AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF SERIES TW O NAVY VOLUME I ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY,

Transcription

1 AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF SERIES TW O NAVY VOLUME I ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY,

2 AUSTRALIA IN THE WAR OF SERIES I (ARMY) I. To Benghazi. By Gavin Long.* II. Greece, Crete and Syria. By Gavin Long.* III. Tobruk and El Alamein. By Barton Maughan. IV. The Japanese Thrust. By Lionel Wigmore.* V. South-West Pacific Area First Year. By Dudley McCarthy. VI. The New Guinea Offensives. By David Dexter. VII. The Final Campaigns. By Gavin Long. SERIES 2 (NAVY ) I. Royal Australian Navy, By G. Hermon Gill. * II. Royal Australian Navy, By G. Hermon Gill. SERIES 3 (AIR ) I. Royal Australian Air Force, By Douglas Gillison. II. Air War Against Japan By George Odgers.* III. Air War Against Germany and Italy, By John Herington.* IV. Air Power Over Europe, By John Herington. SERIES 4 (CIVIL ) I. The Government and the People, By Paul Hasluck.* II. The Government and the People, By Paul Hasluck. III. War Economy, By S. J. Butlin. * IV. War Economy, By S. J. Butlin. V. The Role of Science and Industry. By D. P. Mellor. SERIES 5 (MEDICAL ) I. Clinical Problems of War. By Allan S. Walker. * II. Middle East and Far East. By Allan S. Walker.* III. The Island Campaigns. By Allan S. Walker. * IV. Medical Services of R.A.N. and R.A.A.F. By Allan S. Walker. * Published. The writers of these volumes have been given full access to official documents, but they and the general editor are alone responsible for the statements and opinion s which the volumes contain.

3 ROYAL AUSTRALIA N NAV Y by G. HERMON GIL L CANBERR A AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

4 First published in 1957 WHOLLY SET UP, PRINTED AND BOUND IN AUSTRALIA B Y THE GRIFFIN PRESS, ADELAIDE. REGISTERED AT THE G.P.O. ADELAIDE FOR TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE POST AS A BOOK.

5 Preface. Chronology CONTENT S Page xi xvii Chapter 1 BETWEEN THE WARS 1 2 THE EVE OF WAR AUSTRALIA STATION TO JUNE R.A.N. SHIPS OVERSEAS TO JUNE R.A.N. SHIPS OVERSEAS JUNE-DECEMBER AUSTRALIA STATION AND THE FAR EAST, JUNE - DECEMBER WESTERN DESERT CAMPAIGN GREECE CRETE THE MIDDLE EAST MEDITERRANEAN TO END OF AUSTRALIA STATION WAR IN THE FAR EAST SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC AREA ABDA AND ANZAC 16 DEFEAT IN ABDA 17 PRELUDE TO VICTORY APPENDIXES : List of Ships in the R.A.N. in Flag Officers commanding Australian Squadron fro m 1919 to Abbreviations 65 3 INDEX V

