ISSUE 126
DECEMBER 2007
What may the Sydney wreck reveal
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write this after a very successful approximately 800 delegates are Vernon Parker Oration and ANI expected to register for the 2008 What may the Sydney wreck reveal 4 Dinner. Mike Carlton gave a lively conference. Iand thought provoking analysis of the The broad theme of the 2008 Front page photograph: relationship between the Navy and Conference is Australia and its King-Hall Naval Conference Pictorial 13 the media and some thoughts on what Maritime Interests: At Home and HMAS Ballarat can be done to make that relationship in the Region. Its aim is to examine more effective for Navy. We are very maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific The Soviet Pacific Fleet: August 1945 17 grateful to him for accepting the region and their impact on the roles invitation to come and speak as part of and activities of maritime forces. his own demanding schedule. The ANI For more information visit
ANI Online Guide 49 Issue Number 125
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Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 4 What may the Sydney wreck reveal RANBTmL y o eWIS History If HMAS Sydney is ever found what will the wreck reveal about her last fight with the raider Kormoran? Will the discovery answer some of the mysteries of Australia’s greatest naval loss?
The story, as related by the German survivors, is well known. The light cruiser closed the raider to within fatal range. The Kormoran, flying a false flag, struck it, hoisted her true colours, and opened fire, hitting the cruiser with her third salvo in the bridge area. Sydney hesitated, and then replied. The two to the extreme. Did Kormoran open fire the Sydney ships fought each other for just under under the German flag as she should wreck to see an hour, the Sydney taking a torpedo have? Were Japanese forces1 involved – if there are hit, and the Kormoran began sinking, several weeks before they joined WWII any answers her survivors taking to their lifeboats. with the Pearl Harbor attacks? Were to questions TheSydney , on fire, and having taken Sydney survivors machine-gunned in surrounding a tremendous battering, moved off, the water to prevent their speaking out her final probably not under effective control. about “war rules” being broken? moments. Will The ship was never seen again, and To answer such questions, and there be any there appear to have been no survivors also to bring closure to the relatives of clues, as to how the Australian cruiser Top: Sydney after her return from from the cruiser, although a body in the Sydney ship’s company, there has fought the battle, from the condition battle in the a Carley float, presumed from the been much pressure over the decades of the external hull? Sydney engaged in Mediterranean ship, was later recovered and buried at to find the wreck of the cruiser. But a lengthy fight with a heavily-gunned (RAN) Christmas Island. These remains have can finding the ship give any answers? raider. According2 to the Kormoran’s been recovered and are, at the time of Spurred on by pictures of the Titanic gunnery officer, Lieutenant Fritz writing, being analysed. and other vessels on the ocean floor, Skeries, the German initially scored: There are many controversies many people seem to think the finding 5.9” armament hits on the bridge associated with the action. Why did of Sydney’s remains will answer and [gunnery] director tower; the Sydney not stand off at the extreme questions. But is this going to be the further hits on the bridge and range of Kormoran where she would case? amidships; have had the disguised raider under 2 Gill, G. Hermon. Royal Australian Navy fire from her own more effective Will an inspection of Sydney 1939-1942. Melbourne: Collins, 1957. (454) weapons? Why did she not deploy her tell us much about the battle? Gill had access to Detmers’ Action Report, embarked Walrus aircraft for overhead In the main, we want to examine which has been much reproduced – for example, see inbetween pages 45-46 of the inspection? Some allegations made Proceedings of the 2001 Wreck Location over the years range from the possible 1 See for example, titles such as Who Sank Seminar, where Detmers gives these the Sydney? and Somewhere Below. numbers in his concluding paragraphs. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 5
number of strikes due to inability to avoid fire, for a period, as the battle continued, although this must be offset by the strikes Kormoran was receiving herself, thus reducing her firepower, and offset by the opening range. When initial firing commenced the distance between the two ships was approximately 1,600 yards. This is an incredibly close Kormoran as she 5 a hit on the Sydney’s embarked 55 minute battle that the Australian distance when one considers that the would have looked disguised (RAN) aeroplane; ship was being constantly hit by gun Sydney, when engaged the previous effective fire fromKormoran ’s anti- fire from the raider.6 Sydney, crippled, year in combat with two Italian aircraft machineguns and 3.7-cm guns limped off to the south-east, on fire, cruisers, the Bartolomeo Colleoni and against Sydney’s bridge, torpedo tubes with “glare’ and “flickerings” showing Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, opened and anti-aircraft batteries her presence until around midnight, fire at 20, 000 yards, and obtained a torpedo strike under Sydney’s A some eight hours after the action a hit on one of them within six and B turrets, and then commenced. minutes.7 Indeed, a German historian, many more hits fired by a large Will there indeed be much left of commenting later on the Kormoran number of salvoes from the Kormoran’s the ship at all? Given the number of engagement, said “no guns could miss main guns, causing the separation of a hits inflicted byKormoran , and the at such a range”.8 So the Sydney began turret from the cruiser and setting the fact that the Australian vessel was on receiving terribly destructive “armour- ship on fire. fire for a long time, we can expect a piercing delayed action fuse”9 shells According to Skeries, Kormoran, battered, twisted, charred remnant of which exploded inside the ship. over the course of the conflict, fired a once-proud warship. Indeed, out of Throughout the action the range 450 rounds from her main armament, 450 rounds fired by the main guns, how opened, with the German vessel and several hundred from her anti- many can we expect to have hit? Given prudently trying to escape. At the final aircraft batteries. (Sub-Lieutenant that Sydney’s ability to manoeuvre was shot it was 6.25 pm, with the range Bunjes, also on board the raider, degrading steadily during the battle, we now 11, 000 yards. So how many out in a rather melodramatic account, can expect her to receive an increasing of at least 450 shots fired would have suggested “about 600” of the 5.9-inch hit home? One WWII technical set shells;3 Captain Detmers said “approx. 5 If we estimate 500 rounds over 60 of naval wargame rules shows that 4 minutes this is around eight rounds a 500 base fuze, 50 nose fuze. ) Skeries minute from a broadside of four guns out of commented on the final stages of the Kormoran’s six 15 cm/5.9” main armament; 7 See Gill (pp. 188-190) that is, each gun firing at least once every 8 Von der Porten, EP. The German Navy in 30 seconds. This is well within reality: these WWII. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1976. weapons were capable of five to seven (p. 153) 3 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and rounds a minute. See for explanation Naval 9 Interview with the ADC to Captain Controversy. (92) Weapons. http://www.navweaps.com/ Detmers carried out by ABC TV Rewind 4 Australian Archives. (Melbourne) Weapons/WNGER_59-45_skc16.htm 13 program, in 2004. http://www.abc.net.au/ “Kormoran” - Translation of Diaries. August 2007. tv/rewind/txt/s1199881.htm transcript. 1 B6121/398682. (4) 6 Gill. (456) July 2007. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 6 RANWhat may the SydneyHistory wreck reveal at 2,000 yards once your ship has hit by “about 100” 6-inch straddled the target, you were then shells over an hour and “on”, and then two thirds of shots fired twenty minutes, and she would hit at such close range. The was “…totally wrecked, probability of achieving hits decreases with the hull holed at in proportion to the distance. At numerous points, its 12,000 yards the probability of a hit has superstructure a blazing dropped to 20% or less.10 shambles…and steering All things considered, it seems only possible using the reasonable to expect as an absolute screws”.14 Now, returning minimum 100 rounds – or at least 25% to the 1941 engagement, - of 5.9” hits from the raider. A more if we add the 3.7-cm fire realistic assessment is 150 strikes, and and the torpedo damage it Sydney in action as seen from the deck of the even that is being less than generous. seems reasonable to presume massive Bartolomeo Colleoni (Author collection) (One survivor wrote as a prisoner damage, with the Sydney barely of war “We suppose she must’ve got afloat – it is a tribute to the damage about 400 hits”.)11 It might be thought control expertise on board and the that some initial strikes at least would ship’s company’s determination have been deterred by the armoured that she was still on the surface. magazines and machinery spaces – the (In fact, naval officers in discussion sides having 3.5-inch and three-inch today reflect surprise, that with plate12 respectively. However, the that much punishment, the Sydney design specifications for the Leander- was afloat for as long as she was; a class dictated that the magazines were testimony to the characteristics of to be immune to six-inch fire above 10, the Modified Leander class.) 000 yards, and this requirement was met by the fitting of three-inch plate.13 Can the damage tell us much With this sort of firepower, at such a about the fight? short range, being directed against the Will the Sydney be a battered light cruiser, the Sydney was doomed. wreck, or will it be relatively undamaged, having engaged, The face of battle – what as some of the “Japanese lobby” would this have done to claim, in a short sharp fight with Sydney? the Kormoran, which it won, What might the Sydney’s ordeal have only to be sunk by a Japanese caused the vessel to look like? In WWI, torpedo? The cruiser should be in the battle between the German smashed extensively on both sides. cruiser Emden – coincidentally against According to all Kormoran survivor the previous Sydney – the Emden was accounts of the battle, it was only
10 Gill, LL.General Quarters. Fridley: around a few minutes after battle Minn., 1975. was commenced that Sydney veered Above & below: Emden smashed into a 11 Australian Archives (Melbourne) battered hulk in WWI (Franz Josef) “‘Kormoran’(Raider No. 41) - ‘G’ German hard to port, and fired a salvo of four AMC - Interrogation of Prisoners”. B6121/ torpedoes. The course change took her 164M (7). Note: this item in Australian Archives contains 491 pages, photographed astern of the Kormoran, and exposed from the original as jpg files. The pages her starboard side to the raider. In are not numbered; rather the page number summary, the combat began with referred to here relates to the number ascribed by AA to the photographed page. both ships side by side, the Sydney on 12 Raven, Alan, and John Roberts. British Cruisers of World War II. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1980. (p. 416) 14 Coulthard-Clark, Chris. The 13 Raven and Roberts. British Cruisers of Encyclopedia of Australia’s Battles. World War II. (p. 143) Melbourne: Allen and Unwin, 1998. (98) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 7
Detmers post-war led to two interesting findings. The Some analysis, written by with the first was thatHood was in a turn to Captain Peter Hore RN, of the bow Iron Cross port when she exploded; there had compartment flooding, caused by he won for been some doubt for historians as to the torpedo strike, suggests that the action whether this turn had commenced. counterflooding in the stern may have (Author collection) The second was that there was some contributed to a propensity to roll sort of “catastrophic event” at the during the action.17 “The consequence bow, whereas before the finding it may have been flooding of sufficient was thought there was one explosion spaces…to cause sudden capsize.” Will around the waist sections. Sydney’s wreck be right side up, and Of course, if the Sydney is only does that tell us anything? Probably damaged on one side, or if her damage it is a “yes” to the first question, and differs markedly to what may be expect a “no” to the second. Observation of from receiving over a hundred rounds other battles lead to a conclusion that of six-inch shell fire, then theKormoran warships generally finally end up on accounts are suspect. One16 book, an even keel. Out of twelve wrecks although based on what looks like catalogued from the Battle of Savo faked sources, alleges the cruiser ran Island, for example, ten are keel down; into a mine. The damage received from one on its side, and one upside down.18 such an encounter is radically different Sydney will probably be right side up, than that received from shell fire; in and inspection will be made easier. Kormoran before her conversion to a raider other words if the Sydney does not look The basic dimensions of the wreck, (Author collection) like a Leander-class cruiser which has if she is in one piece, will be a ship of been hit by shellfire and a torpedo, then 562 feet, three inches in length, with this will cause the history books to be a beam of 56 ft, 8 inches, or 171.3 reopened. metres long x 17.3 wide. Confirming features will include the two funnels Did the cruiser roll on her and two masts of the Leander-class, submergence? and eight guns in twin turrets. The Sydney may have lost significant items ship’s Supermarine Seagull V (Walrus) of equipment. Bismarck, sunk by the single-engined aircraft was mounted A typical 15cm/6” Royal Navy in WWII, rolled in her between the two funnels, but little of it German naval gun sinking so that all four of her gun will remain, although the 53-foot (16 (Author collection) turrets fell out of their mounts, but metre) launching slide and recovery then sank and righted herself so she crane may be located. Leanders also now lies largely intact on the sea bed. carried four 4-inch single guns and The wreck has been visited many times eight torpedo tubes in two quadruple by deep-sea submarine. Her remains, mounts. The condition of all of these Kormoran’s starboard, but then during however, do not tell us much that was will provide further clues as to the the battle Sydney’s starboard side was not already known from accounts of veracity of the accounts of the ship’s exposed.15 her last battle. If Sydney has lost her end. So if the wreck is found, if it is guns, this will give even less of a wreck damaged massively on both sides, this to examine. But if found, the cruiser’s is significant. If a wreck examination guns should be significantly damaged. bears this out, then the survivors’ If they are, it bears out the German 17 Hore, Captain Peter. (Ed.) HMAS Sydney II. The cruiser and the controversy accounts are supported. Even small raider’s account. If not, then there will in the archives of the United Kingdom. supporting pieces of evidence like this be cause for further speculation. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, can be important. The examination of 2001. (261) 18 See pages 200-201: “The Sunken the wreck of the Hood, for example, 16 Montagu, John A. The Lost Souls and Battlefield of Iron Bottom Sound”, in Ballard, Ghosts of HMAS Sydney II 1941. Perth: self- Robert D. The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal. 15 See, for example, Frame (pp. 86-87) published, 2006. Ontario: Madison Books, 1993. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 8 RANWhat may the SydneyHistory wreck reveal Sydney outline sans aircraft catapult (R. Gillett)
