast area, often contacts the to prevent tragedies like those that Navy to effect a rescue as no other have already occurred from occurring shipping will be present, but in many again. It is impossible for Government more cases ordinary commercial or to maintain a safety surveillance vigil even recreational vessels might be around all our coasts and across our dispatched to render what assistance oceans, and international law does not they can. It was in this way the MV impose such an obligation upon us. Tampa came to collect over 400 This problem however is not unique asylum seekers aboard in 2001. This to Australia, and it is why international Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 10 National Security and Prosperity headline Royal Australian Navy Sea Power Conference in 2012 T he Naval Contribution to National Security and Prosperity is the theme for the next Royal Australian Navy Sea Power Conference to be held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour from 31 January to 2 February 2012. Captain Gordon Andrew, RAN, Director of the Sea Power Centre - Australia, said “the conference is designed to look at how navies contribute, on a daily basis, to the defence and well being of their nation and its interests.” More than 20 speakers from Australia and overseas will present papers that cover the latest in Australian and international maritime affairs, from protection of seaborne trade and conservation of ocean resources, to enforcement of maritime sovereignty and the preservation of good order at sea, including: Dr Sam Bateman, a retired RAN Commodore and flows freely and protecting the vast resources of the sea. Professorial Research Fellow at the Australian National However, a new way of helping maintain ‘good order’ Centre for Ocean Resources and Security at the seems to be emerging with the ability of ships at sea University of Wollongong, will present Promoting to intercept ballistic missiles which has implications for Australia as a Maritime Power: the Significance of the peacetime and wartime naval roles. Law of the Sea. With the maritime environment around Dr Alessio Patalano is a lecturer in War Studies at Australia becoming more complex and contentious, the Department of War Studies, King’s College, . his paper will look at how Australia might meet that His presentation, Sea Power and Security in the East challenge of managing one of the largest areas of and South China Seas addresses the inherent tensions maritime jurisdiction in the world. existing between the use of naval forces to exert Dr Christian Bouchard, Associate Professor at influence and protect core national interests and the Laurentian University in Canada, will speak about requirements to engage in maritime governance in the The French Navy in the south-west Indian Ocean, with East and South China Seas. particular focus the island communities of Réunion and Dr Sam Tangredi, Director of San Diego Operations Mayotte from where it operates as well as its roles in for planning-consulting firm Strategic Insight Ltd and both bilateral and regional multilateral cooperation. a retired US Navy Captain, will discuss the direct and Professor Henry Ergas, Senior Economic Adviser indirect economic benefits from security cooperation for Deloitte Australia and Professor of Infrastructure between the Australian defence establishment and US Economics at the University of Wollongong, will look at naval forces in his presentation The Economic Benefits the renaissance in naval shipbuilding within Australia of Security Cooperation: A Case Study of the RAN/USN over the past 20 years. His presentation, Australian Relationship. Ship Building, will explore the economic and strategic Professor Geoffrey Till, Emeritus Professor of costs and benefits of domestic naval construction, its Maritime Studies at King’s College and Director of implications for defence industry policy and Australia’s the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies in future naval ship building programs. London, considers the economics and strategic cost- Dr Norman Friedman, an internationally known effectiveness of sea power using naval and maritime strategist and naval historian, has spent more than developments in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific a decade at a major US think-tank and another as region in his paper entitled The Economics of Sea Power. consultant to the Secretary of the Navy. His paper, Captain Frank van Rooyen, South African Navy Maintaining Good Order at Sea, recognises that navies (Rtd), presents a paper on A Southern Perspective on help maintain world peace by ensuring world trade the Indian Ocean, which aims to give a perspective

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 11 of the Indian Ocean from the global south, a term covering the previously colonised, underdeveloped and impoverished nations of Africa, Latin America and most of Asia. Additional topics on Australia’s future submarine; the Australian Hydrographic Service; maritime medical diplomacy; regional maritime trade operations, Australia’s seaborne trade, international naval cooperation; naval engineering, the Naval Reserve; and an update on plans for the International Fleet Review 2013 will appeal to anyone with a professional interest in maritime affairs. The Sea Power Conference is an integral part of the biennial Pacific Maritime Congress, one of the most prestigious and comprehensive international maritime event in Australasia. Registration for the Sea Power Conference includes free access to Pacific 2012 International Maritime Exposition, conducted by Maritime Australia Limited, and all presentations of the Pacific 2012 International Maritime Conference, hosted by Engineers Australia, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. The conference is designed to permit all delegates to visit the many industry displays in the Exposition

itself, and to conduct informal professional discussions with exhibitors and fellow delegates. It includes a major social program comprising of official opening and closing ceremonies plus an RAN Reception on the evening of Tuesday 31 January. Guests will be treated to a centuries-old military tradition combining the Sunset Ceremony and Beat to Quarters conducted by the Royal Australian Navy Band and Australian Federation Guard Navy Detachment on the Darling Harbour foreshore. A number of RAN fleet units will also be open to delegates, including a Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) and an ANZAC class Frigate Helicopter (FFH) at Garden Island, and an Armidale class Patrol Boat (PB) and a Mine Hunter Coastal (MHC) at Cockle Bay. Defence Force Recruiting will be attending the Pacific Congress Careers & Skills Day at which RAN sailors will be available to discuss naval careers. The Royal Australian Navy Sea Power Conference is open to all Australian and foreign defence personnel free of charge. Non-defence personnel can attend the three day event from $750.00, with concessions and single day tickets available from $510.00. For more information, full event program or to register visit www.seapowerconference.com ❖

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 12 Indonesia’s Anti-ship Missiles: New Development in Naval Capabilities B y Koh Swee Lean Collin

he recent Indonesian Navy test- A destabilising naval weapon? launch of the supersonic Yakhont According to David Mussington and Tanti-ship missile marked yet another John Sislin in a Jane’s Intelligence naval capability breakthrough in Review report in 1995, weapons which Southeast Asia. The Yakhont missile could be considered destabilising could potentially intensify the ongoing in nature possess all or some of the regional naval arms competition. following six characteristics: result ON 20 April 2011, the Indonesian in decreased warning time; give one Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia – country ‘breakthrough capabilities’; Angkatan Laut or TNI-AL) frigate KRI lead to a broadening of target sets; Oswald Siahaan test-fired a Russian- permit no effective countermeasures; made Yakhont supersonic anti-ship give one side better information missile during a naval exercise in the concerning another’s military Indian Ocean. According to TNI-AL, preparations; and create hostility. the missile took about six minutes to Based on some of these criteria, the travel 250 kilometres to score a direct Yakhont could be deemed destabilising hit on the target. This test-launch for the following reasons. marks yet another significant capability Firstly, the Yakhont could travel at breakthrough amongst Southeast sea-skimming altitude (5-15 metres Asian navies. It comes against the above surface) at 2.5 times the speed backdrop of unresolved maritime of sound thus reducing warning time disputes and ongoing regional naval for the target vessel, especially those built Styx and Switchblade – carried A modified Standard arms competition. ill-equipped for long-range early aboard Southeast Asian warships, are Missile 2 (SM-2) warning. It is true that Southeast Asian characterised by subsonic speeds and Block IV interceptor 1 is launched from Specifications navies are increasingly better equipped possess ranges not more than 200 the guided-missile Weight 3,000 kg with modern sensors to provide early kilometres at most. USS Lake Length 8.9 m warning of an impending missile By contrast, the Yakhont has a Erie (CG 70) during Diameter 0.7 m launch and for tracking subsonic sea- maximum range of 300 kilometres a Missile Defense Agency test to Warhead 300 kg skimming missiles. Yet the Yakhont’s when flying at high altitude, and unique flight profile could imply that maximum speed of Mach 2.5. The intercept a short- Engine ramjet using kerosene liquid fuel range ballistic missile even more sophisticated detection only non-Southeast Asian countries Wingspan 1.7 m target (US Navy) capabilities have to be acquired by in the wider Western-Pacific with Operational range 120 to 300 km regional navies. equivalent capabilities are China depending on altitude Secondly, even though Vietnam whose Russian-built Sovremennny Flight altitude 5 meters or higher had reportedly inducted the Yakhont destroyers are armed with the Sunburn Speed Mach 2.5 into service, it exists in the land-based missile, and Taiwan which has recently Guidance system active-passive, radar ‘Bastion’ coastal-defence variant and deployed the Hsiung Feng III aboard its seeker head is thus strictly defensive. However, warships. when mounted onto a warship Thirdly, the Yakhont’s flight Launch platform which is essentially a highly-mobile profile also permits no effective naval ships, fixed-wing aircraft, coastal platform, the Yakhont’s range could countermeasures for most Southeast installations be extended beyond the defensive Asian navies. Only the navies of Service history In service since 1999 perimeters of one’s coastal confines. Malaysia, and Thailand Production history Manufacturer NPO Prior to the introduction of the ship- possess modern shipboard anti-missile Mashinostroyeniya launched Yakhont, anti-ship missiles missile (AMM) capabilities. Malaysia – such as the Western-made Exocet possesses two frigates armed with the and Harpoon as well as Russian- Seawolf AMM and four corvettes with 1 Open Source Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 13

the Aspide, while Singapore has six regional countries are recovering from frigates armed with the Aster AMM the global economic recession and and six corvettes with the Barak-1. reinstating their naval modernisation Thailand has two frigates equipped programmes. One, it could spark with the Sea Sparrow system and two off the acquisition of equivalent corvettes with the Aspide. capabilities, which might not be The other Southeast Asian navies that difficult in today’s global arms are deemed poorly-equipped for air market. While the current anti-ship defences. Most surface warships in missile market is still dominated by the region are armed with only guns subsonic systems, a few supersonic and surface-to-air missiles effective examples do exist for sale, such as the only against slower-moving targets at Russian Klub-series or Sunburn, and Yakhont missile (US Navy image) short range but not high-performance the Indian-Russian BrahMos. India aircraft and missiles. reportedly earlier on shelved the export of BrahMos (based on the Yakhont) What next for Southeast Asia? to Indonesia out of security concerns The entry of TNI-AL’s Yakhont but Jakarta managed to circumvent missile came after the recent regional this by directly procuring the Russian submarine scramble, and introduction ‘originals’. of breakthrough capabilities. The A second reaction is the acquisition Malaysians introduced the first of capabilities, such as the Barak, underwater-launched anti-ship missile Seawolf and Aster AMM systems, to aboard its new Scorpene submarines neutralise such supersonic threats. while Singapore inducted a pair of ex- Acquiring such countermeasures might Swedish Vastergotland boats with air- be considered less provocative since independent propulsion for prolonged these are essentially defensive. A third submerged endurance. In any case, reaction is that better-endowed navies these acquisitions arguably sparked might acquire both equivalent anti-ship off reciprocal responses from other armaments and AMM systems as a Southeast Asian navies. safety measure. The Yakhont, with its superior capabilities over existing anti-ship Mitigating the ‘Yakhont Effect’ missiles arming Southeast Asian Whichever form it takes, the action- surface warships, represented yet reaction process that could stem from A short-range, unitary, another regional naval breakthrough the Yakhont missile would add onto that naval arms acquisitions in the ballistic missile, Scud- which could not be ignored. This the current intensity of regional naval region do not spiral out of control. t like target lifts off from is especially so when no regional arms competition. The Yakhont could the decommissioned navies are adequately equipped potentially upset the Southeast Asian Koh Swee Lean Collin is an associate USS Tripoli in a Missile Defense Agency flight against such weaponry if a naval naval balance of power even though the research fellow at the Military Studies test at the Pacific skirmish ever breaks out in the volatile Indonesians had reportedly acquired Programme in the Institute of Defence Missile Range Facility at region plagued with longstanding only a small consignment of this missile Barking Sands, Kauai, and Strategic Studies, a constituent interstate maritime disputes. The for limited deployment aboard TNI- Hawaii (US Navy) Indonesian-Malaysian naval standoff AL’s frigates. unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of in the disputed Ambalat region in The region may need to institute International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang 2009 highlighted the danger of such naval confidence-building measures Technological University. He is also eventualities. such as mechanisms to prevent or undertaking doctoral research on Possible reactions from mitigate naval incidents. But perhaps Southeast Asian naval developments. neighbouring Southeast Asian navies it is time for Southeast Asian countries towards the Yakhont could take to think about naval arms control to This article appears courtesy of RSIS. certain forms, especially now that enhance transparency and help ensure Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 14 Sub-standard Ships and Human Costs of Piracy: The case of Captain Prem Kumar B y Dr Sam Bateman

he human costs of piracy off the Horn of Africa are mounting Twith an escalating level of violence and shipowners unwilling to pay higher ransoms while operating sub- standard ships. As the plight of Captain Prem Kumar demonstrates, innocent seafarers suffer most. A cargo ship Rak Afrikana, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in April 2010 in the Indian Ocean, sank a few hours after being released 11 months later. The Rak Afrikana, which was declared a total loss in March 2011, was crewed by 23 seafarers, 11 of whom were Indians, under the command of 49 year-old Captain Prem Kumar. It was owned by a company in Merchant vessel Al the United Arab Emirates and under costs of piracy. These costs are ships operated safely and efficiently, Marjan was released the flag of St Vincent and Grenadines. increasing as the level of violence nevertheless, an older ship is more from pirates off the Somali coast by the As the ransom negotiations between escalates, shipowners become more likely to be sub-standard and less well US Navy. Al Marjan the pirates and the shipowner dragged reluctant to pay higher ransoms maintained and operated than a newer had been under the on, crew members were increasingly demanded by Somali pirates, and vessel. control of Somalia- ill-treated and poorly fed by the pirates. some shipowners continue to send Also a ship may start its life with based pirates since Finally a ransom of US$1.2 million was ships into piracy-prone waters and yet a reputable company, but over the Oct. 17 2007. paid -- much less than ransoms paid for are ill-prepared to meet the threat of years, it may change its name and (US Navy photo) other vessels. hijacking. flag, progressively ending up with less TheRak Arikana was a relatively responsible owners. Human Costs of Piracy small vessel of 5, 992 gross The pirates also attempted to turn registered the vessel into a mother ship for tonnage. It was attacks further out in the Indian very slow; with Ocean. However, these attempts were an operational reportedly frustrated largely by the speed efforts of Captain Kumar, who as a reportedly consequence, had to endure mental as low as 6.5 and physical torture by the pirates. knots. It was Captain Kumar paid a heavy price for also 30 years his efforts. Due to ill-treatment and old -- an age stress, he suffered a stroke in January when most 2011 and was paralysed down his left vessels would side. After his release he suffered a have already brain haemorrhage in April and died a been scrapped. The pirates who attacked the Norwegian tanker MV Front Ardenne fling few weeks later. Sub-standard ships are more likely to up their hands in surrender when their skiff is seized by a boarding party The case of Captain Kumar is a be hijacked than quality vessels. While from HMCS Winnipeg in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat. powerful illustration of the human there are exceptions with many older Photo credit-Cpl Rick Ayer Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 15

costly, precautions were taken. Records show that the Raf Afrikana had not undergone a PSC inspection since 2005. This means that the ship must only have been trading to ports without effective PSC, such as those around the northeast Indian Ocean.

Policy Implications

Sub-Standard Shipping Irresponsible shipowners who send Well-operated and maintained vessels poorly prepared ships into piracy- Dr Sam Bateman is a Senior Fellow may be expected to follow the best prone areas must accept some share management practice guideline to of the responsibility both for the in the Maritime Security Programme avoid attacks, as recommended by the incidence of ship hijackings off the at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Maritime Organization Horn of Africa and for the associated International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang (IMO) and ship owner associations. ill-treatment of seafarers. If ransoms Technological University. He is a former Port State Control (PSC) is the main are not paid promptly, crews are likely senior Australian naval commodore international regime to manage the to suffer more. These considerations problem of sub-standard ships. Under pose difficult dilemmas for ship owners with research interests in regimes for this regime, port states verify that ships and shipping associations, but overall good order at sea. comply with required international the situation would be improved if the standards of ship safety, maintenance, PSC regime was enforced more strictly manning and marine environmental in the northeast Indian Ocean. protection. The regime depends heavily International shipping is recovering on participating countries fulfilling all too slowly from the downturn as their obligations to inspect vessels and a result of the global financial crisis. on the exchange of inspection data Shipowners are still finding it hard to between them. Unfortunately, this is get cargos for their ships and seafarers not always the case, particularly in the to get work at sea. Seafarers have little northeast Indian Ocean. room to pick and choose the ships on A nti-piracy intercept The Indian Ocean Memorandum of which to serve, and some will end up operation conducted Understanding (MOU) on PSC, which serving on sub-standard vessels. The First published by the RSIS – copy used by the frigate covers many ships hijacked off the Horn welfare of seafarers should be given with acknowledgment and thanks. Navarino (Nato photo) of Africa, is much less effective than greater consideration the major PSC MOUs namely the Paris in developing MOU for Europe and the Tokyo MOU measures to counter for the Asia-Pacific. Countries such as piracy. Bangladesh, Djibouti, Myanmar, Oman, As a symbolic Kenya, Sri Lanka and Yemen are either gesture the IMO outside the system or not fulfilling their should consider a inspection obligations. Significantly the bravery award for Rak Afrikana was under a flag which is Captain Kumar for his on the Paris MOU’s “black list” of flags efforts in preventing with a high incidence of sub-standard the Rak Afrikana ships. from being used as There is little doubt that the Rak a mother ship to Afrikana was a sub-standard ship that facilitate further acts should not have been operating in of piracy. t piracy-prone waters unless special, and Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 16 ICE WARRIOR

HMNZS Wellington is a Protector class offshore patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Built by Tenix, the ship entered service in 2010. (Photos courtesy RNZN)

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 17

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute

Issue 142 19 Focus on the outcome: the debate over the future of maritime aviation warfare officers in Naval Aviation1 Boy C mmodore Tony Dalton

n the evening of 26 March 2010, “most difficult naval 4 the South Korean corvette discipline.” Despite the ORoKS Cheonan was patrolling near the technological advances of Northern Limit Line between the two the last several decades, Koreas in the vicinity of Baengnyeong the ocean remains largely Island. At around 2130 local time, a opaque and is likely to large underwater explosion broke the stay so for at least the ship in two, after which it quickly sank next generation. This taking with it 46 of the 104 strong crew. gives submarines, the An international multidisciplinary Joint first real stealth fighters, Investigation Group, which included the element of surprise expert input from Australia, was where even just the formed to examine the tragedy and threat of their presence concluded that the explosion that sank can have a significant the Cheonan was triggered by a CHT- influence on maritime 02D heavy-weight acoustic homing operations. Finding and torpedo manufactured in North Korea. fighting submarines The most likely delivery platform is a complex, intense, was a North Korean Sang-O coastal expensive, high-end 2 submarine. warfare skill that must be While the world focus on this event approached seriously and has mainly centred on what appears consistently; it is a skill to be the succession path for Kim that atrophies quickly if 6 Jong-un, it also clearly demonstrates not continually practiced and requires submarine warfare] capabilities.” both the tactical and strategic effect a a level of dedication and application As the project to deliver these submarine, even a small one, can bring to remain abreast of advances in aircraft gains momentum, a small to bear; a message certainly not lost technology and tactics. but intense side debate has surfaced on the international community in our Given the threat posed by concerning the most appropriate crew regional sphere of interest. Indeed, submarines to ships, Australian model to use in employing them. In a quick scan through Jane’s would Maritime Doctrine supports the essence, the question has been asked: indicate that 12 countries in our region, view that our own “submarines, could these aircraft be flown by a including Australia, now operate some naval combat helicopters and MPA crew consisting of two pilots (with 211 submarines (64 nuclear powered) [maritime patrol aircraft] are among an aircrewman sensor operator in with more on the way, and this doesn’t the most effective platforms in the back) instead of the current Navy include the 100 or so smaller coastal searching for, deterring and destroying crew model consisting of a single-pilot 5 and midget submarines also in service enemy submarines.” The key role aircraft captain and an aviation warfare 3 in the region. naval combat helicopters play in officer (a non-pilot aircrew officer) This proliferation of submarines anti-submarine warfare has also been mission commander in the front (again means that in the panoply of skills our recognised by the Government and is with an aircrewman sensor operator in Defence Force is expected to maintain, reflected in the 2009 Defence White the back). an ability to combat a submarine threat Paper which states “as a matter of will be an enduring one. For a medium urgency, the Government will acquire Th e two-pilot model sized Defence Force like ours, this a fleet of at least 24 new naval combat is no easy task. Australian Maritime helicopters to provide eight or more The argument for a two-pilot crew Doctrine recognises Undersea Warfare, aircraft concurrently embarked model is primarily an economic of which anti-submarine warfare is on ships at sea. These new aircraft one. Presently, only Navy’s Seahawk the principal element, as generally the will possess advanced ASW [anti- maritime combat helicopters are flown Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 20 Focus on the outcome: the debate over the future of maritime aviation warfare officers in Naval Aviation with a pilot/aviation warfare officer model.2 On graduating they would The pilot/aviation front seat crew – all of Navy’s (and proceed to sea as co-pilots under the warfare officer model Army’s) other front-line helicopters are supervision of more experienced pilots. normally flown by two-pilot crews (the As a pilot’s experience grows under Navy currently operates its maritime Seasprite maritime combat helicopter this model, the ability to make sound combat aircraft with a front seat crew would have been flown with a pilot/ captaincy decisions relating to the of a single-pilot aircraft captain and a aviation warfare officer front seat safety of the aircraft also matures. single-aviation warfare officer mission crew). Exposure to the tactical environment, commander. The same crew model has The key aspects of the two-pilot together with some (potentially been specified for the next generation crew argument are that Navy pilots significant) additional dedicated of Navy maritime combat helicopters. could be generated from within the training, produces tactically useful Much of the way Navy structures same pilot training model employed aircraft captains. This is the model and prepares itself to fight in the by Army and that Navy could do away Army employ to generate aircraft maritime domain is based on the with the aviation warfare officer stream captains in air mobile and armed shared experience of many navies entirely. Adopting this model would reconnaissance operations (but evolved over many years, tailored to simplify the pilot training continuum interestingly enough it is not the model meet the specific realities unique to and remove the need to train dedicated they currently use for counter-terrorist Australia.3 The same is true of Navy’s aviation warfare officers, potentially operations or Chinook). It is similar aviation component that has over the generating training savings over to the model the United States Navy last 50 years evolved from a carrier- Navy’s current two-stream system use to generate Helicopter Aircraft based force with a strong linkage back even though the total number of Commanders in their maritime to the through to today’s aircrew in the system would need to support and maritime combat frigate-based combat helicopter remain relatively static (all the aviation helicopters. force. The current crew model has warfare officers in operational and staff The two-pilot crew model also also evolved over this period (but not positions would need to be replaced provides a level of piloting redundancy. without review) and reflects a lineage by pilots1 while aviation warfare officer In environments where direct small- back to how similar medium size navies instructor positions would need to arms fire presents a threat, a two-pilot have sought to gain the maximum be transferred to the pilot training crew offers an obvious advantage. capability from a limited asset base.4 system to cater for the increased pilot This is certainly one of the reasons From this perspective, the argument for throughput). why Navy flies its maritime support the pilot/aviation warfare officer crew The key element of this model is the aircraft with two-pilot crews (and of model is in essence a capability one. potential to ‘grow’ aircraft captains and course why Army fly two-pilot crews). The capability requirement at mission commanders through on-the- In maritime support operations where the high end is for Navy’s maritime job exposure. Pilots would complete restricted access can occasionally be combat helicopters to be able to the shorter, Army initial pilot training an issue, such as delivering boarding conduct autonomous operations course concentrating on raw flying parties, visibility from the cockpit over the horizon, day or night, in all competencies with a reduced emphasis also plays a factor. In these types of weather to the limits of both the ship on captaincy decision making. They operations, deck space for the insertion and helicopter envelopes.5 There is an would then progress through an of boarding parties is often limited and 3 Australian Maritime Doctrine: RAN Doctrine 1 – 2010, Second Edition, p1 operational conversion, similar to that the relative wind over the target vessel 4 The navies of the , France, undertaken now in the single-pilot usually dictates approach options. Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, New Zealand and Malaysia, among others, 1 There has been some suggestion that Having a pilot in both front seats all operate similar crew models in their maritime combat helicopter embarked increases the chances of being able to maritime combat helicopters. The United flights under this model could be reduced to States Navy, who currently employ a three pilots and two aircrewmen as opposed establish suitable hover references and two-pilot crew model, operate their 200+ to the current two pilots, two aviation provides a distinct tactical advantage maritime combat helicopter fleet in a warfare officers and two aircrewmen. To different manner to most medium sized for the two-pilot model. match the current capability and availability, navies – as Stalin is reputed to have said, and to maintain a viable pilot training 2 In this model, operational flying training quantity has a quality all of its own pipeline, each maritime combat helicopter would remain largely unchanged as pilots 5 While maintaining an anti-submarine flight under this model would require graduating from it would be expected to warfare capability is arguably the most two aircraft captain/mission commander do the majority of ‘hands on’ flying of the difficult maritime combat helicopter role, qualified pilots, two co-pilots and two aircraft while the more senior pilots act as anti-surface warfare is also an important aircrewmen. aircraft captain and mission commander. capability in which the new Navy maritime Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 21

expectation that the crew would be able to assume scene of action command at the tactical level and cope with the complexities and challenges of doing so as a single asset, alone, miles away from ‘mother,’6 right through to multi-asset engagements involving Joint, Allied and even Coalition partners. In this model, the pilot aircraft captain retains overall responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft, to the limits of the envelope. As the aircraft captain, the pilot must also maintain a high level of situational awareness and remain engaged in the tactical employment of the aircraft. In some circumstances the pilot may also have the spare capacity to contribute to some limited sensor management the Navy aviation warfare officer must “can only be achieved by people who (such as link management during also be a highly competent sensor are technical masters of air power, day sorties in good weather with a operator to be able to fully exploit the with the skills in their profession that low air threat). The aviation warfare aircraft’s mission systems. deliver the highest levels of tactical 7 officer is the mission commander; a In a typical anti-submarine competence.” However, this level deep warfare specialist with the skills engagement, the Navy aviation of tactical competence does come and tactical expertise to coordinate warfare officer will be the radar at a cost. The pilot training system (and take tactical control of) multiple operator, will manage the electronic must produce fully formed aircraft unit engagements against, in the anti- support measures suite, the datalinks, captains and a parallel system must submarine scenario, a stealthy unseen the forward looking infra-red, the be maintained to generate aviation adversary. While the mission and crew employment of weapons and the warfare officers; both of which cost responsibilities are similar to those of communications, and will do all of money, create training complexities the Air Force P-3 Orion pilot aircraft this on top of managing the tactical and absorb time and effort. captain and air combat officer mission situation while the pilot keeps the commander,7 given the limited crew aircraft out of the water and the sensor Thoa e c st delt space inherent in combat helicopters, operator manages the acoustic sensors (which the aviation warfare officer So what does it cost and what are the combat helicopter will have an increasingly significant role (and will be equipped with must also fully understand to best opportunities, if any, to save money by air-to-surface missiles to hammer home the exploit). At the same time the aviation adopting a two-pilot crew model across point). 6 The brevity code word for the aircraft’s warfare officer also has a safety of Navy’s maritime combat helicopter parent ship. flight responsibility to back the pilot fleet? Like all things to do with dollars, 7 Air combat officers are non-pilot aircrew officers employed by Air Force in four up with attitude, airspeed and altitude this is hard to pin down to a point streams: maritime patrol and response awareness, normal and emergency where one can be sure of comparing (flying in the Orion); air combat (flying in the Super Hornet); combat air lift (flying in checklist actions, navigation, fuel apples with apples. Given that the the Hercules); and air battle management management, and instrument approach overall personnel numbers are unlikely (flying in the Wedgetail). Navy’s aviation warfare officers broadly encompass the air briefs and monitoring. to change significantly under either combat officer skillsets across the maritime Like the Orion crew model that model, the easiest way to compare patrol and response (supporting maritime employs a non-pilot deep warfare costs is probably to use a consistent combat operations) and air combat (employing sensors and supporting single- specialist as the mission commander, costing model based on the full cost 8 pilot air combat operations) streams and the current Navy crew model reflects per flying hour. Note that the final lay the foundations for these skills at the Air Force School of Air Warfare, which will Air Force’s conclusion that the effective costs derived under this analysis are for continue to operate with or without Navy application of air power in operations comparative purposes only and may participation. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 22 Focus on the outcome: the debate over the future of maritime aviation warfare officers in Naval Aviation not reflect any actual savings in the real The extra hours required over those world. achieved during ab initio training Using this methodology, the are presently gained on the Squirrel, current Navy ab initio pilot training equating on average to an additional system, which includes the advanced cost of $1.487 million per pilot.8 fixed-wing element with Air Force at Navy’s aviation warfare officers can No2 Flying Training School and the proceed to operational flying training extended Squirrel-based helicopter directly from ab initio training. The course, costs $1.771 million to train maritime combat mission commander a pilot. Training an ab initio Navy operational flying training course aviation warfare officer at the Air involves 60 flying hours (plus 96 Force School of Air Warfare and a hours in the simulator) at a cost of short Squirrel helicopter transition $4.579 million per individual. costs $1.031 million. An ab initio In a single-stream pilot only model, Army pilot, using the pilot’s course as pilots would graduate as operational limited to an extended period at the co-pilots, candidates would proceed Basic Flying Training School and a directly to operational flying training shorter Kiowa-based helicopter course, from the shorter ab initio training costs $0.874 million. The figures at and avoid the need to accrue the extra this point indicate that an Army pilot Squirrel hours. Their operational flying can be generated for half the cost of a training would be similar in length to Navy pilot and 85% of a Navy aviation the current operational flying training warfare officer. Factoring in a similar course as they would still need to be commander skills). So while it may failure rate in both pilot systems and a at least physically capable of flying all be $2.169 million cheaper to generate higher failure rate in aviation warfare the aircraft sequences. Based on an an operational maritime combat pilot officer training (reflecting the current 80 flying hour operational conversion, (albeit a co-pilot), it is $5.639 million reality) generates a potential difference this phase of maritime combat more expensive to generate a mission of $15.042 million per year between helicopter co-pilot training would commander. This represents a potential the current Navy two-stream aircrew cost $6.055 million per pilot. Under overall cost increase of $27.760 million training model and a potential single- the single-stream pilot only model per annum. stream model based on the Army pilot this cost would need to be applied It is also worth noting that all Navy training system. to all front seat aircrew. Ultimately, aircrew need to demonstrate a raft However, there are additional costs ‘growing’ a maritime combat mission of competencies in a series of annual 10 associated with generating operational commander under this system would flying checks. While many of these aircrew. In Navy’s current model, cost $10.218 million per mission checks can be flown in the simulator, as pilots operate outside the closely commander (the $6.055 million it is not always practicable or desirable supervised squadron environment for pilot conversion plus $4.163 million to fly all of them in the simulator, extended periods, they need to achieve on a tailored 55 flying hour mission especially for some of the pilot checks. 500 flying hours before embarking commander conversion – and this On average, Navy pilots fly 8.5 hours as operational maritime combat does not include the additional per year more than aviation warfare helicopter captains. Using the Seahawk flying training that would also need officers on annual checks or preparing as a baseline, the maritime combat to be conducted at the School of for annual checks and these hours are pilot operational flying training course Air Warfare gaining basic mission flown in the much more expensive involves 89 flying hours (plus 58 hours 8 Navy pilots destined to fly operational combat aircraft. Factoring ‘flying’ the mission simulator) at a single-pilot operational types largely build these costs in across an expanded all 9 their experience before commencing cost of $6.737 million per pilot. To pilot population generates a further operational flying training flying as Squirrel achieve the threshold 500 flying hours aircraft captains during aviation warfare additional cost of $22.519 million per pilots need to commence operational officer and aircrewman training sorties; year. What this means is that while the that is, hours that would have to be flown flying training with a little over 400 anyway. In the two-pilot model, basic Army two-pilot model may generate flying hours already in their log books. aircrewman training sorties on the Squirrel a cheaper ab initio training system, will still need to be catered for. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 23