6 ILLUSTRATION S Page The First H.M.A.S's Australia, Sydney and Melbourne 46 The Second H.M.A.S. Australia 4 6 H.M.A.S. Hobart. 47 H.M.A.S. Adelaide. 47 Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, R.N. 7 8 Rear-Admiral J. G. Crace, R.N Crew of a 4-inch Gun at H.M.A.S. Rushcutter 7 8 H.M.S. Ramillies in Fremantle Harbour 7 9 Convoy "US.3" in Fremantle Harbour 7 9 Italian Motor Vessel Romolo 14 2 Survivors from Romolo being taken on board Manoora 14 2 Italian Submarine Uebi Scebeli 14 2 H.M.A.S. Sydney in Alexandria Harbour Italian Cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni 14 3 Captain J. A. Collins, R.A.N Members of Sydney's Crew looking through Shell-hole 17 4 Lieut-Commander R. Rhoades, R.A.N., with Captain H. M. L. Waller, R.A.N Captain H. L. Howden, R.A.N Temporary Pier and Tug Queen at Berbera 20 6 H.M.A.S. Stuart with Mediterranean Fleet 206 Italian Destroyer Artigliere 20 7 German Raider Pinguin Floating Enemy Mine off Australian Coast Federal Steam Navigation Company's Steamer Cambridge Survivors from Cambridge picked up by H.M.A.S. Orara Survivors from Port Brisbane on Board H.M.A.S. Canberra Minesweeper H.M.A.S. Goorangai British Phosphate Commission's Steamer Trienza 27 0 German Raider Komet German Raiders at Emirau Island Survivors from Nauru Island in Steamship Nellore 302 Damage by German Raiders' Gunfire at Nauru 302 German Air Attack on H.M.S. Illustrious and H.M.A.S. Perth 303 H.M.A.S. Perth on Patrol off Crete 303 Mediterranean Battle Fleet at Sea H.M.A.S. Perth, H.M.S. Ajax and H.M.S. Orion 31 8 H.M.A.S. Voyager, off Suda Bay The Cruisers at Matapan, 28th March Captain Sir Philip Bowyer-Smyth, R.N., with Officers on Bridge of Perth Captain H. B. Farncomb, R.A.N Captain H. A. Showers, R.A.N Vi

7 Pag e H.M.A.S. Nizam entering Alexandria Harbour 31 9 Norwegian Tanker Ketty Brovig 366 German Motor Vessel Coburg. 366 H.M.A.S. Yarra in Persian Gulf 367 H.M.A.S. Waterhen 367 Georgic and Glenearn aground in Suez Bay Crew of H.M.A.S. Hobart bathing in Bitter Lake Boat's Crew from H.M.A.S. Perth, in Alexandria Harbour 39 8 Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham inspecting H.M.A.S. Hobart's Communications Division Manning Anti-aircraft Gun, H.M.A.S. Perth 39 9 Water Polo, from an Australian Destroyer H.M.A.S. Kanimbla alongside Italian Oiler Bronte H.M.S. Barham blowing up, 25th November German Mine on Deck of H.M.A.S. Uki Launching of H.M.A.S. Arunta 43 0 Scene in Galley of H.M.A.S. Sydney 43 1 Scene in Engine Room of a Cruiser Launching a "Walrus" from Catapult. 446 Naval Auxiliary Patrol. 446 Members of the Australian Naval Board New Entries marching at H.M.A.S. Rushcutter. 446 H.M.A.S. Sydney leading Convoy "US.12a". 447 H.M.A.S. Bungaree Minelayer in Sydney Harbour 447 Captain J. Burnett, R.A.N Survivors from Kormoran. 447 German Raider Kormoran 46 2 Dutch Merchant Ship Straat Malakka 46 2 Japanese Battleship Yamato Wounded from U.S.S. Marblehead at Tjilatjap Motor Schooner Lakatoi Norah Moller on fire in Banka Strait. 494 Admiral Thomas C. Hart, United States Navy. 495 Vice-Admiral Conrad Helfrich, Royal Netherlands Navy Japanese Bombing in Gaspar Strait Boom Working Vessel, Darwin 55 8 H.M.A.S. Vendetta in tow of H.M.A.S. Ping Wo H.M.A.S. Perth Darwin 19th February Transport Zealandia on Fire Darwin 19th February Railway Jetty during Raid Darwin. Oil Tanks on Fire H.M.A.S. Nizam alongside H.M.A.S. Manoora 59 1 Netherlands East Indies Cruiser Java. 591 vii