Will signs of torpedo strikes any weapon, which exploded, to be to 50 shell be visible in the wreck of the found in the hull. However, it may not hits on the Sydney? be possible to even see whether the hull waterline”.21 Probably the most controversial around the waterline has taken torpedo The suggestion is that the cruiser was or six-inch shell impact. Proceedings hit by a torpedo fired by a Japanese Shipwrecks on an even keel of the 2001 submarine. This damage would be invariably sink into the seabed if Wreck additional to that caused by the it is composed of sand and silt. In Finding Kormoran’s single strike with such a observations of over a hundred wrecks Seminar weapon. Torpedo damage will have by the author, this seems to be the case quoted caused considerable damage to the in general. There are indeed exceptions: Jane’s Fighting hull. Indeed, one submission to the the wooden clipper Star of Russia, Ships of 1943 1999 inquiry into the loss of the ship in Vanuatu, sits up to a degree of the as concluding suggested the torpedo firing resulted upper half of her hull protruding, the German in: “…catching Sydney completely by probably due to its composition of 15-centimetre surprise and having her bows almost wood. TheSS Yongala, now a largely gun as “capable severed between A & B turrets.”19 empty hull, tilts to starboard on a of defeating What would be significant is that sandy seabed off Townsville, but she 5 inches of A Supermarine if there were signs of, say, five torpedo remains proud of the seabed, which armour plate at 3,000 yards”.22 Given Seagull V such as strikes, as the German raider’s Captain probably consists of rock below the Sydney’s lesser plate and much closer the cruiser carried Detmers thought only one impacted, sand. The submarineI-124 , sunk with impact range, we can expect the hull (Author collection) although he may have been wrong. 80 crew on board outside Darwin, of the cruiser to be Even that one torpedo strike will have was for decades airtight in her bow much punctured and had a significant result. Torpedoes compartments, causing the wreck to damaged, but wreck cause a massive explosion when they sit up off the sand to an extent sandy detectives should be hit their target. It might be possible to tunnels existed under the hull from prepared to be unable to see if more than one of these weapons one side the other.20 But most ships, see the complete hull. impacted, although waterline hits from especially if they contain heavy cargoes, the six-inch guns will make it more sink down into the sea floor to at least Will there be difficult to analyse. their Plimsoll line. human remains in Significantly for the Japanese lobby Given that the wreck, if it is sitting the Sydney? though, it will be impossible to tell what on an even keel, will have sunk into the There is often little left Sydney - a view aft sort of torpedo – German or Japanese seabed, it will be difficult to see if there internally in a ship’s remains which can showing the aircraft – impacted the hull. Such WWII are torpedo holes below the waterline, enlighten historical analysis. Anything position (RAN) weapons simply caused a massive hole especially as along the sides of the hull not made of very tough materials does affecting several compartments. There there will also be much 5.9-inch and is, of course, not going to be traces of 3.7-inch damage. During a speech in 21 NSW Parliament. Hansard recordings of 3 March 1994. Speech by Hon. RB Rowland 1994 in the NSW Parliament it was Smith http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/ 19 Parliament of Australia. Joint Standing suggested that Kormoran “survivors prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/ Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and estimated that she [Sydney] received up LC19940317024 2 July 2007. (The source of Trade. Report No 87. Report on the Loss this account was not stated at the time.) of HMAS Sydney. http://www.aph.gov.au/ 22 Royal Australian Navy Seapower Centre. house/committee/jfadt/reports.htm 1 July 20 Lewis, Tom. Sensuikan I-124. Darwin: HMAS Sydney II Proceedings of the Wreck 2007. Chapter 4. Tall Stories, 1997. Location Seminar. 16 November 2001. (43) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 9
Mike Bass of the Australian firm Cutting Edge Models shows off a superb example of his craft in a fine model of the cruiser (Cutting Edge Models)
not survive sounder operating. The wreck, located purpose. Instead they were wired to in a ship in a deeper than normal part of the scuttle the ship. wreck. Paper harbour, was explored by divers, McDonald, quoting Detmers’ disappears, initially for the purpose of finding account, related that the mines breaking up, human remains. They located only exploded and the Kormoran began to eaten by fish, ““some human bones, specifically in the sink. The ship’s commander stated a generally wardroom passage and the yeomen’s “gigantic sheet of flame shot into the dispersing. office. Eventually these were recovered air perhaps a 1,000 feet”. (McDonald 23 A famous photo of Wood and returned to America for burial.” interviewed another survivor who the elation shown becomes porous and crumbles. So after only 14 years, most of 91 sets repeated the account.24) Detmers stated by some of the ship’s Human remains disappear. Bones are of human remains had disappeared. in his interrogation diary: “Explosive company when corroded by salt water and remains So it likely be with the Sydney. There charge in port forward oil tank… Sydney triumphed are dispersed by tide and fish. This will be no compartment of the ship left touched off charge, last boat cast off. over Bartolomeo Colleoni (RAN) takes a comparatively short time. An unflooded, particularly considering Mines explode. Ship sinks rapidly stern example is the case of USS Peary, sunk the depth at which the ship lies – the first.”25 in battle with 91 people on board on 19 tremendous pressures of the deep It seems implied that the mines February 1942. ocean around where she sank will were set to explode, relating that the Peary was one of many ships in ensure that. The ship will be open preparations for scuttling took “five and Darwin Harbour when Japanese fully to the sea, and it is almost certain a half hours”. Frame concludes26 that forces launched their first attack on human remains will not be present. at 0100, a “charge” exploded; and 25 Australia. She fought hard but was minutes later, “the mines exploded”. He hit by a small bomb and sank quickly Did Kormoran explode? further quotes Heinz Messerschmidt, a by the stern. Post war her location Kormoran was carrying a cargo specialist in underwater weapons and was sought by the USA’s War Graves of mines, although it seems from Detmers’ secretary, as preparing the people. Despite sinking in full view examination of the prisoners’ explosive charges and using the mines of hundreds of people, quite close statements, which freely admitted 24 McDonald, Glenys, Seeking the Sydney. to shore, she could not be found. the presence of several hundred, that (13) Fourteen years later HMAS Quadrant none were ever used for their intended 25 Australian Archives. (Melbourne) “Kormoran” - Translation of Diaries. found her by accident, proceeding B6121/398682. (8) into Darwin Harbour with her echo 23 Lewis, Tom. Wrecks in Darwin Waters. 26 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and Sydney: Turton and Armstrong, 1992. (32) Controversy. (87) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 10 RANWhat may the SydneyHistory wreck reveal on board to blow up the ship.27 Quite related to Glenys McDonald his escape which can lead to much more break up. a few of the Kormoran survivors knew from the burning raider, where he HMS Hood, for example, was sunk in of the mines being used to destroy the and his fellows in the lifeboat “rowed the Atlantic in WWII, in a brief fight vessel. Albert Ruf, an engine room like mad to get as far away from the with German naval units Bismarck rating, stated mines were carried aft Kormoran before it blew up thirty and Prinz Eugen. She caught fire, and and “probably were the cause of the minutes later”, and he also described shortly afterwards exploded. The vessel blowing up”.28 One survivor steel raining down all around them.35 wreck, found in 2001 by Blue Water wrote later in a letter: “At half past 10, It may have been seen from the Recoveries, is scattered over three main we blowed up (sic) our ship,”29 although West Australian coast. McDonald sites, with “debris fields” nearby. Oskar Marwinski thought the blowing interviewed a reliable witness who, Even if the cruiser did not break up of the Kormoran may have been together with her husband, heard apart in her dive to the bottom of the “accidental”.30 Petty Officer Paul Kobelt and saw “noises and saw smoke in the sea, she may have broken up through said, while being held as a POW, that north-west over Dirk Hartog Island; explosion. Did Sydney explode, and the crew: “used the mines for blowing there were heavy booms, flashes and if she did, what are implications for up the ship”. 31 flares, grey and black smoke and a the wreck? Any explosion is going to In general, it can be concluded that huge explosion, followed by silence.”36 mean a further scattering of wreck the raider was destroyed, by explosion, However, this account, placed by the fragments, although depending on the around midnight on the 19th. The witnesses’ surrounding description of force of the blast, not necessarily to a raider’s Sub-Lieutenant Bunjes, in his the evening’s radio programs, seems huge extent. There are a few, but only account of the action, saw the raider inaccurate in time – around 6.30pm. a few, accounts of Sydney blowing up. explode shortly after midnight.32 The So will Kormoran be in one piece, Frame quotes one Kormoran survivor summary of the account, presented and therefore be able to become, if as speaking of “the cruiser exploding as to the Australian War Cabinet on 4 found, a beginning search point for they rowed towards her in the hope of December, stated: “At about 1815H the search for the Sydney? We might being picked up”.37 the raider’s crew abandoned ship, expect the mines to have caused such Captain Detmers is on record as and at midnight the vessel, which was massive damage that the ship is in so thinking she blew up. He said: scuttled, blew up.”33 This concurs many pieces that she is not a complete I had been badly hit and was making with the summary of the Kormoran wreck any more. It is probably more preparations to abandon my ship. prisoners, which stated the raider was the case though, that as the mines were Before leaving, I looked around and “blown up around midnight”.34 not distributed around the ship, that in the darkness, I could see Sydney The final explosion was massive. she suffered massive damage in one still blazing fiercely. Then just before Kormoran survivor Herman Ortmann place. abandoning ship, I looked for the Sydney but she had gone. All was 27 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and Controversy. (90) Will Sydney’s wreck be in one blackness…My opinion is that Sydney 28 Australian Archives. (Melbourne) place? Was there an explosion? had been hit by me at a vital spot, and “Interrogation of German Survivors ex Raider 41 “Kormoran”” Shipwrecks more often than not do not the fire reached the magazine and that MP1049/5/2026/19/6. (20) remain intact. Sometimes they break she blew up and sank. I do not think 29 Australian Archives (Melbourne) 38 “‘Kormoran’ (Raider No. 41) - ‘G’ German apart from the stresses engaged in the there could have been any survivors. AMC - Interrogation of Prisoners”. B6121/ disproportionate pressures necessitated However, there are few other 164M (7) 30 Australian Archives. (Melbourne) in compartments being flooded. suggestions. The 1999 Senate “Interrogation of German Survivors Titanic, for example, although involved Committee of Inquiry examined this ex Raider 41 “Kormoran”” MP1049/5/2026/19/6. (28) in a fairly simple collision – ie: no-one theory (see Chapter Six) but concluded: 31 Australian Archives (Melbourne) was killed in the initial collision with “it is difficult to assess the veracity of “‘Kormoran’ (Raider No. 41) - ‘G’ German AMC - Interrogation of Prisoners”. B6121/ an iceberg, and she settled slowly over such claims when there is no evidence, 164M (27) around three hours – finally broke in for example from interrogations, that 32 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and half during her sinking. Ships involved German survivors actually witnessed Controversy. (92) 33 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and in battle suffer considerable damage Controversy. (85) 37 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and 34 Australian Archives (Melbourne) 35 McDonald, Glenys, Seeking the Sydney. Controversy. (103) “‘Kormoran’ (Raider No. 41) - ‘G’ German (83-84) 38 Australian Archives. (Melbourne) AMC - Interrogation of Prisoners”. B6121/ 36 McDonald, Glenys, Seeking the Sydney. “Kormoran” - Translation of Diaries. 164M (178). (43) B6121/398682. (4) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 11
Sydney exploding.” If there had been explosion was seen or heard.” 43 by six feet.49 This suggests quite heavy an explosion, there might be nothing Dechaineux went on to say: “Most flooding in that area. Given evidence of a wreck to find. A heavily damaged evidence seems to show that the that the forward turrets were paralysed, ship, which eventually explodes, cruiser disappeared suddenly and most there can be some conclusion that might be in such small parts that prisoners believe that she sank before this area was heavily damaged, with nothing constitutes the wreck. Items midnight”. 44 damage control equipment in the area falling to the seabed would eventually The interrogation of the prisoners perhaps out of action. Captain Hore’s sink further into the mud or sand. summarized: “From darkness until analysis above contributes to thinking However, in the light of any evidence, about 230019, the glow of the burning that the Sydney may have capsized and the explosion possibility must be “Sydney” could be seen about 14 or 15 sunk quickly. largely discounted, although unverified miles away to the south eastward, but Interestingly, a summary of the reports39 continue. at a later time this glow disappeared accounts above suggest that Sydney and the raider’s crew believe that she may not be far from the wreck of the How quickly did the cruiser sank.”45 Kormoran. She seems to have sunk sink? Midshipman Otto Joergensen noted quite quickly and still within view Although we can reject an explosion, of he and his fellow survivors that of the survivors in their lifeboats. there seems ample evidence the “when in their boat they saw the fire Although we have suggested that the Australian ship sank quickly. Gill on Sydney suddenly vanish having then wreck of the Kormoran may have thought: “It is not surprising that been in their lifeboat for 1 hour. They somewhat disintegrated, finding it be there were no survivors, for after the heard no explosion.” 46 still prove useful in acting as a datum punishment she received from the Crewman Willy Tummers saw for a Sydney search. shells and bullets, and the ravages of the cruiser on fire after the action fires on board, it is unlikely that much and noted “burning suddenly What can the wreck of the that could float remained.”40 Frame extinguished…they think she sank Sydney tell us? quotes Kormoran crewman Tymmers, about 7.30”.47 However, the summary of What may we conclude is the final who suggested “the cruiser sank at the prisoners’ interrogation concluded scene? The German raiderKormoran about 1930”,41 and later Radio Operator “The cruiser was still in sight, distant is probably only going to exist as a Hans Linke, who when in the raider’s about 10 km when the first boats left fragment of a ship. TheSydney wreck boats during the scuttling operations, the Kormoran, and for some time the is going to be in one piece, perhaps noted that “the boats rowed towards glow of the fire could be seen. Before with sections missing. She is likely to the cruiser in the hope of being picked midnight it had disappeared. No be on an even keel, but is going to be up; she was on fire amidships and explosion was heard.”48 so battered that her hull exterior will astern, and disappeared so suddenly Several Kormoran survivor be insufficient to add to the story. This
she was believed sunk”. 42 interrogation reports noted that the was, after all, a light cruiser which was Captain Dechaineux’s report to cruiser, after she was hit by the torpedo, hit by hundreds of highly explosive the Naval Board concluded “Survivors was down in the bows, most estimating shells, and a torpedo; was on fire stated…at about 1900, cruiser was “from the bridge to the after funnel”50 43 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and seen still heavily on fire and shortly Controversy. (94) when last seen, and was according afterwards disappeared. No violent 44 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and to the experienced sailors who were Controversy. (95) 39 See, for example, “Tales of the Sea: 45 Australian Archives. (Melbourne) abandoning Kormoran, to be hardly HMAS Sydney vs. HSK Kormoran.” 25 “Interrogation of German functioning. TheSydney wreck, if February, 2007. http://lefarkins.blogspot. Survivors ex Raider 41 “Kormoran”” com/2006/12/tales-of-sea-hmas-Sydney-vs- MP1049/5/2026/19/6. (9-10) found, is going to be so badly damaged hsk.html 1 July 2007, and Wikipedia’s entry 46 Australian Archives (Melbourne) that a survey of it will tell us only a for Kormoran: “Sydney was last seen by the “‘Kormoran’ (Raider No. 41) - ‘G’ German crew of Kormoran in flames on the horizon AMC - Interrogation of Prisoners”. B6121/ little of her final moments. The ship’s followed by some kind of explosion”. 1 July 164M (63) remains are now 66 years old, and 2007. 47 Australian Archives (Melbourne) upright sections will have corroded and 40 Gill, G. Hermon. Royal Australian Navy “‘Kormoran’ (Raider No. 41) - ‘G’ German 1939-1942. Melbourne: Collins, 1957. AMC - Interrogation of Prisoners”. B6121/ (459) 164M (112) 49 See summary page 178. Australian 41 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and 48 Australian Archives (Melbourne) Archives (Melbourne) “‘Kormoran’(Raider Controversy. (94) “‘Kormoran’(Raider No. 41) - ‘G’ German No. 41) - ‘G’ German AMC - Interrogation 42 Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and AMC - Interrogation of Prisoners”. B6121/ of Prisoners”. B6121/ 164M. Controversy. (103) 164M (178). 50 Gill (456) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 12 RANWhat may the SydneyHistory wreck reveal Unwin, 1998. probably fallen in on the remainder. the wreck, and finding that it confirms Frame, Tom. HMAS Sydney: Loss and It will be heavily covered with marine the Kormoran survivors’ account, is Controversy. NSW: Hodder and Stoughton, 1993. growth which will have become that this will finally end alternative Gill, G. Hermon. Royal Australian Navy concretions in many parts. Many speculation, which in some cases has 1939-1942. Melbourne: Collins, 1957. HMS Hood website
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Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 13
The Fifth Biennial King-Hall Naval History Conference The 2007 King-Hall Navy History Conference was a resounding success. Held in both Canberra and Sydney, the three day event saw a large number of displays, occasional events, and thought-provoking speeches and papers. These photographs show only a few of the several hundred attendees.