CURRENT SYSTEM it may also be significantly more PILOTS expensive to produce the operational 22 Start Pass Rate 65% FWO IMPS - 10 years First Posting Opportunity NEOC BFTS 2FTS 723 SQN OFT TP capability than the current Navy two- - Aircraft Captain for further posting QFI stream system. Cost $2,939, 334 by the end of 2FTS

AVIATION WARFARE OFFICERS The capability equation 11 Start Pass Rate 60% FWO IMPS - 8 years First Posting Opportunity for NEOC SAW 723 OFT TP - Mission Commander further posting QFI In a crew constrained vehicle (there Cost $448,626 by the end of SAW are only three crew seats in a Seahawk and both of the platforms under consideration to replace the Seahawk TWO PILOT MODEL Tactical Course IMPS - 10 years would also come with just three crew Mission Cdr Course 60 hrs aircraft seats) effective employment is all about 44 Start Pass Rate 75% 90 hrs simulator FWO First Posting Posting - Mission Opportunity for NEOC BFTS 723 OFT TACCO TNG TP specialisation and teamwork. Maritime Co-pilot Commander/Aircraft Captain further posting Pass Rate 80% QFI combat aircraft are inherently Cost $1,500,000 by the end of BFTS complex systems that are operated in a very challenging environment. YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 YEAR 6 YEAR 7 YEAR 8 YEAR 9 YEAR 10 Navy routinely conducts blue water F igure 1 Direct Entry Officer aviation operations without a divert tactical decisions, even in the fog of service). From this point the aviation Timeline Comparison option; to avoid getting wet, the flight war (and, indeed, in just plain old fog as warfare officer separation profile is deck you leave at the beginning of the well). None of these are skills that can typically linear, which does not have sortie is the one you must return to be developed quickly or maintained an immediate dramatic impact on the at the end, regardless of the weather easily. overall capability. conditions or the state of the aircraft. In the current Navy two-stream In parallel to the generation of This requires Navy pilots to be model, mission commanders are mission commanders, the Navy two- very confident operators with high generated through the dedicated stream system also generates aircraft piloting and captaincy skills and deep aviation warfare officer continuum. captains. These are tactically competent aircraft systems and aviation domain Specialised training is provided pilots with highly developed handling knowledge. that generates a competent mission skills and the confidence to conduct Mission commanders, be they commander in three years.10 Their blue water operations well outside the pilots or aviation warfare officers, raison d’être is to lead the fight from shore-based squadron supervisory require very deep warfare knowledge, the air; to be the Fleet Air Arm’s master structure. Typically they will be ready especially given the autonomous way tacticians. On completion of their first for their first fleet assignment at the we operate is generally very different operational tour they become available five year point in their careers11 and will to our peers in the United States for specialist post-graduate training be available for post-graduate training Navy.9 Mission commanders need as warfare instructors, aerosystems as flying instructors, test pilots and to have a detailed understanding of specialists and Fleet Warfare Officers Fleet Warfare Officers at the seven year the threat and threat tactics and the (paralleling the advanced warfare point, resulting in a full post-graduate countervailing blue force tactics, training provided to surface fleet tour prior reaching their initial techniques and procedures. They Principal Warfare Officers). A further minimum period of service. The pilot need to understand the sensors and full posting tour is then available before separation profile (without the current weapons they operate and the theory these individuals reach their initial retention inducements) typically behind them to exploit them to the minimum period of service (their reflects a steeper initial separation greatest effect. But most critically of all, first opportunity to separate from the curve that flattens off after a few years. they need to be able to bring all of this This type of separation profile has the 10 Based on a direct entry aviation knowledge together and make rapid warfare officer. Aviation warfare officers 11 Based on a direct entry pilot. 9 United States Navy maritime graduating from the Australian Defence Pilots graduating from the Australian combat helicopters are equipped with a Force Academy would arrive at this point Defence Force Academy would arrive at this dedicated high bandwidth datalink that 6.5 years after entry (assuming a three year point 8.5 years after entry (assuming a three allows greater participation of parent degree). Defence Academy aviation warfare year degree). Defence Academy pilots join ship warfare specialists in the tactical officers join with an 11 year initial minimum with a 13 year initial minimum period of employment of the aircraft period of service service Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 24 Focus on the outcome: the debate over the future of maritime aviation warfare officers in Naval Aviation potential to have a more significant These relatively junior pilots would safety first culture. The considerable impact on the overall capability if not still have less than 800 flying hours in emphasis Navy places on aviation risk carefully managed. their log books as they move to pick and crew resource management gives In the single-stream pilot only up both the responsibility for being crews the knowledge and confidence to model the system would graduate the aircraft captain (and by extension, effectively balance mission objectives tactically aware co-pilots within three the supervising pilot of more junior against safety and identify the threshold years. They would then undertake their co-pilots) and the mission commander, where those mission objectives should first tour under the supervision of an where they would be expected to do be traded off to maintain safety. This aircraft captain who, in the maritime less ‘hands-on’ flying and concentrate in effect translates the safety question combat aircraft, has also qualified as a more on orchestrating mission back into a capability one and as we mission commander. On completion of outcomes. have discussed earlier, the single-pilot/ their first tour, they would then need to Further complicating this issue, aviation warfare officer crew model complete mission commander training there is a finite amount of ‘human is likely to reach the capability trade- before their first tour as aircraft capital’ available in the aircraft. off threshold earlier in some combat captain/mission commander. Pilots Transferring a supervisory role support missions while the two-pilot in this stream would not be available from the training system to the model is likely to reach that threshold for post-graduate training as flying operational system will, inevitably, earlier in combat missions. instructors, aerosystem specialists, divert some of the aircraft captain’s Finally, a few words on ‘night aided’ test pilots, warfare instructors and attention from mission management flight, or flight using night vision Fleet Warfare Officers until eight and to flying supervision. In relatively devices, as this has been raised as a a half years, leaving less than a full tour benign conditions this will likely be potential safety issue for the pilot/ before reaching their initial minimum of limited consequence but as flying aviation warfare officer crew model. period of service. The pilot separation conditions become more challenging Army are, without a doubt, world profile would have a proportionally it is only natural that the aircraft leaders in the art of night-aided flight greater impact on capability at this captain’s attention will increasingly and their two-pilot crew model, and point in the single-stream pilot be directed towards supervising the the training system that supports it, model. The two models are compared less experienced co-pilot. In very reflects a strong emphasis on being pictorially at figure 1. challenging flying conditions it is able to achieve night aided missions It is also important to note that feasible to imagine that the aircraft safely. This is essential to the way the the single-stream pilot only model captain, as the more experienced pilot, Australian Defence Force plans to fight relies upon pilots being willing and will actually take over flying the aircraft over land and in this sense, the ability motivated to undertake mission and relegate the co-pilot to manage the to conduct helicopter operations at commander training that, to ensure mission as best he or she can with the low-level under the cover of darkness a consistency of capability across the obvious consequent impact on the level using night vision devices is mission two models, would need to generate of tactical competence being applied to enabling. pilot mission commanders with the achieve the mission outcomes. Navy conduct maritime combat same tactical skillsets as the current operations at sea from the sea. While aviation warfare officers. This would Safety night aided flight is an important involve considerable additional tactical skill, as the sea is (relatively) training, much of it in a classroom or Any debate on changing the Navy flat with boundaries and obstacles tactics simulator, at a critical point in a helicopter crew model would be presented to the crew through a pilot’s flying skill development cycle.12 incomplete without some assessment multitude of other sensors, night 12 Pay grade progression for Navy of the relative safety between the two vision devices are mission enhancing pilots under the Graded Officer Pay Scales is also linked to attaining certain flying options. In essence, both models are rather than mission enabling. Indeed, competencies; see the Australian Defence safe. Navy aircrew, be they pilots, the maritime combat mission can be Force Pay and Conditions Manual, Chapter aviation warfare officers or aircrewmen, achieved on nights when the weather 3, Part 1B, Division 2, Part 2. Under the pilot only model, pilots within the maritime train, work and fly within a strong or ambient lighting conditions would combat stream, undertaking longer, more completely rule out the use of night tactically complex training, would achieve comparison to pilots in the maritime major competency milestones, such as support stream with a concomitant impact vision devices through the application aircraft command and post-graduate on the relative pace of their pay grade of low-level instrument flying skills, the qualifications, later in their career in progression. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 25

(Endnotes) acquisition of which is an important to field in what is arguably one of the 1 At CN AUSTRALIA R 030524Z NOV 10 discriminator between the current most critical, and difficult, warfare the approved the renaming of the Observer primary qualification as Army and Navy pilot training systems. disciplines. Given the world we live in Maritime Aviation Warfare Officers or Significantly with respect to how and the proliferation of submarines AvWOs 2 Republic of Korea Ministry of National night vision devices are employed, the just in our immediate area of interest, Defense Joint Civilian-Military Investigation maritime combat mission will require a reduction in capability is probably an Group press release 20 May 2010 3 Jane’s Underwater Warfare Systems 2010 mission commanders (and sensor outcome that we can least afford right 4 Australian Maritime Doctrine: RAN operators) to spend the majority of now. t Doctrine 1 – 2010, Second Edition, p149 5 ibid, p150 their time ‘heads down’ focused on 6 Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific tactical displays and data management Century: Force 2030, p72. 7 Australian Air Publication 1000-D: The Air tasks inside the cockpit leaving the Power Manual, 5th Edition, p25 flying pilot to concentrate on the scene Commodore Dalton RAN was 8 Defence Finance Manual, Volume 4, Part 3, full cost per flying hour (excluding GST) outside the helicopter. This will hold Commander Fleet Air Arm from 2008 at tables 3.3.2 for Air Force aircraft, table true for both crew models, although 3.3.3 for Navy aircraft and table 3.3.4 for to 2010. He has amassed over 5, 500 Army aircraft in the two-pilot model, it will be the military flying hours in Iroquois, Sea 9 Defence Finance Manual, Volume 4, junior co-pilot on the controls looking Part 3, using the full cost per flying hour (excluding GST) for a Seahawk at table 3.3.3 out from the cockpit through the King, Gazelle and Seahawk, ashore and 10 See Australian Book of Reference 5150 goggles. embarked, is a graduate of the US Navy – Naval Aviation Instructions, 6th Edition, AL3, Chapters 4 and 5 So, is it possible to operate Navy’s War College and is currently Director maritime combat helicopters with a General Navy Aviation Systems within two-pilot crew model? The answer is of the DMO. course yes, it is possible. Would it save money to operate Navy’s maritime combat helicopters with a two-pilot crew model? The answer to this question is not as clear cut but it is highly unlikely a two-pilot crew model will be cheaper overall. Indeed any costs potentially saved in the training system are likely to be offset by far greater costs in the operational system generating mission commanders in an all pilot workforce, maintaining the currency requirements of the extra pilots and checking the competencies of the extra pilots. Would it be wise to move to a two-pilot crew model for all Navy helicopters? While it makes sense to retain the two-pilot crew model in Navy’s maritime support helicopters, the two-pilot crew model is unlikely, despite even the most determined SMARTER AND SAFER effort, to generate the same level of UNDERWATER SOLUTIONS tactical competence resident within the ...Since the beginning current maritime combat helicopter single-pilot/aviation warfare officer crew model. This would lead directly For more information, please contact: [email protected] and inevitably to a reduction in the www.thalesgroup.com.au level of capability Navy would be able Photograph © Australian Department of Defence Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 26 What Happened to AE1? By Rear Admiral Peter Briggs RAN (Rtd)

2015 hrs, HMAS AE2 to HMAS Australia, area. set a world record for submarine ‘submit; had HMAS AE1 a Two E class submarines were voyages at the time. Numerous scouting with her today. She has not yet ordered by the Australian Government technical challenges were overcome returned to harbour’ (HMAS Australia in December 1910 and delivered from before reaching Sydney on Sunday the signal log). the builders at the end of 1913. AE1 24th of May 1914. Each submarine and AE2 were primitive by today’s had steamed about two thirds of the standards, but were state of the art in 12,000 miles from Portsmouth to hus began the story of the 1914. Sydney and was under tow for the loss of HMAS AE1, Australia’s AE1 had a riveted steel hull, four remainder. T1st submarine, whilst on patrol off torpedo tubes with four reloads, a The submarines undertook a three on 14 September dived operating depth of 100 feet, week docking in Fitzroy Dock at 1914. It remains the RAN’s greatest although this was extended to 200 Cockatoo Island during June. Their outstanding maritime mystery. The later in the war and displaced 800 tons refit was truncated as the news from submarine has never been found, nor dived. They were fitted with two diesel Europe indicated that war was on the were any traces discovered by the engines giving a maximum speed of horizon. searching ships following its loss. A 15 knots on the surface. Two electric Shortly after the declaration of volunteer team of maritime historians motors and banks of lead acid batteries War on 6 August the Australia Fleet and submarine experts have come provided a maximum dived speed of deployed to German New Guinea together to review the history and 9 knots for a brief period or five knots to capture the German colony and endeavour to set out a search area to for nine hours. The crew of 31 was wireless stations. AE1 sailed from findAE1 prior to the 100th anniversary a mixture of Royal Navy submarine Sydney at the end of August to of her loss. personnel on loan and volunteers rendezvous with the other fleet units in This article provides a summary of drawn from the fledgling RAN. the Louisiade Island chain south-east the research and interim conclusions of The submarines were commissioned of New Guinea on 9th September. Fleet the AE1 Inc team. Whilst the cause of into the RAN on the 28th February units including the two submarines, the loss cannot be definitively stated we 1914 in Portsmouth where they were entered and nearby anchorages have evaluated the clues against a range fitted with a medium frequency WT on 11 September and successfully of scenarios, to assess their probability set and a gyrocompass. The trip to captured the German colony and WT of occurrence and impact on the search Australia was extremely arduous and station – but that is another story.

AE 1 with HMAS Australia and HMAS Yarra in the background, in September 1914 a few days before her loss-(Photo courtesy HMAS Stirling naval base) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 27

The submarines were employed could have been by flashing light or Duke of York islands and searched guarding the approaches to the landing megaphone. to the northwest for 30 nm to cover anchorages against an attack by the After rendezvousing at sea likely drift on the strong tidal stream. German , Scharnhorst and on the morning of the 14th AE1 Encounter joined the search at first Gneisenau. A torpedo boat destroyer and Parramatta parted company, light (0545) before anchoring at 1045 accompanied them on their patrols; Parramatta patrolling to the southward and Warrego rejoining from a trip to AE2 and Yarra undertook the 1st patrol off Cape Gazelle and AE1 proceeding Kavieng to the north joined in late on 13 September, Parramatta and AE1 to the northeast towards the Duke of morning enroute to Rabaul. No trace patrolled on 14 September. York Islands possibly to investigate a of wreckage or bodies was found. AE1 had a defect on one shaft, report of a German steamer sighted Encounter reported an oil slick, but limiting her propulsion dived or when by Yarra on the previous evening. advises that this was assessed as from going astern, to 1 shaft. This defect Parramatta turned north to close passing ship as it had dispersed by would have greatly handicapped any the submarine later that morning midday – no position was given for recovery from a depth excursion or and reported that they were close the slick. Motorboats and a steam flooding when dived and reduced the to AE1 located in a position 2 miles yacht were used to search the adjacent astern power available on the surface. off the southeast corner of Duke of coastlines that afternoon, without Both shafts were available propelling York Island at 1430. Visibility was success. ahead on the surface under diesel approximately 5 nautical miles in a That afternoon the Fleet propulsion. Going astern on the tropical afternoon haze common in Commander, enroute to Sydney in surface whilst on diesel power was this part of the world. It is not obvious HMAS Australia advised the Naval already a slow process as the diesels how Parramatta was able to quickly Board that AE1 with a crew of 35 was had to be declutched before energising relocate AE1 in these conditions, the feared lost. the electric motors to provide astern Fleet Commander reported that they Whatever happened to AE1 power. Arrangements had been made were communicating by WT, but no occurred so quickly and in a fashion to rectify the defect that evening – in other units logged these signals. that it was not possible to send a retrospect it seems extraordinary that The simple tracing off Parramatta’s distress call (if the Fleet Commander’s AE1 was at sea on the 14th. chart in use that accompanied their account is correct, the WT mast was We are reliant on Parramatta’s brief report of the loss is the last record we rigged and the set working at 1430). account of the day’s events as none of have of AE1. At 1520 Parramatta lost The absence of debris, bodies or a the signals that passed between them sight of AE1 and turned back towards persistent oil slick indicates that the on that day was recorded by any other the last seen position but no further submarine sank with all or most of units, nor have we been able to locate sightings were made. its crew secured inside and that the any record of the Board of Inquiry that The remainder of this account is pressure hull remained intact with the was ordered by the Fleet Commander. based on knowledgeable supposition submarine disabled on the bottom. It does not appear to have been and evaluation of the probabilities. Could AE1 have been sunk in a convened – overtaken by the exigencies AE1 was under strict instructions battle with an armed German steamer? of war perhaps? to return to the anchorage in Rabaul This scenario would fit some of the The method of passing the signals Harbour by dark; sunset was at clues reasonably well. A German between AE1 and Parramatta on 1750. This directive was reinforced Petty Officer prisoner claimed that he this fateful day are not known as we by a personal signal from the Fleet was in command of the river steamer, have not located Parramatta’s signal Commander as she sailed that Kolonialgesellschaft when just such logs. WT could have been used but morning. an attack occurred. This steamer was this would have required AE1 to rig At 2015 AE2 alongside the found 70 nm to the west, aground on her wireless mast, a cumbersome and submarine depot ship SS Upolu in a reef on 19 September. She was fitted time consuming operation. Since Rabaul harbour, was concerned about with a 1” (25mm) cannon and reported the submarine would have had to AE1’s failure to return as expected to be carrying a party of 12 German unrig it prior to diving this seems an and raised the alarm. Yarra and Army reservists to join the defence unlikely proposition for a submarine Parramatta sailed to search for AE1 of Rabaul, so the capability to attack heading out potentially to intercept the at 2320. Using searchlights and flares AE1 was there. Based on an analysis enemy. Alternatively, communications as required they circumnavigated the by Dr Roger Neill, the cannon was Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 28 What Happened to AE1?

almost certainly capable of holing AE1’s time to spare so it is highly likely that pressure hull from close range. Could she headed back on the surface at best this be the ‘smoking gun’? speed by the shortest route, perhaps Whilst the records are far from coming close in off Mioko Harbour for complete we have reached the a last look for that steamer? If so, what conclusion that the German account of could have befallen her? sailing from Madang on 9 September In 2002 John Foster recorded a local prior to becoming wrecked on the reef native story handed down from their off Cape Lambert on 16 September, forebears of a submarine approaching 70 miles short of Rabaul, is probably from the north east, about to round correct. The low powered river steamer Wirian reef on the south eastern point appears to have lacked the endurance of Mioko Island before stopping then to steam continuously for 4 days at drifting or moving off to the north five knots in order to be off Duke of east on the current and disappearing. York Island on the afternoon of 13 The story is time and date stamped September. She had a crew of two and by other stories relating Encounter’s is unlikely to be able to carry sufficient bombardment that morning and the firewood or fresh water for the boiler searchlights and flares used by the for four days; such stores are readily searching ships that night. available on a river, but not the open The final scenario postulates a sea. No stories corroborating this glancing grounding, causing extensive account of an attack on AE1 have since damage to some or all the external R ear Admiral Peter Briggs RAN emerged – an extraordinarily effective ballast tanks in the ’saddle bags on retired in 2001 after a 39 year career conspiracy if the Petty Officer’s story one side of the pressure hull. This including command of HMAS Otway, is correct. Finally the local people scenario best fits all the clues. The Oxley, Platypus, Stirling, Flag Officer have no account of a battle between a loss of these tanks would leave AE1 Naval Training Command, Head of the German steamer and submarine; the with a heavy list and in a precariously encounter must almost certainly have unstable state. It is postulated that this Strategic Command Division and Head taken place within visual and audible caused the submarine to roll onto her Submarine Capability Team. range of Mioko Harbour. damaged side and sink slowly to the Could AE1 have dived for some bottom. Given the absence of an oil reason and then been inadvertently run slick, AE1 probably remained intact, down by a surface ship? This scenario ie bottomed at a depth shallower than also fits the clues quite well. Rumours its crush depth. AE1 remained on the at the time told of collisions with bottom, pressure hull intact, therefore submerged objects. Apart from Yarra’s not leaking oil but disabled, unable to grounding on a reef whilst searching release its emergency ballast keel or for AE1 on the afternoon of the 15th, generate sufficient buoyancy to return none of the surface ships reported a to the surface. collision or damage. It is more likely Armed with this analysis we are that the unknown bumps were semi able to construct a search area to cover submerged logs that seem to have been the range of scenarios. Finding the common in the area. submarine is possibly the only way of What was AE1 most likely to solving the puzzle, bringing closure to have done on the afternoon of the the dependents of the 35 men onboard, 14th? Allowing for the strong currents solving the RAN’s greatest mystery and observed in the area it would have providing a fitting recognition of the taken 2 hours and 25 minutes to centennial of AE1’s sacrifice. t cover the 24 nautical miles back to the anchorage – at 1500 she had little Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 29 An analysis of probable Nordenfelt Gun effectiveness in an engagement with a surfaced submarine B y DrRoger Neill, Defence Science and Technology Organisation

On 14 September 1914 the Australian first question. In addressing the second Submarine HMAS AE1 was operating question, at least two things need to be on a surface patrol, in company with considered. The first consideration is HMAS Parramatta, in the vicinity of whether a bullet fired from this weapon could have penetrated the pressure hull. Duke of York Island. At some time in the The second consideration is whether afternoon, following a last sighting by the weapon, given its characteristics Parramatta around 1520 hours, the and the nature of its installation on submarine disappeared without trace. board the vessel, would have had the ability to be trained sufficiently regarded as reasonable and indicative. N ordenfelt gun on Various scenarios have been proposed display accurately to enable the submarine to If a very high level of confidence is to explain the loss of the submarine. be hit. This paper describes a series required with respect to the results, One of these involves the boat being of brief studies undertaken to provide however, the study would need to be engaged by machine gun fire from a indicative answers to the two aspects of complemented by analyses based upon small vessel which was known to be Question 2. high-fidelity computer modelling and in the vicinity, possibly followed by a Three separate analyses were simulation. undertaken to support the study. The reader is requested to pay ramming from the same vessel. When The first could be regarded as semi- particular attention to the units which captured this vessel was found to carry quantitative and it was undertaken to have been used throughout this report. a One Inch Nordenfelt Gun. determine whether the proposition The materiel which are the subject of that the pressure hull or conning tower the report were all specified, designed, here is at least a finite possibility could have been penetrated was a constructed and tested using the that the missing Australian World reasonable one. Study One assumed imperial measurement system. The T 1 War I submarine HMAS AE1 may normal angle of incidence for impact penetration depth prediction equations have been attacked at close range by an of the projectile. If the predicted that have been used in the study armed surface craft carrying a so-called penetration depth had been less than use a range of measurement system One Inch Nordenfelt Gun.2 The surface one half of the thickness of the pressure conventions. The formulation used craft, the Kolonialgesellschaft,3 was a hull, then the submarine would have in Study One is loosely based on the Barrel- Nordenfelt Rifle alibreC Gun 75-foot long wooden steamer which been assumed to be invulnerable to old CGS formulations. Even within Naval Carriage had been armed by a German Militia attack from the Nordenfelt Gun [Foster 2006, p 71]. and the second study would This raises two critical questions: not have been undertaken. The (1) how likely is it that such an attack fact that the second study was took place?; and (2) if it did, could the undertaken gives some clue to gun have caused critical damage to the the results of Study One. submarine? For the second study care was It is beyond the scope of this taken to model the bullet fired by document to give consideration to the the Nordenfelt Gun, plus account

1 The author believes that, in 1914, it was was taken of instances where not normal practice to append the ‘HMAS’ the bullet may have impacted identifier to submarines. It is, however, now the submarine’s pressure hull at normal practice to do so and the author chose to follow this convention by naming non-normal incidence. In this the submarine HMAS AE1. case the study was based upon 2 Also known as Nordenfelt One Pounder Gun and, in non-naval applications, the empirically-derived penetration Nordenfelt Cannon. formulae. The results should be 3 Hereafter referred to as the Kolonia. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 30 An analysis of probable Nordenfelt Gun effectiveness in an engagement with a surfaced submarine this formulation, however, there is an can effectively apparent (but not actual) inconsistency be ignored if the in that dimensions measured in assumption is centimetres are mixed with velocities made that the expressed in terms of kilometres per engagement took second. The formulation used in Study place at very close Two used the imperial measurement range. system and the final study was It has been stated above undertaken using SI units. Attempting that Study One was semi- to unify the various elements of the quantitative. Its purpose report into a single measurement was to determine whether system results in some very messy the effort involved in descriptions (for example to use the undertaking a more phrase ‘0.0254 metre Nordenfelt Gun’ comprehensive assessment simply doesn’t work) so where it was could be justified. The deemed most appropriate, the decision reasons the outputs of the was taken to work with original units. model should be regarded as semi-quantitative when Study One: Semi-quantitative esti- applied to the current mate of Penetration Depth problem include: Method

This study made use of a penetration • Being at the model which was developed on behalf lower limit of AE1 Section 50 of NASA to support the US space the supersonic range, the The Modified Cour-Palais Equation program [Hayashida and Robinson velocity of the Nordenfelt for prediction of crater depth is 1991]. The model, known as the Gun projectile is rather low [Hayashida and Robinson 1991]: Modified Cour-Palais Equation, was compared with the velocity 19/18 -0.25 0.5 2/3 developed to predict the penetration range for which the formula P = 5.24 d BH [ρP/ρt] [Vn/C] protection performance of shields was developed; against supersonic and hypersonic • The model assumes that Where impact with objects during space flight penetration depth is only in low-Earth orbit. Despite the fact influenced by the normal P = crater depth on target (cm) this formulation was developed to component of the projectile’s support spaceflight-related research velocity vector. Given the d = projectile diameter (cm) and development, it was deemed that shape of the submarine’s it could be legitimately applied to this pressure hull, it is unlikely that BH = Brinnell hardness for target preliminary, ‘reality check’ assessment in an engagement, even at very 3 because: close range, the bullets would ρP = projectile density (gm/cm ) have been striking the pressure 3 1. It can be applied to a range hull at normal incidence; ρt = target density (gm/cm ) of materials, including the • The model assumes the high-

ferrous and non-ferrous velocity object is spherical in Vn = impact velocity (normal materials that were used in shape. The Nordenfelt bullet component of the projectile relative construction of HMAS AE1; was not spherical. velocity) (km/s) 2. The speed of the projectile Having given consideration to the fired from the Nordenfelt Gun above qualifications, it was judged that C = speed of sound for the target 1/2 was (just) within the range of if Study One predicted a penetration (km/s) = [E/ρt] velocities for which the model depth greater than one half of the can be applied; and thickness of the pressure hull, further E = Young’s Modulus for the target 3. The effect of the atmosphere study would be warranted. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 31