8 MAPS Page Western Pacific after Allotment of Mandates, Oceans of the World and Trade Routes, Limits of the Australia Station, German Merchant Ships in Netherlands East Indies 106 Manoora's Search for Romolo 120 Area of Activities of H.M.A.S. Perth, September 1939-February Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea 148 Strategic Situation in Mediterranean, June Battle of Calabria the Decisive Phase Cape Spada Action Track Chart of H.M.A.S. Sydney 18 9 Area of Activities of H.M.A.S. Hobart, August Area of Activities of H.M.A.S. Australia in Dakar Operation The Aegean Sea 23 2 Operations in Eastern Mediterranean, November Activities of German Raider Orion, June-September Area of Activities of H.M.A.S. Adelaide, September German Surface Raiders in Indian Ocean, Nauru, Raider Attacks Egypt-Cyrenaican Coastline 29 1 The "Lustre" Convoys to Greece, March-April The Battle of Matapan, 28th-29th March Night Action at Matapan H.M.A.S. Stuart's Track Chart Withdrawal from Greece. 328 The Battle of Crete. 347 Withdrawal from Crete, 35 8 Activities of German Raiders in Indian Ocean, January-May The Red Sea Defeat of Italy, January-March Area of Operations of H.M.A.S. Parramatta at Fall of Massawa 37 3 Area of Operations of H.M.A.S. Yarra at Iraq 37 7 Area of Naval Operations in Syrian Campaign 37 9 Area of Operations of H.M.A.S's Kanimbla and Yarra The Tobruk Ferry Northern Screen Coastwatcher Stations, December The A.I.F. Convoys 43 5 The Sydney-Kormoran Action 45 5 The Japanese Attacks, 8th December Australia Reinforcement of North and Islands 51 2 ABDA and Anzac Areas. 520 Reinforcement of ABDA. 526 Japanese Attacks on Rabaul. 543 Japanese Progress in the Western Pacific. 557

9 Page Exodus from ABDA Japanese Raid on Darwin 59 1 Four Phases of the Java Sea Battle Battle of Bantam Bay 62 0 Situation, Java Area, 28th February-1st March Retreat to Australia Approximate Positions of H.M.A. Ships, 4th March Indian Ocean, Movements, early March The Far Eastern Scene, beginning of March lx

10 PREFAC E T HE naval volume of the Official History of Australia in the War o f was concerned with the activities and achievements of an infant navy. This volume and its successor are concerned with the activitie s and achievements of the same navy, but one grown from infancy t o youth and well on the way to maturity. The infant navy of the earlie r war was conceived from a union of ideas. From the earliest days of British settlement in Australia, its people have been reminded at intervals of their dependence upon sea communications, and of the importance t o them of sea power. On the morning of the 24th January 1788, within a few hours of the arrival at Botany Bay of Captain Phillips' First Flee t bringing with it Australia's original settlers, there was considerable alarm in the ships at the appearance of two strange vessels in the offing standin g in for the land. It was thought that they were hostile Dutch frigates sent to dispute the British landings. Actually they were the French ships of La Perouse. Relations were friendly, and there was no trouble. It was, however, the first of a series of alarms which impressed the Australian mind, and which to an extent influenced the development of the Australia n defence policy on the lines it followed up to the outbreak of the secon d world war. The victory of Trafalgar in 1805 secured British control of the sea and ushered in the long period of the Pax Britannica. During the first hal f of the nineteenth century no threat to Australia appeared. Daily the sun rose over peaceful Pacific waters, and often gilded the masts and spar s of ships of the British East Indian squadron, lying in Port Jackson. Australia then formed part of the East Indian station, whose flag office r controlled the movements of these ships. In times of peace they offere d comforting assurance of protection. But the Australian authorities knew that in time of war they would probably sail off over the encircling horizo n to duties elsewhere, leaving the Australian coast, in appearance at any rate, undefended. In 1859 (by which time ripples from the distant Crimea had broken on Australian shores, producing a mild scare which constrained Ne w South Wales and Victoria each to acquire a small armed ship for local defence) the Australia station was constituted as a separate Imperia l naval command independent of the East Indian station. The position, however, remained unchanged regarding the ships there based. They formed an Imperial squadron whose duty was not only to provide for th e defence of the Colonies, but, in time of war, to escort treasure ship s sailing for England, accompanying them as far as either the Cape of Goo d Hope or the Horn, both a long way from Australia. The urge grew for Australian-controlled ships for local defence, in addition to thos e of the Royal Navy. There was a natural clash of views between the Imperial and Colonia l governments on this question. The Imperial authorities correctly premised xi

