The huge response on sharing the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage's Notice on a Dive Ballot to visit the Midget Submarine off our shores, combined with residents praising the wonderful exhibition through the Mosman Art Gallery, "Tokkotai: Contemporary Australian and Japanese Artists on war and the Battle of Sydney Harbour ", prompted a more in depth look at the attacks on Sydney of May 31st and June 1st 1942, and those of June 8th and a little on the merchant ships, fishing vessels and others that were also attacked off our shores during June, July and August 1942.
The opportunity to visit this war grave may remind older readers of the tour one of the submarines took of the country, raising funds for those who had lost loved ones due to submarine attacks off our coasts.
In 1942, as shown through the interviews for Profiles conducted with those who were here then, the impact on people was huge. Those who were in Sydney remember it - it's what everyone recalls first and foremost:
Bob Langbein (who lived at Cammeray then): Can you remember the evening Japanese submarines were in Sydney Harbour?
Yes I can. That night was rather disturbing that they’d come so close. We could hear it where we were.
Allan Collins (born 1933 - R.I.P):What do you remember of World War II – what incidence stands out most?
When the Japanese attacked Sydney Harbour. The trees weren’t as tall as they are now at Turramurra then, they were more sparse, and there wasn’t as much traffic noise as you have in Sydney now, so we could hear all the shipping on the harbour and the guns on that particular night. At anytime we could always hear the shipping tooting and carrying on but on that particular night it was action packed.
A bloke flew over Sydney in his aeroplane and we had a searchlight battery just opposite where we lived down in Holmes street, there were three searchlights there, they were manned by the Women’s Army who we knew through spending all our time over there; so their lights were up and all over the sky, and other lights were up too, from the Bondi area and from Parramatta too somewhere, they were up everywhere. It was a very busy night. We could hear the ships moving, we could hear the guns going. To me it was exciting because I was so young but not so to all the adults, they seemed to have a grip on how serious it was.
Gwynneth Ross: Can you remember the shells that fell on Bondi and the Japanese submarines coming into the Harbour?
Oh yes. That was just about when my birthday was, the 27th of May and I think they came in a few nights later. On the night of my birthday, my girlfriend and I, she was one of my bridesmaids later, we went on a ferry to Manly. They later shelled Bondi from the ocean; some poor people copped it along the beach front. We were in Fletcher street, which is up on the heights looking down on Tamarama beach, and between Bronte and Bondi beaches. We weren’t affected; it was the ones down low on the beach that got hit.
Bert King OAM (born 1930 - R.I.P.): In the early days of the war they were sure we were going to be invaded; there was barbed wire all along the beaches, trenches everywhere, and because we were at Scouts we were pulled in, the big lumps of fellows like me, into what we called the NES, the National Emergency Services. I got a yellow armband, a tin hat, had to have a pushbike with a light on it, and a First Aid Kit, and you had to provide your own. They made us go and do the St John’s Ambulance course; I got my first certificate when I was 12. We used to go on patrols.
When the submarines attacked Sydney we were on standby. I remember sitting in the corner of Atkin’s Store on the corner of Loftus and Lagoon Street and Ted Atkins was the leader of the push, and there was Charlie Kerwin, Mick Marlin, and Lenny Marsden’s father, four men and me. We were put on standby and we could hear all the noise going on in Sydney, could see all the searchlights going and all this sort of thing, and we were stood down about 2 o’clock in the morning or somewhere near then, and I always though what a motley looking bunch of heroes we were. I pushed on with the scouting, I stayed in that until I was quite senior.
Gwynneth Sneesby: I joined the Navy in 1942, 9th of December. I was stationed at HMS Penguin which was at Balmoral. We did our Basic Training there, which was more or less marching around the oval and teaching us discipline. At the end of six weeks there were ten girls whose names were called out, and I was one of them, and they said, well you’re going to go to HMS Kuttabul, which isn’t in Garden Island as everybody thought. Garden Island was where the Kuttabl was moored and there was Garden Island, Pott’s Point. Garden Island was being connected to the land at this stage, in those days. They were making a road, called the ‘Burma Road’. Until then it was definitely an island.
Why did they carry on HMS Kuttabl even though she had been sunk? It was a tribute I suppose, to all those sailors who were lost during that time. The Kuttabl was a training ship and all those boys lost were young trainees, some still teenagers. HMS Kubttabl was what was on our hats. It’s still the Kuttabl today. I was home here at Mona Vale the night that occurred.
What was your role during this conflict?