Mass of Diameter of Impact Site Ballistic Protection Ballistic Protection Cour-Palais defined a pair of 1014 fps at 500 Projectile (gm) Projectile (cm) Thickness (Inches) Thickness (cm) multiplication factors to specify yards), but the 67 2.54 Pressure Hull 0.6 1.5 minimum acceptable thickness of 1464 fps figure 175 3.49 Pressure Hull 0.8 2.1 shields. Multiplying the crater depth was regarded as 67 2.54 Conning Tower 0.7 1.9 by a factor of 1.8 defines the thickness representative 175 3.49 Conning Tower 1.0 2.7 of a shield which will provide adequate and hence Table 1 ballistic protection against penetration. was used throughout the study unless With respect to determining Predicted ballistic This means that the depth of the crater otherwise specified. the thickness of the material from protection thickness on the front face, combined with the While the brass envelope travels which the brass conning tower was for impact of a depth of spallation off the back face of with the bullet in flight, the advice constructed, the only information spherical projectile onto a flat plate the target will not exceed the thickness from DSTO ballistics experts is that that was available to the author was a comprising either of the target and hence penetration the envelope strips away from the cross-section drawing of the conning mild steel (Pressure won’t occur. Beyond that thickness it steel projectile upon impact with the tower [Vickers 1914a] which included a Hull) or Brass is still possible for spallation to occur target, and therefore effectively doesn’t cross section drawing entitled ‘Section (Conning Tower). off the back surface of the shield even contribute to the penetration process at Frame 57 (Looking Forward)’. This Normal incidence impact is assumed. in the absence of penetration. The [Cimpoeru and Ryan 2011]. Analysis of drawing had an identified dimension factor defining thickness for adequate the drawings for the bullet, described of 2’9” from the top of the pressure protection against spallation is 2.2 under Study Two below, indicates hull to the centre of the conning times the crater depth. For this study it that exclusion of the brass jacket will tower steering wheel. This dimension was decided that it was appropriate to reduce the mass of the bullet to 175 was used to derive a scaling factor use the 1.8 x ballistic protection factor. grams. Therefore, in the case where the for the drawing, and from that it was Given that the above equation spherical projectile matched the mass determined the brass conning tower assumes a spherical projectile, the of the Nordenfelt Bullet, its diameter was up to 1.5 inches thick. Given the researcher was left with the choice of was assumed to be 3.49 cm. scale of the plan, and the fact the cross matching the diameter of the projectile, Information on the target (pressure section was not actually dimensioned, which would model a projectile of hull and conning tower) was derived this should be regarded as an indicative considerably less mass than the actual from the specification documents thickness. In the case of Brass, the bullet, or matching the mass of the and plans for the Australian E Class following data were used: projectile to that of the bullet, hence submarines. In the case of the pressure allowing the modelled diameter hull the specification document states Density = 8.55 gm per cubic centimetre to considerably exceed the actual that, in parts of the submarine where Young’s Modulus = 112.5 GPa diameter. In the event both conditions the diameter of the hull exceeds 15.5 Brinell Hardness = 100 were modelled. feet, the steel should be of 20 pound In the case where a spherical, mild weight (Section 11). This corresponds Results and Discussion steel projectile was modelled to match to a thickness of one half inch. The predicted ballistic protection the one-inch (2.54 cm) diameter of the Furthermore, the steel was specified thickness for the various modelled bullet, the mass equated to 67.3 grams. to be of a ‘special’ type with required conditions are summarised in Table 1. There is information available on ultimate strength of 30 to 34 tons Given that the maximum thickness the characteristics of the Nordenfelt per square inch (414-469 MPa). This of the pressure hull was one half inch Gun and the bullets they fired corresponds fairly closely with modern [Vickers 1914b], with the thickness [Nordenfelt 1884; Mackinlay 1887]. mild steel. For example the US ASTM progressively reducing to 3/8 inch (15 The latter source quotes muzzle standard A36 for mild steel specifies pound plate) as the diameter of the hull velocity for the bullets as 1464 feet that it should have ultimate strength reduced, predicted penetration depths per second (Page 313, Table XVI) and in the range 400-550 MPa [ASTM indicate that the submarine would have the mass of the steel bullet, including Standard A36 / A36M 2008], hence been in a position of considerable risk if its brass envelope is quoted as 3170 data appropriate to that standard were attacked at close range by a Nordenfelt grains (205 grams). Nordenfelt [1884] used for the study: Gun. The modelled results for the quotes slightly different velocities for Density = 7.85 gm per cubic centimetre conning tower, which appears to have the bullets at various ranges (1550 fps Young’s Modulus = 195 GPa been cast in brass to a considerably muzzle velocity, 1164 fps at 300 yards, Brinell Hardness = 120 greater thickness than the pressure Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 32 An analysis of probable Nordenfelt Gun effectiveness in an engagement with a surfaced submarine hull, indicate that there is a reasonable Anon [1961] for a range of chance the tower may have been common target materials. capable of withstanding such an attack. The criterion which was established Vr = residual fragment velocity, for making the decision to proceed to in feet per second (fps) the more quantitative Study Two, that predicted depth of penetration exceeds Vs = striking velocity (fps) one half of the thickness of the pressure hull or conning tower, was easily met. T = target thickness in inches

Study Two: Estimate of Penetra- A = average impact area of the tion Depth Accounting for Bullet fragment (i.e. the average cross- Geometry sectional area of the bullet in Method square inches) A number of formulae have been developed which can be used to Wf = fragment weight in grains predict the penetration performance of projectiles against flat plates. These θ = the angle of incidence of include a simple formulation by target trajectory where an angle Woodward [1977] and a more complex of 0 degrees represents normal set of formulae known as the JTCG/ incidence impact. ME equations [Anon. 1985]. For the To determine penetration present study it was decided to make performance, this equation can use of a set of equations developed be used in two ways. For the as part of a 1950’s era, intermediate first approach the thickness of ballistic missile program called Project the target (say half inch in the Thor [Anon 1961]. Formulae were case of the submarine’s pressure developed from the test data which can hull) can be input directly into be used to predict residual velocity of the equation and if the residual fragments that have penetrated a flat velocity is greater than zero, for so-called ‘mild homogenous steel’ F igure 1 target. These equations are able to take then penetration can be assumed to as defined in the Thor report [Anon Cross section drawing of one inch account of off-normal impacts and they have taken place. The second approach 1961]. bullet. The image are also able to model the penetration is to assume that the residual velocity The average area of the bullet was is from Plate XX performance of non-uniform objects. is zero, and rearrange the equation to determined according to the following of the Treatise on The Thor equations weren’t strictly make the target thickness the subject. procedure. An image of the British Ammunition, 5th developed to model projectiles such as This will then give a measure of the one inch Mk VI bullet was imported Edition 1894, War bullets, but they are valid for length/ thickness of plate which the bullet into imaging software. This image office,U K (Crown Copyright Expired). diameter ratios up to 3, hence it was could potentially have penetrated. It is reproduced as Figure 1. The cross Note that there deemed appropriate to apply them in was judged that the latter approach section drawing of the steel bullet are a number of modelling the penetration performance would give the average reader a better and brass envelope was presented at dimensions included of a one-inch diameter Nordenfelt intuitive sense of either how well or maximum resolution and the vertical in the drawing which bullet. how badly the pressure hull of HMAS dimension, identified as 2.9 inches on enabled the author to establish scaling AE1 would fare against a Nordenfelt the drawing, was measured in pixel factors. Details of The equation which is of particular bullet. units. This enabled a scaling factor to the manner in which relevance to the present study is: The rearranged equation is: be derived – i.e. one inch = 234 pixels. data were derived 1-λ -C -β -γ 1/α T = 1/A [Vs 10 Wf [sec θ] ] The steel part of the bullet was from this image are C α β γ λ Vr = Vs – 10 [TA] Wf [sec θ] Vs then sectioned in 0.1 inch increments, detailed in the text. As for Study One, the velocity of the rounded to the nearest pixel, and Where C, α, β, γ, λ are empirically- bullet was assumed to be 1464 fps. The at each section the diameter was determined constants provided in data for the empirical constants were measured in pixels and converted back Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 33

Angle of incidence Penetration Depth Penetration Depth to inches. These data were used for two undertaken in 1880. Nordenfelt [1884] (degrees) (Inches) (cm) purposes. The average cross sectional summarised the results of a number of 0 1.8 4.6 area was calculated. Averaged from trials of the gun, undertaken at various 10 1.8 4.5 the tip of the bullet up to 2.7 inches, European locations. Some of these 20 1.7 4.2 the average area was estimated to be trials specifically assessed the ability of 30 1.5 3.7 0.487 square inches. In addition the the gun to perforate targets of various 40 1.2 3.1 volume of the bullet was estimated by thicknesses, at a number of ranges 50 1.0 2.5 dividing it into 0.1 inch long segments and angles of incidence. Pertinent 60 0.7 1.7 (plus a 0.05 inch segment at the base), results are summarised in Table 3, in 70 0.4 1.0 calculating the volume of each segment which ‘Perforated’ means the bullet 80 0.2 0.4 and summing. This volume was then has passed right through the target, 85 0.06 0.1 converted into a measure of mass of ‘Partial’ means the rear surface of the Table 2 the steel part of the bullet. The volume target has been breached, but that the of the boat’s above-water hullform Predicted penetration depths was estimated to be 1.36 cubic inches, projectile has not passed right through would have been vulnerable, presuming for impact of a one corresponding to a mass of 2705 grains it, and ‘Stopped’ means there was no that the she was unable to dive. This is inch diameter steel (175 grams). material ejected from the rear side of discussed in further detail in Section 4. bullet onto a flat Calculations were then made of the target. Angles of incidence have These results are sufficiently plate comprising the penetration thickness for angles of been transformed to correspond with definitive that there is really no need to mild steel. Zero incidence ranging from 0 degrees to 85 the definition used elsewhere in this undertake equivalent calculations for angle of incidence corresponds to degrees. report. As was the prediction of the the brass conning tower. It is known that normal incidence, Unfortunately the Thor study modelling, the results of the 1880 trials the penetration resistance performance angles close to 90 did not derive relevant constants for indicate that impact on the submarine’s for steel exceeds that of brass, hence degrees would brass. As these are empirically derived pressure hull at angles up to 45-60 penetration depths would have represent grazing constants, it was not possible to degrees could have resulted in it being exceeded the thickness of the conning impact. extrapolate or interpolate from other perforated. tower out to quite substantial angles of materials, hence it was not possible to If account is taken of the loss in incidence (~45 degrees or more). undertake the equivalent calculation velocity of the bullet that occurred for the conning tower. with range then, as expected, the Study Three: Would a Nordenfelt As part of Study Two another model predicts reductions in both the Gun have Reasonable Probability of line of enquiry was undertaken penetration depths and the maximum Hitting the Submarine? Table 3. as a parallel activity. Trials of the impact angle for which penetration Summarising trials of the ability of steel Nordenfelt Gun were undertaken would take place. Using Nordenfelt’s Method bullets fired fromO ne in the 1880s. A number of internet quoted velocity at 500 yards range of It has been established in Section Inch Nordenfelt Guns websites make passing reference to 1014 fps [Nordenfelt 1884], the model 3 that, at angles of incidence up to to penetrate target these trials, but considerable time and yields predicted penetration depth of 1.2 60 degrees, an impact from a bullet plates, as reported by effort needed to be expended to find inches and maximum impact angle for fired from a Nordenfelt Gun had the Nordenfelt [1884] the original reports. Once again, the penetration of ½ inch steel Trial Location Range Impact Target Target Thickness Result results of Study One were deemed to of 50 degrees (penetration (yds) Angle Material (inches) be sufficiently indicative to warrant depth 0.6 inches). (degrees) this background research being The implication of these Portsmouth 100 0 Steel ½ Perforated undertaken. The results of the 1880-era results is that the HMAS Germany 100 0 Steel ½ Perforated trials are also discussed in Sections 3.2. AE1’s pressure hull would Portsmouth 100 0 Steel ¾ Perforated Portsmouth 300 0 Steel ¾ Partial and 4.2. have been very vulnerable St Petersburg 200 0 Iron 1 Perforated to close range attack from Portsmouth 300 0 Steel 1 Stopped Results and Discussion a Nordenfelt Gun. The Portsmouth 300 30 Steel ½ Perforated The predicted penetration depth for fact that angles of impact Portsmouth 300 45 Steel ½ Perforated the various angles of incidence are of up to 60 degrees could 1 Portsmouth 300 45 Steel /16 + ½ Perforated summarised in Table 2. result in penetration of (18 inches These predicted penetration depths the pressure hull means apart) are consistent with the results of trials a substantial percentage Germany 300 60 Iron ½ Perforated Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 34 An analysis of probable Nordenfelt Gun effectiveness in an engagement with a surfaced submarine Section 8 24 36 50 58 77 88 potential to penetrate the submarine’s an angle with respect to the Radius (m) 1.27 2.12 2.3 2.29 2.29 2.01 1.47 pressure hull. In an instance where horizontal, γ, which equates Offset (m) 0.42 1.13 1.27 1.25 1.24 1.14 0.84 a close-range engagement involves to the sum of the angle of a gun mounted on the deck of a impact, β, and the angle of Table 4 4 3 2 2 Hull radius and relatively small surface craft, the depression of the gun, φ. That is: H + 2(O – G)H +(O + 4OG + R + 60 60 offset estimates for trajectory of the bullets will be close G2 – A2/4)H 2 + 60 the submarine at to horizontal. Because of the shape of γ = β + φ various points along the submarine’s hull, this means that (2R2O – 2GO2 +2OG2 + A2G/2 + A2R. its hull. In this case there would be a vulnerable region Furthermore, the angle γ can be sin(60))H60 + units have been starting in the vicinity of the water line expressed in terms of the radius of the converted from feet into metres. (or just above the ballast tank in cases submarine’s hull, A, the vertical offset R2O2 + O2G2 – A2G2/4 –A2RGsin(60) – where a saddle tank was proud of the between the centre of the hull and the A2R2Sin2(60) = 0 (4) water) and extending up the hull until waterline, O, and the height above the the point is reached where angle of waterline at which the bullet impacts Equation (4) is amenable to solution incidence exceeds about 60 degrees. the hull, H: using computer-based mathematical This vulnerable region determines the software. The resulting solutions vertical arc of fire for the gun. sin(γ) = (O + H)/A directly relate the range of the The Nordenfelt Gun used engagement and the maximum height very simple, hand-driven training As the gun is trained upwards of impact on the submarine for which controls. There was no provision from the waterline, both the height modelling indicates penetration can for actively compensating for ship’s of impact (H) and the angle of impact take place. It was possible to determine roll. Consequently a reasonably wide (β) will increase. At some point the values for all of the other elements in vertical arc of fire would have been angle of impact will exceed that for this equation. required to ensure a target could be which penetration can occur. This is A pair of drawings exist, which reliably struck. The analysis below the maximum height of penetration. enabled estimates to be made of the estimates how the vertical arc of fire For the purpose of this analysis, based variables, O and A, at various points varied with range and it uses the results on the results of Section 3, an impact along the hull. The first drawing to give some understanding of the angle of 60 degrees is taken to be the [Vickers 1913] details the amidships limits in standoff range, beyond which maximum impact angle. The above waterline of the submarine when in there was little or no probability of equations then become normal surface trim. It also provides HMAS AE1 being struck. a specified radius (at Section 50).

The geometry of this situation is γ = 60 + φ60 (1) illustrated in Figure 2. For this study, and in most locations along the submarine sin(γ) = (O + H60)/A (2) the lowest point of vulnerability for the pressure hull was assumed to be the The geometry of the situation from point of junction between it and the the gunner’s perspective is that the saddle (ballast) tank. The exceptions angle of depression can be related to were at bow and stern, where the the range from the gun to the target, saddle tanks were entirely below the R, the height of the gun, G, and the water line, and in the vicinity of Frame maximum height of impact on the

50, where the saddle tank actually submarine H60 via the equation formed part of the pressure hull (to F igure 2. accommodate athwartships torpedo tan(φ60) = (G – H60)/R Illustrating the geometry of a speculated, close-range engagement tubes). In these cases the lowest point (3) between HMAS AE1 and the gunboat Kolonia. Refer to the text for a full of vulnerability was assumed to be the explanation. The submarine section image is copied from the General Arrangement Drawing [Vickers 1914c], held by the Royal Australian waterline. Three equations can be used Equations (1) through (3) can be Navy Specification andT echnical Documentation Centre. The image to summarise the geometry of Figure 2. combined and rearranged to yield the of the gunner, which is Figure 3, Plate X in Nordenfelt [1884], actually At the point of the bullet’s impact on following expression for the maximum shows a smaller, rifle calibreN ordenfelt Gun (Courtesy Naval and the hull, the radius of the hull subtends height of impact on the submarine: Military Press). Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 35

Nominal Hull H (m) H (m) Vertical Arc of The second drawing [Vickers 1914c] height of the gun, G, is estimated to be min 60 Range (m) Section Fire (Degrees) provides seven cross section drawings approximately three metres above the 20 8 0.0 0.74 2.1 of the boat at various points along its waterline. 24 0.0 0.81 2.3 length. Moving forward, these cross With respect to calculation of 36 0.25 0.83 1.6 50 0.0 0.84 2.4 sections are at Frames 8 (near the the range from gun to target, some 58 0.48 0.84 1.0 stern), 24, 36, 50 (amidships), 58, 77 simplifying assumptions were made. 77 0.0 0.70 2.0 88 0.0 0.51 1.4 and 88. Each cross section drawing For each nominal range condition the 50 8 0.0 0.71 0.8 included a horizontal reference line distance from gun to submarine was 24 0.0 0.75 0.9 which corresponded with the top of considered to be constant. This ignored 36 0.25 0.77 0.6 50 0.0 0.78 0.9 the hull at Frame 50. The two drawings the slight increase in range which 58 0.48 0.78 0.3 provided sufficient information to would have occurred as the line of fire 77 0.0 0.65 0.7 enable a series of estimates to be made traversed vertically from the vicinity 88 0.0 0.47 0.5 100 8 0.0 0.69 0.4 of hull radius, A, and offset height, O. of the waterline towards the casing. 24 0.0 0.73 0.4 These data are included in Table 4. It was also assumed the horizontal 36 0.25 0.75 0.3 50 0.0 0.79 0.4 The Nordenfelt Gun is reported to line of fire was perpendicular to the 58 0.48 0.79 0.2 have been mounted at the bows of the longitudinal axis of the submarine. 77 0.0 0.62 0.4 Kolonia [Foster 2006]. In addition to The final assumption was that the 88 0.0 0.45 0.3 200 8 0.0 0.69 0.2 its main deck, the vessel had an upper engagement was at such close range 24 0.0 0.72 0.2 deck which ran virtually to the bows, as that the trajectory of the bullet could be 36 0.25 0.74 0.1 can be inferred from the photograph in considered to be straight. None of these 50 0.0 0.75 0.2 58 0.48 0.75 0.1 Figure 3. It is unclear whether the gun assumptions carry significant impost in 77 0.0 0.61 0.2 was mounted on the main or upper terms of the analysis. If the Nordenfelt 88 0.0 0.44 0.1 500 8 0.0 0.68 0.1 decks. For the purpose of this analysis, Gun was mounted on the main deck 24 0.0 0.71 0.1 the assumption was made that it was (or on a bulwark mount near the bow), 36 0.25 0.73 0.1 mounted in the bows on the main as assumed, the shape of Kolonia’s 50 0.0 0.74 0.1 58 0.48 0.74 <0.1 deck. Of the two possibilities, this is bow would have substantially limited 77 0.0 0.61 0.1 the most conservative assumption the line of fire to abeam directions so, 88 0.0 0.44 0.1 because it predicts a smaller vertical consistent with the assumptions, a Table 5.

arc of fire. The vessel appears to short-range, alongside engagement is H60 and Hmin had been determined, it Minimum and have had a reasonable rake on the the most likely scenario to have applied. was a simple matter to calculate the maximum heights main deck (visible in other surviving For a series of ranges, the values corresponding angles of depression for of impact which modelling indicates photographs), perhaps as much as of the various factors A, O, and G the gun φ and φ . For each range 60 max would result in three feet relative to amidships. The were entered into Equation 4 and condition the vertical arc of fire, VΔφ , penetration of the Certificate of Survey [Goddard and analysed using the computer-based was then calculated using the equation: pressure hull, and

Douglas 1912] indicates the beam is mathematical solver, MatLab, VΔφ = φmax - φ60 (5) the corresponding 15 feet and moulded depth is 8’ 5”. thereby yielding estimates for the vertical arc of fire.

Height from the waterline to the main corresponding value of H60. The Combining this equation with deck amidships would therefore have nominal ranges selected for the study Equation (3) results in the following been in the order of three feet. Thus were 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 metres. expression for the vertical arc of fire: the height of the deck at the bows is In contrast to the rather complex -1 -1 estimated to be in the order of six feet. expression (Equation 4) required VΔφ = tan ((G - Hmin)/R) – tan ((G –

Surviving examples of ship-mounted to yield an estimate of the highest H60)/R) (6) Nordenfelt Gun, in either actual effective point of impact, the lowest Results and Discussion or photographic form, indicate the point of impact, Hmin, is either at the gun was typically mounted on a low waterline or at the point where the The various measures of significance pedestal, much as is shown in Figure 2 saddle tank meets the pressure hull. for Section 4 of this report are or on a bulwark mount. In either case For each section, this height could be summarised in Table 5. Note that, this would add another 3-4 feet. Thus, determined directly from the drawing for Hull Section 50, the pressure referring to the geometry of Figure 2, [Vickers 1914c]. hull extended into the saddle tank to and converting to metric units, the Once the two intercept heights accommodate a pair of transverse- Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 36 An analysis of probable Nordenfelt Gun effectiveness in an engagement with a surfaced submarine firing torpedoes, as shown in Figure 2. Hence at this location the minimum height corresponded with the waterline. At very close range the vertical arc of fire is reasonably broad (1.8 degrees average along the boat for a range of 20 metres). This rapidly diminishes as range increases, to the point where the vertical arc of fire is only 0.1 degrees at ranges of 500 metres. To put these results in context, it should be remembered that the gun was mounted on a small (75 foot long, 73 ton) steamer which, even in the reported conditions of sea state 2 (as recorded in the Fair Deck Log of HMAS Parramatta, which was in the vicinity at the time), would have represented F igure 3. a reasonably ‘lively’ gunnery platform. 3 feet [National Maritime Museum The New York Times 1882] reported Kolonia. The upper Although he presents his results in a 2011]. Whilst this was a somewhat another trial, undertaken using three deck ran virtually very favourable light, Nordenfelt [1884] shorter target than the length of AE1, candidate bulwark gun mounts (for to the bows (Photo gives some insight into the challenge of its height and width were very similar 10, 5, and 3 barrel variants of the gun) courtesy Mr Gus Mellon). firing these guns from a small warship. to that of the surfaced submarine. The in which volleys were fired (i.e. 10, 5, He described a trial, undertaken in gunboat fired 932 shots at ranges from and 3 rounds per volley) in rapid order 1880, in which a Nordenfelt Gun was 1500 yards down to 100 yards, and of at targets 300 yards from the gun. The mounted on the top-gallant forecastle those there were 359 hits on the target. three guns delivered the following of the iron gunboat HMS Medway4. Nordenfelt does not specify what results: In a ‘tolerably smooth sea’ the ship the relationship was between range At a range of 300 yards, a vertical steamed at 8 knots at various headings and strike rate, but it is reasonable spread in the order of 6 feet translates with respect to a stationary model to assume the closer-range firings to, at best, fifty percent strike rate on a torpedo boat. would have contributed a much higher target of the size of AE1. While the size of the target is not percentage of the 359 hits than the The conclusion that can be specified, the first Royal Navy Motor longer-range shots. drawn from the various trials of the Torpedo Boat, HMS Lightning, had Another 1880 trial, reported by Nordenfelt Gun is that, in the case of only been launched three years prior Nordenfelt [1884, Page 70] aimed to an engagement with a target of AE1’s to these trials, so it is reasonable to assess the accuracy of the Nordenfelt vertical dimensions, for ranges above assume her class design would have Gun. For this trial a single barrel of a 200 metres the inherent inaccuracy of been used as the template for the shore-mounted, four barrel gun ‘rapid- the gun resulted in a spread of fire that target. Lightning was 85 feet long, had fired’, but with deliberate aim between was of the same order of magnitude as a beam of 11 feet and height from each firing, 44 rounds alternatively the size of target itself. boot topping to deck of approximately towards each of two 12 foot x 6 foot In the discussion above there was 4 HMS Medway was a Medina Class wooden targets set up at a range of 300 a reference to the potential impact Gunboat. These were a very unusual design of 363 tons (110 x 34 x 7 ft), reflecting yards. The reported mean deviation for of Kolonia’s motion on the shooting the period of transition between sail and 23 hits on one target was 18.3 inches performance of the gun crew and steam, featuring two screws and a three- and 21 hits on the second target had the following paragraph returns to masted barquentine rig. The top-gallant forecastle was a raised deck, aft of the bow, mean deviation of 14.5 inches. This the topic. Unfortunately, at the time which supported the foremast. The wreck represents a rounded angular spread of of writing there was insufficient of Medway is reported as lying in shallow water at Meyers Slip, . A general fire of 0.1 degrees. information available on Kolonia to reference of interest is at www.- TheLondon Times [re-printed in enable a full assessment to be made cruisers.co.uk/r_n_gunboats.htm Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 37

Gun/Mounting Rounds Hits on Horizontal Vertical of her seakeeping characteristics. The headings to undertake a gun Fired Target spread of hits spread of hits following discussion is thus qualitative, engagement. Given this is (feet) (feet) but hopefully representative. an acknowledged qualitative 10 barrel/Heavy 100 83 7 5 There is a long-standing, widely- discussion, for the following 5 barrel/Medium 50 34 8.5 6 used rule of thumb which says an sentences three assumptions 3 barrel/Light 39 28 7 6 acceptable minimum natural roll are made: (1) it is assumed the Table 6. period of a vessel (in seconds), should engagement took place with the ship would be two approaches to this: (1) Reported results of be equal to the numeric value of the steering a beam-seas course5; (2) it is rely on the gunner’s ability to anticipate a 1882 trial of three vessel’s maximum waterline beam also assumed that the ship’s motion is when to fire; or (2) rely on the rate of Nordenfelt Guns (measured in yards/metres) (see, for both undamped (i.e. she did not have fire combined with the vertical angle example Annex IX of IMO [2010]). stabilisation aids such as bilge keels swept by the gun to ensure the target This rule of thumb seems to apply etc) and forced; (3) the waveform of would (eventually) be struck. In the 500 across a broad spectrum of vessels the seas is assumed to be essentially metre range condition the 0.1 degree - as can be inferred from a table of a simple sinusoid. Seastate 2 has an vertical arc of fire represents only 1/66th typical roll periods, of ships ranging average wave height in the order of of the total swept angle. With either from fishing boats (5.5 – 7 seconds) 0.5 metres [Bhattacharyya, 1978, page of the approaches the limitations and to passenger liners (20 – 25 seconds), 104]. A sinusoidal approximation for variability of human reaction time, included in Bhattacharyya [1978, the wave shape yields an estimate of combined with the inherent limitations page 83]. Using this rule of thumb the the maximum slope of an ‘average’ of the gun, make this a very challenging natural roll period of Kolonia was likely wave, α, as in the order of 7.5 degrees. target to hit. The situation is not much to be in the order of 5 seconds. In beam seas the tuning factor, Λ, more favourable at 200 metres range. HMAS Parramatta reported which determines the ship’s response Hence, at these ranges it is likely many the conditions as being seastate 2, to the prevailing seas, is simply the rounds would need to be fired before representing a wavelength of about 12 ratio of the wave frequency versus the a significant number of hits could metres and average wave period in the natural frequency of the vessel. In this be scored on the target. Two other order 3.2 seconds. From these data it is scenario the tuning factor is 1.8. The factors worked in the favour of AE1. possible to calculate the apparent wave resulting roll of the vessel is given by The first is that the gun was manually period that Kolonia would have seen the expression [Bhattacharyya 1978, fired by toggling a firing lever back for various ship’s speed and heading page 90] and forth, which would have made it conditions. Kolonia has been reported very difficult to sustain a long-duration to be a ‘5 knot steamer’ [Brown, 2011]. Φ = α/(1 – Λ2) = 7.5*pi/180/(1 – 1.82) attack at high rate of fire. The second At that speed the apparent periods of is that the ammunition hopper held the seas for headings ranging between This expression predicts Kolonia only ten rounds per barrel. This meant head seas (180 degrees) and following could be expected to have been rolling that, after every ten volleys, firing had seas (0 degrees) would cover the through a range of angles up to + 3.3 to be paused so that the gun could be interval from 2 seconds to 10 seconds. degrees. As the Nordenfelt Gun was reloaded. Kolonia’s natural frequency would fall manually trained by the gun crew, At short ranges, however, the within that range. Using the assumed their likely approach to aiming in the vertical arc of fire becomes quite 5 second natural roll period, and a vertical plane would have been to set substantial and consequently relatively method described by Bhattacharyya the angle of depression to a mean value short bursts of fire would be likely [1978, page 89], the heading at which and then attempt to fire the gun as the to result in the pressure hull of the maximum roll occurred would be target swept through its sights. There submarine being struck. At fifty metres around 42 degrees. If it could be range, for instance, the vertical arc of 5 The author is not an early 20th century avoided, it is therefore unlikely a gun gunner, but it seemed to him intuitive to fire was 0.7 degrees, and this means the engagement would have been initiated either steer a course which would minimise gun would have been bearing on the roll (head into the seas – but this would with Kolonia heading down-seas. target for at least 10% of the time. Even have the disadvantage of inducing relatively For beam-seas, and when heading high frequency motions in the ship in pitch, allowing for the inaccuracy of the gun, heave and, due to sea spreading, roll), or into the swell, her motion would have a relatively short burst of fire would steer a course which gave a relatively slow been relatively unforced so these would roll of low amplitude – in this case as would certainly result in a hit. have represented the most favourable occur with beam seas. The decision was taken to assume the latter condition. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 38 An analysis of probable Nordenfelt Gun effectiveness in an engagement with a surfaced submarine General Conclusions References