11 that because the seas are one the fleet should be one. They held that the successful conduct of war at sea demanded one central control o f naval forces, and that the best contribution by the colonies would be a subsidy. The Australian authorities, while accepting the premise and being willing and eager to contribute their share towards the defence of sea communications and to their own local defence, understandably wished to have some say in that defence and in the dispositions of th e forces to which they contributed. Fortunately there was give and take on both sides, though each had its die-hards. The Australians saw the wisdom in the Imperial argument ; the British government and the Admiralty were sympathetic towards Australian aspirations. A continuing and progressive compromise, speeded by the march of events and the increasing threat from growing rivals to Britain 's naval supremacy, provided the solution. During the colonial period the way was paved for Australia's naval development by the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia (in part impelled by war alarms overseas) establishing their own small naval forces for local defence, under the immediate wing of the Imperial squadron and the overal protection of the far distant British battle fleet. With Australian federation in 1901, and the establishment of a Commonwealth Governmen t responsible for Australian defence, the substitution of ships and men fo r a subsidy, and of an Australian squadron for the Imperial squadron o n the Australia station, became possible. Thus the infant Australian navy of the first world war was conceived, from a union of British and Australian ideas fused by a compromis e which produced a practical plan. In 1909, after ideas and proposals ha d been exchanged for some years, the Admiralty suggested that Australi a should acquire a self-contained fleet unit, owned by Australia and con - trolled and administered by the Australian Government through the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board. Its composition should be such that, while manageable (within the Australian budget) in time of peace, an d capable of effective independent operation as a balanced force in time o f war, it could also be used as a component part or, divided, as component parts, of other forces under Admiralty control. The fleet unit, acquired by Australia in the years immediately preceding the first world war, consisted of one battle-cruiser, three light cruisers, six destroyers and tw o submarines, with the necessary auxiliaries. The original intention wa s that this fleet unit should be one of three forming an "Eastern" or "Pacific" fleet of the British Empire ; but events overtook plans (as was to happen again in the period of which this volume tells) and only the Australia n unit materialised. There is interest in the parallel between this Britis h "Fleet unit" conception of 1909, a self-contained fast striking force buil t around a battle cruiser, and that of the American "Task force" of 1941, built around an aircraft carrier. xii

12 There were four main essentials to the success of the fleet unit conception. To meet natural Australian ambitions, its ships had to be owned and controlled by Australia, and manned as far as possible by Australia n officers and seamen. Because its main value at all times would be it s constant and instant readiness to cooperate with the Royal Navy, eithe r as a separate squadron or as a component part or parts of other forces, its regulations had to resemble the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, and the standard of training, discipline and general efficienc y in ships, officers, and men, had to be maintained on an equality with that of the Royal Navy. As a corollary, it was most desirable that, s o far as was possible, there should be joint training with H.M. Ships. And finally, there must be a readiness on the part of the Australian Government and people to transfer strategic and tactical control of the squadron or of units thereof to the Admiralty in time of war. These essentials were met. Because of lack of training it was no t possible at the outset to man the ships entirely with Australians, an d throughout the first world war the proportions were approximately 8 0 per cent R.A.N. and 20 per cent R.N. officers and men. Training centre s were, however, established in Australia on the British model, a naval college for embryo officers and a training ship (later establishment) for ratings, and the gap was virtually closed in the years between the wars. In its governing regulations, its methods and standards of training, discipline, and general conduct, the R.A.N. has adhered closely to the R.N. pattern; and the desired standard of equality with the older navy has a t all times been maintained. Joint training in peace time was not easy t o arrange, but whenever opportunity offered, with the visit of a Britis h squadron to Australian waters, combined exercises were carried out ; and a program of cruiser exchange, though interrupted by economic difficulties, gave valuable results. There was also a continuous interchange of officers, petty officers, and men, which is of great benefit to both navies. As to unified control in time of war, Australia accepted in principle the theory that the indivisibility of the seas demanded, as far as possible, an undivided naval control. The basis of the naval defence of Australi a remained fundamentally unchanged from the days of earliest settlement local responsibility for the Australia station (first as part of the Eas t Indian station) and ultimate dependence on the integrity of world wid e sea communications. The instrument guaranteeing this integrity was the power radiating from the British battle fleet outwards through th e squadrons and ships of the various naval stations, of which the Australi a station was one. Australia recognised that it might be necessary in war t o concentrate power by reinforcing one station at the expense of others and, to meet that contingency, agreed in both world wars (though not withou t occasional rightful criticism) to transfer control of the squadron, or o f individual ships, to the Admiralty. It is again of interest that this recogni-