Above: Left to Right: Dr Alexey Muraviev, Peter Overlack and Bob Nicholls
Victoria Kitamov and Richard Jackson share a joke at the dinner
Richard Arundel and Peter Grose - who made the after dinner speech - enjoy coffee at the dinner
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 14
Philip Mulcare and John Bradford
ADFA Midshipmen (left to right) Kane Mackey, Thomas Ford, and Lachlan Browne enjoyed the presentations
The Fifth Biennial King-Hall Naval History Conference Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 15 King Hall
Left to right: Norman Friedman, Professor David Horner, Captain Martin Brooker and Commander Steve Dryden
Neil James and Ric Pelvin
Brian Mann, Deputy head of the Army History Unit and WO2 Stan Albert, the Museum Liaison Officer of the Unit
LCDR Nguyen Thang from Vietnam and CMDR Kasem Niamchay from Thailand look through a copy of the Journal
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute
Issue 126 17 The Soviet Pacific Fleet: August 1945 byJ B aMES uSSERT
Many believe that Allied conflict with In 1941 the Soviet Pacific Japanese troops ended after the atomic Fleet consisted of two destroyer bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on 6 leaders, 12 destroyers, six August 1945. Few are aware that after 40 escorts, 91 submarines, 38 mine years of Japanese occupation, the USSR warfare ships, and around 200 1 captured Korea, Sakhalin, Manchuria, miscellaneous patrol boats. and the Kurile Islands during three Thirty per cent of Soviet Navy weeks in August - after the bomb was bombers and torpedo planes dropped. The Soviet Pacific Fleet had were in the Pacific Fleet, and saw 2 been inactive in port for all five years no action. When Russia signed of the Great Patriotic War, with a non- a non-aggression pact with Japan aggression pact with Japan since April in April 1941, this effectively 1941. This Manchurian campaign was removed the prior Pacific combat The Russian cruiser the only combat action of the Soviet missions of the Fleet since both Japan brigades covered Northern Manchuria Aurora was obsolete Pacific Fleet in World War II. and the United States were not at war and the Japanese 2nd Air Army was by the outbreak with the USSR. stationed in central Manchuria. of WWII. She was therefore stationed Background The February 1945 Yalta Conference Japanese Manchurian defensive forces in St Petersburg In the 1860 Treaty of Peking, Russia resolved that the USSR should attack were deployed in the routes where harbour and used as annexed land from the Ussuri River to Japan. This was again confirmed in Soviet troops and tanks were expected. a floating artillery the Sea of Japan from China. Russia then the July 1945 Potsdam Conference, in The plains south of the towering defence and anti- established Vladivostok, meaning ‘Ruler which the Western Allies agreed to allow and apparently impassable Khingan aircraft battery. of the East’ in Russian, at the southern Russia to regain lost territory if it opened Mountains were not defended. peninsula, and named the bay after Peter a second front against Japan three On 9 August 1945 the Soviets boldly the Great. An 1876 treaty gave all of the months after the defeat of Germany. sent the Sixth Guards Tank Army across Kuriles to Japan and the northern and By August 9, the USSR had received the highest peaks and the tank army was southern halves of Sakhalin to Russia. 100 Lend Lease vessels to be used for unopposed when it reached the Central 4 This division would stand until the the amphibious invasion of Hokkaido. Manchurian Plain on 13 August. Initial Russo-Japanese War in 1905. The Soviet Pacific Fleet had received bitter Japanese troop resistance began The Japanese began the assault on 30 LCI landing craft, 18 large and 19 to weaken and the Soviet advances Port Arthur, a major Russian naval base small minesweepers, 10 frigates, 20 sub- pushed the Japanese across the Yalu 3 in China’s Liaoning Province in February chasers and three repair ships. After River into northern Korea. The 17th 1904. The Tsar sent 39 warships from Germany surrendered on May 8 1945, Front was Korea, which was held by the Baltic to relieve the beleaguered Japan tried to retain the non-aggression the 34th and 59th Army under General port in October 1904 but Port Arthur pact with the USSR and was not Kozuki with nine infantry divisions. The fell in January 1905. The Russian Fleet expecting a Soviet attack on Manchuria. main source of resupply from Japan for did not complete its 18,000 mile trip the landlocked Kwantung Army was around Africa until May 1905, and was Kwantung Forces Seishin and Wonsan ports in Korea and destroyed in the Battle of Tsushima by The Kwantung Army dates from 1915 Sakhalin southern ports of Maoka and a smaller Japanese Fleet, and only one when Japan first created it in South Otomari. cruiser and two Russian destroyers Manchuria. After several conflicts reached Vladivostok after the sea battle. with China and the USSR in the 1930s, Manchuko River Defense Fleet (RDF) The post-war 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth General Yamashita doubled his force split Sakhalin into a Russian northern to 800,000 troops in March 1941. Japan Aside from a few Japanese ships that part and Japanese southern half. Japan had 710,000 largely inexperienced men were in port at a few harbours, the only also took Manchuria and Liaoning spread out from Korea to Manchuria. dedicated Manchurian naval force was Province from Russia after the 1905 The First Front (East Manchuria) had the Manchuko RDF, established by the Russo-Japanese War. During the 1930s, ten rifle divisions and one brigade under Japanese puppet government in 1931, the Japanese expanded their control over General Kita .The th4 Independent Army mentored and augmented with several all of Manchuria. of three infantry divisions and four vessels by the Japanese Navy in 1932. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 18 The Soviet Pacific Fleet: August 1945
Its area of responsibility was the Amur Auxiliary sub-chasers of 135 tons, were River and Sungari River tributary. The listed as captured in Korea and Sakhalin 9 main bases of the Manchuko Flotilla ports. were at Yingkou in the far south, Heiho Known Soviet and Japanese warship and Harbin. losses to American air dropped mines Its 1945 Order Of Battle was five are noted in each campaign. Pre-landing squadrons and five gun boat groups. Soviet air attacks were conducted and A Japanese Navy 2000 ton destroyer Japanese ships were destroyed prior was added in 1937 but was transferred to amphibious landings at navy ports. of Soviet Troops Far East Vasilovsky, Cruiser Kaganovich 5 back to Japan in 1943. Several gunships The northern Japanese home island of requested ADM Kuznetsov, Commissar depicted in 1945 varying from 184 up to 362 tons with 7 Hokkaido had few IJN ships afloat in for the Soviet Navy be sent urgently to 12 cm main batteries were identified August 1945. The remaining IJN vessels to the Far East to coordinate navy and 6 11 in Manchuko river duty. were moved to southern Kyushu ports to land forces. The Pacific main base at In 1945, the main Manchuko Flotilla oppose the pending American invasion Vladivostok provided ships for Korean assets were four gunboats built by force. These were mainly suicide boats port attacks. Sovietskaya Gavan base Harima shipyards in Manchuko and loaded with explosive to hit American supported Sakhalin landings and the Japan. Two vessels were 270 tons and Fleet warships. Japanese submarines Petropavlovsk base provided marines built in 1934 and two were 300 tons could have operated at sea covertly, but and vessels for the major Kurile Island and built in 1935. These shallow draft their mission for several months was amphibious operations. gunboats of 183 foot and 195 foot length largely carrying supplies to beleaguered were heavily armed. They had twin islands south of Japan, not warship Manchurian Front Attack 120mm dual purpose guns forward and torpedo attacks. America dropped an atomic bomb on another one aft plus three machine guns Hiroshima 6 August 1945 and a second 7 in midship towers. Captured Chinese Soviet Pacific Fleet at Nagasaki on August 8, the same or Russian gunships were included in Two Kirov class light cruisers were the date that Russia informed the Japanese the numerous patrol boats, gunboats largest Pacific Fleet ships. TheKalinin consulate in Moscow that a state of war and patrol craft. After losing six was completed in 1943 and Kaganovich now existed between them. The Japanese gunboats defending Heiho on 9 August, was finished in June 1944. Apparently 5th Air Army in Korea (originally most of the remaining units mutinied on they never left pierside in Vladivostok established in1944 Nanking, China) 15 August. The Manchuko RDF was not during the August 1945 brief naval had 600 aircraft. The st1 Air Army HQ a factor in the August 1945 conflict. combat. Neither did any of the ten Type in Tokyo since July 1942, had bases in 7 and Type 4 destroyers or the one Korea and Kuriles, but all aircraft were Japanese Navy in the destroyer leader. Eight Type 7 destroyers withdrawn to defend the home islands in Kwantung Area were shipped on the Trans-Siberian August. Soviet submarines began anti- 12 It would be incorrect to refer to the railway to the Pacific Fleet Komsomolsk Japanese merchant ship operations. August 1945 Soviet Navy action as Shipyard and final fitting out was The Soviet Pacific Fleet had 78 a Russo-Japanese naval war as in completed at Vladivostok. One Type submarines in August 1945. The only 1905, because there was no organised 4 destroyer, Voikov (built in 1913) and recorded success identified was four Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) naval Type 5 Stalin class (built in 1915) were Japanese ships sunk by L-12 and L-19 on resistance. The only opposition to also in the Pacific Fleet. The Soviet Navy 22 August. TheL-19 was itself sunk by Soviet amphibious landings was from had numerous escort vessels, gunboats, an air-dropped US mine while transiting shore batteries. Several major Japanese minelayers and sweepers, and about 50 the La Perouse Strait the following naval bases were captured at Shum Shu submarines in the Pacific Fleet. Several week. On August 9, forces of the Pacific Island, Port Arthur, Korea and Sakhalin. submarines were built in Vladivostok, Fleet and Amur Flotilla, Transbaykal, 10 There were some Japanese naval craft such as L-13 class. Over 100 auxiliaries Soviet Far Eastern Front Armies and auxiliary ships in those ports. filled many coastal naval roles. attacked Manchuria. The Russians had Details on specific ships are lacking, but Few of these ships would participate to use two full divisions and masses of several mine sweepers were present, in this conflict except for American Lend artillery to defeat the single Japanese 8 such as 222 ton minesweepers due to Lease landing craft and miscellaneous 80th Independent Mixed Brigade in the massive B-29 mining campaign. minor vessels. The Commander in Chief Manchuria. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 19
Amur Flotilla Operations and Proletary Buryat (193 ton), were USSR, and again converted to a staff 19 In August 1945, the Amur Flotilla had ‘decommissioned for repairs’. Since communication ship. The ex-American a large variety of vessels and shore there was no record of Manchuko frigate, EK-2, was also a communication 22 units suited to river combat. The Amur Flotilla resistance, the damage must have post for the Seishin landings. A third Flotilla included six monitiors, 11 been from shore artillery. unit, EK-9, was also a communication 23 gunboats, four floating batteries, 52 post in landing operations. Two Soviet armoured gunboats, 12 minesweepers, First Far Eastern Front minesweepers, Lend Lease Admiral Attack on Korea one boom-tender, one staff vessel, 50 class units T-279 and T-524, were lost on auxiliaries and over 100 small boats The Soviet attack on Korea was Aug 14 by mines off Korea, which were 13 and craft. Organisationally, RADM coordinated between the 25th Army, the only admitted naval losses. Antonov had four brigades and a Vladivostok Naval Base and various Emperor Hirohito formally battalion of River Ships. The Flotilla Red Air bases. Pacific Fleet amphibious announced that Japan surrendered had three battalions of Gunboats and forces landed at the seaport of Yuki on to the Allies on 14 August and all three battalions and two Detachments 11 August. Russia used American Lend American forces stopped fighting the 14 of Armored Cruisers. Soviet 385 Lease landing craft sent to Russian next day. That same date, the Joint foot monitors had two 130mm guns Pacific Fleet for use in the planned Chiefs of Staff issued General Order which provided fire support for the attack on Japan. Russians had used small Number 1, which included who the nearly 200 amphibious landing craft boats and auxiliary craft for all prior Japanese were to surrender to in each and boats. Besides the boats, there were amphibious landings during the war area. It stated for Korea, Manchuria, two Special Recon Naval Detachments against Germany. and Sakhalin, surrender to the Far East and a Fighter Aviation Regiment. Three A second major landing followed Soviet Commander in Chief. It did 24 battalions provided anti-aircraft artillery at the port of Rashin (now Najin) not address the Kurile Islands. The protection. on August 12 and patrol boat EK-5 Kwantang Army kept fighting furiously 20 The Amur Flotilla began carrying was the communication staff unit. and Stalin had plans for much more the 15th Army across the river with no Twenty eight 1945 Lend Lease 1430 land to be occupied, including Hokkaido Japanese opposition. Amur Flotilla ton American Tacoma class frigates itself. ships entered the Sungari River and were designated EK 1-28 by the Soviets. Wonsan was attacked on 20 August attacked heavily fortified Japanese strong Resistance was overcome when the 358th by a frigate, two minesweepers and 15 points. Monitors supported the attack Naval Infantry Battalion was landed on six torpedo boats supporting the 1800 25 and capture of Fuyuan, and captured 13 August. The largest Japanese naval man landing force. After negotiations the Tuntsiang defence area on 10 base in northern Korea was Seishin and brief resistance, the offshore gun August. The Soviets noted exceptional and the initial amphibious troops made batteries surrendered on 23 August. performance of the monitor Sun Yatsen. the three hour trip from Rashin on 13 There were15 transits of ships from On 18 August Sun’u fortified city fell August. Amphibious landing forces Vladivostok to Korea, and 234 craft were 26 with 20,000 Japanese prisoners taken. landed at Seishin Naval Base (now claimed to be involved. Russia claimed On August 20 the Amur Flotilla landed Chongjin) on 12-14 August. that their Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB) 16 a force of the 15th Army in Harbin. The main assault by the 355th Naval sank 12 Japanese warships or merchant The Japanese Sungari Flotilla remnants Infantry Battalion arrived on 14 August. ships off of Korea, but none of four surrendered to the 1st and 2nd Amur A frigate and minesweeper provided losses confirmed by Japan were sunk Flotilla Brigades in Harbin, the day after gun support at the port until the arrival by MTBs. One was a 1000 ton Type A 17 Sansing was taken. of the 13th Naval Infantry Brigade on escort IJN Kanju sunk by bombing off 27 The first Soviet Pacific Fleet torpedo 15 August. Seishin did not fall until Korea on August 15. Another was a attacks on enemy ships in World War 16 August. The largest warship in the Type C 810 ton escort hull # 213 sunk 28 II were allegedly by Amur Flotilla Seishin landing was the 1916 vintage at Pusan on Aug 18. Type D Japanese 18 monitors and torpedo launches. Russia 3-stack, 1600 ton destroyer Voikov. The escort hull #46 was sunk by a mine off of 29 admitted no Amur Flotilla losses due to communication vessel for the Seisin south Korea and hull #82 was bombed 21 30 the Manchurian 1945 conflict, but two landing was the 2900 ton Argun, which near Joshin northern Korea. Despite of the eight 385 ton heavy monitors, was a 318 foot British merchant ship the lack of Japanese naval opposition off Dzerzhinski and Kirov, and two Flotilla built in 1923 that had been converted of Korea, Russia lost two merchants off gunboats Krasnos Znamaya (244 ton) to an auxiliary minelayer by the Rasin and three more off Seishin, from Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 20 The Soviet Pacific Fleet: August 1945