The inherent inaccuracy of the AE1 Inc. Search Committee (Draft Report) AE1 Inc Search Committee Interim Report, Nordenfelt Gun, the fact it was Version 10.4. mounted on a relatively small steamer Anon. (1961) The Resistance of Various and the manner in which it was fired all Metallic Materials to Perforation by Steel combine to make a reasonable case for Fragments, Emperical Relationships for Fragment Residual Velocity and Residual claiming that HMAS AE1 would have Weight. Aberdeen, UK, Ballistic Research been relatively invulnerable to longer- Laboratories. range attack. At short ranges of 100 Anon. (1985) Penetration equations metres or less, however, the submarine handbook for kinetic-energy penetrators. 1985, Joint Technical Coordinating Group would have been very vulnerable: in for Munitions Effectiveness (Anti-Air): Section 3 it was shown that bullets Aberdeen, 61 JTCG/ME-77-18 (Revision 1). fired from these guns would penetrate Dr Roger Neill, initially a medical ASTM Standard A36/A36M (2008) the submarine’s pressure hull and in Standard Specification for Carbon physicist, has been a defence scientist Structural Steel, 2008 Revision, ASTM Section 4 it was shown that the gun International, West Conshohocken, PA, had the capability of scoring hits on the in the maritime domain for a quarter DOI: 10.1520/A36/A36M – 08, www.astm. org. submarine. century. His research activities TheAE1 Search Committee have currently include unmanned systems Bhattacharyya, R. (1978) Dynamics of prepared an interim report, addressing Marine Vehicles. New York, USA, John studies and future undersea warfare Wiley & Sons. various scenarios that may explain the loss of the submarine [Draft Report]. concept development. He is also a Brown, D. (2011) Personal Communication. One of the scenarios proposed follows recognised expert in the interpretation Cimpoeru, S. and Ryan, S. (2011) Personal a claim by a German POW, Petty and visualization of historic naval Communication. Officer Reuschel, that he was on board shipwrecks. Cocker, M. (2008) Royal Navy Submarines the Kolonia when it engaged AE1. 1901 to the Present Day. Barnsley, UK, Pen & Sword Maritime. PO Reuschel reported AE1 as having hove-to to enable his vessel to make Foster, J. (2006) AE1 Entombed but not forgotten. Loftus, Australia, Australian an approach under the coverage of a Military History Publications. white ensign. He claimed this enabled Goddard and Douglas (1912) Certificate of Kolonia to engage the submarine Survey: Vessel “Kolonialgesellschaft“. Issued with gunfire at close range, and that by Goddard and Douglas Surveyors, Hong Kong, 19th January 1912. the German boat followed up by ramming AE1 [see Section 4.4.2 of Hayashida, K.B. and Robinson, J.H. (1991) Single Wall Penetration Equations. NASA the Draft Report]. The engagement Technical Memorandum NASA TM-103565 and ramming could have caused AE1 IMO (2010) Report of the Maritime Safety to irretrievably lose trim and depth Committee on its Eighty-Seventh Session. control [see Section 6.3 of the Draft International Maritime Organisation, MSC 87/26/Add.2. 4th June 2010. Report], resulting in her loss. The results of the current paper can’t in any displacement craft only 75 feet in length, Mackinlay, G. (1887) Text Book of Gunnery. had a theoretical top speed of 11.6 knots but London, Harrison and Sons. way be used to support an evaluation was reported to be of relatively low power of the likelihood such an attack actually and therefore having an actual service National Maritime Museum (2011) speed of 5 knots [Brown, 2011]. AE1 had a took place. The results do, however, HMS Lightning (1877) model. (Accessed claimed surface speed of 16 knots [Cocker 31 May, 2011); Available at www. give credence to the proposition in the 2008, page 28]. While VADM Patey’s report nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/object. [1914] states the weather was hazy, there cfm?ID=SLR0086. sense that the close range demanded was no reported fog on the day, so short of for a successful gun engagement AE1 surfacing directly adjacent to Kolonia, it Nordenfelt, T. (1884) The Nordenfelt should have been impossible for the steamer would also render possible a ramming machine guns described in detail compared to overhaul the submarine. A known with other systems; also their employment for 6 manoeuvre by the Kolonia . t existing fault on AE1 was that the starboard naval and military purposes. Uckfield, UK, main engine clutch was jammed in the The Naval and Military Press Ltd. 6 In fact it is difficult to identify any engaged state [AE1 Search Committee Draft alternative scenario whereby the steamer Report]. This should not have impacted the Patey, G.E. (1914) Navy Office file 14/7429 could make such a close approach to boat’s ability to manoeuvre while surfaced. dated 17 September 1914 the submarine. The Kolonia, being a Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 39

The New York Times (1882) Gleanings from Wikipedia (2010) 1-Inch Nordenfelt Gun. Dr Christopher Madden assisted me in the mails: Machine Guns - Final experiments Updated 31 December 2011 (Accessed undertaking the analyses of Section 4. He which have been made in England. A report March 2011); available from http:// conducted a ‘reality check’ of my derivation from the London Times, reprinted in The en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-inch_Nordenfelt_ and he kindly ran MatLab for me. New York Times 7th August 1882. gun Ed Dawson has provided guidance regarding Vickers (1913) Submarines E6, AE1 & 2 – Woodward, R.L. (1977) A rational basis matters associated with seakeeping of Docking Plan. Vickers, Sons and Maxim for the selection of armour materials. The displacement hulls. Ed was able to show me Limited, from Australian Archives Bundle Journal of the Australian Institute of Metals, that, no matter how enthusiastic I was, there 89: 109/4; Stamped 24 September, 1913. 22, 167-170. simply wasn’t sufficient data available to build a full seakeeping model for Kolonia. I Vickers (1914a) Arrangement of Bridge still live in hope that, one day, a set of plans Steering and telegraph gear. Boat No’s 416- and stability test data will emerge from 20, Drawing 2823. Vickers, Sons and Maxim someone’s archives. Limited, from Australian Archives Bundle Acknowledgements 90: 109/126; Stamped 4 February, 1914. Finally, a number of members of the AE1 A number of people have provided the Inc. Search Committee have freely given Vickers (1914b) Specification for building author with support with this study, all of their time in support of my enquiries. In the hull of a twin screw submarine boat. which is very much appreciated. As always particular thanks are due to Darren, Gus, Barrow-on-Furness, UK, Vickers, Sons and my colleague Peter Graham has been an Ian and Peter. Maxim Limited, April 1914. invaluable sounding board for developing ideas and approaches to this study. General Vickers (1914c) Submarines AE1 & 2. advice on ballistic penetration mechanics General Arrangement Drawing. Starbd has been given by Dr Chris Anderson and Elevation & Sections. Vickers, Sons and Dr Steve Cimpoeru. This was followed Maxim Limited, from Royal Australian up by very specific, and extremely expert, Navy Archives; Stamped 20 May, 1914. assistance by Dr Shannon Ryan.

Ships Systems Solutions

Blohm + Voss Naval

[email protected]

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute

Issue 142 41 An Australian at Jutland: the story of Robert Walker onboard HMS Shark By Andrew Pittaway

hen war was declared in History, Greek, Latin, French and Pure and relieved to 1914, thousand of Australians Mathematics. It seems he had narrowly be able to report Wrushed to enlist in the Australian missed out on a Rhodes scholarship, myself to Senior Imperial Force (AIF) but Robert but his success at Adelaide University Naval Officer, Walker was one of the many who won him a place as a Student of preparatory to didn’t. Instead, due to circumstances, Medicine at Edinburgh University in going on board he offered his services to the Royal Scotland. my first ship. Navy and in 1916 found himself at sea His dream realised, Robert headed Can you imagine in the greatest naval battle of World for Scotland in 1912. His aptitude soon my feelings War I. showed itself very clearly as during the when this officer Robert Walker was born in period 1912-1915 he won Edinburgh congratulated Fremantle on 19 February 1893 to University medals for his study in me on my good R obert Walker Charles and Annie Walker. Charles Physics, Chemical Physiology and luck and narrow escape. My ship (Scotch College Walker was a well known boat Anatomy. Although study and course had been mined that very morning, Archives Claremont) builder in the Fremantle area and the work took up a large amount of his and 74 men were lost! A narrow family resided at 21 Tuckfield Street, time, Robert still had time for other escape indeed. I was then recalled Fremantle. From his home Robert only pursuits and joined the Royal Naval to the Admiralty and appointed to had a short distance walk to attend Volunteer Reserve. The declaration of the HMS Shark. Fortunately I was the nearby Fremantle Boys School war coincided with his final years of more lucky this time, and I got on where he excelled in his studies. In study and he had made the decision to board this ship without mishap, 1905, at age 12, Robert was awarded serve in the Royal Navy. and here I have been ever since.’ a scholarship of 50 Pounds value, On 23 July 1915 he commenced I cannot tell anything over four years, which enabled him to service in the Royal Navy with the rank concerning this ship or her continue his study at Scotch College in of Surgeon Probationer and a month movements – only that the latter Claremont. later was posted to the destroyer, HMS are sometimes too numerous and For the next six years he traveled Lynx, however he never joined her varied for my palate. We roam all daily from his house in Fremantle – she struck a mine and sank in the over the seas, unchallenged and to attend Scotch College, where he North Sea. Robert was re-assigned to defiant; and we are proud to think continued to excel in all his subjects. HMS Shark; a K class Torpedo Boat that we are pretty safe from any Robert and several good friends, Destroyer of 950 tons, built in 1912. hostile submarines, in that we including fellow student Dick Caldwell, She was armed with three 4-inch guns have now disposed of them all. spent much of their spare time sailing and four 21-inch torpedo tubes. With Now I am attached to the Grand and rowing on the Swan River. In his engines capable of producing up to Fleet, and, of course, have daily last year at Scotch, in 1910, he was 25,000 horsepower she could steam at opportunities of seeing sights a Prefect and also on the staff of the 31-32 knots. that I will never forget; and I am school newspaper; the Reporter. His In a letter home to his old college, convinced that should “Der Tag,” hard work paid off when at the end of Robert describes some of his initial (The day) when the fleets meet 1910 he became the Dux of the College. experiences: come, there will only be one in it Robert craved further opportunities My experience of the Navy is and that one will certainly not be to continue his education as he had one that I am not likely to forget. the German.1 decided he wanted to study medicine. I applied for my commission and HMS Shark In 1911 he won the first Western was appointed to HMS Lynx. HMS Shark was Australian University Exhibition and After all my preparations and one of the many travelled to Adelaide where he won arrangements were complete I ships that patrolled second place on the General Honours traveled to ----- to join my ship. It the waters of the list at Adelaide University. He also was a long, tedious journey of some English Channel received Special Honours in Modern days duration, and I was at last glad on watch for Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 42 An Australian at Jutland: the story of Robert Walker onboard HMS Shark marauding ships of the German Navy. This was a daily occurrence in Robert Walker’s first 10 months on the ship. After receiving some mail and news from home, Robert wrote back and congratulated his old mate Dick Caldwell1 for being awarded Scotch’s 2nd ever Rhodes scholarship, and as for himself, the ship: is still tossing round the North Sea, keeping an unceasing vigil in all weathers. We have our times of excitement and lately have been having some good “thrills” but of these I must remain silent. HMS Suffice to say, we are ever ready at a all of which were skillfully avoided. HMS Shark sank shortly afterwards Invincible (1907) moment’s notice to strafe and strafe But the Shark and the Acasta were and Robert Walker was never seen exploding at the thoroughly any number they like to severely mauled”3. alive again, nor was his body recovered. Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916 send against us. The navy is doing a Along with other missing sailors from (Public domain). power of work every day and every The attack was made with such the battle he is commemorated on night, too, of which nobody knows fearlessness by the four destroyers that the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. The anything at present. 2 the Germans were forced to turn away, Shark’s Commanding Officer was later but at a large cost to the Shark. Her awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross Little did Robert know then that in late Commanding Officer, Loftus Jones, for his actions. May his ship would be destined to play was mortally wounded as German Robert’s parents at home in a significant role in the largest sea battle shells continued to hit the ship. Robert Fremantle received the terrible news of : the Battle of Jutland. Walker attended the many casualties of his death and among those who On 31 May 1916 the Battle of despite coming under devastating provided sympathy was the Keeper of Jutland commenced with the two German fire. the Privy Purse who sent a cablegram great Navies trading opening blows. In Under heavy enemy gunfire which read: “The King & Queen deeply response to a German attack on their HMS Shark suffered steerage regret the loss both you and the navy ships Admiral Hood ordered HMS damage and was disabled. As a sustained by the death of your son Shark, one of the destroyers screening spare torpedo was being hoisted in the service of his country. Their the battle cruiser HMS Invincible, to prior to being launched into the Majesties truly sympathise with you in attack the oncoming German ships. tube, it was struck by a shell with your sorrow.” Portsmouth Naval Memorial - Robert The British Destroyers led by a violent explosion causing heavy A glowing tribute was also printed Walker. Captain Loftus Jones in the Shark, casualties. The ship continued to in the Edinburgh University magazine. accompanied by Acasta, Ophelia sink and was heavily fired upon…. By the death of Surgeon- and Christopher, turned towards One by one the wounded crawled the enemy with thick smoke brokenly into the lee of the casings pouring from their funnels and and funnels in pitiful attempts to bow waves streaming over their find shelter; among them knelt narrow fo’c’sles. Their attack foiled the devoted figure of the surgeon the German onslaught, so that endeavoring single handed to cope only twelve torpedoes were fired, with his gallant hopeless task. When last seen he was bandaging 1 Caldwell delayed his Rhode Scholarship to enlist in the AIF. He served in the 48th a man who had lost a hand when Battalion AIF and reached the rank of the torpedo exploded. He was then Captain. He survived the fighting and post war completed his Rhodes scholarship. He himself severely wounded and was later worked for the League of Nations in apparently shortly afterwards killed.4 Geneva. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 43

murderous fire as they lay helpless and crippled; and thus perhaps the most brilliant student of this year has added his name to the already long list of Edinburgh University heroes, and at the same time to the roll of loyal Australian sons.’5

A Dr R. Burns, who knew Robert, wrote another tribute from his position at the Naval Infirmary at Hull: There is great consolation in that he died like an Australian, in the midst of his duties. The Probationer Robert Walker, gunlayer of that famous last gun who was killed in action on 31st and the coxswain of the Shark May, the University has lost an are here. They speak in the very especially brilliant and popular highest terms of “Bob” – of his Portsmouth Naval student. Before he left his home kindliness and skill in the days Had Robert Walker lived who knows Memorial. in Western Australia, Walker before the great action, and of his to what height his study of medicine had shown that he was a student unquestioned valour when the would have taken him. By all reports he of more than passing scholastic guns began to boom. The Shark, had a brilliant mind and his loss was a ability. His activities in Edinburgh these men say, had all her steering tragic one for both his family and the were mainly confined to the gear shot away first of all. Shortly wider community. t pursuit of his medical studies, afterwards she was torpedoed in and in all the varied branches of her oil tanks. This prevented her A ndrew Pittaway is a West Australian this study he showed consistent getting oil to her engines and she resident who studied at Curtin brilliancy – winning in all nine became a stationary target. University where he graduated with a medals. In Anatomy, perhaps no They then got the concentrated student has shown such consistent fire of “fully twenty ships” Double Major in History and Cultural proficiency as Walker, in which he everything being swept off the Heritage and later a Graduate Diploma won four medals, a Mackenzie and decks except one gun. This the in Records/Archives Management. a John Aitken Carlyle Bursary, the Captain manned himself. Both Since 2000 he has been employed by Cunningham Memorial medal, and the coxswain and gunlayer before the City of Fremantle as an Archivist. the Van Duns Scholarship. this saw “Bob” busily working By reason of his almost among the wounded. The last He has researched many Australian phenomenal success in various they saw of him was in striving to battlefields and is currently studying examinations held, Walker had reach a badly wounded man just Fremantle people who have served in become well known, and was after having attended to another. World War I and II. deservedly popular amongst his When “Bob” left him the coxswain fellow students. As evidence of his distinctly remembers him holding popularity on HMS Shark, he was his instrument bag in one hand, asked by the officers of that ship to himself wounded, reaching out stop with them instead of accepting towards a wounded comrade with the honour of promotion to HMS the other. A hurricane of metal

Tipperary which was offered him. swept the ship and he was killed. (Endnotes) He elected to remain on HMS A glorious death, but sad in that 1 Scotch College Reporter 2 Ibid Shark and died fighting as one of he was so young, so brilliant, 3 Jutland 1916-Costello & Hughes those who showed such heroic and every inch a man. He was 4 The Navy Eternal Bartimeus pg106 5 Edinburgh University Magazine fortitude, when subjected to a everybody’s pal.’ Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 44 The French Navy: New Capabilities, Current Operations and Future Challenges By Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe

s one of the oldest navies in the defence asset, the “Le world, the French Navy (Marine Triomphant” class SSBN. ANationale in French) has a fascinating The other nuclear-delivery history stretching back many centuries. platforms in the French In the modern era it has played an Navy are the Dassault instrumental role in sustaining France’s Rafale- M F3 and the overseas possessions, influence Dassault Super Etendard and global standing. Given that (modernised) carrier-based France remains a major European jets, which operate from the nuclear-power with formidable strike nuclear-powered aircraft- capabilities, its role as a key-partner carrier Charles De Gaulle. in the Western alliance is likely to In the wake of the force continue in the years ahead as seen by modernization programme the global deployment of the French predicated by the French Navy. White Paper on Defence and National Security Fleet Capabilities published in 2008, and the 2008-2014 Military Nuclear deterrence still remains Planning Act, the French the centrepiece of France’s strategic Navy is now on the cusp defence capability as confirmed by of embracing a new era in former French President Jacques transformation, capabilities Chirac, who stated in 2006: “In the and development of its F rench Navy Cmdr. face of the concern of the present and force structure. In the last and F70 class anti-submarine warfare Denis Jolas and the uncertainties of the future, nuclear few years it has begun the process of destroyers; and finally the introduction sailors man the rails deterrence remains the fundamental introducing a number of important of 27 NH90 NFH helicopters to of the amphibious guarantee of our security. It also gives new vessels and capabilities to its fleet. replace the ageing Super Frelons and transport dock ship us the ability to keep our freedom These include: up to 48 Dassault Lynx aircraft. These new additions USS Nashville. to act.” He added: “Deterrence has Rafale- M F3 multi-role jets to replace constitute the French Navy’s major (Public domain) always continued to adapt...to our the older Dassault Super Etendard; acquisition programmes that have been environment and to the threat four “Le Triomphant” class SSBN, implemented in recent times, or yet to analysis. We are in a position to inflict which replaced the “Le Roundtable” be fully implemented. damage of any kind on a major power class SSBN; six Barracuda-class nuclear At the end of last year, the that would want to attack interests submarines at a cost of €7.9 billion Ministere De La Defense released we would regard as vital. Against a (the first of which is scheduled to be its report Marine Nationale 2010, regional power...the flexibility and commissioned in 2017) to replace the which illustrated the budget, size and reactivity of our strategic forces would older “Rubis” class nuclear-powered capabilities of the French Navy. This enable us to exercise our response attack submarines; three “Mistral” class comprised of a fleet of 78 ships and directly against its centres of power.” amphibious assault and command 45, 554 military and civilian personnel In this context the modern French ships, which succeed the ageing (out of which 37, 245 were officers and Navy has been responsible for much of “Foudra” class landing platform docks; sailors), naval action force consisting France’s nuclear strike capability, after two “Horizon” class frigates in 2007, of 68 combat and support ships with France announced the disbandment a short-lived programme that has just 12, 000 sailors; submarine force of 10 of its land-based launch platforms. been replaced by the new FREMM vessels and 3, 500 sailors; fleet air arm The delivery platforms in the French (Fregates Europeennes Multi-Missions) made up of 211 combat and support Navy that can accommodate nuclear multi-role frigates, of which 11 are aircraft with 5, 800 personnel; 17 warheads include its key strategic being built to succeed the older F67 naval riflemen and commando squads Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 45

numbering some 2, 400 personnel; 75 and over 4, 000 sailors at sea every day Navy presence had some impact as Gendarmarie Maritime squads made without fail. seen in April 2009, when French Navy up of 1, 100 personnel. Accordingly, The French Navy’s recent commandos stormed a French yacht to field such a large force the French participation in a number challenging commandeered by pirates. In the Navy’s operational budget amounted operations has earned it recognition ensuing fire fight four French citizens to €4.25 billion, excluding acquisition worthy of mention. For instance, from were rescued, two pirates and one costs of new vessels. November 2007 to August 2008 the hostage were killed. Later, in November French Navy-led Operation Alcyon that year, the French Navy seized three Naval and Maritime Operations provided security escorts to UN food boats and arrested 12 suspected pirates convoys between Mombasa in Kenya, off Somalia. Given the history of the French Navy’s and Merka in Somalia. As a result 27 Reflecting upon the Operation involvement in UN, NATO and US-led vessels chartered by the World Food Atalante in late 2010, the former missions most notably since 9/11, it Programme delivered 122,000 metric Force Commander of EUNAVFOR, has contributed significant forces to tons of food aid. French Navy Rear Admiral Philippe an array of operations globally and has Due to the escalating problem of Coindreau, said: “In 2010, 72 percent been especially active in the regions piracy which has taken on serious of pirate attacks have failed, 81 percent of Africa, the Indian Ocean and the proportions, the EU launched since August. Those results are due Middle East. Today the French Navy Operation Atalante in late 2008, to the combination of EUNAVFOR’s operates four bases and five naval air which has seen up to 30 warships and action, the application of new concepts stations in continental France, and 26 nations involved, in what is the of operations, the use, by the maritime has another naval air station and a EU’s first-ever overseas naval mission community, of systematic security further five bases situated in French sanctioned until December 2012. By measures on merchant vessels and territories worldwide. It also maintains engaging in anti-piracy operations high-quality cooperation with other expeditionary forces based in three in the waters off the Horn of Africa, naval forces and independent Navies.” other countries, namely Djibouti, Operation Atalante reportedly Aptly, the French Navy’s Senegal and the United Arab Emirates. provided protection for nearly 80 determination to tackle piracy was Indeed, its capacity to influence world percent of the commercial shipping illustrated throughout 2010 by a T he French Navy events was seen throughout 2010 traversing through the Gulf of Aden. number of incidents. For instance, in destroyer FS Forbin where on average it deployed 31 ships In doing so, the enhanced French March that year French newspaper Le (USN)

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 46 The French Navy: New Capabilities, Current Operations and Future Challenges

Figaro reported that the frigate Nivôse US-led mission Operation Enduring In recent months the French Navy intercepted four mother ships and Freedom in Afghanistan, offering air has also seen extensive action in West 35 pirates in the space of three days. support to NATO forces or providing and North Africa. For example, in Similarly, in April the following month surveillance and reconnaissance to March this year seven French warships two pirate boats mistakenly attacked support NATO maritime supply lines operating in the Gulf of Guinea played the French Navy ship Somme, which in the Arabian Sea. The deployed a major role ending the Second Ivorian led to the interception of the mother force complement varies according to Civil War with the arrest of ousted ship and arrest of six pirates. requirements, but generally consists President Laurent Gbagbo by providing “In a funny way, the boat looks like of one frigate, and sometimes an operational and logistical support to a civilian vessel and we think that it Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, multinational ground forces. Similarly, was attacked by mistake,” said a French the latter operating out from Djibouti. since mid-March 2011, the French Navy spokesperson. In 2006, the aircraft carrier Charles Navy have been heavily committed to Again, in May a French “Mistral” de Gaulle was assigned to Operation Operation Harmattan, which is the class amphibious ship Tonnerre Heracles to engage in maritime French contribution to the NATO-led reportedly destroyed a pirate mother surveillance, reconnaissance and to initiative to enforce the no-fly zone ship and captured 11 suspected pirates. provide air support to NATO forces over Libya. The French Navy has Cumulatively, throughout the year in Afghanistan. Latterly, towards the deployed the Jean Bart and Forbin, two 2010 official statistics indicate that the end of 2010, and for the duration of anti-aircraft/air-defence destroyers, French Navy had a string of successes four months, the Charles de Gaulle to conduct ongoing surveillance off as seen by the interception of 32 pirate participated in Operation Agapanthe Libya’s coast. groups which led to the arrest of 221 with its planes flying in excess of France also dispatched its pirates. 1000 hours providing air cover to carrier strike group, which consists Another significant mission NATO forces, and also supporting of the Charles de Gaulle replete undertaken by the French Navy is counterterrorism and anti-piracy with 26 aircraft and 10 helicopters, Operation Heracles, which represents operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden accompanied by the tanker Meuse, the F rench navy frigate France’s ongoing naval support to and the Arabian Sea. destroyer Dupleix and frigate Aconit. La Fayette

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 47

L eft: French the strategically vital sea lanes that nuclear submarine facilitate trade, and energy to and from Le Temeraire the Middle East, and the significant (Headmark archival) French populations in the region, exemplified by over 850,000 French citizens on the island of Reunion. Indeed, this strategic reality has given rise to an effective navy which will remain a key instrument of France’s foreign and defence policy well into the future, which regardless of any future budgetary constraints, will remain one of the most effective Western navies in the world. t

As affirmed by President Nicolas examine possibilities to cooperate and Sarkosy, the French Navy, and Air engage in interoperability programmes Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe is a Force contribution had a major impact to offset the effects of major budget Senior Analyst at Future Directions on Libyan military forces that laid siege cuts. An example of this can be seen International, an Australian-based to rebel-held city of Benghazi: with the comments made by French strategic ‘think tank’. This article was “Our Air Force will oppose any Defense Minister Herve Morin in April attack from Gaddafi’s aircraft against this year: “It is clear that the budgetary originally published in Naval Forces Benghazi inhabitants”, he said. “Our situation concerning the equipment of magazine aircraft are already preventing air our forces makes the construction of attacks from occurring, and other a second aircraft carrier difficult. It’s a French planes are ready to intervene decision that we will have to taking in against armoured vehicles which may the coming weeks.” threaten unarmed civilians.” Clearly any decision made would Indeed, the Rafale and Super be influenced by the November 2010 Etendard jets aboard de Gaulle, ground breaking Anglo-Francophone along with support from the French agreement for much greater defence Air Force, enforced the no-fly zone cooperation, including the possibilities around Benghazi and conducted air of integrating carrier-battlegroups. strikes against military targets, which Nonetheless, the French Navy reportedly destroyed four armoured clearly continues to have significant vehicles of the Libyan Army on March responsibilities given that, according 25. At this stage the inability of rebel to the Ministere De La Defense, it forces to overrun Colonel Gaddafi’s watches over the world’s second-largest loyalist-forces means that France’s territorial maritime domain of over commitment to Operation Harmattan 11 million km2. Such responsibilities is likely to be protracted affair. are indicative of France’s willingness to remain a major power in global Future Considerations affairs, particularly where its national and strategic interests are concerned The increasingly precarious economic in regions such as the Indian Ocean, conditions facing European countries Mediterranean Sea and West Africa. following the aftermath of the global The southwest and north eastern financial crisis, means that EU Indian Ocean quadrants particularly member-states will need to seriously warrant major French interest due to Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 48 Prospects for maritime security cooperation ‘of coral made’

Recent Australian marine research offers welcome and unexpected Great Barrier Reef, certainly provided as a marine and fisheries resources opportunities to make regional some food for thought on maritime management tool for Australia’s Pacific maritime security cooperation more security cooperation, at both national and Southeast Asian neighbours in effective, argues the Australian De- and international policy levels. securing their marine resources. fence College’s Nicholas Floyd. The pertinence of research such For these nations, maritime as this in an Australian context is eco-sustainability is synonymous n keeping with the best seagoing reasonably self-evident. At a first-order with economic survivability – a traditions of serendipity, the recent level, the research provides Australian sobering observation when one IMaritime Advancement Award1 policy-makers in fields as diverse considers that five of Australia’s Presentation that coincided with the as environment, primary industry, nearest neighbours – Indonesia, the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Power recreation and natural resources Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Conference2 at Darling Harbour, with quality analysis on how best to and Fiji – together Sydney in January 2010 provided a husband biosystems that are crucial comprise over twenty-five thousand somewhat unexpected but powerful as refuges for sustainable tourism and islands. Moreover, as humans combining of defence and ecological professional fishing industries, as well increasingly occupy, urbanise and Diver above coral policy areas. The presentation by Dr as for recreational fishing. However, exploit these coastal regions, they bommie, Outer Alison Jones of Central Queensland the research by Dr Jones and Dr Ray will become increasingly pivotal to Rock off eppelK University3 on the world-leading Berkelmans is equally opportune when the interests of nations and the global Group, Great Barrier Reef Marine work she and her colleagues recently applied at the international policy community alike. For this reason, Park (photo supplied completed on marine ‘refugia’ in the level, by way of its valuable potential there is true benefit to be gained in by D. Jones, CQU)