13 tion of a vital principle and readiness to act according to it was an exampl e in unity of naval command followed (after some expensive fumbling ) by the Allies during the second world war. It was a concomitant of victory. Australian acceptance of the theory of the indivisibility of the seas, and the consequent need for unified control of naval forces, has greatl y widened the scope of this history. Australian ships formed part of British (and later of Allied) naval forces in widely separated areas. Their movements and activities were determined by a variety of influences in bot h the political and military fields, and emanating from Australian, British, Allied, and enemy sources. Because of this it has been necessary largely to sketch in the pattern of the whole war, politically, economically, geographically and militarily, on a world background; and against this t o trace the Australian naval story in as great detail as practicable. Only s o could any attempt be made to preserve a just proportion in depicting th e part of the Australian navy in relation to the whole. To discuss an d determine the influence of sea power on the progress and outcome of th e war; the way that power was wielded by the respective participants ; and the contribution made by Australia through the Royal Australian Navy, is the object of this work. All available sources of information have been drawn upon withou t restraint, and the author has been given generous assistance in all quarters where it was sought. Sources include records of the Australian Wa r Cabinet and Advisory War Council, and of the Admiralty and the Australian Naval Board ; reports of commanders-in-chief and of commandin g officers of individual ships ; the war diaries and letters of proceedings o f ships and establishments ; personal notes and written or verbal account s of experiences ; and Allied and enemy documents. Recourse has also been made to published works, reference to which is, in each instance, recorded in footnotes. The author has been untrammelled by censorship, and give n complete freedom in comment and the expression of opinion, for whic h he alone is responsible. This book has been written for the general reader rather than for the naval expert, so that technicalities, excepting those widely and readil y understood, have been avoided as far as possible ; and sometimes terms running counter to professional practice have been used. For example, courses and bearings have been given in compass points instead of i n degrees. Reference is made above to the assistance received in general. In particular, the author is indebted to a number of individuals who hav e given him much of their time and thought, and much encouragement. It is not possible to over-estimate his indebtedness to Mr Gavin Long, the General Editor of the series of histories of which this is a part. He has been a never-failing inspiration; a most forbearing editor, offering sympathetic understanding of problems, stimulating comment, and wise xiv