American mines. One Russian MTB was 31 lost at Rasin. The Soviets claim that on 14 August, Japan had sent a battleship and three destroyers from Maizyru Navy base to find and attack Soviet naval forces off Korea, but Soviet Fleet command group false communications misled the Japanese battle force away from 32 Soviet units. This seems unlikely since in August 1945 there were no IJN battleships or cruisers afloat in any port. At surrender there were 52 Japanese submarines, which had been on supply missions for months, rather than attacking US forces. The only surface units were a few destroyers and began the attack on Karafuto with a reaction. Stalin even proposed Russian Type C Japanese several kamikaze suicide groups formed three day artillery barrage. Pacific Fleet occupation of northern Japanese WWII Escort vessel in southern Kyushu to attack American amphibious units from Sovetskaya homeland island of Hokkaido on 17 invasion battle groups. Pyongyang Gavan landed in Sakhalin ports of Toto, August but this was quickly rejected by surrendered on 24 August ending the Esutoru and Maoka. On 17 August, Truman. Korean campaign. marine and infantry battalions advanced The Kamchatka Defense Region and took the port of Esutoru. 101st Rifle Division, Petropavlovsk Naval th Second Far Eastern Front/ Marines and army units attacked Base troops and the 128 Air Division Pacific Fleet Attack Sakhalin Maoka on 20 August, after the were staged to attack the Kurile Islands. 35 Since 1905, Sakhalin was divided at submarine Shch-118 landed scouts. The 24 hour trip from Petropavlovsk the 50th parallel and the Handenzawa The same day, 1600 marines landed to Shumshu was 170 sea miles, by far post marked the line of demarcation. at Otomari, and the 3400 defenders the longest distance amphibious craft Southern Sakhalin was named Karafuto surrendered without any resistance. transit for the Soviet Navy in the entire 37 by the Japanese. Northern Sakhalin By 25 August, 18,000 Japanese troops Great Patriotic War. ShumShu Island forces were the Soviet 16th Army and the surrendered in southern Sakhalin on was the first step of the island chain LVI Corps and the North Pacific Naval 25 August. An air landing was made that would lead to the Japanese home Flotilla based in Sovietskaya Gavan. The on the southern island of Iturup on island of Hokaido. Kataoka naval base Japanese had three infantry divisions 28 August. The USSR was very non- that was HQ of the IJN 5th Fleet, a main and one infantry battalion defending committal about losses in Sakhalin Imaizaki Airfield with two landing strips 33 southern Sakhalin. On 16 August, combat operations. Four Lend Lease 203 with large hanger and fuel depot, as well the 740 ton torpedo boat Zarnitsz, ton YMS minesweepers (T-152, T-278, as a new wartime Miyoshino Airfield four minesweepers, two transports, six T-279 and T-610) were lost during the in the centre of the island. This tiny gunboats and nineteen torpedo boats August 1945 combat, but it is not stated 180 square mile area northern island attacked Port Toro. Again this operation which campaign they were operating was defended by the 11th Armored 36 could have benefited from Soviet in. Regiment, 31st Infantry Regiment and destroyers for communications, staff and 73rd Infantry Brigade. The two northern gunfire support. Communication staff Kurile Island Attack islands of ShumShu and Paramushiro, were on minesweeper TChsh-524, an ex- America and Russia agreed at the Yalta had 23,000 Japanese troops and 60 tanks 38 American Admiral class minesweeper conference that all Kurile Islands from for defence. The attacking Soviets 34 for the Otomari landings, and Onekotan Island south were within had only 9000 troops and American torpedo boat boat Zarnitsa for the America’s sphere. Russia was allowed amphibious rule was invaders should Esutoru landings. The only defending to seize only the top four islands. Stalin outnumber defenders at least 10:1 to Japanese troops were the 88th Infantry planned on occupying those islands win. Soviet Navy landing craft attacked Division. On 19 August the Soviets and also Onekotan to test American Takedo Beach on the northern tip of Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 21
ShumShu Island, landing at 0200 on by the 91st Infantry Division. There were 18 August. Soviet artillery located five airbases on this island located on at the southern tip of Cape Lopatka the north east tip, centre and south west Kamchatka, supported the ShumShu corner of the island and Paramushiru attack. Island was occupied on 24 August. At this time the Emperor was trying The next seven tiny islands were lightly to surrender to the Allies, and a Japanese defended by the 41st Infantry Regiment. victory at ShumShu would jeopardise Since America did not forcefully object, this. The Imperial th5 Army Area Stalin directed the Pacific Fleet to take Commander ordered ShumShu forces to the remaining islands, in defiance of the stop resisting except for self defence at Potsdam agreement. operations. The northern and southern Surrender of 39 noon on the 18th.. This was reaffirmed One force from Kataoka base Soviet forces completed the occupation Japan, Tokyo Bay, th 2 September 1945 the following day when the 5 Area moved down the chain, and Onetotan, of all Kurile Islands on August 28. The View of the Command forbad even self-defence Shashikotan and Harumukotan Islands IJN 135 ton auxiliary sub-chaser #77 surrender resistance. ShumShu surrendered at the were occupied sequentially on 25-27 was sunk during an air raid on Aug 28 at ceremonies, 45 Kataoka Bay navy base on 21 August. August. Another Soviet amphibious Horomushira. looking forward The Soviets lost 1700 men on ShumShu force on Dzerzhinski landed on Six thousand Japanese troops on from USS Missouri’s compared to1000 Japanese casualties. Matsua Island on 24 August. That Etorofu surrendered to landing troops superstructure, as Admiral Conrad This amphibious intensive island- island surrendered on 27 August on August 30 and 1250 surrendered 46 E.L. Helfrich signs hopping attack really needed cruiser when the main landing force arrived, on Kunashiri on 1 September. the Instrument of or destroyer gunfire support and and Dzerzhinski moved on to occupy Barely beating the scheduled Japanese Surrender on behalf communication support room. Russian Shimushiru, the last Kurile Island. That surrender on 2 September on USS of The Netherlands. warships Kirov and Dzherzhinski did same day, minesweepers 589 and 590 Missouri, the Soviets landed troops General of the Army Douglas MacArthur support the Kurile landing, but not left Otomari and swept for mines to from two ships on Shikotan also on 1 41 is standing beside the 8800 ton cruisers with their nine Kunashiri and Etorofu. On 28 August September. The Soviets plan to also him. (Photograph 180mm guns. They were two 810 ton Soviet troops launched amphibious steal the Habomai Islands from America from the Army escort vessels built by Italy in 1934 for attacks on the two large southern apparently failed because the two Soviet Signal Corps Russia. Dzherzhinski was a notable ship islands. Uruppu and Etorofu islands ships Vsevold Sibirtsev and Novosibirsk Collection in the US in the Kuriles, as will be described. She were defended by the 129th Infantry landed 2400 troops on 3 September, a National Archives.) 47 transited to Vladivostok via the Suez Brigade and 89th Infantry Division day too late. On 20 September 1945 Canal and she was 250 foot long with respectively. Soviet naval craft with revision to the Executive Order Number three 102mm guns and four 40mm troops were landed on the southern 1, the USSR claimed possession of the guns. This versatile workhorse with Etorofu and Kunashiri islands as a Kurile Islands to include Shikotan and 42 48 an unusual 3 shaft diesel plant, served second prong. Habomai. as an NKVD guardship until August, The Japanese fought fiercely for six The Kuriles fighting did not end until when she was converted for mine laying days, sinking five Lend Lease LCIs and 3 September which finally ended World 43 and served well as a command troop three LCMs. These were the only naval War II, 18 days after the Emperor’s 40 carrying ship. losses admitted by Russia in the eleven surrender and one day after the official The USSR did have two large 3200 day Kurile Islands campaign. Of all of surrender aboard Missouri on 2 ton auxiliary minelayers, named Okean the areas that Russia attacked in August, September. and Okhotsk, based in Petropavlovsk, the Kuriles was the most stubborn in the Kurile forces. Their three 130mm Japanese resistance and highest Russian Transbaykal Front guns were probably used for landing casualties, since the Japanese homeland Paratroop Advances support. Other attack vessels were four was only a few miles south of the island Paratroop attacks would be required for minesweepers, six landing craft and 17 chain and the Japanese thought that this Stalin’s forces to regain all of the territory transports carrying 9000 Navy Marines was their homeland. lost since 1905, since Japan’s announced and Army troops. The submarineL-8 The TChsh-334 minesweeper was surrender to the Allies occurred on reportedly participated in the ShumShu a communication post for the Kurile 14 August. This would require speedy 44 amphibious landing. The neighbouring operations although the frigate landings in key desired target cities with larger Paramushiro Island was manned Dzerzhinski led several advance landing minimum delay of Japanese resistance. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 22
3 Russell, Richard, “Mission of Higher Classification” US Naval This ambitious operation began at including Port Arthur in only three Institute. August 2005, USNI Proceedings, Annapolis, MD p. 7. dawn on August 19, when Colonel weeks. The Soviet Pacific Fleet 4 Shtemenko S.M. General. The Soviet General Staff At War. Moscow: Progress Publishers , 1970. p.346. Abramenko, five officers and only conducted a total of 20 amphibious 5 Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships –1922-1946. London: six troops flew from the Transbaikal landings during the Manchurian Conway Maritime Press Ltd, 1980. p. 414. 51 6 Jowell, Philip. Rays of the Rising Sun. England: Helion & Company Front directly to the Kwantung Army campaign. A surprising fact is that Ltd, 2004. p. 101-102. headquarters airport in Changchun. He of ‘Soviet Pacific Fleet’ units identified 7 Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships –1922-1946 p. 414. 8 Fukui. The Japanese Navy at the End of WW2. Old Greenwich, met with General Yamada himself and specifically by hull, many were 1945 Conn., We, Inc. 1947. p. 119. demanded surrender of all Kwantung American Lend Lease, and not Soviet 9 Fukui. The Japanese Navy at the End of WW2. p. 114, 115. 10 Achkasov V.I. Capt. and RADM N.B. Pavlovich. Soviet Naval forces around Changchun. After a tense built ships. After sitting out the war Operations in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. p. 234. conference, the Japanese surrendered, in port for five years, why were Soviet 11 Shtemenko S.M. General. The Soviet General Staff At War. p. 342. and at 2300 the 30th Guards Mechanised ships not given the chance to fight? 12 Shtemenko S.M. General. The Soviet General Staff At War. p. 343. 13 Meister, Jurg. Soviet Warships of the Second World War. New Brigade paratroops landed and disarmed This was the only opportunity for the York: Arco Publishing Co. , NY, 1977. p. 340. 49 the Japanese and Manchurian troops. Soviet Pacific Fleet to finally go on 14 1945 Russian Far East Order Of Battle www.freeport-tech.com/ th WWII/012_ussr/45. The next day advance units of the 6 offensive operations, but destroyer and 15 Brown, John “Soviet Blitzkrieg”. WW II Presents Victory in the Guards Army entered Changchun. Also larger ships continued to remain in Pacific. Palm Coast, Florida: Primedia History. July 2005. p. 74. 16 Aleksandrov, A. Velikaya pobeda na dalnyem vostoke. Moscow: on 19 August, 225 paratroops landed at port. If Stalin had attacked Hokkaido Veche, 2004. p. 274. the major city and rail centre of Mukden. as planned, possibly some major units 17 Burgess, William H. Inside Spetstaz. Novato, California: Presidio Press, 1990. p. 143. They were augmented by additional could have participated, but with over Soviet troops the next day, but this still 40 additional Lend Lease ships received 18 Shtemenko S.M. General. The Soviet General Staff At War. p. 345. 19 Meister, Jurg. Soviet Warships of the Second World War. p. 342. totalled only 1000 Russian troops. They later in August, this still may not have 20 Smirnov P.Y. Capt., Capt. V.I. Solovyev. “Organization of Pacific successfully disarmed 50,000 Japanese in occurred. Russian deaths in August 1945 Fleet Communications in Preparation, Landing of Amphibious Troops in Ports of North Korea, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands”. Voyenno-Istoricheskiy the city without any casualties. were 8000 men, compared to 80,000 Zhurnal No. 8, August 1986, Moscow. p. 26. On August 20 Russian paratroops Japanese killed and 600,000 prisoners 21 Smirnov, Organization of Pacific Fleet Communications.., p. 22. 22 Smirnov, Organization of Pacific Fleet Communications.., p. 23. landed at Harbin and Kirin. On August making this the largest defeat for Japan 23 Smirnov 52 22 about 250 paratroops landed at each during WW II. � 24 Hasegawa Tsuyoshi. Racing the Enemy. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2005. p. 265. of the major seaports of Darien, Port 25 Aleksandrov, A. Velikaya pobeda na dalnyem vostoke. p. 287. Biography Arthur and Lushun. On 25 August, 17 26 Smirnov, Organization of Pacific Fleet Communications.., p. 26. 27 Fukui. The Japanese Navy at the End of WW2. p. 72. lend lease Catalina seaplanes departed James Bussert is a retired Master Chief 28 Fukui. The Japanese Navy at the End of WW2. p. 26. Vladivostok and landed Navy Marines at Sonarman and currently employed with 29 Fukui. The Japanese Navy at the End of WW2. p. 26. 30 Fukui. The Japanese Navy at the End of WW2. p. 26. the Port Arthur (renamed Lushun) navy Surface ASW Fire Control safety at 31 Burgess, William H. Inside Spetstaz. p. 150. port, occupied by Japanese forces since NSWC Dahlgren. He has been working 32 Smirnov, Organization of Pacific Fleet Communications.., p. 26. 33 Burgess, William H. Inside Spetstaz. p. 138. 1905. It was so unexpected, that many in ASW for 53 years since enlisting in 34 Smirnov, Organization of Pacific Fleet Communications.., p. 22. 50 Japanese ships were still in port. Naval 1954. After winning two Naval Institute 35 Borodin. A.V. Retired Col “History of Russia’s Pacific Fleet”, p. 2 web:
24 Australia’s Secret War Australia’sChapter IV Secret War byH al G.P. Colebatch
Part IV in the continuing story of the tricky in a southerly wind as there is uncertain fortunes of war delaying secret battle on Australia’s wharves no room for tugs forward. It is essential Sydney might have equally caused it to in WWII to get a wire out from the bows to the miss Kormoran as to run into it. War nose of the dock as soon as the ship is is full of illustrations of La Fontaine’s positioned, otherwise she will blow down motto On rencontre sa destinee/ E very Cruiser Targeted on shoal water. Out went the heaving Souvent par des chemins qu’on prend lines but the dockyard riggers refused to pour l’eviter and in any case it is a At the beginning of World War II handle them. There was some dispute warship’s job to seek and engage the the most powerful ships in the Royal about the time allowed for washing enemy. Sydney was a much more Australian Navy were the ageing 8-inch- hands after breakfast! We had lowered powerful ship and should normally have gunned County-class cruisers HMA boats on approaching the dock and thus defeated Kormoran with ease: it appears Ships Australia and Canberra, three, were able to get our own hands ashore to have been taken by surprise because more modern, improved Leander-class to man the wires before it was too late. of some extraordinary and inexplicable “Curtin even cruisers - Sydney, Perth and Hobart - We were not amused by our welcome at failures of normal procedures. The lack blamed himself each with eight 6-inch guns, making Cockatoo Island. (1) of the able and experienced Collins may for the ship’s loss them slightly under-gunned by the well have been critical. since its departure standards of the day, and the older and It is alleged by John Curtin’s latter- The real point is that trade unionists smaller 6-inch cruiser Adelaide. The day biographer David Day that when were able to delay the sailing of an from Sydney had British County-class cruiser Shropshire HMAS Sydney was subsequently important troopship and one of been delayed by was transferred to the Royal Australian lost with all hands (Collins had been Australia’s few major warships at a industrial trouble. Navy later after Sydney, Perth and transferred out) after a battle with the crucial point of the war without any Had he moved Canberra were sunk. German raider Kormoran, probably effective government action to stop decisively against Every one of these major ships, like because of a magazine explosion, that: this. It is just possible that had the other RAN vessels, was subjected to “Curtin even blamed himself for the troops the Zealandia was carrying the unionists, strikes and/or go-slows, sabotage, and ship’s loss since its departure from got to Singapore a week earlier they the ship might harassment of crew during World War Sydney had been delayed by industrial might have used that time to improve have left on time II, including during critical periods. trouble. Had he moved decisively Singapore’s field-defences to resist and avoided its Vice-Admiral Sir John Collins, against the unionists, the ship might the coming Japanese attack. This also encounter with probably the Australian Navy’s greatest have left on time and avoided its illustrates the feeble and conciliatory seaman, was Captain in HMAS Sydney encounter with the Kormoran. Or so he attitude adopted by the Curtin the Kormoran. when she sank the Bartolomeo Colleoni told himself.”(2) Government towards strategically- Or so he told in the Mediterranean on 17 July, 1940, a Day is wrong and misses the point: destructive strikes - probably because himself.” victory, when victories were few and far HMAS Sydney departed not from of the influence of Eddie Ward and between, that was a tonic for the hard- Sydney but from Fremantle, on 11 the other Left-wingers in the Cabinet, pressed British and Empire forces. November, 1941, encountering the but also for historical and ideological He recounted in his memoirs Kormoran on November 19. It had reasons which will be examined returning with the ship to Sydney in been delayed about a week because the below. The government was possibly February 1941 after long and hard troop-ship for Singapore which it was eventually, or at least verbally, a little service in the Mediterranean. The city escorting, the Zealandia (which would more resolute in the matter of coal and wished to give HMAS Sydney and her be subsequently delayed by Darwin transport strikes, perhaps because their crew a heroes’ welcome. However watersiders when taking troops to effects could be more immediately felt the behaviour of the workers at the Timor and later bombed at Darwin), by the civilian population and could Cockatoo Island Dock (not members had on this occasion been delayed by cost votes. The wharves were of course of the Watersider Workers’ Federation) a seamen’s strike in the eastern States. closed in wartime and what went on nearly resulted in the ship being However, even if it is correct that there was unseen except by those stranded. As Sir John recounted it: Sydney fell in with Kormoran because involved. The entrance to the dock is rather of the delay in getting to sea, in the Brendon Whiting was the son of Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 25