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 49

Australia offering assistance and – deserving of a much more detailed reserves have been chosen to protect Diver marking seabed where appropriate – providing aid in individual treatment than is provided fish populations rather than to protect for refugia analysis off Keppel Group, Great managing the sustainability of their here – as this article’s purpose is the structural coral species that Barrier Reef Marine marine resources. to explore the science’s application underwrite the entire reef system’ says 5 Park (photo supplied The months of fieldwork, study to wider foreign policy options. Dr Jones. by D. Jones, CQU) and analysis conducted by Dr Jones However, it is important at this point ‘Unfortunately many of the current and Dr Ray Berkelmans assessed to understand a little of the research system of marine reserves are now both the survival and regeneration parameters and objectives. threatened by degradation from potential of specific coral species and Currently, many reefs around temperature stress and acidification. their zooxanthellae4 (algal) symbionts. Australia (as well as elsewhere) are Protecting vulnerable reefs from The study area concentrated on exhibiting periodic notable changes anthropogenic impacts will help the the island fringe and bommie reef in seawater temperature and salinity, regeneration process following climatic complexes in and around the Keppel at different depths within a given disturbance, but these reefs are unlikely Group, off Yeppoon on the central column of water. Similarly, data from to act as arks that seed regeneration Queensland coast. The findings sought numerous sites reveal that increases elsewhere if they are already struggling to determine which reef habitats in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (or to survive. It is important that we and coral communities offered the DIN) from land runoff continues to choose marine reserves very carefully best investment to protect for future occur at unprecedented rates, both now to plan for future catastrophic proofing the wider reef’s viability, here in Australia and globally. As many collapses.’ via measurement of a range of key readers would be aware, it is the rate The marine ‘refugia’ research datasets. of change of factors such as these, and therefore seeks to isolate and compare not necessarily their magnitude, that select criteria that determine which Marine ‘refugia’ research makes such changes a killer to marine coral reef areas are most resilient The analysis and biochemical biosystems. to change in the environmental architecture behind the research is ‘Many of the world’s marine conditions listed above; which areas Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 50 Prospects for maritime security cooperation ‘of coral made’

possess the greatest coral biodiversity; trees are considered the ‘lungs’ of the therefore in Australia’s direct interest to and which areas are most productive earth.7 Frameworks like the Niue help in preventing such collapses. in terms of coral growth. In doing Treaty Subsidiary Agreements (as As a focus for development so, the ‘refugia’ research also offers reaffirmed by Pacific Island Forum assistance, Australia could do much a solid scientific basis for Australia’s members at Cairns in August 2009),8 worse than providing funding, international cooperation partners. seek to provide cooperative approaches expertise and technical support on towards fisheries and sovereignty marine refuge analysis to nations who Policy Application protection efforts, by allowing would benefit – and indeed whose In a direct sense, the results and signatory nations to help police and sustainability as a viable country might analysis can be applied to prioritise protect the resources of neighbouring depend – from such analysis. resources and protect reefs that will act countries. Even with innovative Initiatives of this style could as ‘stationary arks’ for these anticipated legislative tactics like these however, offer as many opportunities for host climatically grim futures facing Pacific the fact is that there is simply too much country development as for the and Southeast Asian nations. area, too many vulnerable sites and too Australian participants, through More broadly, the analysis few constabulary resources to protect the deepening of the local research technique also informs a range of other everything. base and generic understanding. relevant stakeholders, such as farm This is where the data capture and Furthermore, Australia’s development holders, local councils and tourism and analytical techniques demonstrated initiatives could be teamed with fisheries peak bodies, and applied to in the research conducted by Dr Jones and through other similar-focussed important decisions on issues such as and her associates provide a welcome bodies such as the Secretariat of the farming practices and other land use, opportunity for Australia, as an adjunct Pacific Community,9 the Nouméa- conservation and navigation areas for to development assistance strategies based Institut de Recherche pour recreational and professional boating, currently in train with many partner le Développement (IRD),10 and the and the approach can of course be nations in the region. Using these Forum Fisheries Agency.11 The applied more widely to other marine methods in those nations’ bioregions Asian Development Bank/Global biosystems. at risk from overfishing or habitat Environment Facility’s joint-sponsored Many of the Pacific and Southeast degradation could greatly assist in Coral Triangle Initiative12 or Asian regions’ island nations have prioritising the scant assets to protect perhaps even the Pacific Patrol Boat insufficient maritime security resources those reefs that are the ‘key terrain’ of Program13 – a longstanding plank to patrol all of their reef space, let their marine ecology. in the Australian Defence Force’s alone the full extent of their 200 This should not be seen simply Defence Cooperation commitment nautical mile Economic Exclusion as a proposition inspired simply by to the region – might potentially have Zones. They operate few, if any surface Australian neighbourly bonhomie: the capacity to materially support, or patrol vessels, possess minimal if any the macro-interrelationship between assist in take-up and broadening the maritime aerial surveillance, and face marine biosystems is often symbiotic investment return. a variety of challenges in networking at several levels. For instance, many of The changes we see today in climate and information communications and the South Pacific island archipelagos and weather patterns, in encroachment technology coordinate fisheries and sit astride the East Australian Current of human exploitation and other sovereignty protection efforts. as it approaches Australia from the challenges to marine biosystems Moreover, many of the world’s Equator, linking the food chains and life present risks not yet fully fathomed by other reefs – such as in the Caribbean cycles on the Great Barrier Reef with either Australia or its Southeast Asian and the Middle East – have been the rest of the South Pacific, at levels and Pacific neighbours. The need to irreparably damaged. This means of interconnectedness that we still do understand where and how to apply that the Pacific’s coral communities not comprehend. This means that a chronically insufficient resources, assume a truly global importance, catastrophic collapse in the biodiversity underscores the importance of a at a time when parts of it have the of a neighbouring marine space collaborative approach with Australia highest proportion of species facing might equally remove a vital hatchery, and its other Pacific neighbours. extinction,6 and when other research breeding site or migratory stage point Central Queensland University’s is indicating that coral reefs are as of one or several key links in marine work on how to assess and select which important in moistening the air as food chains here in Australia. It is marine refugia must be protected, Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 51

Central Queensland University, CQU Walker, J., Coral reefs in hot water as stress turns algal lodgers toxic, and which can be risk managed, Website, CQU, URL http://www.cqu.edu. The Australian, 19 December 2009, URL http://www.theaustralian. has the potential to be a vital part of au/ , accessed February 2010. com.au/news/features/coral-reefs-in-hot-water-as-stress-turns- Dennehy, K., Proposed marina threatens algal-lodgers-toxic/story-e6frg6z6-1225811612881 , accessed regional nations’ marine management Great Barrier Reef, Brisbane Times, February 2010. policies and procedures - not only 11 October 2009, URL http://www. brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/ Notes: fisheries protection, but also improved proposed-marina-threatens-great-barrier- information sharing and decision reef-20091011-grt1.html , accessed (Endnotes) February 2010. 1 Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, making on maritime resources more Free Library, the, Coral reefs under threat, Australian Naval Institute: ‘Maritime Advancement Australia broadly. Australia should carefully Farlex, January 2010, URL http://www. Award, http://www.ancors.uow.edu.au/news/item/maritime_ thefreelibrary.com/Coral+reefs+under+ advancement_award.html , retrieved February 2010. consider this opportunity to ‘suffer a threat.-a0215723512 , accessed February 2 Sea Power Centre, Sea Power Conference 2010 Website, http:// sea change’ in its regional development 2009. www.navy.gov.au/Sea_Power_Conference_2010 , retrieved Institut de Recherche pour le February 2010. assistance programs, and lay down the Développement – Nouvelle Calédonie, 3 Central Queensland University, CQU Website, http://www.cqu. bones of a program of maritime security Page d’accueil, Institut de Recherche pour edu.au/ , retrieved February 2010. le Développement, IRD-NC, URL http:// 4 ALGONE, Zooxanthellae and Corals, http://www.algone.com/ cooperation – ‘of coral made’. t www.ird.nc/, accessed February 2010. zooxanthellae.php , retrieved February 2010. Institut de Recherche pour le 5 See recent articles such as Dennehy, K., Proposed marina Développement, l’IRD dans le monde – threatens Great Barrier Reef (,http://www.brisbanetimes.com. Pacifique,IRD 2010, URL http://www. au/queensland/proposed-marina-threatens-great-barrier-reef- Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Floyd ird.fr/l-ird-dans-le-monde/pacifique , 20091011-grt1.html ) and Walker, J., Coral reefs in hot water as accessed March 2010. stress turns algal lodgers toxic, (http://www.theaustralian.com. wrote this article in 2010, while Jones, GB & Ristovski, Z 2010, ‘Reef au/news/features/coral-reefs-in-hot-water-as-stress-turns-algal- emissions affect climate’, Australasian lodgers-toxic/story-e6frg6z6-1225811612881 ) for open source posted as the ’s Visiting Science, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 26-28 URL background. Fellow at the Lowy Institute for http://www.australasianscience.com.au/ , 6 See: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Coral+reefs+under+threa accessed Mar 2011 t.-a0215723512 (Free Library, the, Coral reefs under threat); and International Policy, Sydney. The Nautilus Institute for Security and Ricciardi, M., One Third of Reef-Building Corals Face Extinction Sustainability, Pacific Patrol Boat Program, Risk (http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/02/05/one-third-of-reef- article was originally published in Nautilus Institute, August 2009, URL building-corals-face-extinction-risk/ ). http://www.globalcollab.org/publications/ 7 See: ABC News Online, Less coral, less clouds says researcher the ‘PacificE cologist’ in March 2011, books/australian-forces-abroad/pacific- (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/25/2829944.htm); and is reproduced in Headmark with islands/pacific-patrol-boat-program/ , Jones, GB & Ristovski, Z 2010, ‘Reef emissions affect climate’, accessed February 2010. Australasian Science (http://www.australasianscience.com.au/ ); permission. Lieutenant Colonel Floyd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, and Raina, J-B. et al , ‘Coral-Associated Bacteria and Their Role in Homepage, FFA, URL http://www.ffa.int/ the Biogeochemical Cycling of Sulfur’, Small Things Considered: is currently posted as Directing Staff accessed February 2010. Applied and Environmental Microbiology (http://aem.highwire. ––––––––, Niue Treaty Webpage, Pacific org/cgi/content/abstract/75/11/3492 ). at the Australian Command & Staff Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, URL 8 See: Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Niue Treaty http://www.ffa.int/taxonomy/term/451 , Webpage (http://www.ffa.int/taxonomy/term/45 ); and Pacific College, at Weston Creek, . accessed February 2010. Islands Forum Secretariat, Forum Communiqué, Fortieth Pacific Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Forum Islands Forum, Cairns, Australia, 5 - 6 August 2009 (http://www. Communiqué, Fortieth Pacific Islands pif2009.org.au/docs/40th_cairns_communique.pdf , pp 3-4). Forum, Cairns, Australia, 5 - 6 August 9 Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPC Homepage, http:// 2009, Pacific Islands Forum, URL http:// www.spc.int/corp/, retrieved March 2010. www.pif2009.org.au/docs/40th_cairns_ 10 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement – Nouvelle Bibliography communique.pdf , accessed February Calédonie, Page d’accueil, (http://www.ird.nc/ ); and Institut ABC News Online, Less coral, less clouds 2010. de Recherche pour le Développement, l’IRD dans le monde – says researcher, ABC News, 25 February Raina, J-B., Tapiolas, D., Willis, B.L., and Pacifique (http://www.ird.fr/l-ird-dans-le-monde/pacifique ). 2010, URL http://www.abc.net.au/ Bourne, D.G., ‘Coral-Associated Bacteria 11 Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Homepage, http://www. news/stories/2010/02/25/2829944.htm , and Their Role in the Biogeochemical ffa.int/, retrieved February 2010. accessed March 2010. Cycling of Sulfur’, Small Things 12 Ahmed, M., and Drilon, M., ADB Support to the Coral Triangle Ahmed, M., and Drilon, M., ADB Support Considered: Applied and Environmental Initiative, http://www.adb.org/Documents/Brochures/CTI- to the Coral Triangle Initiative, Asian Microbiology, June 2009, p. 3492-3501, brochure.pdf, retrieved February 2010. Development Bank May 2009, URL http:// Vol. 75, No. 11, URL http://aem.highwire. 13 Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability, Pacific Patrol www.adb.org/Documents/Brochures/ org/cgi/content/abstract/75/11/3492, Boat Program, http://www.globalcollab.org/publications/books/ CTI-brochure.pdf , accessed February accessed February 2010. australian-forces-abroad/pacific-islands/pacific-patrol-boat- 2010. Ricciardi, M., One Third of Reef-Building program/ , retrieved February 2010. ALGONE, Zooxanthellae and Corals, Corals Face Extinction Risk, Eco Localizer, ALGONE Corporation, URL http://www. 5 February 2009, URL http://ecolocalizer. algone.com/aquarium-articles/saltwater- com/2009/02/05/one-third-of-reef- aquarium/zooxanthellae-and-corals , building-corals-face-extinction-risk/ , accessed February 2010. accessed February 2010. Australian National Centre for Ocean Sea Power Centre, Sea Power Conference Resources and Security, Australian 2010 Website, Royal Australian Navy, Naval Institute: ‘Maritime Advancement URL http://www.navy.gov.au/Sea_Power_ Australia Award’, University of Conference_2010 , accessed February 2010 Wollongong, URL http://www.ancors. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPC uow.edu.au/news/item/maritime_ Homepage, Secretariat of the Pacific advancement_award.html , accessed Community, 2010, URL http://www.spc. February 2010. int/corp/ , accessed March 2010. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 52 New RN Air Warfare Destroyers – Daring class Photo essay by Michael Nitz

Displacement: full load: 7,570 tonnes Length overall: 152.4 m; Waterline: 141.1 m Beam: 21.2 m (69.55 ft) Draught: 5.3 m Performance Speed: 31 kt Range: standard: 7,000 n miles at 18 kt Capacity: Complement: crew: 191; spare berths: 41 Machinery: Integrated Electric Propulsion; 2 RR WR-21 gas turbine alternators; 42 MW; 2 Wärtsilä diesel generators; 4 MW; 2 motors; 40 MW; 2 shafts; fixed props ECM: To be announced. RESM: • Surveillance/fire control: BAE Firepower: Thales Type UAT (mod) [Ref Systems Type 1045 (Sampson) [Ref 7]; intercept. CESM: To be 11]; E/F-band; multifunction. • Missiles: SSM: Space for 8 announced. • Surface search: Raytheon Type Harpoon (2 quad) 1048 [Ref 12]. E/F-band. • SAM: 6 DCN Sylver A 50 48 cell Sensors • Navigation: 2 Raytheon Type 1047 VLS Sea Viper (GWS 45); typical Sonars: EDO/ULTRA MFS-7000; bow [Ref 13]; I-band. mix of 32 Aster 30; active pulse mounted; medium frequency. doppler radar homing to 120 km Combat data systems: (65 n miles) at 4.5 Mach; warhead Radars: CMS-1 (based on DNA SSCS with 15 kg and 16 Aster 15; active pulse • Air/surface search: Signaal/ additional AAW functions); Links 11, doppler radar homing to 30 km Marconi Type 1046 (S 1850M) 16 STDL and 22. SATCOM [Ref 8]. (16 n miles) at 3.0 Mach. [Ref 10]; D-band. • Guns: 1 Vickers 4.5 in (114 mm)/55 Mk 8 Mod 1 [Ref 3]. 25 rds/min to 27.5 km (14.8 n miles); weight of shell 21 kg. 2-20 mm Vulcan Phalanx Mk 15 Mod 1b (fitted for both not with) [Ref 4]. 2 REMSIG MSI DS 30A 30 mm/75; 650 rds/min to 10 km (5.4 n miles); weight of shell 0.36 kg [Ref 5]. • Physical countermeasures: • Decoys: 4 DLH (chaff, IR); DLF offboard decoys [Ref 6]. Type 2170 torpedo defence system. • Electronic countermeasures: Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 53

Electro-optic systems:

GSA 9 with 2 EOSP sensor heads (EOGCS) (based on Radamec 2500) [Ref 9].

Helicopters: Lynx Mk HMA 8 (first batch) or Merlin HM.Mk 1 [Ref 14].

Programmes: This project has gone through many stages, the result of which has been a delay in the provision of a replacement anti-air warfare capability and the concomitant extension of the ship-lives of the ageing Type 42s. Starting life as NFR 90 in the 1980s, it was taken forward via the Anglo-French Future Frigate, the tri-nation Common New Generation Frigate (Horizon) and finally, when UK withdrew from the collaborative ship programme on 25 April 1999, a national Type 45 ship project. The contract for the design and build of the first three ships (Batch 1) was placed with the prime contractor, BAE Systems, on 20 December 2000. This was amended in late 2001 to reflect a new procurement strategy in which commitment was made to the first six ships. The second three ships comprise Batch 2. Vosper Thornycroft is building and outfitting Blocks E/F, the forward section of each ship together with the masts and funnel. The remaining Blocks A-D are being built by BAES Surface Fleet Solutions. Final assembly of D 32 was at Scotstoun and assembly of follow-on ships is at Govan. It was announced on 19 June 2008 that plans to build two Batch 3 ships had been cancelled. Procurement of the missile system was pursued separately and a contract for full development and initial production of PAAMS (Sea Viper) was placed with the tri-national consortium, EUROPAAMS, in August Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 54 New RN Air Warfare Destroyers – Daring class

1999. Test firings have been conducted from the trials barge Longbow from 2008. Following the failure of two Aster 30 firings in May 2009, modifications were made to the missile design. A successful series of firings was completed by June 2010. The first ship- launch was conducted by Dauntless on 29 September 2010. Structure: Built to Lloyd’s Naval Ship Rules. Provision for future installation of CEC, 155 mm gun or a 16-cell VLS silo, SSM, CIWS and magazine-launched torpedoes. An integrated technology mast is another potential modification. The ships are designed to support and deploy at least 30 troops. OTC facilities are to be included. The suitability of the Type 45 as a BMD platform is being studied. t

Operational: Dragon started sea trials on 5 November 2010

(All photos are of HMS Diamond)

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 55

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 56 Qualities of Leadership by lieutenant commander tom lewis

his series examines selected Inspirational see it, putting his telescope to his blind Ttraits of leadership to This leader inspires others to perform eye and exclaiming: «I really do not see compare Royal Australian similar deeds. Often this is shown by the signal». The British won the battle Navy leaders against a criteria. the leader’s actions in front of their with much help from Nelson’s use of The first of the articles took subordinates. Nelson inspired his initiative. Admiral Lord Nelson, the followers in being resolute, courageous hero of Trafalgar in 1805, as and honourable. It is one measure of Impressive Physical a model, as well as examining the man that so many did: Hardy, who Qualities the characteristics of other well- was with him when he died; his fellow This might be rephrased as “looking known leaders, both civilian and admiral Collingwood whose battle the part of a leader”. Would anyone military. line he raced to be first to engage at have said that Horatio Nelson achieved Seven qualities of leadership Trafalgar; ship commander Berry, who this? Yes – and no. A short, thin man measure the subject matter, followed him from ship to ship, and not blessed with good looks, he first suggesting a capable naval Captain Hallowell, who after the Battle entered the British navy in 1771 as leader is an achiever; expert in of the Nile made him a present of a a midshipman at 12 years and three his or her field; inspires others, coffin fashioned from the French ship months.1 Despite being prone to and takes initiative; impresses L’Orient’s mainmast – Nelson kept it in sickness: “I have had all the diseases by their physical qualities; his cabin and was indeed buried in it. that are”, he once said; he adapted well empathises with others, and is to the vigorous and often dangerous life an effective communicator. Initiative that was the Navy. Sometimes described as “going Nelson was a man of raw physical A chievement in where angels fear to tread”, this courage who led by example. He lost Did the person under discussion measure means to use judgement and an eye when an enemy shell, exploding improve their organisation? Did advance where necessary. The leader is during the siege of Calvi in Corsica, they leave it a better place by being a brave in psychological terms and takes drove splinters and dust and rock member? Promotion is recognised as the lead where necessary. It does not fragments into his face. He suffered a measure of achievement. With this mean going forward rashly. most terribly and often from wounds, and other measures which traditionally Nelson was a man who had the quite willing to lead from the front. mark out achievement – education; courage of his own convictions, who His right arm was amputated after the decorations; amassing of physical could often have left off and blamed battle of Santa Cruz in Teneriffe due to wealth perhaps – we gain some superiors for failure. Instead, he was his being hit by grapeshot. beginnings of whether a person is a a man who chose to use initiative and This is what is meant by “looking the success. advance when he knew the defeat of part of a leader”: behaving in such a the enemy was attainable and essential. way that people can be inspired. It Expert in one’s Field At the Battle of Copenhagen, walking means to look resolute and act with Anyone who aspires to be a leader and the deck while the guns roared their resolution – as did Nelson. To lead an example to others must obviously broadsides, and deadly splinters by example. To not show physical have expertise in their craft. In naval whistled about his ears, he confided cowardice. It might include «panache»; terms, that translates as being an expert to Colonel Stewart, commander of “the almost untranslatable expression “ship-driver”; an aviator par excellence; infantry, who was with him on the of dash, of valour, the ability to do an engineer possessing a wealth of quarterdeck, that he would not be things with an air of reckless courage theoretical and practical knowledge «elsewhere for thousands». Whether and inspiring leadership».2 Finally, we - and so on. Nelson, for example, was he was fearful or not – and who would might add that the bearing, carriage a master at strategy – which becomes not have been – Nelson led by example. and speech of a leader should be of the a commander of fleets – but also of And when his uncertain superior, highest standards. tactics, which behoves a ship captain. Admiral Parker, made the signal to He was also an inspired man-manager. leave off the action, Nelson refused to Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 57

Empathy Communication to use words effectively to persuade The great soldier of the 18th century, One needs to be understood at others. Winston Churchill was a great Frederick the Great, had good advice all times. Nelson employed in his exponent of this. Eisenhower, then a on how to attain the next quality of the leadership style something unusual US General and later President of the leader – Empathy: for its day: the art of effective United States, experienced the British ...talk with the soldiers, both when communication. One characteristic Prime Minister in action: you pass their tents or when they was to invite others to contribute their Churchill was a persuader. Indeed, are on the march. Sample often to ideas for a campaign, or a battle, or a his skill in the use of words and logic see if the cookpots have something change of some sort; to educate his was so great that on several occasions good; find out their small needs and men and get them – and him – to when he and I disagreed on some do what you can to satisfy them; know each others’ minds. Nelson important matter – even when I was spare them unnecessary exertion. embarked upon the Battle of the Nile convinced of my own view and when But let fall the full vigor of law on the in 1798 by letting his captains engage the responsibility was clearly mine – I mutinous soldier, the backbiter, the in individual fashion. The French had a very hard time withstanding his pillager...3 fleet, anchored by the bows in a line in arguments.9 shallow coastal water, engaged in ship Empathy means to be able to imagine to ship fashion by five British vessels 12 yourself – as leader – in the role sailing inside the line and anchoring, of your people, and to show that. and the rest engaging from outside. A capable naval leader is an achiever; It is “the power of understanding Thus the French were caught between expert in his or her field; inspires and imaginatively entering into two forces. At the end of hours of others, and takes initiative; impresses another person’s feelings”.4 General fighting, the French had lost 1, 700 men by their physical qualities; empathises Montgomery said to his troops at to the British 200; their fleet was largely the Battle of Alamein: “We will stand pounded to pieces, and Napoleon with others, and is an effective and fight here. If we can’t stay here and his army were stranded in Egypt. communicator. We have seen many alive, then let us stay here dead”.5 Nelson had hoisted just two signals great leaders who exhibited those 7 Montgomery was entering into the through the entire battle. traits. This series examines how many feelings of all of his people, who feared For the autocratic manager this would of Australia›s naval leaders performed that they would die. Churchill’s speech have been disastrous: an authoritarian of WWII did the same: “We shall leader would not trust his subordinates in these fields. defend our island, whatever the cost to make momentous decisions and may be, we shall fight on the landing fight on their own. Nelson trusted his grounds, we shall fight in the fields and individual captains. So too, in the long 1 Description of Admiral Lord Nelson and his career are drawn from Kenneth in the streets, we shall fight in the hills: pursuit of the French, years later in Fenwick’s HMS Victory; Christopher we shall never surrender.” Alexander 1805, he had regular meetings with his Lloyd’s Nelson and Sea Power; Peter Padfield’sBroke and the Shannon and the Great “shared in the men’s dangers, «Band of Brothers» – the name applied Robert Southey’s The Life of Horatio as the scars of his wounds testified…he to those who fought under him at the Lord Nelson. 8 2 Welch, Ronald. Tank Commander. ate the same food as they did. He was Nile. During the long chase the officers London: Oxford University Press, 1972. highly visible….he fought hard himself would pool their ideas for forthcoming (135) 3 Connelly. (16) but he was ever on the watch for any battles; the best use of tactics; what 4 Collins English Dictionary. Sydney: acts of conspicuous courage in the face a following ship would do when its Harper Collins, 1991. (510) 5 Adler (116) of danger amongst his men.6 fellow was sighted engaged and so on. 6 Adler (232) Such statements say to you that Consequently even the necessity for 7 Ireland, Bernard. Naval Warfare in the your leader will be with you, no matter signals within the ensuing battle was Age of Sail. London: Harper Collins, 2000. (148-151) what the cost. dispensed with; the captains knew each 8 Thursfield, James R. Nelson and other others’ minds. Naval Studies. London: John Murray, 1920. (125) Communication means to be able 9 Adler (76) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 58

Studies in Trait Leadership – a naval surveyor takes command of a warship Rankin VC? by lieutenant commander tom lewis

he Royal Australian Navy has Admiralty and awarded a life-saving never won a Victoria Cross. Why medal by the Dutch government as Tthis is so is a curious matter. Valour Officer-in-Charge of the boats’ crews in battle is the quality for which the from the Suffolk. The boats travelled Cross is awarded, and the lack of VCs some 28 miles in very rough weather to seems more to do with convoluted rescue the crew of the merchant ship bureaucracy than a dearth of this Hedwig, aground on a reef between the quality. In 1940 in the Atlantic an coast of China and the Philippines. A cting Captain Fogarty Fegen action took place which deservedly Later, Fegen served at the Anti- (RN photo) won a British naval officer – Fogarty Submarine school; on the staff of Fegen – a Cross. Two years later, Chatham Dockyard, and in the our own Lieutenant Commander cruisers Dauntless, Dragon and Robert Rankin performed a very R ankin Portrait Curlew. Immediately before the war similar action, but there has been no He was much admired there by the he was Executive Officer of the cruiser recognition for him. midshipmen under training: not only Emerald. He was made Acting Captain In considering him as a leader was he a fine Rugby coach, but his wife a few months before WWII began. worthy of study, Rankin presents and he put on splendid afternoon teas On 5 November 1940, HMS Jervis a curious case. He was a surveyor, for the teenage ever-hungry cadets.1 Bay – an echo of his old posting to the who after a while was not happy with He left the College in August 1929. College – under Fegen’s command, was his chosen Branch. He was refused Fegen had been in the RN since proceeding from the United States to permission to transfer, and ended 1904. He served through WWI as a Europe as the sole escort for a convoy up at the beginning of World War Lieutenant in the ships Amphion and of merchant ships. Jervis Bay, a former1 II with senior command positions passenger liner built in 1922-23, had a in RN warships based in the displacement of 14,000 tons and a Mediterranean. Married maximum speed of around and with a very young 15 knots. child, he did not see them on their being F ogarty Fegen’s returned to Australia Victoria Cross citation for over two years takes up the story: – where he was given active warship command, For valour in challenging in which he died in battle, hopeless odds and giving his acting in accordance with the most life to save the many ships it was his glorious traditions of combat, taking HMS Jervis Bay action (RCN lithograph) duty to protect. On the 5th November, on insurmountable odds for the good 1940, in heavy seas Captain Fegen, in of others. Faulknor, and as second in command his Majesty’s Armed Merchant Cruiser

To turn first to the Royal Navy of torpedo-boat No. 26 and the 1 Before the war the RN had the foresight to action of example. Co-incidentally, the destroyers Moy and Paladin.2 He ensure the decks of the best of the civilian liners were strengthened so that in time of RN officer has some curious links with continued in command of various war guns could be rapidly fitted. Thus after our own Navy. Commander Fogarty destroyers after the Armistice was the outbreak of war various such vessels were requisitioned and quickly fitted out as a class Fegen was an Executive Officer of signed in 1918. After leaving RANC of warship called Armed Merchant Cruisers. the RAN College in Jervis Bay from he was commander – that is, what While Jervis Bay was armed with seven 1928-29. He was posted from the we now call Executive Officer – of 6-inch guns – a not insignificant armament – her civilian build meant she would be very Royal Navy to the RAN, arriving in the the cruiser Suffolk in China. During vulnerable to even a small amount of damage, Jervis Bay College on 20 January 1928. that time he was commended by the and her maximum speed was barely half that of true warships. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 59

Jervis Bay, was escorting thirty-one of Christmas Island Merchantmen. Sighting a powerful on the morning of 4 German warship, he at once drew clear March 1942. The Allies of the Convoy, made straight for the were in disarray before Enemy and brought his ship between the mighty Japanese the raider and her prey, so that they war machine sweeping might scatter to escape. Crippled, in south, taking Singapore, flames, unable to reply for nearly an smashing Darwin, and hour the Jervis Bay held the German’s bringing death and fire. So she went down; but of the destruction to Allied Merchantmen, all but four or five were shipping, including USS saved. Houston and HMAS The researched history3 written after Perth with our Captain the war gives more information. The Waller in command. German ship was the pocket- Yarra had been L CDR Rankin wedding Admiral Scheer, a heavily-armoured shadowed the previous tons) were very large indeed. Yarra met photo (Courtesy vessel of 12, 200 tons, six 11” and eight day by enemy aircraft. them in the vicinity of Sunda Strait and Patricia Rankin) 5.9” guns. Six of the merchant ships The Australian warship had seen proceeded northwards with the convoy. were sunk, and of the Jervis Bay’s a tough war. In August 1940 she had Some days beforehand Harrington complement; nearly all were lost. Fegen left Australia’s shores. She was under had been notified he would be replaced himself was gravely wounded in the the capable command of Lieutenant- as captain of Yarra by Rankin. By the action, almost losing one arm, but he Commander Harrington (later to time of this convoy Rankin had joined stayed at his post on the bridge and become a Vice-Admiral and an his new ship, but with Harrington fought on until the end of his ship, important figure in the post-war RAN), still in command. These were tense going down with her into the deep and was sent to patrol the Red Sea. times as the crew remained closed up Atlantic. Yarra had escorted convoys; engaged in at action stations for long periods. A One of the convoy vessels4, the gunfire support of operations ashore; critical focal point was the long and Swedish ship Stüreholm, returned to worked in the “Tobruk Ferry Run” off narrow Banka Strait along the south- the scene of the action after dark and North Africa, experienced many air eastern shore of Sumatra. While rescued the survivors. The Jervis Bay attacks, and seen a vessel she had been leaving the strait a formation of nine had been the sole escort for this convoy working with – RAN sloop HMAS twin-engined bombers attacked. They so for a merchant ship to return to the Parramatta – sunk by a U-Boat. Then concentrated on Empress of Asia, the scene unescorted was indeed the act of Yarra had joined the South-East Asian last and slowest ship. Built in 1913, brave men. areas of operations, and learnt her old she had been overdue for the scrap The Victoria Cross he was captain was to leave her. Lieutenant yard but the war had given her new posthumously awarded was obviously Commander Robert Rankin was to life and she had been converted into a richly deserved. command in his place. troopship. With a crew of over 400, the However, why not bring forward At the end of January British troops old ship had been given some useful into recognition an RAN officer withdrew from the mainland and defences including Oerlikons.3 In who was just as brave in very similar destroyed the causeway to Singapore. Bombay she had embarked 2, 235 men circumstances. In waters north of The situation was looking very bleak of the 18th British Division, as well as Australia the sloop HMAS Yarra, but still convoys were directed to the much desperately needed arms and under the command of Lieutenant besieged island. Yarra sailed south to equipment. Given Yarra’s status as an Commander Robert Rankin, rendezvous with another incoming AA combat veteran, it is quite possible encountered superior Japanese convoy from Bombay (BM012). These her accurate fire was the reason why forces. The Yarra was sole escort were valuable ships carrying around the bombs fell harmlessly about a mile for two merchant2 ships and a small 5,000 troops and their equipment. Two 3 Thompson p.278. Empress of Asia: 1 x minesweeper steering to the south-east of the vessels, Empress of Asia (British; 6-inch gun; 1 x 3-inch AA gun; 6 x 20mm built 1913; 16,909 tons) and Felix Oerlikons & 8 x Hotchkiss MGs. Also added 2 Technically they were naval: a depot ship Roussel (Free French; built 1930; 17,083 were about two dozen Bren guns from the and a tanker. troops aboard. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 60