14 advice. Of Mr Long's efficient and ever-helpful staff, Mr John Balfour has been a painstaking assistant, notably in putting the many necessary final touches to the typescript to make it ready for the printer, and in preparing biographical footnotes. Mr Hugh Groser has added greatly to the value of the book with his excellent charts ; and Miss Mary Gilchrist has smoothed the path with many thoughtful secretarial attentions. In the field of research, valuable help was received from Mr H. H. Ellmers and his staff in the records section of the Admiralty ; from Commander Geoffrey Rawson, who for some months acted in Londo n as a personal link with the Admiralty ; and from Mr J. M. Luke, officerin-charge of Naval Historical Records, Navy Office, Melbourne, an d members of his staff, especially Mr J. K. Ware and Mr L. G. Norman. A most necessary contribution was made by Mr L. I. Parker, whos e arduous task was the preparation of the index. Much encouraging help, by precept and example, was received from fellow authors of the histories. Most valuable comments and suggestions have been given by those upon whose forbearance, knowledge and experience, the author has draw n as readers of his draft chapters. A careful reading and checking against records was done by Mr Luke and his staff at Navy Office. All the chapters were read by members of the Historical Staff at the Admiralty, who checked them for factual accuracy in matters concerning ships and operations of the Royal Navy, with extremely useful results. The late Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin read Chapters 1 to 11 inclusive, and his penetratin g comment was of the greatest help. His death terminated a kindly servic e and robbed the author of a wise mentor and esteemed friend. All the chapters have been read with diligent scrutiny by Commander R. B. M. Long, R.A.N. (Retd), who most kindly broke into his too-limited leisur e to study them, and whose sage counsel has been of inestimable benefit. A number of others generously read small portions which they were peculiarly qualified to discuss. Finally, the author is indebted beyond measure to his wife, who uncomplainingly listened to his reading of the developin g volume in and out of season, and who always encouraged him with pertinent criticism and thoughtful suggestions. The author himself had some years sea experience as an apprentic e and deck officer in the British Merchant Service. The war years, spent wholly at sea, made him familiar with many of the scenes of thi s history, in particular the Mediterranean, the Aegean, the Persian Gulf, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and the Australia station, under war conditions even though they lacked the intensity of the conditions in the war with which this history deals. He settled on shore in Australia i n the nineteen-twenties, and joined the Royal Australian Naval Voluntee r Reserve while practising as a journalist, and as a writer largely on nautical matters. He was mobilised when war broke out in 1939, an d spent most of the war in the Naval Intelligence Division, where his work, xv

15 though mainly in Navy Office, Melbourne, took him all over Australia, to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and finally, on historical research, to naval headquarters at Colombo, Alexandria, the Admiralty, and th e United States of America. G.H.G. Middle Park, Melbourne, 25th March xvi

16 CHRONOLOG Y Events described in this volume are printed in italics Dec Four Power Treaty signed between British Common - wealth, U.S.A., France and Japan. (Anglo- Japanese Alliance ended ) Feb Ap r Jun Mar Washington Naval Treaty signed between Britis h Commonwealth, U.S.A., Japan, France and Italy London Naval Treaty signed between Washingto n Treaty Powers Anglo-German Naval Agreement signe d Second London Naval Treaty concluded betwee n British Commonwealth, U.S.A., France. (Japan and Italy failed to adhere ) Sep Munich Agreement signed between Britain, Germany, France and Italy May "Pact of Steel" (Axis) between Italy and German y 1 Sep Germans invade Poland 3 Sep Britain and France declare war on Germany. R. G. Menzies broadcasts that Australia is at war Jan First A.I.F. contingent embarks 10 May Mr Churchill becomes Prime Minister of U.K. 10 Jun Italy declares war 12 Jun H.M.A.S. "Manoora" intercepts Italian ship "Romolo" 22 Jun France signs armistice terms with German y 19 Jul H.M.A.S. "Sydney " sinks Italian cruiser "Bartolomeo Colleoni" 27 Sep Tripartite Pact: Germany, Italy and Japan Oct-Nov German raider "Pinguin" lays mines off Australia Nov Battle of Taranto Mar Battle of Cape Matapan Mar-Apr 6th Australian Division arrives in Greec e 22 Apr Embarkation of troops from Greece begins Apr Australian and New Zealand units from Greece arriv e in Crete 1 Jun Embarkation from Crete completed 8 Jun Allied invasion of Syria opens 22 Jun Germans invade Russi a xvi i

17 7 Oct Mr Curtin becomes Prime Minister of Australi a 19 Nov H.M.A.S. "Sydney " sunk in action with German raider 7-8 Dec Japanese attack Malaya and Pearl Harbou r 8 Dec Australia at war with Japan 5 p.m. 10 Dec H.M.S. "Prince of Wales " and H.M.S. "Repulse" sunk Jan Formation of Combined Chiefs of Staff Committe e 23 Jan Japanese force attacks Rabaul 15 Feb Singapore surrendered to Japanese force s 19 Feb First Japanese air raid on Darwin 27 Feb Battle of Java Sea 17 Mar General MacArthur arrives in Australi a xviii