a petty officer lost inHMAS Sydney’s days after Pearl Harbour. (3) what was missing, not having fired any sister-ship, HMAS Perth, in the battle With Sydney and Perth sunk, HMAS six-inch shells since well before we were of Sunda Strait on 28 February, 1942, Hobart was Australia’s last surviving torpedoed. So signs were well displayed: when Perth and the damaged US modern cruiser. In 1943 Hobart was No Naked Lights”, “No Oxy Torches”, cruiser Houston fell in with a large torpedoed and heavily damaged, the “Unlocated Ammunition” etc. Japanese naval force. Both ships stern being virtually blown off, and was Well, down comes some snoozer sank after an heroic fight against lucky not to have sunk. The amount of not well versed in the King’s English overwhelming odds. Only 215 of Perth’s damage suggests a Japanese 24-inch and he did find the cordite. He was crew of 680 survived the battle and “Long Lance” oxygen torpedo was used badly burned and we heard later subsequent years of Japanese captivity. - these were probably the torpedoes died. All hands walked off the job. Whiting’s account, Ship of Courage, which wreaked havoc among Allied Negotiations continued for some was taken in part from Perth’s earlier forces at the battle of the Java Sea. days (I had left the ship by then) and war-diaries. After returning from Mr W. (“Bill”) Wreford was a subsequently work was resumed at a service in the Mediterranean and wartime officer inHobart , and was “danger loading” -there was NO danger Indian Oceans Perth was sabotaged by serving in her when she was torpedoed. anymore! - of 7 shillings per hour. An dockyard worker either for ideological He was below in a cabin aft and Able Seaman’s pay rate, at the time, was motives or because they wanted to narrowly escaped being killed in the 8 shillings per day. And that loading However, instead of prolong the lucrative job of refitting. blast. He tells the following story: remained for the entire refit, which working diligently Whiting describes the sabotage as Hobart was torpedoed at 1845 lasted about 18 months: the work-rate for the war-effort “unbelievable”, showing, perhaps the hours on the night of 20 July, 1943, port was in stark contrast to the USN’s the “dockyard extent to which Australia’s secret war side aft, in a position about 100 miles example at Santo. mateys” as they has been kept secret. due west of the New Hebrides. The Hobart did not in fact re-enter In September/October of 1941, torpedo hit obliquely, going aft so the service until early 1945. Mr Wreford were then known, Perth was required to return to sea duty main blast was directed, fortunately, continued: were seen playing ... The ship’s departure from Sydney away from the after 6-inch magazine. Early the next year, 1944, I was cards in the mess- was also delayed by the unbelievable Had that been in the direct line of fire drafted to Brisbane to re-commission deck and generally - sabotage, within Cockatoo Dock there would not have been anything [the sloop HMAS] Swan as gunnery loafing. in Sydney Harbour. This was a well- left, material or human. Casualties were officer. kept secret and news of it was never pretty light. Had it happened an hour She was alongside Evans Deakin released. Repair and fitting out work on later, there would have been 200 men in works in the Brisbane River, and exactly Perth was supposedly being carried out the vicinity and a vastly different story the same procedure was followed by by dockyard workers 24 hours round would have unfolded ... we limped into the “workers”: they went on strike at the the clock to get the ship ready for sea Espiritu Santo where the US Navy had a drop of a shell-case, they bludged, they again. big base and were temporarily repaired stole, they found funk-holes and simply However, instead of working by the USS Vestal ... slept until knock-off time. I would have diligently for the war-effort the Being under Navy discipline her cheerfully volunteered to have shot “dockyard mateys” as they were then team did a very good job on us, under- them. Stop-work meetings were almost known, were seen playing cards in the water cutting and welding, so that we a daily occurrence. The Evans Deakin mess-deck and generally loafing. were able to make about 10 knots back engineer told me: “Please don’t show There was a fire in the canteen, to Sydney after about a six-week stay. up at these meetings, Mr Wreford, we’ll the after magazine was flooded, and We arrived at Sydney and went straight never get you to sea!” six-inch nails were found in all the into dock at Cockatoo - and then the Perhaps the most apt description wiring up to the bridge. In the end, scum moved aboard. of the breed’s behaviour is in Nicholas armed crew members manned the ship We had failed to locate one cordite Monsarrat’s book, The Cruel Sea, page all night to guard against sabotage ... charge in the badly twisted and buckled 161.(4) It gives the picture in all its stark [following a deliberately-lit fire] all the ammunition hoist serving “Y” turret reality. The very nature of the scum electric cables leading to the director (the aftermost one, on the quarter- is common ... They were “protected”, tower on the bridge melted and had to deck). Strict accounting is essential for pampered, paid far higher rates than be replaced, which took about a month, ammunition: lot numbers of cordite ANY servicemen and their reciprocity so we only got operational again a few records are essential, etc., so we knew took the form of making the sump Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 26 Australia’s Secret War –Chapter Secret IV War of a Cairo brothel look like an unfair us that the work could have been done worn 8-inch guns were being re-rifled before it sailed for comparison!(5) more quickly, much as we enjoyed the Borneo campaign. On the last occasion 1,300 dockyard Mr W. H. (“John”) Ross, was a career being reasonably snug in harbour. workers walked off various jobs. The work on the guns was Naval officer who served inHMAS Various examples of the kind of eventually done by the Navy. In fact, only one of Shropshire’s Sydney in the Mediterranean, was things that were offensive to us became wartime dockings in Sydney does not seem to have been transferred to HMAS Canberra just the subject of much bitter discussion affected by significant union trouble. (7) Stan Nicholls served before Sydney was sunk with all hands, and disgust in the Mess during this as an Able Seaman in Shropshire and later wrote a history of and subsequently survived the sinking period and I was able to contribute my the ship: of Canberra off Savo Island. He had own experiences as, for instance, when Before leaving for our first battle on 29 October, 1943, changed duties with another officer and one morning I came upon an electrician some union labour troubles made it necessary for Royal the position he would normally have sitting on top of his step-ladder in the Australian Navy Ratings to engage in dry-docking the ship occupied was completely obliterated passageway near my cabin. He was at Woolwich for refitting, undocking on the 28th to carry by an enemy shell-burst in the first running new cables along the deckhead out degaussing ranging. The dockyard workers declared salvo. After the war he became an and had reached a bulkhead. I wished Shropshire black and it was fairly obvious, apart from some administrative and financial officer with him good morning and asked him what genuine grievances, that dockyard workers didn’t know the University of Western Australia. was happening and he explained that he there was a war on even though they were being paid danger Stormy Petrel, his first book about was waiting for a boiler-maker to come money for working on a warship. (8) Sydney, has long been regarded as a and drill a hole through the bulkhead. He described the ship’s return to Sydney at the beginning classic of Australian Naval literature. I said, “Surely you can do that!” But of 1945: I knew Mr Ross in the latter part of he replied, “Oh No! That is a boiler- The return to Sydney quickly turned to anger when, after his life and helped with the preparation maker’s job. If I do it I’ll be in serious nearly a year away and secured alongside Garden island of his second, autobiographical book, trouble.” ready to leave, we were to witness the efforts of the dockyard Lucky Ross (one of the nick-names On another occasion I returned police to hold us back to allow the dockyard workers to board by which he became known in the after spending a night ashore to find the ferry for Circular Quay first. The ferry had not arrived Navy). He was very much an officer some “docky” who was supposed to and the weight of the angry sailors kept moving to push these and a gentleman (I choose the latter be doing a night-shift - and probably “usurpers” into the drink ... During our stay in Sydney the word carefully and mean it in its best receiving penalty rates for it - had been dockyard workers went on strike and declared the ship black. and most literal sense), somewhat spending some time in my bunk. He They had been reported for lighting fires between decks to boil given to understatement. However his had been so blatant about it he hadn’t their billy tea and for being lazy and slow in carrying out their comments on the refitting ofCanberra even bothered to tidy the bedding. The daily work (So much for being paid danger money for working in Sydney indicate a deep outrage rumpled and grease-marked sheets on a warship). in men who had endured months of and other bedclothes had been left just On this particular day 1300 men walked off the ship, after front-line combat and many of whose as he tossed them aside. Because we a supposed day’s work. A quick check on the decks revealed comrades had already perished in battle were unable to prove the identity of the very few (about 100) were actually to be seen on the job. In fact in Sydney and Perth. He wrote: culprit it was just shrugged off by his constant smokos seemed to be the order of the day. The upshot In the details of Canberra’s superiors. (6) of the black ban was that we returned north with much of our movements listed earlier ... it will be Mr Keith Nordahl was also a equipment still requiring urgent maintenance.(9) noted that her refit [at Sydney] took survivor of HMAS Canberra and three months, that is, from mid- later served in HMAS Shropshire in The flagship,HMAS Australia, was also subject to February to mid-May, 1942., and an 8-inch gun-turret. After the war industrial trouble when it returned to Australia for having experienced the speed with he was president of the Canberra- refitting after being badly damaged and suffering many which the Maltese dockyard workers Shropshire Association in Western casualties when repeatedly hit by Kamikazes at Lingayen were operating I was surprised by what Australia. He recalled a strike when Gulf in January, 1945. While Kamikazes often damaged seemed to be the leisurely, peace-time Shropshire docked at Woolwich, North superstructure rather than the vitals of large ships, on this methods of our own people. Admittedly Sydney, in October, 1943, another occasion two of them hit the water near Australia and the Maltese were very much in the front in June, 1944, when it put in with a skidded into it, blowing a 14-foot hole in the port side. � line of the war, but at that time we in damaged starboard propeller and Australia had the Japanese on our own again at Captain Cook dock at Garden “Australia’s Secret War” continues next issue. front door-step and all of us were in Island, Sydney, in May, 1945, after grave danger. On board it seemed to the Philippines campaign, when its Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 27
Notes:
(1). Sir John Collins, As Luck Would Have It (Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1965), p. 97. (2) David Day, John Curtin, a life (HarperCollins, 1999), pp. 427-428. (3) Brendan Whiting, Ship of Courage (George Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1994), pp. 27-28. (4) There is an incident described in The Cruel Sea in which the crew of a warship which has been in dock find that dockyard workers have stolen the emergency food- supplies out of the life-rafts. The Cruel Sea is fiction but closely based on fact. Its author, Nicholas Monsarrat, was a wartime Naval officer and commanded a corvette. (5) Letter following interview, Perth, 6 July, 1994. Hal G.P. Colebatch has an MA in History/ as a Book of the Year in the London (6)W. H. Ross, Lucky Ross: An RAN Officer 1934-1951 (Hesperian Press, Perth, 1994), Politics and a PhD in Political Science Spectator. His latest book is Steadfast pp. 217-218. (7) Interview, Perth, 21 February, 1996. and is the author of several books as Knight: a life of Sir Hal Colebatch (8) Stan Nicholls, HMAS Shropshire (Naval Historical Society of Australia, Adelaide, well as many articles in The Australian, (Fremantle Arts Centre Press, WA). This 1989), p. 59. Quadrant, The American Spectator is an extract from his unpublished book (9) Ibid, pp 186-187. etc. His book Blair’s Britain was chosen Australia’s Secret War.
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Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 28 The RAN and Recruit Seaman Andrews… …some thoughts on a change of life-style. Part 2 BG Ay rAEME nDREWS, R51410.
hristmas Leave over, the Recruit wanted us all to be about Intermediate School returned to life. As Education Standard, if only to be able C‘sailors’ of some three months seniority to understand the range of Books of we ‘knew’ our way around the system Reference ( BRs) that were ahead of us. and the Depot routine was fairly In charge of our class was a choleric comfortable. Commander, one ‘Tiger’ Lyons. He I have no way of knowing if the was a great teacher and, as a survivor sailors of today have any public ‘perks’ of HMAS Perth, he was able to instruct but there were a number of such that us in the differences between male and were very useful in the 1950s. Our female bamboo! It seems that male postage was one penny – 1d.- and our bamboo is less dense and when you letters were carried Air Mail if that was are being encouraged to carry a great suitable. The general public’s mail went load of the stuff by a friendly Japanese by road, rail or sea unless a premium Burma railway soldier, this was useful was paid. Long Distance phone calls information, if not to us. went through an exchange operated Rifle drill involved large and heavy by a human and for us, the rates .303 rifles (c. 1919) and the firing of Recruit Seaman were much cheaper. In cities where same at the butts. We leaned how to involved but sometimes a tip might be Andrews, R51410, 1955. government trams, buses and ferries formation march and to do funeral and offered. ran, servicemen in uniform travelled admirals guard drills – just in case. When the parents returned the free. Baby sitting was a new benefit. sailor was driven back to the Police The public perception of Second part recruits could put their Office and signed in - wouldn’t want to The FND Ship’s servicemen and their occasional frolics name on a roster for babysitting. lose a sailor would we? Company cafeteria was friendly, almost avuncular, and This service applied to officers and to On Saturday and Sunday nights from the Recruit it was usually easy to hitch hike if in non-commissioned officers and their movies were shown in the Drill Hall. School J block. uniform. I made the run between families, living in Sydney-Melbourne-Sydney many times depot housing at the by standing on the highway. ‘patch.’ Our routine had changed. There Wearing Night was somewhat less Bull Ring and clothing, negative more study and our class sometimes cap, the babysitter broke up as certain sections did was called for at the familiarisation courses. One such Police Office and was was the Gas Chamber. Into this signed out! At the air-tight little brick building we designated home a list were’ invited’, wearing our Anti-Gas of typed instructions Respirators(AGR). Tear gas canisters was provided. If a TV were opened and after a suitable period existed instruction of time we were ordered to remove the was given, along with AGRs. At this time the class bully cum directions for toilet, thug panicked and broke for the door. supper and, if lucky, It was noted by the rest of us that he a bottle of beer with was missing the following day! the cap removed was Reading,’riting and ‘rithmetic indicated. Payment became part of our day. The Navy in money was not Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 29
For one shilling recruits could sit at having ‘met a sailor.’ These friendships, When we were not being doubled FND’s twin 4.5in. the back of the hall. Officers in front, in my case at least, lasted many years. around or studying there were a turret ‘protected’ followed by CPOs and POs, the Ship’s As we gathered a few pounds, the number of out of hours activities the approach to the Seamanship School. Company and their families (if any), Navy allowed certain hawkers to visit on offer. Apart from the TV room, then Recruits. Dress night clothing, 4 after hours. We could buy a range of there was ‘Millies’ or the Millionaire’s or 4As, negative caps. things from Life Assurance to civilian Club – soft drinks, billiards, ‘burgers, Saturday and Sunday afternoons clothing, mainly from Sinbad’s Naval ice-creams, soap, white cleaner et al. were also interesting. There were Tailors or from Red Anchor. They sold There were several volleyball courts on families, with no obvious naval good stuff and 50 years later I still have suitable flat spots, a scout troop existed connections, who would visit for the and wear a woollen pullover that I paid somewhere in the base and the Depot afternoon. They often went away off over six months by an allotment. Padres Tim Were and Gray Swain, ran
Four of the members of Class 74 ready for a swim in 1956. Author is at right, who are the others?