Studies in Trait Leadership – a naval surveyor takes command of a warship Rankin VC? from their target. While the remainder were saved “... by the skilful handling pressure to fight the fires. All of the of the day was quiet, ominously a sole and determined defence of their ships soldiers and crew were told to assemble enemy plane shadowed the convoy coupled with the effective gunfire of on deck, while the captain steered the from a distant altitude. That night the HMAS Yarra.” Harrington later wrote ship into shallow water near Sultan remainder of the convoy – being faster a report praising the action of the Shoal Lighthouse, anchoring there with – pushed on ahead. entire crew. He made special mention some difficulty.10 No ships had yet entered Singapore of the crew of No.3 gun which he said Despite the risk of the much larger by daylight, it being considered too shot down one aircraft on the starboard ship exploding or sinking, Harrington dangerous. However most of the quarter with their fire. He also singled closed Yarra’s bow up underneath convoy succeeded in arriving safely out Acting Leading Seaman Taylor, the the stern of the Empress. In this way during the morning of 5 February, captain of No.2 gun, for providing a the soldiers could jump onto Yarra’s despite Tokyo radio’s famous boast good example to the men around him forecastle. In all some 1,334 men from that “no convoys will get into or out with his “keenness and courage”.8 the Empress were evacuated. Such of Singapore”.5 Yarra remained behind Onboard Felix Roussel were men of was the load that Harrington was with the lagging Empress of Asia, as the 9th Northumberland Fusiliers (part concerned about the ship’s stability well as two other ships: Felix Roussel of the 18th Division). Their Bren guns as he eventually got clear. He had to and City of Canterbury.4 The old put up a wall of lead, while the skipper order the passengers to sit down as he 1918-vintage light cruiser HMS Danae zig-zagged with determination. Five made the short passage to Singapore. was the only other escort present, but men were killed as a result of a single Meanwhile Yarra’s boats were out was well astern and poorly positioned bomb hit between the funnels and the trying to pick up other survivors that to provide AA defence. Shortly subsequent strafing. A second direct had jumped from different sections before midday, when only nine miles hit burst a water tank which quickly of the stricken old liner, rescuing 470. from the relative sanctuary of Keppel doused the flames from the first hit.9 With other small ships also arriving Harbour, the enemy struck, and Yarra Regardless, the damage to the French and engaged in the rescue, only about was the sole effective defender. These vessel was only minor. It was the fast 30 of the 2,500-plus men onboard the were 27 Kawasaki Ki-48 “Lily” twin manoeuvring of the ship, capable of Empress were lost. engined light bombers of the 3rd Flying 18 knots, that probably helped most, Yarra had been targeted during the Battalion.6 The experienced crews of but this further ensured that the old air raid and suffered at least one near the aerial formation separated into Empress of Asia remained the main miss with a bomb passing between her small independent flights and made target. masts. Manoeuvring saved the ship, attacks from all directions. Just as the attackers arrived, the but could not stop strafing of her deck. A fierce fight ensued. Each of Yarra’s old Empress had slowed to just six The No.2 gun layer was wounded, as guns immediately went into action, knots in expectation of taking on a was a gunner on the 0.5-inch quad MG. and the ship fought with a “demonic pilot. It is unlikely that her ancient Both forestays were shot away and the determination and fierceness”.7 It was machinery could have responded very funnel was holed, with several bullet almost a case of “business as usual” for quickly. However her heavy defensive holes to the superstructure. The ship Yarra as she again put up a determined fire, together with Yarra’s, initially put was unarmoured, and vulnerable to barrage. Observing the action from off many of the attackers. But finally splinter damage. None of Yarra’s 4-inch the safety of Keppel Harbour was the a bomb hit, just behind the bridge in guns had shields, so her gun crews captain of the Indian sloop HMIS the officers’ wardroom. The interior were unprotected aside from their steel Sutlej, who said that the merchant ships of the once luxuriant liner was filled helmets.

4 Parry, (see p.210) refers instead to the with timber and fires quickly took Around 400 4-inch rounds were modern Devonshire (Br; 1939; 11,275 tons) hold. The situation went from bad to fired by Yarra that day.5 Five enemy as being the third of these three ships. The 11 Convoy-web site refers to this vessel being in worse when an entire “stick” of three or planes were claimed as shot down. convoy BM012 with 1,673 troops onboard. four light bombs hit a short time later, Later Harrington took Yarra over to There is no mention of City of Canterbury penetrating deep inside the ship before being in this convoy. While reference to the 5 The length of this attack is not known latter is from Gill, the information appears exploding. Fires spread quickly, and exactly. But supposed it lasted 20 minutes to come from a Report of Proceedings of the ship was soon a cripple: the engine then Yarra fired 20 rounds per minute, or the Indian sloop HMIS Sutlej, and so could around six rounds per minute for each gun easily have been confused. Regardless of room crew was evacuated because of (one shot every 10 seconds). This was a identity the “third” ship escaped damage and intense smoke, and there was no water good rate of fire for guns that were manually otherwise played no part during this attack. trained and loaded. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 61

see the burnt out Empress, primarily to constricted waters within the Indies enemy aircraft arrived in the morning. see if two untouched Oerlikons on the were home to enemy submarines. They bombed the grounded tanker stern of the wreck could be salvaged. Another danger was navigation: the and set her on fire.13 Indeed, vessels in TheEmpress’ deck was still red hot waters were shallow, shoal-ridden and the narrow northern part of the strait and could not be approached, so the poorly charted. were heavily and consistently bombed attempt was abandoned. That night Meanwhile Tanjong Priok was that day. took Yarra on some 50-60 ratings overcrowded due to the diversion of Yarra’s convoy too was targeted, and a dozen officers from Singapore shipping from Singapore. Efforts were initially by around a dozen bombers, for passage to Batavia, convoying being made to clear the port as much then reportedly by multiple attackers Felix Roussel, City of Canterbury and as possible. On 17 February Yarra over several hours.6 A major problem Devonshire with escorts HMIS Sutlej escorted convoy SJ3, consisting of onboard Yarra was a lack of AA shells and HMS Danae. several smaller vessels, out of the port for the 4-inch guns. After hundreds of Some air attack occurred south of and south through Sunda Strait. Safely shells had been expended defending Singapore but no damage resulted. out into the Indian Ocean three of the Empress of Asia in particular, On 8 February, Yarra detached from the ships ships turned westwards and replacements had not been re-issued the convoy and in the Palembang proceeded independently to Colombo. (other ships, such as Perth, were also River delta in Sumatra took over the The remaining ships were Giang Ann, known to have had difficulty obtaining tow of the destroyer HMAS Vendetta, Darvel and Ping Wo. The latter had fuel and ammunition from Tanjong which had been stranded mid-refit Vendetta in tow, so it was slow going. Priok at this time). So as an expedient in a Singapore dockyard and had just Yarra escorted this group to a point Rankin ordered H.E. shells, normally been evacuated under tow. Despite the 200 miles south of Christmas Island, used against surface targets, to be fired. vulnerability of Vendetta as a target, where on 22 February the light cruiser These had no altitude fusing, so it Batavia was reached without incident. HMAS Adelaide was met, taking over was hoped the sight of the gun flashes While in port seven men left Yarra the southwards escort. would deter the enemy. Both Oerlikons for Australia, including Harrington. Yarra returned to “Priok” on 24th were in action, manned by the master- The time Rankin spent aboard with February, arriving during a now very at-arms and a bosuns mate. Such was Harrington was a good thing in giving familiar air raid. On the 27th orders the desperate emergency that small him time to get to know the ship and were given to clear all remaining British arms were also issued: even the ship’s her very tight-knit crew – most of auxiliary craft from Tanjong Priok – a cooks were on deck manning Bren whom had been together for almost precaution as invasion convoys were guns.14 Others were manning rifles. two years and had endured the most approaching. Indeed any hope of a All the ships in the convoy were trying of conditions and experiences. naval defence of Java was just now putting up whatever fire they could. Rankin formally assumed command being lost during the confused and Most effective of all was the modern on 11 February 1942. One of those drawn out Battle of the Java Sea. At sloop Jumna which had 4-inch guns who left the ship was Able Seamen AF midnight Yarra left in company with of a much more modern type than Parry, who wrote a history of the Yarra the sloop HMIS Jumna, together Yarra (she also had double the number: published in 1944. escorting depot ship HMS Anking, six guns in three twin turrets).15 The The sloop remained at Batavia for tankers RFA War , British Judge, deadly barrage from the Indian ship four days doing a boiler clean. The and RFA Francol. Completing the probably saved the convoy from major ship’s company learnt the news of the convoy was the auxiliary minesweeper damage. The air attacks began easing fall of Singapore – often called the HMS Gemas (a converted 1925 whaler off around midday, and the convoy greatest British military defeat of all of 207 tons) and motor minesweeper continued at just eight knots into the time. The sloop was soon under way MMS.51. 6 Records regarding the Japanese side of again and made the short voyage across Four hours out of port, at 0420, War this event are obscure. Most likely many of Sunda Strait to Oosthaven, at the Sirdar went aground. The remainder the attackers came from the light carrier Ryujo and seaplane carriers Chitose and southern tip of Sumatra. Yarra escorted of the convoy continued but the Mizuho, which were providing air cover three ships back to Tanjong Priok: corvette HMAS Wollongong, trying to for the western invasion force, which was Filleigh; Lulworth Hill and Hai Lee.12 join the convoy, was nearby. She stood due to commence landing operations in this vicinity that night. Cruiser-launched The prospect of enemy attack was ever- by and made attempts to tow off the floatplanes were possibly also active in present. Aside from the air threat, the tanker, but this was terminated after the area, and even lone floatplanes often aggressively attacked ships. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 62

Studies in Trait Leadership – a naval surveyor takes command of a warship Rankin VC? southern part of Sunda Strait. Yarra west. The ABDA naval command was personnel. Many had originated in had been strafed a number of times, formally dissolved, giving Commodore Singapore and were probably among and now looked very worn and poorly. Collins full control of the RAN the hundreds of surplus RN personnel The aerial was down, the boats were units. During the course of the day, from the Prince of Wales or Repulse. all damaged and the funnel was holed he learned that enemy surface forces Anking had been built in Scotland in badly.16 were active both in the Sunda Strait 1925 as a cargo ship for the London- As dawn broke on 1 March Rankin and also a few hundred miles south of based China Navigation Co, and so continued on a southerly course into Java.7 Tjilitjap was becoming a potential was no stranger to the Far East. Of the Indian Ocean, as he did not want to trap. That afternoon Collins ordered moderate size (3,472 tons), she had turn eastwards for Tjilitjap too soon as all British ships to avoid the port if been requisitioned for naval service in such focal points were obvious places necessary and if fuel permitted to make 1941 to serve as a depot ship in . for submarines or mines. But about ten for Ceylon or Fremantle.8 With an alternate naval base needed miles south of the strait a dull rumble Yarra’s convoy met up with four after Singapore was threatened in early of a distant explosion was heard. The RAN corvettes off the southern 1942, Anking arrived in the theatre officer of the watch scanned the ships Javanese port at 11am on 2 March. with a plan to be a command and in the convoy and saw smoke and With their long range the sloops had communications vessel in Batavia. In fire coming from one of the tankers. no need to enter Tjilitjap to refuel. The reality she did little other than evacuate Signalmen flashed their lamps and the Indian sloop, Jumna, was detached naval personnel from Singapore and reports were received and deciphered. westwards to Colombo and en route probably should have sailed out of the The largest vessel in the convoy, picked up the lagging British Judge.9 theatre much earlier.19 the tanker British Judge, had been During a brief but intense partnership The other major ship remaining torpedoed in the bow by a submarine.17 both sloops, Yarra and Jumna had in Yarra’s small naval convoy was the By now both Yarra and Jumna were worked together well. They exchanged Royal Fleet Auxiliary Francol. This receiving ASDIC contacts. signals: “Good-bye. Good luck. Good was a small but useful naval tanker, Action stations were ordered as hunting.”18 capable of holding 2,000 tons of fuel oil, Yarra closed a contact. Depth charges Some of the RAN corvettes needed built during the massive construction were launched. A periscope was to fuel in Tjilitjap, and between them programs underway towards the end of spotted but soon blotted out by a they needed to accommodate dozens of WWI. Along with her complement of tropical rainstorm. But there was still naval personnel evacuating from Java. about three dozen civilian sailors, there a convoy to protect, so the sloops did For this reason the corvettes lagged was a DEMs (Defensively Equipped not have the luxury of an extended near Tjilitjap a little longer while Yarra Merchant ship) crew manning an anti- submarine hunt. This was especially got underway with her small convoy submarine gun on the stern. Although the case given that the most valuable immediately. elderly, Francol had a top speed of 14 ship to protect was HMS Anking, Yarra was entrusted with escorting knots, and together with Anking’s 12 packed with hundreds of surplus naval Anking, packed with hundreds of naval knots, the convoy should have been personnel, many survivors of sunken capable of a reasonable average speed ships. 7 Over the next two days over a dozen exceeding 10 knots. flying boats arrived at Broome. Others The convoy continued towards evacuated a Dutch Admiral to Ceylon. Why However, the last ship included Tjilitjap, slowed down by the need these aircraft were not used to locate and in the convoy was the tiny wooden shadow the enemy surface forces at this to sail a zig-zag course as an anti- time is a mystery. The tragedy of Perth and motor minesweeper MMS.51, built submarine precaution. Some miles Houston is just one example. Instead the in Singapore and commissioned just likes of Collins relied on contact reports behind, the tanker British Judge from doomed vessels being engaged by before the Pacific war began. Of just remained afloat, and was soon able to the Japanese. So aside from these vague 225 tons and armed with a single and often unclear reports, Collins and his get under way under her own power. ships were operating with a good degree of 3-pounder gun, these vessels were Wollongong, again behind the convoy uncertainty in the intelligence picture. fitted with whatever diesel engines 8 Collins and his staff were able to board a after helping War Sirdar, was able to were available, and it is most unlikely corvette (HMAS Burnie) at Tjilitjap. meet and escort her at slow speed. 9 HMAS Wollongong now separated from she had the most powerful type By that morning of 1 March the the convoy and proceeded to Fremantle delivering 10 knots. So almost certainly independently. The decision saved her from Japanese were ashore on the north almost certain destruction and proved the this tiny vessel that held the convoy to a coast of Java in both the east and the random process in which ships tried to run maximum speed of barely 8½ knots. the Japanese gauntlet. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 63

The other small vessel to accompany from an enemy cruiser under Vice- below to the ships sick bay under the the convoy was a 207 ton auxiliary Admiral Kondo’s force, that day care of Surgeon-Lieutenant McLaren- minesweeper, an old ex-whaler HMS busy dealing with targets such as the Robinson. Gemas, manned by men of the Straits destroyers HMS Stronghold and USS For the remainder of the day the Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Pillsbury. With their overwhelming convoy ploughed on through the calm Reserve. For unclear reasons, but power and speed, the Japanese force seas, the lookouts having nothing to probably because she would have been could pick their targets at leisure and report. Yarra launched a couple of a liability to an oceanic convoy, she was in line with their warrior spirit, chose depth charges to deter a suspected left behind. On the night of 2-3 March, to engage warship targets first. After submarine contact during the night. HMAS Ballarat took off all valuable all, Kondo’s warships were capable of One of Yarra’s survivors, Leading equipment, before sinking her seven over 30 knots and could close in on the Supply Rating Latham, described the miles off Tjilitjap. Why did MMS.51 eight-knot Yarra convoy at their leisure. happy feeling that morning as the crew not suffer the same fate? Possibly Yarra’s radio operator may have ate breakfast.23 But then the action Collins did not understand how much picked up confused distress signals stations alarms were sounded. she would hold back the convoy as from some of these ships, but probably The lookouts had seen through she was almost brand new. Otherwise never got an accurate idea of exactly the early morning mist the massive submarines were probably seen as the what was happening. The best chance “pagoda”-like superstructures of three main threat, as the size of the surface lay of changing course under the cover Japanese heavy cruisers. At least two forces south of Java had yet to be of darkness and hoping not to be smaller vessels were sighted. It was appreciated. MMS.51 was too small discovered by reconnaissance aircraft only 0630 and each minute brought to be torpedoed, and may have been during the day. Again, at this time more sunlight and easy recognition of of assistance if one of the larger vessels Tjilitjap remained in Allied hands and the overwhelming enemy force several such as Anking went down. flying boat reconnaissance would have miles away on the horizon. The tragedy So Yarra, worn and battered and been of great value to the fleeing ships. of the location was that Yarra was eight badly short of ammunition, led the Instead it was virtually a case of “every miles south of the enemy force when unlikely group of HMS Anking, RFA man (or ship) for himself” with very spotted. If she had travelled just one or Francol and MMS.51 south from Java little co-ordination from the higher two knots faster overnight she would on 2 March. The men would have been authorities. Darkness on the 2 March have been well over the horizon and nervous but optimistic, fully believing brought some relief – the little convoy out of sight at this time, so the cost of the further they were from Java the had survived another day and was including the slower MMS.51 in the safer they were. They had endured no slightly closer to Australia. convoy was an expensive one indeed.24 end of extreme tests during the last Dawn broke on 3 March with fine Now, sighted approaching from two years away from Australia, and conditions and open seas, and no the north-east, came three Japanese were now just days away from their enemy in sight.20 The crew of Yarra cruisers and two destroyers25 of homeland where in lieu of their service and the other ships dared to hope. Admiral Kondo’s Second Fleet, they would have expected significant But during the day a strange sight positioning themselves in battle order leave. was spotted: two sail boats in the to attack.26 Lieutenant Commander The daylight hours were the most open ocean. They were ship’s lifeboats Rankin, in his first ever command of a dangerous, and during the afternoon from the Dutch merchantman Parigi warship, turned and faced the enemy. of 2 March this small convoy gradually (1,172 tons), which had been sunk by There was no possibility of escape. left Java behind as all on board silently the submarine I-2 while sailing south The enemy warships were twice as fast prayed they would avoid the enemy. from Tjilitjap towards Bunbury during as Yarra and three times as fast as the However, they were shadowed by an the evening of 1 March.21 One source other ships in the convoy. Darkness enemy aircraft that afternoon. The gives the number of men rescued as was another twelve hours away. The plane stayed far out of gun range and just eight, with others having died Japanese heavy cruisers fired 8-inch there was nothing that could be done while in the lifeboats. Others give the shells weighing 125kg each. These but somehow hope that darkness number as high as 30.22 The survivors could prove deadly against each vessel would allow the convoy to vanish into included Paringi’s Dutch captain and in the unarmoured Yarra convoy. Each the Indian Ocean. In all probability the Javanese crewmen. All were feeble, and of the three Takao-class heavy cruisers shadowing aircraft was a floatplane several wounded. They were carried was equipped with ten 8-inch guns (in Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 64

Studies in Trait Leadership – a naval surveyor takes command of a warship Rankin VC? five double turrets), the broadside of spotting the fall of the cruisers’ shells – dive bombed MMS.51. This wooden each being 1,250 kg. This was ignoring an enormous advantage in long range vessel was already hit and ablaze, the firepower of the accompanying shooting. Yarra had no chance at all, reportedly as a result of small calibre destroyers which had very effective but bravely aimed towards the nearest gunfire from one of the cruisers. The 5-inch guns. In response the three cruiser with her 4-inch guns firing. One crew had already begun abandoning 4-inch guns of Yarra appeared feeble, Yarra survivor claimed they hit the ship but two were killed. Another 14 each firing a shell of just 14 kg. cruiser square in the bridge, but even if took to life rafts and survived. In Royal Regardless of the weight of fire was that this was true little damage would have Navy records she is described as having the Japanese cruisers could bombard resulted against the armour. been scuttled to prevent capture. Yarra at leisure far outside the range After a brief charge Rankin turned Anking and Francol presented of the Australian ship’s guns; and that about and sought a brief ten-minute merely target practice to the a 4-inch shell could hope to do little refuge in the smoke screen. He gave Japanese. The former with her larger more than superficial damage against orders for the boats to be lowered, superstructure probably attracted more the Japanese armoured heavy cruisers.27 and the lashings on all Carley floats initial gunfire. With the ship manned Further, the Japanese squadron to be cut; this foresight probably by her original civilian Chinese crew, was experienced, having recently saved the lives of survivors. At 0645 and with presumably little organisation, fought engagements. Regardless of the smoke thinned and Yarra was equipment or training for emergency these aspects Rankin would have been again visible to the enemy. They fired drill, it was probably chaos aboard as aware of the odds stacked against him. and an 8-inch shell crashed into the shell after shell penetrated her thin He could have elected to surrender starboard waist and exploded in the sides and exploded. 260 men, including his ship and save lives, but instead sick bay. The ship’s doctor, sick bay her civilian crew, were later listed as he turned towards the enemy in an attendants and most of the Parigi “Missing Presumed Killed” aboard attempt to delay them and therefore survivors were killed instantly. Minutes Anking. Most would have perished as save the convoy, which would scatter later the decisive attack occurred. An these initial salvoes wrecked the ship. to all points of the compass. Further, 8-inch shell smashed into the bridge, 57 managed to take to life rafts before to warn other ships in the vicinity, the force of the explosion carrying it Anking sank just before 7am. the wireless/telegraphy operator was and the surrounding superstructure The tanker Francol did not fare any ordered to report the contact. Despite away, leaving just a mangled wreck of better. She had been engaged first by the attempts, he could not get a reply metal. Virtually all of Yarra’s officers the cruisers then at increasingly close from shore stations (ships would not were killed, including Rankin, as well as range by a destroyer. She too quickly reply as they maintained radio silence). various senior Petty Officers including sank. Her peacetime complement was The warning was heard by some ships, those in the signals office. There was no 39 but she was known to have some including the corvette HMAS Ballarat, longer a range finder for targeting the additional DEMS men aboard. Possibly then just a hundred miles away.28 The enemy – unless the enemy were close her DEMs crew got off a few desultory broadcast may have helped some of enough to be fired at “over open sights” shots with their anti-submarine gun – a these other ships in their subsequent the fight was truly hopeless. Yarra was near meaningless act in practical terms escape. crippled. but brave nevertheless. A number were Rankin ordered the engine room to Within minutes the enemy cruisers killed during the shelling, including make smoke to provide cover for the were circling just two miles away, her civilian master and a DEMS sailor. convoy. The sloop began to pick up continuing to pump salvoes into the Others managed to take to lifeboats. speed. As Yarra powered towards the sloop. Shells hit the engine room and Francol sank at about the same time as enemy, flashes from the great cruisers the ship was brought to a near-halt. Anking. Yarra was now the sole focus began to appear. Within a minute the The aft No.3 gun and quad 0.5 inch for the Japanese warships. shriek of approaching shells could be Vickers were also wiped out by a At around 0700 Yarra’s First heard as the opening salvoes splashed further shell, with several more men Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander into the ocean near the sloop. The killed. Near the bow, No.1 gun and its Smith, the only officer still alive on enemy ships separated to encircle crew were mortally hit. But then the the sloop, gave orders to abandon Yarra. At least one of the cruisers enemies’ attention was turned to the ship. Two Carley floats were flung launched floatplanes (they each carried rest of the convoy. overboard and 33 men jumped into the three) and soon two were aloft and One of the floatplanes lined up and sea. Smith was not among them. An Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 65

HMAS Yarra

U77

Launched: 28 March 1935 Speed: 16.5 knots Commissioned: 21 January 1936 Armament Length/Breadth/Draught: 266 feet 3 inches/36 feet/10 feet Guns: 3 x 4 inch, 4 x 3 pounder, 8 x .303 MG Displacement: 1060 tons Depth Charges: 2 x chutes Graphic by Peter Ingman

enemy destroyer approached, perhaps a breath in my body”.30 The destroyers again. looking for officers. The destroyer then ceased fire about 0930. Although Yarra’s final action might stood off Yarra from only 200 yards One of the witnesses aboard the have appeared futile, she probably and pumped gunfire into her, soon Carley rafts reported seeing the helped to achieve more than was joined by a second encircling destroyer. cruisers catapulting more planes at this immediately apparent. Yarra forced the But Yarra stubbornly remained afloat, stage: possibly the larger type capable enemy formation to deploy for combat and No.2 gun under Leading Seaman of carrying three crew and much and expend a large amount of fuel Ron “Buck” Taylor, continued to heavier bombs.31 One of the seaplanes and ammunition. This bought time return fire. This was witnessed by RN dropped a bomb from very low altitude for the other vessels escaping nearby. prisoners from the sunken destroyer on the stationary wreck. Despite being Indeed, the Official Historian Gill HMS Stronghold, which had battled the a near miss it did the job. Yarra settled was surprised that so few (only about same Japanese formation a couple of and slipped under the waves. twenty) of the multitude of vessels days earlier. They had been captured One of the destroyers again fleeing Java in early March were caught and put aboard the cruiser Maya. At approached the rafts, but then by the powerful Japanese blockade the start of the engagement they were turned about to join the rest of the force.32 While deploying for combat brought up on deck, presumably to attackers, soon disappearing over the destroyers in particular consumed witness the superior fighting skills the horizon. Among the men aboard precious fuel. While fuel was less of of the Japanese Navy.29 They could Yarra’s rafts were no officers except an issue for the enemy cruisers, the see Yarra still afloat but enveloped in for the captain of Parigi who initially combat deployment interrupted the flames and smoke as the two destroyers provided leadership. Only the most operations of their reconnaissance fired into her at close range. But they strongly willed of men survived from floatplanes. could see odd gun flashes still coming that point on. Just 13 were still alive Vice-Admiral Kondo’s formation from Yarra. Soon the three cruisers when they were picked up by the of cruisers and destroyers returned set off in line ahead and the last the Dutch submarine K-11 five days later to their anchorage in Staring Bay, Stronghold survivors saw of Yarra was a on 9 March. 138 men went down with Celebes,33 probably exhausted in column of smoke. Yarra. The 57 survivors of Anking were ammunition if not fuel. All of the Yarra was now a battered wreck lucky to be picked up by the Dutch six RAN corvettes active during with anything flammable smoking and steamship Tawali on the evening of the Singapore-Java campaign made aflame. The act of Taylor, and any of his the sinking. The dozen-odd survivors Australia safely (including HMAS gun crew who remained, was incredible from MMS.51 were picked up by Burnie with Commodore Collins indeed. It seems that Taylor’s pride and another Dutch vessel, the Tjimanoek, onboard), as did the sloop HMAS hatred of the enemy far exceeded his on 7 March. Thirteen survivors from Warrego and many sundry merchant own need to live. He was last heard to Francol became POWs, while others ships. Yarra’s sacrifice may have say “this gun is still firing while I’ve got took to a raft but were never seen contributed to buying enough time for Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 66

Studies in Trait Leadership – a naval surveyor takes command of a warship Rankin VC? many of these ships. perhaps an unwillingness to open up questions of unrecognized valour in What is a sloop? battles of the past, Rankin has seen no The term has fallen out of use award at all for his actions. Not that it but was often utilised in the days has been unnoticed: various stories of of sail to describe a small sailing the event; histories of the RAN since, ship not capable of lying in the and even the Australian Prime Minister 34 line of battle. There were six “rates” at the time lauded the actions of 35 of ships – originally devised the ship and her company. As John according to the amount of guns Bradford has pointed out in his work carried – and sloops were too In the Highest Traditions, in those days small to be included in that list, as to recommend decorations within were cutters. In WWII terms a sloop the RAN was very difficult – more so H MS Resource was smaller than a destroyer but than in the RN with more restrictions KBE, CB, DSO, First Naval Member of (Courtesy Royal larger than a corvette: the latter on Australian ship commanders the Australian Commonwealth Naval Navy) designed more specifically for anti- as to what their members could be Board and Chief of Naval Staff 1962- 38 submarine work. The Bathurst- recommended for. There were only two 65. class corvette – of which Australia classes of posthumous award in WWII: Rankin was born in 1907, on 3 June, had 56 – were 650 tons. the Victoria Cross and the Mention and entered the Royal Australian Naval In Despatches; posthumous foreign College in 1921. He gained his Colours Consider the similarities in the Jervis awards were not permitted; RAN in Rugby, and prizes for mathematics 39 40 Bay and Yarra actions. gallantry awards were determined and engineering. Both captains made the correct by the British Admiralty, and finally, Graduating in 1924, he joined his decision in terms of their ship’s role – unlike commanding officers within the first ship, the cruiser HMAS Brisbane, to defend their convoy by slowing the RN, RAN Commanding Officers were in 1925. He completed the Junior enemy enough to allow the convoy to not allowed to suggest the nature of any Officers War Course, at Greenwich, 36 escape. Both captains paid the ultimate award. in Britain, graduating as one of six price in terms of their personal safety – This lack of recognition for Rankin sub-lieutenants who “received their they were killed in action. The fact that is an oversight. Compared to gallant Lordship’s appreciation of essays 41 Fegen’s convoy was more successful actions such as Fogarty Fegen’s – and written.” Serving in a range of ships, in escape than Rankin’s was due to that man’s much-deserved decoration in the normal style of developing his fortune rather than any action of the – perhaps we have unjustly treated general abilities, he was promoted RN officer. Fegen’s battle took place in some of our naval best. The naming to Lieutenant in 1929, and ended the afternoon approaching dusk while in 2001 of a fine submarine after the 1920s with a posting as Assistant the Canadian ships had the oncoming Rankin – coincidentally in the same Torpedo Officer in the cruiser HMAS night to aid their escape. Rankin’s week of the year that Jervis Bay was Canberra, where he also gained his action was in the early morning with lost – was perhaps only the beginning watchkeeping certificate. He then was the convoy ships having no cover of of redemption and recognition long posted to HMAS Anzac. He applied to darkness. overdue. specialise in Communications, without In terms of valour in the face of What sort of man was Rankin? success. the enemy – the criteria for which Acting Chief Petty Officer Frank A shore posting to HMAS Cerberus the Victoria Cross is awarded – there Glover, who worked as a writer followed, and by January 1934 appears little difference in the actions. (scribe) on board the ship, remembers Rankin was specialising in surveying, Fegen’s had read – “For valour in Rankin as “easygoing...he could appointed as Assistant Surveyor 4th 42 challenging hopeless odds and giving mix with the troops but knew what Class. For those unfamiliar with the 37 his life to save the many ships it was his he wanted.” Glover served under need for such a precise engineering duty to protect”. How true it is that this Harrington too, and rated Rankin “as ability within a Navy officer, we might could be Rankin’s epitaph as well. good as Harrington”, which is a nice look back to the early days of the But through cumbersome compliment: Harrington retired as Australian colony. Captain James Cook administrative procedures, inertia and Vice Admiral Sir Hastings Harrington RN, one of the earliest explorers of the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 67