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 30 The RAN and Recruit Seaman Andrews… …some thoughts on a change of life-style. This depot Photographer image looks over the Gymnasium towards the Cadet College, later became the Wrannery.
a fellowship known as TocH. During everybody honest. Behaviour there was any leave plans for a few weeks. the weekend one could walk up to the always good, or almost always, even at In April 1956 Class 74 and others of metropolis of Cribb Pt and visit the 0300 because the word was around that that period were taken by bus to a small nearby ferry wharf or a small café – if the Shore Patrol was called to you – wharf near Station Pier, Melbourne. always in uniform, of course. The more you were banned – forever! Puffing away quietly alongside was physical among us could sail Bosn’s On Mondays at about 0550 the a warship and it was real. HMAS dinghies, take part in organised sport alarm rang. A quick wash, quicker Gladstone, soon re-named ‘Happyrock,’ (always a good way to attract attention breakfast and then down to Spencer St was our training ship. On her we were for those seeking rapid promotion) or to catch the ‘Spirit. to learn about watchkeeping and go on organised cross-country runs It didn’t matter what time the old sleeping and eating in the same space. In the early 1950s HMAS Gladstone and so on. loco made it as long as you were ON it. Her crew of about 60 had to cope with often visited the All the above were merely time- If you came in after 0730 by any other 40 odd recruits. Base on Hanns Inlet. fillers pending one’s next weekend means you might just as well not make Up on the ‘pointy end’ was a real leave. Sailors didn’t have much money to ‘go ashore’ with but there were ways of eking it out. The best way was to get up to the Exhibition Building as quickly as you could after Young and Jacksons shut at 1800. On the NE corner of the venerable ‘Exhibish’ was The White Ensign Club. This organisation was beautifully set up and run by a few paid staff and many female volunteers – almost all with that ‘Mum’ look, and patient, friendly and long-suffering, to boot. The meals were cheap and good. The cubicles were lockable, reasonably roomy and comfortable and all having a ‘ceiling’ of chicken wire to keep Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 31
Graeme Andrews joined the sea cadets in 1953; the Navy in 1955, and left full time Service in 1968, staying a member With a load of of the Reserve forces until 1979 when apprehensive 4in. gun and at the other end was a out what next Pussers had for us. We he retired with the rank of Petty sailors, Gladstone heavy machine gun of some sort. were to go to Sydney by train and heads out into Bass Gladstone was one of the last there we would join the carrier HMAS Officer. From 1975 to 1988 he was the Strait. operational members of a series of Sydney and we were all to be rated as Australian and Pacific representative about 60 similar fleet minesweeper Ordinary Seamen (or whatever). for Jane’s Fighting Ships, and from (corvettes) that were built in Australia. Sydney was an aircraft carrier – or 1970 to 1980 a full time professional She was a great little ship and she had been – and she was enormous writer. From 1980 to 1993 Graeme introduced green sailors to green seas and in her we would begin to learn the and along the way many of us spent subtle methods by which ships side was master of various Manly ferries Naval Bandsmen, dressed in their time in various shades of green. grey paint may be applied over large and coastal tugs. He was awarded original Royal In 2006 her sister ship Castlemaine areas, but that’s another tale. Ordinary the Order of Australia Medal in 2000 marine-style is afloat as a museum ship at Seaman G.K. Andrews, was off to for voluntary work with the Sydney uniforms, prepare Williamstown and another sister sea. � to lead the Coral Heritage Fleet and for his many books Whyalla is ashore as a relic at Whyalla. Sea Day March in and other publications on Australian Melbourne in 1956. Safely back in FND, we soon found matters maritime over more than 40 years. He has published, he thinks, about 28 books, and is now writing for Afloat magazine in Sydney.
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 32 “This ain’t the sea, it’s an arms race!” C RlOSING eMARKS by Nazery Khalid Research Fellow, MIMA Seminar on Maritime Powers’ Interests in the Strait of Malacca Kuala Lumpur - 12 July 2007
ince time immemorial, the oceans have provided a theater forS great powers to play out their strategic interests, often on a grand scale. Nations flex their muscles at sea through their navies as a natural extension of their strength and confidence, and as a visible projection of a formidable instrument of state power. A scan through the pages of history gives credence to the Mahanian doctrine of whomsoever controls the seas, controls the land. Great powers of the past set sail across the oceans with their powerful fleets to colonize faraway land. History is rich with stories of great naval battles which acted as a prelude to the conquest of nations. The downfall of the Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century began with the assault of Malacca Port by the Portuguese armada – the undisputed naval superpower of the time. Centuries later, mankind has made much progress in so many areas but the sea remains a place that is seemingly up for grabs, despite the proliferation of conventions and laws to govern it. The fluid, unbroken nature of the sea that lends it a borderless feature makes some maritime powers behave in almost an unrestrained manner. The world’s oceans today are characterized by messy maritime maps, an ideology that defines the existence of Straits of Malacca Economic Zones (EEZ) under the overlapping imaginary boundaries and many of the world’s navies and dictates courtesy NASA UNCLOS regime, the much cherished cluttered claims over areas of strategic their engagements at sea. Out in the principle of unimpeded travel in the interests and rich with resources. oceans, battleships have become critical seas suddenly appeared impractical and In the chokepoints and sea lines of tools in the game of brinkmanship. even archaic. Upon the introduction communications of the world including The notion ofmare liberum of the EEZ concept, coastal nations the Strait of Malacca, maritime powers propagated by Grotius stating that the embarked on a near stampede at exert their presence, display their high seas are the domain of mankind sea to define the exclusivity of their wares and engage in cat and- mouse has come under severe examination maritime economic zones, so much maneuvering which at times even since the introduction of the United so that a third of the world’s maritime threaten to undermine the sovereign Nations Convention on the Law of area now falls into EEZ areas. This rights of the littoral states. Today, the the Seas (UNCLOS). As a result of the is one rather unpleasant legacy of Mahanian philosophy has grown into ‘carving up’ of oceans into Exclusive UNCLOS – the very convention put in Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 33
place to mestablish order at sea. It has inadvertently given rise to claims and counter-claims of maritime boundaries and areas. The waters that give earth the moniker ‘Blue Planet’ are now subjected to conflicting definitions and overlapping perspectives of maritime boundaries among nations. Some of these disputes seem only a short fuse away from igniting full-blown naval conflicts between maritime powers. Since the September 11 incident, maritime security, once the domain of navies and maritime enforcement agencies, seems to have entered into public conscience. The nonconventional, asymmetrical security threats emerging ever since A sailor of Royal have heightened the perception of risk to the shores. It would be stretching it Australian Navy the realities and complexities of naval at sea and have dramatically changed to ask for a complete review of naval ship HMAS Kanimbla calculations, let me hazard to propose the matrix of maritime security. Even warfare doctrines but there is a whole checks the safety that good order at sea could be attained navies, traditionally the defenders of new spectrum of threats and challenges on his weapon as first and foremost by developing a blue waters, have been called upon to deal with post-September 11. They part of visit, board, consensus among nations and their search and seizure to help counter the new form of require a dynamic reinterpretation navies that the excessive build-up of training. Kanimbla threats faced in the maritime domain. of the sources, nature and magnitude was working in naval firepower and the threats and The growing acceptance of the total of maritime threats to anticipate and conjunction with counter-threats they pose to one maritime domain awareness philosophy mitigate the new forms of threats U.S. military another is an unsustainable proposition. - which is so crucial to neutralizing and multiplicity of challenges at sea. personnel as part A reality check is long overdue for us to of exercise Talisman the new threats amid today’s maritime Inevitably, the assistance of navies arrive at the admission that maritime Saber 200. The security matrix - demands out-of-the- which have the manpower, assets, exercise improves muscle flexing and capacity upgrading box thinking, greater interoperability operational capacity and tactical nous interoperability, by one naval power will only lead to and seamless command-and-control would be required to handle some of combat readiness more of the same by the others. While among various maritime enforcement these threats. and strengthen there is indeed precious deterrent agencies. The need to protect maritime Allow me to humbly submit what the Australian-U.S. value in offensive platforms such as alliance. (US Navy assets and resources and to extend I call the 4C formula in facing the submarines and missile systems that photo by Mass humanitarian aids during times of challenges of managing the multiplicity Communication would discourage navies from going disaster and conflicts also demands that of interests and perspectives and in Specialist 2nd Class at loggerheads with one another, this navies extend their scope of activities encountering the threats at sea. It Adam R. Cole) understanding alone would not be beyond their traditional responsibility involves four seemingly simplistic enough to guarantee peace – or rather of defending the sea borders of nations. individual components - namely the absence of war – at sea. These could not possibly be consensus, consideration, cooperation The folly of the ‘attack is the best achieved if navies are too busy worrying and commitment. Together, they could form of defence’ philosophy reminds about the underlying intents of one provide the pillars for the formation of me of a bumper sticker I saw that reads another and focusing their resources a sort of code of conduct to the guide ‘Fight crime – shoot back!’. The anxiety only on encountering the threats of the behaviors of maritime powers created by excessive naval build-ups – their naval adversaries. The costs with grand assets and gargantuan often described in pleasant-sounding and resources spent to outfox and ambitions. Nonetheless, they are not as terms such as ‘asset upgrading’ and outmuscle one another in the high seas easily meshed together into a coherent ‘fleet modernization’ of navies that would leave gaps to be exploited by framework as one would imagine. mask the adversarial tension among elements bent on creating havoc closer At the risk of being called naïve to them - is fast reaching scary levels. Not Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 34 “This ain’t the sea, it’s an arms race!”
to mention of the stratospheric costs maritime security matrix demands of procuring the wares using public that nations and navies cooperate funds. One wonders what would be the and engage in multilateral efforts to International co-operation - Ukrainian price paid once the costly naval build- encounter the emerging threats at sea. marines and US Navy corpsmen work up and saber-rattling at sea exceeds The kind of close cooperation and together during a medical exercise at the its threshold and the line between interaction among nations which is Ukrainian military training facility during necessary naval expenditure and so evident on terra firmain areas Exercise Sea Breeze 2007. Sea Breeze is a two-week joint invitational and combined wanton profligacy is crossed. such as trade and economy should be maritime exercise held annually in the Secondly, there must be mutual extended at sea. Although there have Black Sea and at various land-based consideration amongst nations that been many trans-national and trans- Ukrainian training facilities with the goals navies have interests at sea which may agency maritime initiatives, especially of enhancing multinational interoperability, be in conflict with one another’s. If all in the field of security, much work still developing Black Sea-nation maritime security capabilities, and improving of them take an uncompromising stand needs to be done to enhance maritime involvement in Navy Europe’s larger Black in protecting their own interests at cooperation among nations. Judging Sea Theater Security Cooperation strategy. whatever expense, the ensuing chaos from the cornucopia of maritime (US Navy photo by Mass Communication would be unimaginable. Conventions conflicts among countries and the Specialist 2nd Class Michael Campbell) and international laws notwithstanding, simmering tension amongst their maritime powers – especially those navies, we are which believe that their supremacy still a long way is unchallenged - have proven their ahead towards willingness to brush aside calls for reaching consideration of the position of the ideals others in favor of confrontation in of creating defending their interests. The moment a sphere of the deafening sound of missiles and prosperity for battleship guns drowns the voice mankind using of reason, the seas would turn into the oceans as a theater of turbulence instead of a platform. a platform of prosperity. Gandhi’s Cooperation lamentation that ‘an eye for an eye will generates trust, make the world go blind’ should provide which propels a stark reminder of the consequence of nations to treat the abandonment of consideration. one another Thirdly, a high degree ofcooperation cordially and must be forged amongst navies to respectfully . pool their resources and to aim their This could act collective focus at encountering the as a deterrent multiple threats at sea, instead of at one of conflict another. The involvement of non-state that could actors such as terrorist groups has lent prove more an aura of increasing unpredictability effective – and to the kind of lethal threats they could a lot cheaper – pose at sea and on maritime assets. than gunboat The nature of trans-national threats is diplomacy. But growing in complexity, sophistication of course much and risk levels. Such threats cannot effort needs to be confronted and neutralized alone be undertaken even by maritime powers, what to get nations more developing nations with scarce to engage in resources. The post-September 11 confidence Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 35
building measures to reach a level of involved is critical to their success. succinctly describes the consequence of a war of attrition and comfort among them to cooperate The smooth implementation of trans- the mutual destruction that maritime powers can inflict on in multilateral maritime security national security measures such as the one another. The prospect alone should act as a deterrent for measures. ISPS Code, joint coordinated patrols maritime powers not to take their brinkmanship too far. With the three Cs in place, the among navies, the Eyes in the Sky air- Power, as the saying goes, is nothing without control. fourth element, commitment, glues sea surveillance in the Strait of Malacca, Maritime powers will continue to roam the world’s oceans, them together into a solid, cohesive among many others, stand testimony some perhaps more prone to unrestrained display of their framework that could blunt aggressive to what can be achieved through the strength and aggression. But let us hope that the awesome tendencies at sea. When nations are resolve and commitment from navies collection of maritime firepower that could perhaps destroy committed to work together, share and enforcement agencies. all the world’s navies many times over would be used in a resources, engage in capacity building Vegetius, the great Roman Empire responsible and controlled fashion, and would be put to good and keep peace at sea instead of writer, wrote in Epitoma, the ancient use for mankind instead of for its destruction. stirring the waves in aggression and war manual of the Roman army : Si vis Let us be guided by the virtues of consensus, hostility, it would galvanize them to pacem, para bellum - those who want consideration, cooperation and commitment to ensure peace, come to a consensus, develop a sense peace must be ready to go to war. But prosperity, stability and security in the waters of the Blue of consideration for the interests the profusion of lethal naval wares and Planet. � and positions of others, and foster weapons today would guarantee that cooperation to maintain security for the war is not going to determine who is T he opinions stated are the author’s common good at sea. It is evidenced right but who is left. Therein lies much personal views and do not reflect the from various multilateral maritime wisdom in the Malay proverb : Yang security initiatives introduced after menang jadi arang, yang kalah jadi abu, official position of the MaritimeI nstitute September 11 – and others before that which literally means the victors end up of Malaysia. - that the commitment of the parties as charcoal, the losers reduced to ash. It
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Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 36 Inaugural Platypus Address Delivered at HMAS Platypus 18th August 2007 BV Ay iCE dMIRAL Ian Macdougall AC AFSM RAN (Rtd)
The old site of HMAS Platypus in Sydney Harbour was handed over in 2005 to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, who will manage the conservation of its heritage for the general public as they are also doing for seven other former Defence sites around Sydney Harbour. On 18 August 2007, the fortieth anniversary of the commissioning of HMAS Platypus and the arrival of HMAS Oxley to form the Australian Submarine Squadron, Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall AC AFSM RAN (rtd) spoke of the history of Australian submarines at the base and brought back memories for the assembled representatives of government and the Trust, members of Submarines Association Australia and other members of the submarine community and Australian Naval Cadets. The speech provided a clear message on the extraordinary cost-effectiveness of the submarine force as a strategic deterrent to any would- Vice Admiral Ian MacDougall AC AFSM RAN (retired), formed Chief of Naval Staff, delivers be aggressor to Australia and its region. The the inaugural Platypus Address to the assembled members of the Submarines Association contribution made by Australian submarines to Australia and the Naval Cadets of Training Ships Sydney and Condamine, on the fortieth allied capabilities has been significant. anniversary of the commissioning of HMAS Platypus. Admiral MacDougall’s speech has been entitled the ‘Platypus Address’ intended to be delivered each year, on the anniversary of the commissioning of HMAS Platypus to support the modern Australian submarine squadron, by eminent speakers invited from Australia and overseas to explicate the role of submarine capabilities in defence forces and the challenges for the intrepid people who are the submariners. This inaugural address is reproduced here by kind permission.
This is a day of remembrance, of history and recognition of the strategic importance of submarines as a part of the maritime security of our nation. I am honoured to deliver the inaugural Platypus address. The memories will be most keenly felt by those who were here 40 years ago today. But also by those who served in Oberons and in the base, which maintained them during the 30 odd years which followed. My strongest recollection of that day was the considerable elan with which the Captain of Oxley, David Lorrimer, drove Official guests at the ceremony (left to right) Brigadier (retired) Kevin O’Brien, member of the SHFT Board and chairman of their Defence History Committee; Ms Genia McCaffery, Mayor into Neutral Bay after a passage of 68 days from Portsmouth. of North Sydney; Mrs Jillian Skinner MP, State Member for North Shore; Councillor Trent With the adroit use of lots of power astern he both Zimmerman, representing The Hon Joe Hockey MP, Federal Member for North Sydney; Vice captured the attention of those on the wharf celebrating the Admiral Ian MacDougall AC AFSM RAN (retired) and Mr David Sandquest, National President, commissioning of Platypus and avoided the boat becoming a Submarines Association Australia. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 37
permanent fixture in Anderson Park. It was hard, unremitting work in before breakfast, in World War I. One slip in the chain of orders fairly squalid living conditions but few The cost of countering submarines from the bridge and reactions below who volunteered to join the submarine in a hot war far outweighs the cost of would have spelt doom, but Lieutenant arm elected to leave. We were a small, maintaining a sub-surface capability. Commander Lorrimer had trained us vociferous minority – the Navy It boils down to the physics of sound well and had every confidence in us. population in submarines was less than transmission through water, which There was no chance we would let him 3 percent. favours the submarine. Billions of down. I glanced across at the face of Not content to be merely ASW dollars have been spent and continue to Commander Bill Owen as this black clockwork mice, the submarine arm be spent in trying to lift ASW capability express train sped towards its berth and set out to become a highly potent to parity but to little avail. It hasn’t saw a smile of pride – or was it relief? – strategic capability. It achieved this happened yet. as we arrived perfectly at our berth. via an extraordinarily ambitious In a Cold War environment, the The history of our submarine arm update programme, which successfully deterrent value of submarines has and the Oberons’ place in it is important. delivered a combat system, modern been amply demonstrated. For those The era of serious submarining by global wire-guided torpedoes, and who favour non-violent solutions powers began in about 1905. At the encapsulated Harpoon missiles. This to the prevention and settlement of Spithead naval review of 1909, the Times also laid the ground work for the international disputes, deterrence of London counted 42 submarines. even more ambitious Collins class, should be a favoured option until such In 1910, just nine years after the nation’s first in-country build of time as humanity can universally agree federation, our government began submarines. to abandon violence. negotiating with Britain for two E-class Those outside the navy cannot be I am no armchair warrior beating the submarines. Sadly both were lost in expected to understand in detail how drums of war. I believe in deterrence as World War I. In a remarkable feat, bold a step it was. Superpowers such as a means of avoiding violence, not least AE–2 had found the way for other the US and Russia have built dozens of for a large sea-locked country dependent allied submarines to follow through the new classes of submarines over the last on sea-borne trade for its prosperity, Dardenelles into the Sea of Mamora. hundred years. Every new class has had indeed for its economic survival. We acquired six J class in the 1920s, teething troubles. As trade grows in a world with two O class in the 1930s and the Dutch The remarkable outcome with the economies inextricably linked, the gifted us a K class during WWII. After Collins, acknowledged by independent security of trade routes on the high World War II the Royal Navy based experts as the best conventional seas and through littoral choke points its fourth submarine squadron in submarine at sea, is that those teething grows in importance. It is no accident Sydney. For the princely sum of fifteen troubles were so few and fixed so of group-think that most developed and thousand pounds, paid by Australia and quickly. developing nations in our region have New Zealand, the squadron delivered The fact that taxpayers’ dollars acquired a submarine capability. They invaluable ASW training for the navies remained in-country, that jobs were too know that their trade routes are vital and airforces of both countries. created for Australians, and that to their present and their future. In the 60s we bought four, and then infrastructure enhancement and It is, I hope, unlikely that we will have two more Oberons from Britain. These technology transfer benefits accrued, to fight a major war on land or sea on wonderful long range boats, with their should not go unacknowledged. a stand-alone basis. Since World War challenging ASRI diesel engines, proved We now have solid bedrock to build II we have enjoyed the benefits and to be one of the best-ever defence on as we go forward with the next class insurance of alliances, most notably the outlays for Australia. Henry Cook and to replace the Collins, now into the ANZUS treaty. Bill Owen were instrumental in this second half of their useful lives. We pay our insurance premiums success. In May of this year, Ross Babbage in when called upon by the UN and/or It is deeply frustrating, to skate, a Weekend Australian Defence Special our alliance partners to contribute to in just a minute of so, across 75-odd Report argued cogently the case for military actions designed to bring or years of dedicated service by those who submarines. Not much has changed maintain peace in troubled parts of the took the boats to sea and those who in the justification for submarines in a world. There is nothing cynical about supported them alongside in war and balanced maritime capability since one preferring to do this far from home peace. small U-boat sank three British cruisers rather than on our own doorstep. In Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 38 Inaugural Platypus Address
and Director General of Joint Operations and Plans for the ADF 1986–87, most cases we are contributing highly front lawn before being allowed into the contributing to the successful integration of the three arms for operations. valued expertise, quality if not quantity. house, on our return from a long patrol. From January 1989 to July 1990 he served as Maritime Commander Sometimes the contribution as But operationally, we know what Australia. He took up the position of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff in 1990, measured in numbers – ships, aircraft we did, how dangerous it was and why and Chief of the Naval Staff in 1991. or soldiers – is small and complements we did it anyway. We don’t talk about Admiral MacDougall was appointed a Companion in the Military Division the larger forces of coalition partners. the detail, not now, not ever. But we of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list of 1993, and Occasionally our contribution is in remember, with pride, and always will. is member of the Order of the Crown of Thailand, First Class, Knight Grand a form not present in the order of battle Platypus served the nation well for Cross for “his exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding of even our most powerful ally. The 30 years. It was a welcome beacon for service in the position of grave responsibility in the defence of the free world”, and a military award from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for “his Collins class submarine falls into that boats returning home from far away. It distinctive professional achievements and his personal endeavours for the category. justly deserves the recognition it has improvement of relations between Australia and Pakistan and the Navies The US of course has a powerful had this day. I am sure I speak for all of the two countries.” undersea fleet, but all its platforms those who served here in thanking the are nuclear powered and less than Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and comfortable operating in shallow the Submarines Association Australia G reg Davis’s camera looks back on his time on littoral waters. Australian submarines for making it happen. Not least I thank board HMAS Oxley in 1987. One of six Oberon-class have no difficulty operating in shallow Captain Chris Skinner of the Trust and submarines, these boats served the RAN well for waters and this fills a gap, if our David Sandquest, National President of three decades, and obtained an enviable reputation government agrees to make them the Association. available. If operating unilaterally Platypus had a good formal motto for quietness. Their successors, the Collins-class in Australia’s best interests even six – nothing too difficult. I suspect boats, are now said to be quieter still. submarines provide a highly potent Commodore Rick Shalders, currently force either to deter or, if push comes Commander of the Australian to shove, make continued aggression a Submarine Group, might agree that price too dear for an enemy to pay. the spirit of that motto lives on in the The lead times for the highly submarines of today, and will do so in sophisticated systems – platform the submarines of tomorrow. � and combat system – are long. As has been said many times before, our national defence strategy is based on maintaining a technological edge in every combat capability. Oxley with a younger version of Greg Davis in Sydney The reality is, the decision to replace the Collins class needs to be made not later than the end of this decade. If a timely and favourable decision is not made, the maritime security, hence well being, of our nation, will be placed in Vice Admiral Ian Macdougall jeopardy. AC AFSM RAN (Rtd) There is a small band of Oberon Ian MacDougall was the first Australian-born brothers here today, and to you I say officer to command the Australian Submarine Oxley:O-Boat, HMAS Oxley alongside HMAS this:. Our characters were forever Squadron in 1985 and the first RAN Submarine Stirling-courtesy RAN formed – some would say de-formed Officer to attain flag rank. He is Patron of the – by our experiences. 70 days without Submarines Association Australia. a shower. Learning to play a tin During his 40 years service with the Royal Australian Navy (1954–1994) he commanded opener like a musical instrument in submarines, a guide missile destroyer, a fleet order to eat. Accepting the chronic tanker, the submarine squadron and the lack of Vitamin D and its medical Australian Fleet. consequences. Being thrown a bar HMAS Otway in the town of Holbrook-photo He was Director of Submarine Policy 1982–1984 of soap and then hosed down on the by ABPH Kade Rogers Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 39 The Future of “Operational Email” BC Py aPTAIN eTER Leavy
This article seeks to raise a current issue that impacts both the operational and administrative aspects of the ADF. My aim is to generate discussion and comment - the ANI was originally set up with exactly that aim. The Council has embarked on a dedicated effort to move the Journal back to its routes, so I am seeking input from those with counter (or supportive) views to generate some discussion. My issue is that of email, SameTime chat and other forms of electronic communication, and how we deal with it at sea and ashore. Has the introduction of these tools actually improved the way we do business or are we “dumbing down” the capabilities of new technology to suit the way we have traditionally operated? I am old enough to remember the Hobart leads Stuart,Swan and others in the 1986 Review (Courtesy RAN) Ship’s Office ofHMAS Hobart getting its first Personal Computer installed, with most of us thinking it would last classified ones) that all offer information concerns – a process that will further delay its release. Such about two weeks in the East Australian services and have increased the speed queries may have been cleared up in 10 seconds of face-to-face Exercise Area with all the vibration, with which information flows around the time as the old paper copy was handed over, but that face-to- rolling etc. Luckily, commercial grade fleet. However, I think we can use these face time is now no longer ‘needed’. What happens, however, if PCs seem to have cut the mustard, with technologies better. it is an immediate signal that needs releasing? Well, in theory even the ravages of Damage Control Take one simple example: sending a the drafter needs to send the signal to the CO’s release queue, training smoke proving nothing more signal. In years gone by a drafting officer but then has to find the CO who goes to his computer, logs on, than minor (and temporary) irritants would draft up his/her signal, obtain reads and approves the signal and then releases it. This is fine if to their internal workings. Laptops and the comments and concurrence from he has the time, but that 10 seconds to read and sign his name PCs are now ubiquitous, with most of a appropriate people, and then take that may now be a five minute evolution if he is not already logged ship’s administration and message traffic piece of paper to the Captain for his on (assuming, of course, that he can drop whatever he is doing being conducted and distributed around release. The CO only had to read what and proceed to a computer). various LANs. was drafted, and sign the bottom if he So how do we accommodate this? Some COs grant release While at first glance this may seem agreed. The drafter would then take rights to selective subordinates (maybe the XO, OPSO or a step forward, the practical realities, at that piece of paper to the COMCEN for POCIS) so that they have the physical wherewithal to send the least from my experience, are not so rosy. transmission. message electronically, and then rely on management rules to The introducing this new technology Now that we have gone to the ensure only properly released signals actually leave the ship. onto our “old” way of doing business electronic distribution of signals, all This allows the drafter to print off the signal, have the CO sign has led to more work for some. This is drafting is done ‘on line’. For routine it as before (so nothing has changed for the CO) and then get not because of the flawed technology; matters, this is no great issue. The signal one of these privileged subordinates to release it from their indeed the IT revolution holds the is forwarded to the Captain’s release release queue. Of course, this has simply transferred the same promise of huge benefits, many of which queue and he/she routinely logs on to problem a couple of rungs down the command chain. we have already seen. We now have release them. There is the downside that A similar situation arises with incoming signals. I am the a range of message handling systems, if the CO has a query, they must either first to admit that I am one of those dinosaurs who prefers to satellite communications bearers, email/ find the drafter or send the signal back read large documents in paper rather than a computer screen. chat systems and web sites (including (electronically) with their comments or (I suspect that, rather than print electronic documents off Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 40 The Future of “Operational Email”
to read like most of us seem to do, my forwarded to someone else these options are good. The action officer is then left to decide daughter’s generation – she’s now six – Have an ‘out-of-office’ message whether that document is to be kept, and if so where and how will take those funny paper documents automatically sent back to the sender it is stored. This was not the case with the “old” paper registry. and scan them so they can read them who can then re-send it to someone There is also the inevitable problem of version control as draft on the computer. It’s all a matter of else on the ship, or documents become uncontrolled and widely distributed. what you are used too, but I digress). Only read the email upon their None of this is to suggest that the electronic distribution Personally I am happy to read signals return – introducing a delay. of information is not the way of the future. Just the opposite, on a computer screen, BUT the way we In short, much official in fact. Correctly used, electronic distribution cuts the time currently do so has actually increased correspondence now goes to an taken to pass information around to seconds rather than days the time required. It was much quicker individual, rather than a position. We or weeks, but it requires a framework and system (“business to flick through the (paper) Wardroom always have someone filling a “position” rules”, if we want to adopt the latest terminology). I know most Reading Log than to open up all the (the OOD for the Captain, the DSO for people have their own “system” of filing documents so that as signals in your electronic queue. If you the Supply Officer if he/she is on leave individuals they can find what they need, but unfortunately are happy looking at the subject line and etc), so information sent to a ‘position’ that usually involves making a copy into their own directories deciding what to actually open, then will always be accessed and actioned which means they alone know where to look for it and many the time devoted to signals is reduced. as required. This is not the case for (uncontrolled) copies of documents end up being stored. With However the subject line is often information sent to an ‘individual’. storage being a bit like bandwidth and laptop computers on a ambiguous enough to require the signal This is not just an issue at sea. ship (ie it doesn’t matter how many/much you have, you always to be opened and scanned. This all adds Many shore bases have now done ‘need’ more) this is inefficient. Of equal concern, when that time. away with registries (and their staff) individual posts out they must either pass those documents to Now I need to stress again that I am as information is passed around their relief or they simply get deleted. In my experience this not suggesting a return to 75 baud HF electronically. While this allows the has led to a loss of corporate knowledge – or if the information comms and Gestetner machines, but same information to be sent to multiple does exist, people don’t know where to get it (due to a lack of we seem to have evolved our practices people simultaneously (as opposed to consistent rules and procedures) and hence it is of no value. to suit what the (largely commercially a paper file doing the rounds one-by- We already have a range of satellite based, digital systems based) technology gives us – even if it is one), it has also led to a loss of corporate for transferring information to ships at sea and so it seems to to our own detriment. There must be a accounting of correspondence. Rather make sense that these disparate systems (some for transmitting better way. than information being stored on a file “signals” and some for “emails”) are merged. In fact more and A related issue is that of email held and controlled by professional more “official” correspondence comes via email – we have all use. We now all have personalised, registry staff, that same information is seen the minutes, documents, AF Memos etc that come via individual email accounts for auditing now buried in various people’s email email with the “original signed by” stamp on the signature and security purposes. The benefits accounts, or on various drives on the block. There is nothing at all wrong with this, as it makes of email connectivity are clear for all, “LAN”. There may well be appropriate the best use of a more expedient communications path, but but again how we implement it may systems for electronic filing, but they the management of those documents has become the issue. not be the best. We used to have don’t seem to be widely used, nor There is no reason why the same communication bearers can’t formal correspondence and signals consistent across Defence. While some transfer both informal emails (an electronic telephone call if come into the ship and addressed to documents sent electronically are backed you will) and official ‘released” correspondence – it may be the “Commanding Officer”. If the up by a signed hard copy, which usually something as simple as informal emails are blue and formal CO was absent for some reason, then finds its way onto a paper file (often released emails (containing that information that currently whoever was filling those shoes (such managed individually or within a small comes as a ‘signal’) come with red text (an illustrative example as the XO if the CO was on leave, the workplace and not visible to the rest only – I think the solution will require a bit more thought than OOD out of hours etc) dealt with the of the organisation), many ‘executive’ that). issue as the Acting CO. Now such documents are not. This means that A few years back we amalgamated the Signalmen and information entering the ship via email they risk being sent to the wrong desk Radio Operators into the Communications and Information is sent personally to an individual, not officer (who may forward it onto the Systems branch. While there were valid reasons for doing so a position. If that person is absent for correct recipient, or delete it) or the at the time, I have always felt that it would have been better to some reason they must either: right desk officer without the supervisor amalgamate ROs and some functions of the Writers. I know being aware of it, or the supervisor being that will take a few by surprise, but humour me!! While there Have prearranged for their swamped by being included as an info are still some quite complicated skill sets that the CIS sailors messages to be automatically addressee on lots of emails. None of must master in the COMCEN, the actual communications Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 41
aspects of their life (as opposed to the being a seamanship function rather do operate along such lines (web based electronic forms, for information management side) has – and than a communications function. The instance) but in my experience there is no real consistency I believe will continue to – become less. Writers also have other personnel, pay in its application across Defence. A central information Modern digital communications systems, and policy responsibilities, so it is really management organisation (an electronic “registry” if you like) particularly if you have access to a just the registry side of their job at issue is what we need and a standardised format for moving and satellite, are becoming more transparent here). Both will become the managers accounting for information. (This is my amalgamated RO/ to the user. How many of us actually of information that enters a ship – they WTR concept!). Importantly, this needs to be managed by understand exactly what goes on behind are separate because in the good old days properly trained people to manage the information flow – not the scenes of our computer when we tap information was transferred either by be left to the users. into an internet site in the Ukraine or paper or radio with different skillsets for I do not profess to have all the answers, but I do believe this send an email to someone in Canada? each. Now both these traditional sources is one issue worthy of discussion with a view to a consolidated We have the user interface that we deal of information can come digitally and and accepted methodology being developed in the near term. with and the behind-the-scene work is over the same, increasingly automatic, We must make use of the benefits that the changes in IT are largely managing the appropriate bearers bearers and so do they need to remain bringing to the world, and that will mean new skill sets are – something your ISP does for you different? I know I daily check my needed in our sailors, and, importantly, some existing ones will and (in the absence of a fault) is largely emails, signals and the files that come need to change. I believe there is a plan to move to web based automatic. Nobody in your ISP office up from the Registry. Why the different information transfers across Defence, but even as technology bashes keys every time you head off to formats? stands today, I think we can do better. Any supporting, ‘www.whatever....’ How can we do things better? I dissenting (or other) views? � I see that over time, the management believe we need to be aware of, and of the bearers will more logically be accept, that the communications bearers a WEE, rather than communicator, that we currently use for signals and function. The specific communicator’s email traffic can merge and that there skills of old – things like tuning radios, will soon be no requirement for separate understanding HF propagation, sporadic signals, emails or minutes. All three are E, sunspot activity and the myriad of just formats of passing information, but things that used to make the actual increasingly the email format is used communication path difficult to maintain for all three. I know of at least one ship and required specific skills to deal with where signals were being transferred via (as found in ROs) – are increasingly secure email due to equipment defects becoming easier with digital and satellite in the “normal” satellite communications technology. The communications sailors facilities, and as I have mentioned today are increasingly used to manage before, we have all seen official minutes the information flow, not establish and distributed via email. What we need is maintain the actual communications a Navy (or more specifically, Defence) path. In much the same way, the Writers wide, endorsed and mandated system for Captain Leavy is currently the Director have always managed information in managing electronic information - and of the Sea Power Centre - Australia in paper form, but of course more and more then use the system. There should be no Canberra. He is a Principle Warfare Officer of that information is now coming to reason why “official” documents aren’t with service in DE, DDG, FFG and ANZAC them electronically. Interestingly, when stored in one place electronically and Class ships, including his most recent tour the Writers and RO branches were first all users access that parent document established, the writers actually typed whenever they need it. This both saves as CO HMAS Stuart where a large part of correspondence and the ROs typed out space over everyone making their own the inspiration for this article evolved. the signals – in both cases now this is copy and more importantly means an done by the actual drafter in the interests information manager simply updates of time and efficiency. Hence I can see that one electronic document when a that both the CIS and Writer sailors’ new version is released and everyone jobs are merging (with the exception accesses that single, and correct, copy. of the Bridge side of CIS, or course – Version control is simplified. I know something perhaps better suited to that many areas of defence already Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Welcome to the future of naval maintenance
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K0709 09/07 Issue 126 43 Visions from the Vault VisionsVisions from from the the Vault Vault
An RAN Wessex maintains a vigil over the stern section of USS Frank E. Evans, 3 June 1969.