Australian coastline, surveyed as he “plodder”, and on one occasion harsh and their enemies: the two Axis powers went, providing charts for those who to subordinates. In contrast, he often of Germany and Italy. Resource was followed in his wake. In modern days carried out the secondary duty of ship much involved with the evacuation of Global Positioning Systems, where Sports Officer, where he was always of battle survivors from Greece, and navigation to within a few metres can judged to be a success in managing this Rankin was complimented on his be provided for people or automobiles, important aspect of morale. success at raising their morale. the days of picturing naval officers with In 1936 he expressed a desire to It was a most trying time for the sextants and chronometers is difficult return to general duties, despite gaining Australian officer. He was separated to imagine. his qualification as Assistant Surveyor from his family and his Service; he was Charting the coastline of a country 3rd Class the previous July. This was in a position of great responsibility is important. Of supreme interest is denied, with the order to complete on board a large, slow-moving under- the depth of the water: is it sufficient another “season” of surveying. defended vessel – the repair ship to allow a ship – and what sort of Promotion to Lieutenant Commander boasted only four AA guns – which ship, because different marques draw followed in 1937. He married in that was a great target for the enemy. By 43 different amounts – to freely navigate, year, to Mary Broughton, a trainee being appointed as the Navigator even to draw up to near a beach, so nurse based on Thursday Island, in of the ship Rankin lost chances for as to allow easy ferrying of people Brisbane, in a glittering affair keenly promotion with his own Branch, and materials back and forth. Ships of reported in the local newspapers, and furthermore he lost monetarily Cook’s day were always in need of fresh which featured Rankin’s naval officer in that his survey allowance was water, and moreover to put members of friends – who called him ‘Oscar’ – stopped. He was furthermore junior the ship’s company ashore was sought forming an “arch of swords,” for their in rank to the three department – a ship is a terribly small place after a friend and his bride to walk under as heads of the ship. But his personal 44 while. they entered the reception. qualities shone through. His reports Initial navigation in unknown On 30 March 1938 he was posted commented on his cheerfulness. He waters can be done with the aid of to Britain, along with his new wife, to managed to perform as the Executive a weighted line. segmented off into join HMS Gleaner, a minesweeper, for Officer according to his personal known lengths. But “casting the lead” surveying duties. Gaining a step in his report from the Commanding Officer, is a tiring and difficult operation, survey career as Assistant Surveyor 2nd “with the utmost reliability and with and even fraught with danger: a very Class in July 1938, Rankin remained conspicuous success”. The report noted narrow passage might be allowing with her until 11 September 1939, his qualifications as a surveyor and access through the Great Barrier Reef, when he was posted to the shore how this appointment placed him but little sideways movement, and the training establishment of HMS Dryad, at a disadvantage with others of his finding of yourself in such a passage for a navigating course. In July his Branch. His Captain wrote: “I strongly as the wind changes does not bear daughter Patricia was born, but she recommend him for accelerated thinking about. and her mother had to be evacuated to promotion.” The making of charts does a lot Australia as the war commenced, so a Rankin served with Resource until to alleviate nervousness in mariners. lengthy return trip, also by sea, had to 11 September 1941. His report on 45 But imagine how difficult this would be made. posting commented again in glowing be without aircraft and overhead On 14 November 1939 Rankin terms and gave Rankin the credit for photographs, let alone electronic was made the First Lieutenant and the successful esprit de corps on board. depth gauges. While surveyors such as Navigator of the Repair ship HMS He had also apparently served with “a Rankin had more technical aids than Resource. The ship was a large vessel difficult Wardroom” with success. Cook, the basics were still learnt – and of 12,300 tons displacement, and Rankin travelled back to Australia. are today, for navigation and charting 581 men on board.46 Serving in the He was to carry out a survey of must still be carried out in the event of Mediterranean, generally around Pittwater, north of Sydney.47 Although breakdowns. Malta and Alexandria, Resource was this might have been thought to Rankin carried out various not a fighting unit but an essential one have been cancelled due to his not surveying duties without anything nevertheless, for the Med was seeing having seen his wife and child for a notable occurring, although sometimes the initial fleet actions of the war, with considerable time, the war took priority. he was commented upon as being a substantial fighting between the Allies He completed the survey in December Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 68

Studies in Trait Leadership – a naval surveyor takes command of a warship Rankin VC? 1941: the Australian Hydrographic Australian Navy. Service today still has the completed But if anyone in the Navy of work in what is known as a “fairsheet”, World War II deserves honour for with his signature above the words unrecognised gallantry it is Rankin. “in charge of survey”. The survey is of Unlike others, he was not “doing his central Pittwater and was completed in job.” He gave up his regular branch support of a proposed torpedo firing of naval work at the outbreak of war, range with facilities at Taylors Point. saying farewell to his new family, The range was subsequently built and little knowing he would see them for used for several decades.48 yet another month of life some time His Record of Service notes some in the future. He took on his new Lieutenant Commander Tom Lewis inconvenience in getting him moved responsibilities with enthusiasm, PhD, OAM, RAN has served in a variety north to command Yarra, but he was and performed with distinction. of PNF and reserve roles within the eventually flown by air “to Batavia” After two years in the front line of 49 Navy. He led US forces on deployment in from 26 January 1942. His action the Mediterranean he returned to and death were mere weeks away. His Australia – was he to return to his Baghdad in 2006. contact with his daughter – through original speciality? Yes, for a month, her entire life – had been a mere four and thence to combat again. He was a months; another aspect of Rankin’s surveyor, who took his first command, 50 great sacrifice. a warship, into action, for he was also Rankin may not have been a naval officer, whose primary duty rewarded adequately, but he is not was to fight the country’s enemies. forgotten. His medals were presented Rankin took up the sword once again This article is largely drawn from Tom to the Royal Australian Naval College without demurral. He performed in his Lewis’s forthcoming publication The 51 in 1992. His sword has also found a first command, and his final fight with Submarine Six, published by Avonmore 52 place of honour there. The submarine honour, outstanding ability, and rare Books. Rankin’s keel was laid in 1995, and distinction. He exhibited particularly (Endnotes) Rankin’s wife – who had remarried as conspicuous valour in his actions. Yet 1 Conversation with Ian Downs, cadet at RAN College 1929-1932, September Mary McLean – laid the keel. When for all of this he has received nothing. 2001. she died in 2005 the Navy assisted in It is time for that failure to be 2 Bruce, Anthony and Cogar, William. An Encyclopedia of Naval History. New the requested scattering of her ashes at remedied. Lieutenant Commander York: Facts on File, 1998. 53 sea in Jervis Bay. Robert Rankin deserves a Victoria 3 Bruce, Anthony and Cogar, William. An Encyclopedia of Naval History. New What of Rankin’s qualities as a Cross. t York: Facts on File, 1998. leader? We do not know a lot of his 4 Watts, Martin. Web site article on HMS Jervis Bay, the post-action proceedings, Empathy – indeed, he was perhaps and the memorial erected to the convoy somewhat curt in his early days losses. http://www.saintjohn.nbcc. nb.ca/~JervisBay/. Including emails towards those he led. But given this October 2000. aspect and that of his Communication 5 Parry, AF. HMAS Yarra: the story of a gallant ship. Sydney: Angus and qualities we should note he took on Robertson, 1944. (p. 211) a most trying position in wartime 6 Shores, Christopher and Brian Cull with Yashuo Izawa. Bloody Shambles even before commanding Yarra – and Volume 1 The Drift to War to the Fall of excelled in his Resource role. With Singapore. London: Grub Street, 1992. (p. 363) Yarra’s command he united these and 7 Parry, p.212 his qualities of Leadership, Expertise, 8 Bradford, John. In the Highest Traditions...RAN Heroism Darwin 19 Physical Qualities to combine them February 1942. Seaview Press, South into Inspirational Initiative. As his Australia, 2000. (p. 173). Also partly warship turned towards the enemy and quoted in Gill. Harrington had singled out and named five men, including Rankin and his Ship’s Company looked Taylor, for special mention in this death in the face he reached a zenith report. In his book, Bradford questions why Harrington did not subsequently of being a true leader within the Royal recommend awards for these men Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 69

(when he was back in Australia and in 33 Operating further west of Kondo, in before her final convoy voyage. Interview a position to do so) on the basis of this the vicinity of Christmas Island, was with the author 10 May 2011. strong evidence. a vastly more powerful force under 38 Royal Australian Navy http://www. 9 Thompson, Peter. The Battle for Nagumo that included four large aircraft navy.gov.au/w/index.php/HMAS_ Singapore. London: Portrait Books, 2005. carriers, several battleships and assorted Yarra_%28II%29 Accessed 11 May 2011. (p. 279) cruisers and destroyers. This force 39 Royal Australian Naval College history 10 She later sunk with three funnels visible expended a large amount of resources of Rankin, courtesy Greg Swinden. above the water. and time on 1 March in sinking USS 40 National Archives of Australia. Rankin 11 These claims appear inflated and Pecos and Edsall (see Kehn). However, RW. Officers (RAN) personal record - have not been substantiated, although given the importance of the landings on Robert William Rankin Harrington claimed one as “certain” in Java possibly this force was positioned Series number: A3978. Item barcode: his report. to deter any potential threat to the 943776. Location: Canberra. 12 These ships, a few days later on 20 Java landings by the RN Eastern Fleet. 41 Eldridge, FB. A History of the Royal February, successfully evacuated Although the flotilla accounted for a Australian Naval College. Melbourne: Tanjong Priok for various independent modest number of ships at sea, it did Georgian House, 1949. (p. 403) “Their destinations. bombard both Christmas Island and Lordships” were the Sea Lords, the 13 War Sirdar was declared a total loss more importantly, Tjilitjap. governing admirals of the Navy, who on 1 March, with her crew rescued by 34 Bradford points out that in Melbourne’s were raised to the ranks of nobility when a Dutch minesweeper. She was later The Age of March 25, 1942, John Curtin given the appointment. salvaged by the Japanese and renamed was quoted as stating: 42 National Archives of Australia. Rankin Honan Maru, and was eventually sunk ‘Yarra established for herself and her RW. Officers (RAN) personal record. by a US submarine in 1945. ship’s company, a place in naval history Series number: A3978. Item barcode: 14 Jones, TM. The silent service: action alongside ships such as HMS Jervis Bay 943776. Location: Canberra. (p. 36) stories of the Anzac Navy. Sydney: Angus and other ships which have written the 43 Rankin, Patricia, daughter of LCDR and Robertson, 1944. (p.257) epic stories that star our naval history.’ Rankin. Emails to the author, May 2011. 15 Jumna reportedly survived in Indian In November 1945 the Deputy Chief of 44 The Courier-Mail, 5 October 1937. naval service until the 1980s. Naval Staff, Captain Herbert Buchanan (p.5) Courtesy Greg Swinden. Rankin’s 16 Motor minesweeper MMS.51 was inquired: ‘Has sufficient recognition nickname was so pervasive amongst his known to have been damaged on 4 been given to the gallant action of naval friends that his wife thought that March and this may have occurred HMAS Yarra? On a smaller scale the was his real name for a while. (As related during this action. incident is comparable with HMS to Swinden by Patricia Rankin. His wife 17 This was by Japanese submarine Jervis Bay.’ (NAA 1185/8 1932/2/214 called him Bob.) I-58; see http://www.combinedfleet. - Reports on loss of HM Ships, Siang 45 Rankin, Patricia, daughter of LCDR com/I-158.htm Accessed 20th May Wo, Grasshopper, Rahman, Anking, Rankin. Emails to the author, May 2011. 2011 Stronghold and WoKiang, HMAS Yarra, 46 U-Boat Net. http://www.uboat. 18 The Silent Service, p.258. RFA Frankol and MMS51) net/allies/warships/ship/7289.html 19 Anking’s armament, if any, is unknown. The resulting correspondence between the Accessed May 2011. 20 The Silent Service, p.258, suggests an Second Naval Member - Commodore 47 Eldridge, FB. A History of the Royal enemy vessel was spotted this day and Henry Showers and his admiral. Vice Australian Naval College. Melbourne: avoided. However she was just as likely Admiral Hamilton concluded with Georgian House, 1949. (p. 403) to have been a fleeing Allied ship. the Admiral commenting: ‘I can only 48 Mike Prince, the Director Charting 21 http://www.ozatwar.com/japsubs/ conclude that my predecessor examined Services; Australian Hydrographic parigi.htm accessed 4th March 2011; this question fully in 1942.’ Service; Navy Hydrographic & other sources suggest this ship had been There is in the National Archives of Meteorological Branch advises: “Defence attacked by the Japanese destroyers Australia a three page file summarising of Sydney was taken very seriously, with Arashi & Nowaki earlier that day. The Rankin’s career three times: it may the and Broken Bay Silent Service quotes the Dutch captain have been that someone once started considered the last line of defence to as saying they came under gunfire after an attempt to get him recognised. See: Sydney’s north”. Email communications being illuminated by a searchlight, which National Archives of Australia. Rankin, with Mr Prince and Ms Elizabeth Stacey, suggests attack by surface craft. Lieutenant Commander Robert William July 2011. 22 http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck. Contents date range 1943 – 1994. Series 49 National Archives of Australia. Rankin aspx?59311 accessed 20th May 2011 number B6161; Item barcode 1723543. RW. Record of Service. Series number: describes eight survivors. The Silent Location: Melbourne A6769. Item barcode: 5221410. Location: Service, p.146, describes thirty survivors 35 For example Peter Firkins, when Canberra. (p. 36) being picked up. writing of Rankin and Taylor (and 50 Patricia had been born in July 1939, 23 The Silent Service, p.260 also Waller) said: “Few men have been but with her mother had left Britain 24 Although, hypothetically, the convoy more deserving of their nation’s highest for Australia no later than the outbreak may well have been detected by the honour for valour and their failure to of war in September: three months of cruisers’ floatplanes in any case. receive it underlines the deficiency life with her father. Another month of 25 Some accounts – eg; Eldridge – say four of Australia’s system of awards…” See contact had just been experienced, with destroyers. Gill cites Arashi and Nowaki Firkins, Peter. Of Nautilus and Eagles: his daughter now nearly two and a half as the ships involved. History of the Royal Australian Navy. years old. 26 Gill, pp. 629-632. NSW: Cassell Australia, 1975. (p. 149) 51 Navy News. “College gains Rankin 27 Evidence suggests Yarra carried only 36 See John Bradford’s book for a detailed medals.” Article by Greg Swinden, 11 High Explosive (H.E) rather the Armour explanation. It may have been that one September 1992. Piercing (A.P.) shells as normally used in admiral declined to question the lack of 52 The uthor’sa period of naval duty there ship-ship combat. Indeed the latter type proceedings by his predecessor; it may included time as the Curator of the may not have even been available for a have been that it was felt post-war that RANC Historical Collection. Farncomb’s calibre as small as 4-inch. too much time had passed; that there and Collins’ swords are also prized items 28 The Silent Service, p.278. were insufficient witnesses who reported within the Collection. 29 Gill, p.631. on the action in a timely fashion. 53 Navy official form: “Request for 30 Parry, p.221. 37 Glover, Acting Chief Petty Officer Committal of Ashes to the Sea.” July 31 The Silent Service, p.268. Frank. HMAS Yarra (II) Ship’s Company 2005. Courtesy Greg Swinden. 32 Gill, p.632. member. Frank posted off the ship

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 70 Book Reviews

and a tour as an instructor. He expected a commanding officer from his men to be taken seriously and when he was can be imagined. The fact that senior not he turned to the bottle and no officers in the Marine Corps gave him attempt was made to understand him the chance to “step forward and lead” or to get the best out of him. Chennault makes an interesting comparison with would have consigned him to the Army Chennault’s AVG and casts new light on Air Corps as a second lieutenant with a his apparent lack of personal skills. bad conduct record. Instead Boyington Boyington’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ life managed to return to the Marine Corps makes a fascinating story and John and, as a major, was given command Wukovits’ careful text adds significantly of a new squadron in 1943, VMF-214, to history of Allied operations in the equipped with the outstanding Chance South Pacific. The description of the Black Sheep: The Life of Vought Corsair. flight in a Marine DC-9 which carried Pappy Boyington His pilots comprised a number Boyington’s coffin to his state funeral of untested replacements awaiting at Arlington National Cemetery is a By John F Wukovits appointments, many of them young fitting and moving end to a first class Naval Institute Press 2011; hard men recently arrived from the USA, biography. I thoroughly recommend cover, 288 pages; 23 b/w photos; who had no operational experience. it to a broad cross-section of potential USD $34.95 This unusual unit composition led to readers including those interested in the pilots calling themselves the ‘Black the man, the legend, the theory and ISBN 978-1-59114-977-4 Sheep’. The need to overcome their implementation of leadership and the Reviewed by CMDR David Hobbs initial fear of combat and to instil in history of war in the Pacific. t MBE, RN (ret’d) them a new form of strategy that was offensive rather defensive brought out Published as part of the Naval Institute the best in Boyington, and showed him Press ‘Library of Naval Biography’ series, to be one of the best fighter leaders John Wukovits’ book describes the of the war in any air arm. After only life and career of Gregory Boyington, two short periods in action in 1943, the USMC fighter pilot who became Boyington was awarded the Medal of a legend in the South West Pacific in Honour and the Black Sheep became 1943. the stuff of legend. The myths that It is a well-researched and thought have come to surround that legend are provoking book, dealing sensitively with carefully explained and put into context a man from a broken home background by the author. who was dismissed by Claire Chennault, After he had been shot down and leader of the American Volunteer taken prisoner by the Japanese in early The Evolution of the Group AVG) in China as a drunken 1944, Boyington’s men worked with failure, and the men of his Corsair the Headquarters, Marine Aircraft, Royal Australian Navy squadron, VMF-214 the ‘Black Sheep’ as South Pacific to produce a sixty-four Band an inspirational leader they would have point booklet entitled ‘The Combat By Robin Himbury followed without question even “if he Strategy and Tactics of Major Gregory had decided to attack Hell itself”. His Boyington USMCR’ which was printed Available from the author for $30.00 influence was to stay with them for the and distributed to aviators throughout (including postage) via email piganbilli@ rest of their lives. This is not just a book the Marine Corps. It was not the bigpond.com or 15 Pauline Avenue Killcare Heights, NSW 2257. about ‘Pappy’ Boyington, however, it as boastful words of one man about much about leadership in war and how his methods, it was his team trying R eviewed by CMDR Greg Swinden its application can come to bring out the to put into words the teaching of a very best, or the worst results in people. revered leader “who was responsible, A welcome addition to the RAN’s Boyington arrived in the AVG in more than any other, for changing our history is this recently produced book 1941 after flying Marine Corps fighters strategy”. No finer mark of respect for on Australia’s little known naval bands Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 71

and the bandsmen who served in them. in the sinking of HMAS Sydney have Written by former Bandsman Robin finally been laid to rest by the discovery Himbury this 205 page paperback traces of the cruiser, but that has been only the history of naval bands in Australia one of the many tall tales woven from 1788 to the present day in an easy around the activities of the I-124 and to read and informative style. her sisters in the first weeks of the war The book covers the period mainly in the Pacific. In excavating down to from 1913-2010 and details the many the truth Tom Lewis has honoured the and varied activities that the bands were memory of those who fought on both involved in – particularly during the sides in this brief but deadly battle in World Wars. The life of a ‘bandie’ was Australia’s northern waters nearly 70 somewhat different to other members years ago. of the Navy and occasionally this could Darwin’s The disaster that overtook Darwin cause some difficulties as recalled by a in February 1942 from the air has number of recollections from those who Submarine I-124 rather obscured the fact that the joined as Boy Musicians in the 1950’s. T he story of a covert Japanese Japanese submarine service was Recruiting bandsman was also Squadron waging a secret actively attempting to close the port the somewhat different. For example the underwater war against Northern previous month by making the waters Warrant Bandmaster serving in HMAS Australia. hostile to safe movement of warships, Melbourne in 1921 was directed by his tankers and freighters. I-124 was Commanding Officer as follows: By Dr Tom Lewis one of a squadron of four long range ‘In view of the fact that the Avonmore Books minelaying patrol submarines. They Flagship’s band is short of 6 were elderly boats, laid down in 1926 musicians, it is suggested that you Reviewed by LCDR Desmond Woods to a German U Boat design, but none take steps, if convenient during the less a potent threat to commerce in your leave, to recruit the necessary northern waters. They were undetected men, observing that I understand The task of the careful historian is not while mine laying but once they started you know exactly what players are only to explain facts but also to separate firing torpedos at targets their presence required. You should if necessary them from mythology. The history of was discovered and their prosecution advertise in Sydney Morning Herald the sinking, outside Darwin, of I-124, became a most immediate priority and Daily Telegraph directing a Japanese mine laying submarine in for the USN destroyers and the RAN their accounts to be forwarded January 1942, has gathered a thick layer corvettes and maritime patrol aircraft to Accountant Officer HMAS of mythological concretions, like those operating from Darwin. MELBOURNE….. Request you will that adhere to the hull of sunken vessel. Despite later claims by American inform me of action taken and of The wartime secrecy surrounding historians crediting the USN with results obtained’. this conspicuous RAN success story the kill it was the corvette HMAS Obviously recruiting methods in those has been the seedbed for writers keen Deloraine, commanded by LCDR days were somewhat more lenient than to speculate on its contents and cargo Desmond Menlove, that locked today! and to embellish the facts. Tom Lewis its ASDIC onto I-124 and forced Overall a good read and the author is a national authority on wrecks Commander Koichi Kishigami to the has provided another insight into the inside and outside of Darwin and his surface with accurate depth charging, RAN which is often forgotten in the new book has been many years in the Depth charges were then thrown mainstream texts. The book has the research phase and in gestation. In its with great skill right alongside the theme “my grandfather was in the Navy 164 pages he chips away mythology surfaced conning tower and with Band, I wonder what he did” and this is and in doing so he has provided a new that the crippled submarine took her well and truly achieved. t baseline of facts from which future final plunge to the seabed below. This historians will be able to operate with account of the battle is given vividly confidence. and in great detail. The biographies Persistent and entirely unfounded of the opposing commanders has stories claiming that I-124 was involved been meticulously researched and Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 72 Book Reviews recognition given to the bravery of men government has requested this status 1988 after several refusals to tell his on both sides. and it has been granted in perpetuity story to historians. This account is However it is the continuation It is never possible to say that any written by his daughter-in-law. of the story that makes this book so one book is the final word on a piece Gold-miner, farmer of cattle, useful, for Tom Lewis takes the story of history but in this case it is hard to and rubber plantation owner, Bert of I-124 forward over the following imagine what more can possibly said Kienzle was one of the hundreds of 70 years dealing with the dives made on the subject of I-124. Tom Lewis white settlers who managed New immediately after the sinking and both has brought all the pieces of this story Guinea before World War II. Once the authorised and the illegal ones together in a masterly way. He has the Japanese entered the war, Kienzle since. written a highly readable account signed up into the military, and due to The submarine’s presence outside of this earliest example of the tragic his local knowledge, was given 1, 000 Darwin continued to excite interest, consequence for Japan’s sailors of native labourers and a bulldozer, and both historical and mercenary in their military government’s deranged told to build a road. origin. In 1984 one LCDR Russ Crane ambition to create an Asian and The book is overlong, for this event led the RAN’s dive team which finally Pacific empire by force of arms. I-124’s does not happen until page 130 of 338. gave an accurate and truthful account submariners were the first of Japan’s It’s an interesting enough story though, of the exterior state of the wreck and WWII sailors to die a miserable death with good descriptive passages telling was able to state conclusively that trapped inside a sunken hull. They were the tale of enormous difficulty in the claims by previous divers to have followed by tens of thousands more in torturous terrain of New Guinea. entered the wreck and viewed its the years that followed. t The language is sometimes a little contents were untrue. strange, as if the author has chosen Both before and after this navy to just repeat some cliches of the dive a variety of bizarre and delusional time without question. Thus jungles adventurers have raised money from at night are “pitch-black”; planes run the gullible with various claims of what out “gas”, and militia units are armed they knew to be within. with “World War I weapons”. That the A persistent claim was that the stars shine down everywhere; Japanese submarine containing tons of mercury planes were not powered by American ballast waiting to be recovered. This slang, and the fine .303 Lee-Enfield was has been debunked by the Japanese a standard rifle for decades of reliable authorities. It is most probable that and efficient service – in both WWI parts of the submarine still remain and WWII – seem to be ignored. airtight containing the crew’s remains There is various slang thrown in in a toxic atmosphere caused by battery without quotation marks too: “recky” acid. There are many practical reasons for “reconnaissance” and “schemozzle” for leaving the wreck to decay naturally all make an appearance, for example. while watching for any significant But there are two good collections degradation of the pressure hull. Most of black and white photographs, and obviously the fact that there must be The Architect of overall The Architect of Kokoda is a many mines and may be some torpedos Kokoda worthwhile tale. t left onboard needs to be considered. These unstable munitions are best left By Robyn Kienzle undisturbed unless there is reason Published by Hatchette RRP $35 to believe that they could become hazardous to shipping. This is not the Reviewed by Tom Lewis case at present and may never be. It would appear that “the architect of The Commonwealth government Kokoda” would not have wanted his has now put a stop to all schemes to story to be written down. The designer raise the vessel or enter it by declaring of the famous New Guinea WWII I-124 a war grave. The Japanese Trail, or Track if you prefer, died in Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 73

But since then the BPF has been a backwater of naval history writing. This fine new study by CMDR (Retd) David Hobbs is a timely reminder of the scale of an exhausted Britain’s achievement in mounting and supporting a fleet which for the last six The British Pacific months of the war was able to take its the USN was desperate for carriers in BPF carriers Implacable, Fleet: The Royal Navy’s Indefatigable and place in Halsey and Nimitz’s drive north the South Pacific in 1943 the RN did Glory visit Melbourne Most Powerful Strike to Yokohama Bay and final victory. “send them Victorious”, which filled a January 1946. The Force The neglect of the BPF in Australia’s gap until the USN could deploy into the visit was described By David Hobbs collective memory is surprising Pacific its newly built carriers. as ‘spectacularly considering that it was RAN facilities, successful’ by The Seaforth Publishing. UK Herald. Note the banner particularly the docks at Cockatoo Victorious was the first RN carrier to [email protected] reading ‘Welcome Island and Garden Island, and the fly lend lease USN Hellcats, Avengers ISBN: 9781848320482 480 pages Home’ on the shed at RAAF bases converted into RN Mobile and Corsairs which were designed to be the end of the jetty Reviewed by LCDR Desmond Woods Naval Air Bases (MONABS), that carrier aircraft. They were a generation made the British and Commonwealth ahead of the vulnerable Swordfish It is often stated that history is the operations feasible. Along with Manus biplanes and an improvement on the propaganda of the victors and that the Island these Australian bases were Barracuda torpedo attack aircraft. defeated do not have their story told. the indispensible logistical support Victorious’s deployment demonstrated If this is true then it is also the case points for a fleet of carriers, battleships, that British carriers could be adapted that history is the story of the senior cruisers and destroyers and their fleet quickly to fly modern American partner in an alliance, not that of the train. aircraft. She was also the first carrier supporting power. Undoubtedly this The book commences with a to use the USN side by side, or abeam, has proved to be the case in the writing succinct account of the loss of Prince method for refueling as seas instead of the history of the War in the Pacific. of Wales and Repulse. This has been of the RN’s bow to stern technique F ormidable in Captain Samuel Eliot Morison was extensively written about elsewhere which was slower, and often caused Captain Cook dry commissioned into the USN and sent but the point is well made that Admiral the fuel lines between the tanker and dock - Garden Island to sea in 1942 to write the history of the Sir Tom Phillips and his naval US Navy and the Marine Corps as it staff were unanimously of the unfolded before his eyes in the Pacific. view that the Navy could not sit His eyewitness first draft of history later in Singapore while the RAAF became his definitive History of United and the Army were being driven States Naval Operations in World War out of Northern Malaya. The 11 which extended to 15 volumes. It has option of sailing for Australia and been the mother lode for generations of ensuring the survival of the two naval scholars. Captain Steven Roskill capital ships was open to him and performed the same task for the RN rejected. With hindsight it is easy with his The War at Sea 1939-45 in to see that discretion would have three volumes. He recorded the exploits been the better part of valour. of the British Pacific Fleet (BPF) in The author also points out the 1944-5. little-remembered fact that when Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 74 Book Reviews the warship to break. These successful solving a multitude innovations paved the way for the of supply problems successful operation of the BPF under as it was about pilot American command in 1945. training, firepower and David Hobbs then moves on to the tactics in the air. That first theatre of operations of the BPF the RN was prepared in 1945 when the RN operated from to learn from the USN, the Indian Ocean against occupied and also impart its hard Sumatra. He provides a strategic focus won knowledge to its which underlines the importance of partner, is documented what was achieved by the RN’s carrier as is the wise and warm strikes against Sumatran oil refineries. relationship which The Japanese, deprived of refined Admiral Bernard oil from the Dutch East Indies, were Rawlings, the fleet increasingly unable to operate the ships commander at sea, and aircraft they possessed. Finally cultivated with his USN having proved itself in strike operations superiors. the BPF moved on to Leyte Gulf and John Winton commenced strikes against the island wrote an account of airfields from which the Japanese were the BPF in 1969 and attacking the Americans on Okinawa. called his book, The The initial US concern that the Forgotten Fleet. This RN would become a drain on USN is a chapter of British resources was overcome as the BPF and Commonwealth proved able to take heat off the landings naval and aviation by destroying on the ground and in history which has the air the last capable pilots that the never been given its enemy was able to deploy forward of due entitlement. Long the homeland. The Americans realized after the British public that the armoured fight deck of the considered themselves which is now largely forgotten. Many F ormidable after kamikaze hit British carriers could take a punch from at peace after VE Day, BPF pilots were of these FAA pilots were Canadians kamikaze strikes and recover in hours. fighting and dying over the Pacific and and New Zealanders. A few were This was impressive and earned the continued to do so until the last day of Australians but had the war gone on respect of Nimitz and Halsey who saw the war. One of them, Sub-Lieutenant many more of them would have been the attrition of their wooden decked Fred Hockley, bailed out of his stricken ex-R AAF. carriers as a serious cause for concern. Seafire over Japan after the atom The reoccupation of Hong Kong David Hobbs tells a gripping bombs had been dropped and landed by the BPF was done in the teeth of tale of preparation for intense flying uninjured. His Japanese army captors opposition from the Americans who operations, courageous air combat, the heard their Emperor order an official were simultaneously re-establishing destruction of Japanese aircraft and surrender of all Imperial forces and their rule in the Philippines but who depots on the ground. He writes of the having done so then shot and stabbed wanted to see an end to European combat losses and of those caused by him to death. They buried him and colonial rule in the Far East. During error and accident. He describes the later exhumed and cremated his body this period Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, survival at sea and rescue of pilots. Every in an unsuccessful attempt to conceal the C-In-C British Fleet, proved himself mission and sortie and its outcomes their crime. This is only one of many to be a consummate diplomat, dealing are covered in detail. This four carrier accounts David Hobbs gives of the with friend and foe alike with wisdom force, supported by RAN Q and N class sacrifice of fine young men who lost and forbearance. He was greatly destroyers, learned swiftly that war in their lives in the last months and weeks respected not only by his own men but the vast Pacific was as much about fuel of a war which the British public knew by the Americans and by the Australian states, endurance, replenishment and little of when it was happening and Government and people of Sydney. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 75