t 0315 on 3 June 1969, the RAN’s boats, liferafts and lifebuoys. Within aboard Melbourne. Asole aircraft carrier and flagship, five minutesMelbourne ’s motor Evans lost 74 sailors and officers HMAS Melbourne, was involved in cutter was in the water, returning from her ship’s company, but as the a collision with the destroyer USS with 29 USN survivors on its first US Chief Naval Operations remarked, Frank E Evans. Both ships were taking trip. The Admiral’s barge recovered without Melbourne’s exemplary rescue part in the South-East Asia Treaty another eight. Meanwhile a number the tragedy might have been worse: Organisation exercise, SEA SPIRIT, of Melbourne men, some acting on ‘At a time when both our navies in the South China Sea. It was the their own initiative, jumped from the feel great sorrow over the loss of our second major collision of Melbourne’s carrier to assist other survivors to shipmates in Frank E. Evans, may I career and, as with the loss of HMAS climb Melbourne’s scrambling nets or reaffirm the strength of the admiration Voyager five years before, the destroyer reach the safety of a liferaft. Well aware which we feel for the superb Australian was cut cleanly in two. The forward of the danger to men still in the water, Navy and the contribution of your part of Evans sank within minutes Stevenson deftly used his engines to great sailors to our cause. I have taken leaving only the stern section afloat. place the carrier’s starboard quarter the liberty of passing to Melbourne the Responsibility for the disaster lay alongside Evans and then secured the appreciation of the US Navy for her with the destroyer, but while the ships together. This allowed those gallant efforts on behalf ofEvans crew, circumstances of the collision remain survivors who had gathered on the many of whom would surely not have reasonably well known, far less is heard stern section to more easily board survived without such prompt and of the aftermath. Melbourne and search parties from the effective rescue operations.’ At the moment of impact carrier to ensure that no one had been Twenty two awards were made Melbourne’s commanding officer, left behind. Two Wessex helicopters to Melbourne’s ship’s company in Captain J.P. Stevenson, RAN, ordered were already in the air and two others recognition of acts of bravery following ‘Emergency Stations’, ensuring that were brought up from the hangar the collision. The type and number medical parties were alerted and and were airborne within 14 minutes of awards were limited by the scale crews stationed at all boats and of impact. One of these rescued an of operational awards for service in ladders. Immediately after the collision exhausted swimmer at 0340, the last of Vietnam. � Stevenson gave the order to let go all more than 190 survivors to be brought
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 44 Book Reviews
It is important also because it is Harbour. Only the inner loops were factual, as evidenced by the impressive operating on 31 May. bibliography, and because it deals with Specific Harbour Defence Vessels those facts in strict order of time and were 10 Channel Patrol Boats plus date. There are no confusing “flash- three auxiliary Patrol Boats, but these backs”, and as Grose says in his preface last three were not armed. (The sailors to the bibliography “I have deliberately at the time referred to these vessels as avoided peppering the text of this Passion Punts.) The Channel Patrol book with a profusion of footnotes and Boats had .303 calibre Vickers machine references”. In addition there are no guns and two depth charges. But the theoretical opinions by the author or charges did not have shallow depth any person quoted, such as one finds in settings. publications on events like the Sydney- Two anti-submarine vessels were Kormoran battle for instance. present: HMAS Yandra, and HMAS The first chapters deal with the build Bingera, both slow – about seven knots. up to the end of May 1942. Despite the Having dealt with all this the author A Very Rude Awakening outbreak of war in 1939, Dunkirk, the then takes us through the aftermath, by Peter Grose Blitz, Greece and Crete, the Atlantic and the courage of the men clearing up battle, the bombing of Darwin, Pearl after the attacks. He then deals at some Reviewed by Ron Bagley (Ron Harbor, Coral Sea, the presence of length with where the blame should lie served in the RAN in WWII, and was American warships in the harbour, for errors made, and deals scathingly in Sydney for the attack…) uniforms in the streets – Sydney was but correctly with this situation. No still a peaceful place to be. On 29-31 decorations were awarded but the Allen and Unwin, 320pp May, as Peter Grose so aptly puts it, the Maritime Services employees were city received a very rude awakening. given sums of money. The Naval He goes further, with evidence of a wry personnel had “appropriate notations Here is a book which expands G. sense of humour which he uses a few made on their service records.” Hermon Gill’s (official history of the times, by saying that the newspapers One aspect of the author’s Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945) devoted more inches to horseracing thoroughness is the space devoted to account of the midget submarine than the war. Also, with rumours of details such as house prices and rents attack on Sydney Harbour, Sunday clothes rationing causing a run on the following the said raids by the midgets, 31 May 1942.) It was preceded by the shops, the Government were blaming and the later shelling of the eastern reconnaissance flight of one of the that on Mother’s Day. suburbs, also by a submarine. Your mother submarine’s aeroplanes over it The author’s running account of the reviewer can vouch for the accuracy of two days previously. It should be noted action is best left to the reader, but one the figures: he was paying two pounds here that Gill has the event on the salient point must be made. With due seven shillings and sixpence per week Saturday, Grose as the Friday. respect to the sailors who were killed at the time, at Vaucluse. For about a Although he was there at the time, in the depot ship HMAS Kuttabul, we week, no-one wanted to live in Manion up and about throughout the event, were very lucky. Avenue, Rose Bay, but it was soon your reviewer is unable to say which is Let us just look at what was wrong forgotten. correct, despite a clear view of Sydney after 30 months of war, with the last six All in all, this is a most satisfying, Harbour, from the Bridge to Manly. months against a new enemy. smooth flowing volume, which makes No matter. Warrant Flying Officer Ito’s Communication ship-to-ship, ship entertaining reading about an event effort was very successful. to shore, all to Headquarters were which could have had much more A Very Rude Awakening is a virtually non-existent because R/T was savage results. most important book for those who not installed in many places. Flags are remember the events of 65 years ago, no use at night, and Morse Code, either those who learned of them afterwards, by W/T or light, is time consuming. and those younger people who no Magnetic Indicator Loops had been doubt have heard of them before. laid, six outside and two inside the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 45
However, according to the accounts of looking truncated. Across the top of the the Germans survivors, the warship page is announced: “This document is closed to around 1,600 yards – an the property of His Majesty’s Britannic incredibly close distance, considering Government” but the document is the same ship had scored hits in a fight dated 1962, which is well within the against an Italian cruiser the previous reign of the present sovereign. There year at 20, 000 yards. are plenty of other mistakes. One can The author of The Lost Souls and hardly imagine the boss-lady of the Ghosts of HMAS Sydney purports typing pool would let such errors go to have found two explosive new unchecked. The document bears no documents. The first is a 1962 “British resemblance to the production of a real Intelligence” report which has a government organisation. translation of a German 1941 report, The book itself is an amazing advising that 30 survivors from the collection of grammatical disasters. Sydney were recovered. The cruiser had There is often a spelling mistake per apparently run into a minefield laid by paragraph; the sentence construction the Kormoran and blown up, and these is usually poor, and illustrations are The Lost Souls and Ghosts men were rescued. However, the raider a hodge-podge of poorly reproduced of HMAS Sydney suffered an accident a day later and choices which are often strangely detonated some of her further mines captioned. For example, there is no By John A Montagu on board. Captain Detmers decided to such thing as a “submurged mine” let his prisoners go down with the ship (p.73); there was no such officer 344pp rather than have his accident revealed. as “Lieutenant Commander EW Reviewed by Tom Lewis A supposed German document Thruston” on boardSydney , but apparently details the story further, and there was an officer by the name of also suggests Sydney was torpedoed by “Thrushton”, and there is no real reason There must be a bucket of money Kormoran’s motor launch. why we should want a picture of a involved in publishing anything to Apparently some Sydney bodies “helmet diver” on page 66, as there is do with the loss of HMAS Sydney, were encountered by the ship Cape no discussion of diving in the text. the WWII cruiser, because this is yet Otway, and the RAN command The text itself displays an appalling another fanciful “explanation”, following ordered this ship from her station, lack of research, and a similar absence Somewhere Below, Who Sank the and as the bodies were washed up on of logic. What are we meant to think Sydney, and various other so-called the Australian coast, had some Army when told an “Australian staff admiral” revelations. A lengthy paperback, The personnel bury them, for what reason (p.77) was approached by a “signal PO” Lost Souls and Ghosts of HMAS Sydney seems unclear in the book. with a report that Sydney was “overdue” doesn’t have a Japanese submarine, However, both of these primary on 23 November, but told the signaller but it has plenty of weird suggestions, documents seem fake. According to a to leave the item on his desk as he was appalling inaccuracies, and dubious West Australian Post newspaper story, “running late for the theatre”? We are logic. the Germans document contains over also told that this item is “logged in the The book centres itself around 50 errors, including spelling, typeface, Archives”? Which Admiral? Which two supposed new documents, which and factual mistakes. The supposed Petty Officer? And how do we know change the story of the Sydney battle English “intelligence” document of the flag officer’s bad behaviour – with the German raider Kormoran, in also has such errors. For example, presumably the Admiral pencilled a which each ship sank the other. The the word “Kreigsmarine” – the title quick note in the margin to the effect loss of the Australian cruiser, with its of the German Navy – is used three he could not be bothered reading this entire complement of 645 men, has times, but once has the first letter in report as the opening notes of Madam never been completely explained, for lower case, and once is misspelt to Butterfly were sounding as he wrote. with its superior gunnery control it “Kreigsmare”. On a one page document, Perhaps the ”Archives” report can be should have been able to stand off the the date appears twice. One of the examined? Unfortunately not: there disguised raider, and sink it if necessary. sentences simply does not make sense, is nothing to say in which of the many Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 46 Book Reviews
branches of Australian Archives this dismissed, in knowledgeable tones, as a document can be found, let alone some ploy to distract RAN searches from the helpful reference numbers to direct our real landing sites. How Montagu knows confirming search. This is simply not this he does not say. But a planned good enough. rescue by U-boats was on the cards. Why does the back cover tell Exactly how many U-boats would us there were “654 Officers and be needed to rescue the hundreds of ratings” lost off the cruiser when it Kormoran survivors is not discussed, was actually 645? What evidence is nor the interesting fatality rate which there that Sydney hit a mine at night, would have befallen quite a few of as the author alleges? There is no list them in 1942, nor the Kreigsmarine’s of referenced documents with their historical inability to deploy many location so that the author’s wild submarines in this part of the world. allegations may be checked. There are The sketches made by German instead a strange collection of chapters, prisoners have been analysed. They sections, and apparently haphazardly turn out to be a complete description inserted pages. For example, there is of the battle et al. The analysis is a list of “next of kin and people who laughable: turn one sketch upside down responded to request for information”; and it becomes – the Kormoran! And and a list of “acknowledgements” – so on – for too many pages. with a catty exclusion of the RSL at the In several places throughout the bottom, for “sitting on the fence” and text the author blames the federal “collusion”. Then there are “Certificates government for not doing enough of Factual Occurrences” in relation to solve the “mystery” of the Sydney, to the two ships. I am at a loss to and it needs to get its act together and understand what these mean – what is pressure the German government for meant by “certificate”, and who is the the answers. The only thing books authority who is issuing them? like this do is convince anyone who Various Sydney analysts and is responsible for handling taxpayers’ historians get a good telling off in dollars to run furiously the other way places. Barbara Winter (not Winters, whenever conspiracy theorists like as described) who wrote a fine work Mr Montagu appear. But lastly, the several years ago, even gets accused of author should be ashamed of himself collaboration, apparently because she for dishonouring the German ship’s once lived in Germany. TheKormoran company of Kormoran, the Royal survivors must be made to tell the Australian Navy, Army members of truth, says the author, even though, he WWII, and putting the families of suggests, the “statute of limitations” HMAS Sydney through the wringer would prevent prosecution. One is not of misery yet again. A thoroughly sure if the author reads newspapers, disgusting book. but it is hard to miss that even at this late hour various Nazis around the world are still being hunted and dragged off to face trial. Winter alone isn’t accused either: federal governments, the Navy, and even the RSL are all colluding in a cover-up. The camera which one of the Historical artefacts from previous ships German Kormoran survivors said that carried the name HMAS Sydney he hid in a cave on the WA coast is Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 47 Thinking of Making a Contribution? Style Notes for Headmark
In general, please present your work Adkin, Mark. Goose Green. London: Moodie. At the end of the article, please supply full honours with the minimum of formatting. Leo Cooper, 1992. - Lieutenant Commander Bill Crabbe, CSC, RAN - unless Paragraphs: don’t indent, and Adler, Bill (Ed.) Letters from Vietnam. you would prefer not to use them. Then please supply a leave left justified. Separate paragraphs New York: EP Dutton and Co., 1967. paragraph on yourself, to a maximum of 50 words, including by one line. Single spacing only. Use one Articles use quotation marks around any qualifications you would like listed, and any interesting space only after stops and colons. their title, which is not in italics. biographical aspects. If possible please supply a colour or Conventions: use numbers for If citing web sites please use the greyscale head and shoulders e-photo of yourself for use 10 and above, words below. Ship names convention: alongside the article title. use italics in title case; prefixes such as Australian Associated Press. “Army Illustrations: do not embed graphs or figures in HMAS in capitals and italics. Book and admits mistakes in SAS investigation”. your text without sending a separate file as well. If supplying Journal titles use italics. 17 February, 2004.
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Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 126 49 ANI On-line: A guide to the new website.
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Journal of the Australian Naval Institute An Abrams tank is craned from HMAS Manoora to HMAS Betano