When the war ended the BPF, Hellcats went over the side to a watery was torn apart by kamikaze attacks. including RAN corvettes and grave. David Hobbs’ book is wonderfully destroyers, constituted a powerful With these aircraft seems to have well illustrated with photos from the force and was prepared for the invasion gone much national recollection of author’s private collection. Those of Japan and for a war continuing this exceptional Commonwealth fleet showing the Garden Island wharfs are into 1946. This logistical and combat and the warm relations with the public of particular contemporary significance capability was redeployed on urgent that the officers and sailors of the BPF in view of the arrival of the RAN’s humanitarian and prisoner repatriation enjoyed ashore. There is only one place two Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) tasks. It was largely in the BPF’s carriers’ where the BPF is remembered in Sydney helicopter carriers in the next five years. hangar decks that emaciated British, and that is on a wall plaque at the Fleet They will presumably both be berthed Dutch and Australian POWs were HQ at Potts Point. In 1973 when this where the BPF’s carriers once secured. brought home from the hellholes in memorial was unveiled Admiral of the With the loss of the old finger wharf to which the Japanese had confined them. Fleet, Lord Fraser of North Cape sent a residential development there will be Many Australians owed their lives to message to be read out. He wrote: It is even greater difficulty getting all the the swift and successful treatment they very fitting that this memorial should be fleet alongside than clearly existed when received at the hands of the RN medical unveiled by Admiral Moore, who was in the RN’s carriers were berthed there teams caring for them. These embarked naval command at Sydney, and whose more than 65 years ago. medical teams included the nurses constant co-operation with that of many This book is recommended without of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval other Australians, especially the Lord any reservation. It is one that will be of Nursing Service, (QARNNS). These Mayor of Sydney, was of such value to us. interest to both the naval historian and service women served at sea decades No home was too small to entertain the the general reader alike. It is the most before WRNS or WRANS were allowed British sailor and no request for help to recent in a series of carefully researched to do so. By late 1945 and into 1946 Government was ever refused. A striking and very readable books by David Australian war brides, married to British example of the kindness shown and the Hobbs which remind readers that the servicemen and dockyard tradesmen, trouble taken was the establishment Royal Navy, equipped with its strike were taken to the UK. It was in the RN’s of the British Centre in the middle of carriers, was once a force to be reckoned carriers, suitably converted for women’s Hyde Park. It was a great pleasure to with. The corollary of this is that a Navy occupation, that Aussie girls, many of us that we were able in small measure that cannot launch its own strike aircraft them pregnant, went to the UK to start to repay this kindness by using all our can neither protect itself, not project air their lives as wives and mothers. They aircraft carriers for the repatriation power into the battlespace and ipso facto went with chaperones and midwives. of Australian prisoners of war. Happy must depend on more capable allies to As the British carriers finally arrived memories, grateful thanks and best do so for it. Despite nearly five years of home their ‘hostilities only’ sailors wishes to you all. draining war and the loss of hundreds were paid off into civilian life, their The people of Sydney raised of ships and thousands of men defeating ships were placed in reserve and a £A200,000 by public subscription to Germany at sea, Churchill’s coalition bankrupt Britain faced the reality of build the British Centre mentioned government decided not to leave the paying the Americans for all the lend- by Fraser. It was staffed by over 4, war in the Pacific to the Americans, but lease equipment they still possessed in 000 volunteers and provided 1,200 assembled the most powerful fleet in the peacetime. This US policy of demanding beds and at times 6, 000 meals each history of the RN, based it in Australian cash for equipment that had been day. Three hundred young Australian waters and from there sent it into action. loaned to UK meant that new front women attended dances each night as The contrast between this bold, line American-built aircraft were taken hostesses, while some 12, 500 homes in visionary, wartime policy, and the from RN MONABS and dumped at offered hospitality to financially driven, wilfully ignorant, sea off Australia’s East coast. Such British sailors from February 1945 until recent destruction of the RN’s last factory fresh aircraft, had they been well after the end of the war. Despite Harrier carriers and their ability to strike stored in Australia, would all be aircraft union strikes on the waterfront Garden from the sea, by the current British collectors’ treasures worth millions Island managed to perform a host of coalition government, could hardly be of dollars today. The requirements of refits and repairs in support of the more stark. t posterity were not a priority and so the BPF. HMS Formidable alone required BPF’s reserve Corsairs, Avengers and extensive repairs after her flight deck Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 76 Book Reviews

reading in more specialised and detailed executed by French industry. France’s references. fleet and coastal submarines were also Each navy’s review begins with a world-class designs, but coastal boats ‘Backstory’, in which prewar historical patrolling the North Sea early in the war developments relevant to its World accomplished little and the 1500 tonne War II performance are provided. fleet boats suffered major habitability ‘Organisation’ covers Command shortfalls, and could not withstand Structure and Doctrine. Then comes shocks through depth charging. Major ‘Material’ covering ships, aviation, French units – such as the battleship weapons systems and infrastructure, Richelieu – had to be internally rebuilt and finally, ‘Recapitulation’ summarises with new electrical systems and anti- the analysis. aircraft armament in US shipyards in The book’s strength is the holistic 1944. Surviving French navy units were overview of each navy which able to work with allied forces towards On Seas Contested: contextualises such disparate topics as the end of the war; however, the pre- The Seven Great Navies intelligence, amphibious operations, war configuration of the navy was ofthe Second World War trade protection, logistics, industry, totally changed. personnel and training in parallel with English language literature has By Vincent P. O’Hara, W. David the more ‘hard’ coverage of ships and generally criticised the Italian navy’s Dickson and Richard Worth (Eds). weapons systems. Many of the navies wartime performance. However, the excelled in some of these disciplines but contributor to the Italian section of Naval Institute Press, Annapolis fell short in others. For example, French On Seas Contested points out that the ships and submarines were modern, Italian navy accounted for 43 percent of Reviewed by Dr Tim Coyle fast and well-armed, and designed Allied warship losses and 86 percent of as a defensive force to protect the submarine losses. German aircraft sank In the 66th year following the end of maritime sovereignty of metropolitan most of the warships because the Italian the World War II, histories continue France and its colonies and their sea air force did not adequately support to appear which deal with the events lines of communications. While the the navy, which was not permitted to of that conflict from often new and surface force was well-resourced, naval operate aircraft. Italian submarines – innovative angles. One such history aviation languished and anti-submarine largely ineffective at the beginning of is On Seas Contested which analyses capability suffered for the want of the war in 1940 – improved their tactics the French, German, British, Italian, effective underwater sensors. and operating doctrine and became Japanese, United States and Russian The French navy was an impressive much more effective in 1942. The F lying operations navies’ organisations, strategies, force in 1939, but became a political Italian Navy was configured essentially on board USS Essex materiel and personnel and assesses pawn following the armistice with for defence with the battle fleet as a in WWII. (US Navy Historical Centre) their respective performances in the Germany which led to the destruction ‘fleet in being’, not seeking fleet actions war at sea. of many of its best ships by A compact volume of 333 pages, the Royal Navy at Mers- each navy receives approximately 40 e-Kebir and the scuttlings pages of text – a formidable challenge at Toulon. Surface ships to the contributors who present a were fast, powerful and range of complex topics in generally generally well-designed well-disciplined and precise formats. for Mediterranean The text is supported by useful tables, engagements; however, appendices, notes and a valuable they suffered in harsher bibliography for further research. conditions in the This latter is important because On Atlantic in 1939-40. In Seas Contested is primarily a source many cases advanced book, outlining the various naval engineering concepts organisations as a primer for further were not properly Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 77

with the larger and more aggressive despite its initial successes to mid 1943. including the first of the two Royal Navy. U-boat command operational staff greatest battleships ever built; However operations against British lacked external scientific advice and the 10 aircraft carriers, 38 cruisers; Malta convoys in February through operational skills needed to improve heavy and light; 112 destroyers; 65 August 1942 were particularly effective combat effectiveness and tactics. submarines and numerous auxiliary and Italy closed the direct passage This led to the U-boat arm being warships of various sizes. Japanese through the Mediterranean for 36 overwhelmed by the vast quantity of naval aviation was world-class; months to all but three massively new allied escort vessels and dedicated its aircrews were the best trained protected convoys. By merely existing anti-submarine aviation assets deployed and the most experienced. The the Italian navy protected its littoral from escort carriers which increasingly personnel of the navy, both officers waters, secured its convoy routes depleted the U-boat force after its and enlisted men, comprised a and maintained the blockade in the numerical expansion in 1941-42. professional elite unsurpassed in Sicilian narrows. When Italy signed Of the seven navies discussed in training, bravery and dedication. the armistice in 1943, the Italian navy On Seas Contested, it is the Imperial Yet, certain strategic, organisational was undefeated. The Italian section of Japanese Navy contribution which and technological decisions made On Seas Contested therefore provides a is arguably the best. The contributor by the navy in the interwar period balanced analysis of the strengths and masterfully deals with the IJN’s proved fatal. To those decisions weaknesses of the other Mediterranean strengths of innovative ship and should be added inherent national navy which, unlike the French navy, was weapons design and the superb impediments, many of which were able to engage in a sustained maritime training of officers and sailors – both beyond the navy’s control but conflict as a balanced force. in ships and in naval aviation. But which in the end were ruinous to The 1935 German-British naval these strengths were negated by the the navy’s prospects for fighting a treaty allowed Germany to build up disastrous strategy and the hostility modern naval war’. to 35 percent of the British surface which existed between the army and Of the seven navies reviewed, it is the fleet but restricted submarines. navy, both of which had completely US Navy which emerged from the Admiral Raeder – the German navy’s different views of war aims. The conflict as the most powerful naval commander-in-chief – supported contributor states that ‘the outset of force in history. The review in On Seas building battle fleets, while Captain hostilities was initiated by the navy’s Contested gives convincing arguments Doenitz saw the submarine as the thunderous attack on the US fleet at why this was so. In the interwar weapon of the future war at sea, as it Pearl Harbor, which remains to this period, the US Navy was structured had proved in the First World War. The day a marker for tactical triumph and to engage the IJN in a mid-Pacific German section of On Seas Contested strategic error’. He then explains in fleet action. War Plan Orange was provides good background to the design detail the formidable ships, aircraft and practiced throughout the 1930s and in of major surface units and submarines. weapons systems which were devised it the battlefleet, supported by carrier Gunnery is discussed in some detail, for a set piece fleet action against the aircraft and cruisers scouting ahead, including gun construction, fire control US Navy in the Pacific Ocean. The together with submarines, would fall systems and anti-aircraft weapons. lack of logistic infrastructure and upon the Japanese fleet in a titanic, Torpedoes also receive a comprehensive particularly the paucity of industry and decisive battle. Unlike the IJN however, coverage – of the estimated 50, 000 scientific research and development the USN’s officers were encouraged torpedoes constructed some 13, 000 to support a lengthy maritime war is to act independently to achieve battle were fired, mostly by U-boats. Anti- described in detail which leaves no outcomes, in contrast to the initiative- submarine acoustic systems and mines doubt in the reader’s mind that the stifling regimes of the IJN. close the weapons systems section, IJN badly miscalculated its maritime Following a comprehensive overview followed by a well discussed logistics strategy. In ‘Reflections on the Japanese of Navy department administration, the overview. While the Kreigsmarine’s Navy’, the contributor sums up the US section discusses commander-in- formidable major surface ships heavily tragedy of the IJN: chief Admiral Ernest King’s philosophy occupied Royal Navy assets, the ‘When the Japanese navy of delegating authority, thereby greatest threat – the U-boat offensive initiated the Pacific War, it was instilling initiative as a fundamental – was nevertheless hampered by indeed a formidable fighting tenet of naval command. Tactical personnel and resources shortfalls, force. It comprised 10 battleships, doctrine developed in the interwar Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 78 Book Reviews period was based on experimentation in questionable expression. For example ships – particularly the Baltic Fleet live exercises and tabletop maneuvers, under ‘Personnel’, the contributor – were immobilized by the German which encouraged doctrinal states that ‘the RNVR (Royal Navy blockade. Despite the large size of development flexibility. King built on Volunteer Reserve)…underwent the submarine force, its contribution this service-wide emphasis on initiative. massive expansion – to 48, 000 officers was minimal, as was that of the motor However, the need for the navy to fight and 5, 000 ratings – because most of the torpedo boat force. Soviet officers a two ocean war forced commanders wartime recruits went into the RNVR’. were unable to exercise initiative and their personnel and ships to be The 5, 000 ratings figure must surely and develop tactics and they greatly thrown together without adequate be erroneous as a ‘wartime expansion’. overrated their successes. For example, combat preparation; a confused tactical This figure might be accurate for RNVR submarine commanders attacked with situation which was exemplified in the ratings enlisted prewar and mobilised single torpedoes and claimed targets Guadalcanal campaign. Theses lessons in the first months of the war. As the were sunk if they heard an explosion were rectified by greater centralization contributor correctly points out, all after firing. Soviet submarines sank and standardization of procedures wartime enlisted ratings were entered 91 merchant ships from 1941-45 and which was essential because of the for ‘hostilities only’ into the RNVR. The MTBs only 22. Poor reconnaissance, enormous personnel and material remainder of the ‘Personnel’ section coordination of attacks and tactics expansion of the wartime USN. By dwells on unnecessary and confusing could all be traced back to the prewar August 1945 USN personnel numbered details of training establishments. purges and the expansion of personnel 325, 000 officers and over three million ‘Surface Warfare’ is disposed of in which disrupted naval education. The enlisted. 10 lines of text, introduced by the contributor assesses that the Soviet The USN section extensively statement that ‘in many ways, the navy performed well in evacuations, fire covers all the naval warfare disciplines; Royal Navy expected that the Second support to the army and amphibious surface warfare alone comprises World War would follow the pattern operations while individual officers five pages, together with diagrams. of the first’. There is no mention of and sailors fought with courage and The Material section provides a well gunnery advances, fire control systems determination. ordered description of surface force – including radar – or light forces’ Useful maps and tables, such development. A possibly too detailed surface warfare doctrine in the prewar as orders of battle at the war’s coverage of fire control systems is era. The ‘Material’ section provides a beginning and naval bases aid the indicative of the wealth of data on the readable and comprehensive overview text. Photographs – four per section USN, which also includes industry and of RN surface combatant development; – provide a flavour of the navy in the superb logistics support provided however – when turning to submarines question. However, some might have during the island-hopping Pacific – the contributor lists submarine been better chosen: ‘a prewar shot campaign. classes in overly complicated detail, of Japanese “Sea Scouts” practicing While acknowledging the rather than a concise and considered semaphore on the deck of the Mikasa’ USN’s tardiness in implementing assessment of individual classes’ and ‘Wartime recreation: US Coast coastal convoys as a counter to the strengths and weaknesses. These minor Guardsmen…swim under the bow Kriegsmarine’s ‘Operation Drum Beat’– deficiencies are all the more noticeable of….a Japanese transport…beached which saw merchant ships torpedoed because of the otherwise generally in the November 1942 battles for within sight of eastern US coast beaches comprehensive and informative Guadalcanal’, could possibly have in early 1942 – the contributor might treatment afforded to the Royal Navy. been replaced by suitable examples of have included some mention of the Finally, the Soviet navy section is combatant vessels or their crews. Pearl Harbor intelligence failure in the a dismal read. Stalin’s military purges These minor criticisms should Intelligence section. Apart from this removed most of the experienced not deter the naval history enthusiast minor observation, the USN coverage senior commanders in the immediate – or someone who simply wants a excels as an overview of this huge prewar period, to be replaced by under- good concise naval reference book subject in just 40 pages. educated and inexperienced officers – from acquiring a copy of On Seas It is in the Great Britain section whose orders had to be countersigned Contested. t that some readers may find a slight by political officers. The exigencies disappointment because some of of Russia’s war meant that much of the text is overly complex and of the navy fought on land because Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 79

Perth refuels from USS Ranger – North-West Indian Ocean 1980’s

uring the 1970s and 1980s The Australian involvement intelligence gathering vessels. the Indian Ocean became represented an independent The first RAN ship involved, the Dthe scene for much Cold War national task, but it was guided missile destroyer HMAS posturing between the Western coordinated with the United Perth, was deployed between powers and the Soviet Union, States Navy, and the RAN’s January and June 1981. She is particularly after the Soviet vessels invariably operated with seen here refuelling from USS invasion of Afghanistan in the American carrier battle group Ranger on 10 February 1981.t 1980. Between 1981 and 1985 on station. Close encounters the Royal Australian Navy with deployed Soviet forces were maintained a semi-permanent frequent, with regular over flights rotation of a destroyer or frigate by ‘May’ maritime patrol aircraft in the North West Indian Ocean. and shadowing by a variety of

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 80 ANI On-line: A guide to the new website.

O ur new website is now on-line! In addition to the features available on the Changing your details previous site, the new site also features a library of past journals, a discussion When your account is created, only your member ID and password are stored in the system for privacy reasons. However, you may provide forum, a news section and member list. This short guide is designed to help other details that are visible to other ANI members. In order to change you take full advantage of the new features. your details, login and click the “Change Your Details” menu item (figure 5). Then select the “change” link (figure 6) next to either your personal details or password. Change the text appropriately and click the “save” button (figure 7). F igure 1 The personal information that you provide will be visible to other Obtaining an account members of the ANI but will be hidden from members of the general In order to access the new features of the site you must have a user public. You may provide as much or as little detail as you wish but account for the website. If you have a current subscription to the ANI, none of the fields are compulsory. However, you may not change your navigate to the website www.navalinstitute.com.au using your web member ID as it is the link between the on-line database and our off- browser (figure 1), click the “Members Login” menu item (figure 2), line records. then click the link to download an application form. Fill in the form, then fax or post it to the ANI Business Manager. Once your account has been created, you will receive an email that outlines your member

ID and password. Figure 8

Figure 7

Participating in the forum Figure 2 Figure 3 In order to post topics and replies in the discussion forum, first login Logging in to your account and click the “Forum” menu item (figure 8). Then select a forum that Once you have your account details, you are ready to login and access you would like to view by clicking its “View Topics” button (figure the new features of the site. In order to login, navigate to the website 9). Select a topic that you would like to read by clicking its “View this (figure 1) and click the “Members Login” item (figure 2). Enter your topic” link (figure 10). If you are not interested in any particular topic, member ID and password as they were provided to you, then click you may add your own by clicking the “Add New Topic” button (figure the “Login” button. The case of the member ID and password are 10). Similarly, once you are viewing a topic, you may post a reply by important: i.e. “CaSe” and “case” are considered entirely different words clicking “Add New Post”. Fill in the heading and body of your reply and by the authentication system. Each letter of the password will appear as click the “Submit” button to add your reply to the topic. If you change a single “*” to prevent others from seeing your password as you type. your mind while writing your reply, you may click the “Cancel” button If you have entered your details correctly, you will be presented with and your reply will not be added to the topic. the news page. The grey status bar at the top notifies you of the account you are using (figure 4). You are now able to access all of the new features of the site.

Figure 4

Logging out of your account Figure 9 In order to protect your identity and to prevent malicious use of your account by others, you must log out of the site when you are finished browsing. This is especially important on public computers. In order to log out, click the “Logout” link in the grey status bar (figure 4). Figure 10

Further questions If you have specific questions regarding website features or even a Figure 5 Figure 6 feature request, post a topic in the “Website Questions” forum and a site administrator will reply. Otherwise, happy browsing!

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 81 Thinking of Making a Contribution? Style Notes for Headmark

In general, please present your work So: the end of the article, please supply full honours - Lieutenant with the minimum of formatting. Adkin, Mark. Goose Green. London: Commander Bill Crabbe, CSC, RAN - unless you would Paragraphs: Leo Cooper, 1992. prefer not to use them. Then please supply a paragraph Don’t indent, and leave left justified. Adler, Bill (Ed.) Letters from Vietnam. on yourself, to a maximum of 50 words, including any Separate paragraphs by one line. Single New York: EP Dutton and Co., 1967. qualifications you would like listed, and any interesting spacing only. Use one space only after Articles use quotation marks around biographical aspects. If possible please supply a colour or stops and colons. their title, which is not in italics. greyscale head and shoulders e-photo of yourself for use Conventions: If citing web sites please use the alongside the article title. Use numbers for 10 and above, words convention: Illustrations: below. Ship names use italics in title Australian Associated Press. “Army Do not embed graphs or figures in your text without case; prefixes such as HMAS in capitals admits mistakes in SAS investigation”. sending a separate file as well. If supplying photographs use and italics. Book and Journal titles use 17 February, 2004. Forwarding your article: Citations: So, web site name. Article title. Full Please send to the Editor on Endnotes rather than footnotes. Use date of accessing the site. Full URL. Editorial considerations: footnotes to explain any points you want Bylines: The Editor reserves the right to amend articles where the reader to notice immediately. Book Supply your everyday title for use at the necessary for the purposes of grammar correction, and to titles follow Author surname, first name, beginning of the title, so: Lieutenant delete tables or figures for space considerations. title if any. Title. Place of publication: Commander Bill Crabbe, or Jack publisher, year of that edition. Aubrey, or Reverend James Moodie. At

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 82 Australian Naval Institute

The Australian Naval Institute was formed as a self- considered. As much of the RAN’s attention Editorial Board. supporting and non-profit making organisation; operational and administrative history Articles of greater length can incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory in 1975. The is poorly recorded, the recollections of submitted to the Sea Power Centre- main objectives of the Institute are: members (and others) on these topics Australia for possible publication as • to encourage and promote the advancement of knowledge are keenly sought. a Working Paper (seapower.centre@ related to the Navy and the maritime profession; and Views and opinions expressed in defence.gov.au) • to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas concerning Headmark are those of the authors and subjects related to the Navy and the maritime profession. not necessarily those of the Institute, the Editorial Board Membership subscription rates are located on the next page. Royal Australian Navy, the Australian The Board is largely drawn from Further information can be obtained from the: Defence Organisation, or the institutions the ANI Council but key roles are Business Manager, Australian Naval Institute, the authors may represent. undertaken by the following members: PO Box 29, Red Hill ACT 2603, ph +61 2 6295 0056, The ANI does not warrant, guarantee Chairman: leut Tristan Skousgaard ran fax +61 2 6295 3367, email: [email protected] or via the or make any representations as to the Journal Editor: dr Tom Lewis, oam website at http://www.navalinstitute.com.au content of the information contained Strategy: vadm Ray Griggs am, csc, ran within Headmark, and will not be liable History: dr David Stevens Sponsors in any way for any claims resulting from Book Reviews: The Australian Naval Institute is grateful for the continued use or reliance on it. lcdr Desmond Woods ran support of: ANI Friends; Raytheon Australia, Booz & Articles and information in Company. Our Gold Sponsors; Austal, Thales Naval Group, Headmark are the copyright of the Bequests DMS Maritime, QinetiQ. Our Silver Sponsors; LOPAC, SAAB, Australian Naval Institute, unless As a self-funding organisation the ATI, Australian Defence Credit Union, Blohm +Voss Naval. otherwise stated. All material in Institute relies on membership Headmark is protected by Australian subscriptions and sponsorship to Patron copyright law and by applicable law in maintain its activities. Financial Chief of Navy: Vice Admiral Ray Griggs am,csc, ran other jurisdictions. donations and/or bequests are welcome Council Members A CDROM of the Journal of the and will assist the ANI in undertaking President: radm Allan Du Toit am, ran Australian Naval Institute covering the its activities. Vice President: cdre Greg Sammut ran period 1975-2003 is available for $99; see Secretary: lcdr Ben MacDonald ran the next page for ordering information. Sea Power Centre-Australia Treasurer: mr Nicholas Tate Pen Names. Contributors can publish Research Collection Journal Editor: lcdr Tom Lewis oam, ran under a pen name. The Editor must be The Sea Power Centre-Australia Councillor: capt Timothy Brown ran advised either in person or in writing research collection incorporates the Councillor: capt Lee Goddard csc, ran of the identity of the individual that ANI library, to which members have Councillor: cmdr Ian Campbell ran wishes to use the pen name. The Editor access. The research collection is Councillor: cmdr Justin Jones ran will confirm in writing to the member normally available for use 0900-1630 Councillor: lcdr Desmond Woods ran seeking to use a pen name that the each weekday, but it is not possible Councillor: midn Aaron Goedecke ran name has been registered and can be to borrow the books. Members are Councillor: midn Liam Catterson ran used. More details are available on the requested to ring the SPC to confirm Councillor: midn Isabel Collins ran Institute’s website. access, particularly if visiting from Councillor: midn Grant Moran ran Article submission. Articles and outside Canberra. Councillor: midn Matthew Bell ran correspondence should be submitted The ANI/Sea Power Centre-Australia Website Manager: electronically in Microsoft Word, with will gladly accept book donations on mr David Graham (non membership position) limited formatting. (See the style guide naval and maritime matters (where they Public Officer: in this issue for further details.) will either be added to the collection lcdr David Swanson ran (non mem. position) Articles should ideally range in size or traded for difficult to obtain books). from 3000-7000 words, but smaller The point of contact for access to the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute articles will be considered, as will collection, or to make arrangements for Headmark is published quarterly. The Editorial Board seeks the occasional larger piece of work. book/journal donations is the SPC-A letters and articles on naval or maritime issues. Articles Submissions should be sent to the Editor Information Manager on (02) 6127 6512, concerning operations or administration/policy are of in the first instance. email: [email protected] particular interest but papers on any relevant topic will be Email: [email protected] and mark Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 142 83 The Australian Naval Institute ABN: 45 988 480 239 PO Box 29 Red Hill ACT 2603, AUSTRALIA PHONE: +61 2 6295 0056 FAX: +61 2 6295 3367 EMAIL: [email protected]

Membership Subscription Rates (Australian Dollars) Australia/New Zealand* Asia Pacific Region† Rest of World† Please circle the amount you individual or individual or individual or wish to pay institutional individual institutional individual institutional individual member concession member concession member concession For 1 year $60.00 $40.00 $75.00 $55.00 $82.00 $62.00 For 2 years $115.00 $77.50 $145.00 $107.50 $159.00 $121.50 For 3 years $167.50 $112.50 $212.50 $157.50 $233.50 $178.50 Prices are shown in Australian Dollars. *No GST is payable in relation to ANI membership. †Includes air mail postage. Concession available to students, persons of the rank of Lieutenant or below, and those who are fully retired.

Membership Application

EITHER: Join & pay through the “Join the ANI” page of the ANI website at www.navalinstitute.com.au using your PayPal account or credit card OR: Complete the details below & return this form to the address shown above

Rank/Title: Initials:

Surname & Postnominals:

Address:

Post Code:

Email:

WeBsite Username Preferences: Please use only characters (a-z) or numbers (0-9)

1. 2. 3.

Payment Details Please select one.

A. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) using your surname as the reference: Account Name: Australian Naval Institute BSB: 062 919 a/c No.: 0091 4309

B. Credit card by completing these details: Mastercard Visa

Card No.

Name of cardholder (PLEASE PRINT):

Signature: Expiry date:

C. Cheque payable to AUSTRALIAN NAVAL INSTITUTE. Australian Dollars only please. Foreign currency cheques cannot be accepted.

I agree to abide by the Constitution and by-laws of the Australian Naval Institute.

Signature: Date:

Journal of the Australian Naval Institute H MAS Perth in the Western Australian Exercise Area (WAXA) as part of Exercise Triton Fury