We were told we were to go to Bradley’s Head. We didn’t know what Bradley’s Head was and we were quite worried because we didn’t know of anything being there. An establishment had been built there by the American Navy, a camouflaged two storey building and it was called the Degaussing Range. I think because of my ticket writing training they decided I could do this work and we worked on charts there.
Degaussing is the process of decreasing or eliminating a remnant magnetic field. Degaussing was originally applied to reduce ships' magnetic signatures during WWII. It was the testing base really for degaussing; which is a bit of a complicated situation; but we used to operate ten instruments and from that the Electrical Officers who were with us would calculate the amount of electrical current that had to be passed around the hull of a ship to repel the magnetism of the mines, to make them safer in waters where there were these magnetic mines. It was quite a technical job.
We didn’t do the calculations. We operated the machines. It was similar to those heart monitors that have the lines going up and down and the ten gauges, we had to operate those while the ship was going across the harbour and their magnetism was being recorded on these machines.
We would then take off the tape off these twelve machines and put them together and we would trace over those and give them to the Officers and they would calculate the necessary adjustments that needed to be made to the electrical current. They were the clever ones. It was very interesting. The Navy, the American Navy, stayed there for a couple of weeks to teach us girls how to operate the machines. There were ten of us who worked there, and four Naval Officers. There was a lot of camaraderie between us girls.
To get to Bradley’s Head from Mona Vale we had to go to The Spit on the bus then a tram which finished at the Zoo (Taronga). Then we had to walk through Ashton Park to get to Bradley’s Head. It was quite a walk. When we wanted to go home we often use to catch a lift from various boats from one of the ships that were anchored in the harbour. If they were going ashore they’d come past and see if we wanted a lift. We had a jetty out to the end of the degaussing establishment and we used to get a ride from any boat going past that was going to Man O’ War steps at Garden Island. The girls would signal to them.
How many ships were in the Harbour? Lots of them, lots of Merchant ships. They used to moor at Chowder Bay, which was just around the corner, and would have to pass us. They were bringing goods and supplies to Australia. When I think about it nowadays and all the dangerous things that happen to ladies, we were just so innocent, not thinking anybody would harm us, getting on boats with strangers, people from other countries, just to get a lift. You wouldn’t go on your own of course, there would be two or three of you. There were real gentlemen and real ladies then.
A week later, on the 8th of June 1942, just after midnight again, a Japanese submarine I-24 travelled at periscope depth about 9 miles south west of the Macquarie light near Sydney. The I-24 surfaced and pointed its deck gun towards Sydney. Commander Hanabusa gave target instructions to gunnery officer Yusaburo Morita to aim directly at the Sydney Harbour Bridge. As they travelled in a north west direction towards the coast, Morita fired his deck gun across the bow of I-24. He fired 10 shells within 4 minutes. The shells came down in the eastern suburbs of Rose Bay, Woollahra and Bellevue Hill. No 1 Simpson Street Bondi was also hit. Fortunately only one gentleman was injured in fracturing a foot as a result of this attack.
Japanese shelling of Bondi, courtesy State Library of Victoria. Image No 0- 2355037
The rate of those being torpedoed or worse offshore was also not widely publicised, although the articles can be found and read. Through these you may understand the Australian populations rising fears they were about to be invaded.
During the opening of the new Hawkesbury Bridge it also became apparent that this was one of the proposed targets for the submariners:
HAWKESBURY BRIDGE WAS JAPANESE TARGET
SYDNEY, Mon: The old Hawkesbury River bridge, over which all men and materials going north from here had to cross, was one of the targets of the Japanese midget submarines which entered Sydney Harbour. This was stated by Mr. McKell, Premier, when he opened the new Hawkesbury Bridge today.
SYDNEY, Mon: The old Hawkesbury River bridge, over which all men and materials going north from here had to cross, was one of the targets of the Japanese midget submarines which entered Sydney Harbour. This was stated by Mr. McKell, Premier, when he opened the new Hawkesbury Bridge today.
The new bridge was begun in 1939, and replaces the old one, which was completed in 1889 to become the last all-rail link between South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Diagrams found among the Japanese submarines' papers showed points to be attacked, and had a red dot on the Hawkesbury Bridge, Mr McKell said.
Construction of the new bridge had continued throughout the war. All men and materials were Australian. Mr. Hartigan, Railways Commissioner, said about 3,000 trains a month crossed the Hawkesbury. HAWKESBURY BRIDGE WAS JAPANESE TARGET (1946, July 2). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22319821
When had these diagrams been made - just prior to hostilities breaking out - or earlier? This article from 1912, found during earlier Barrenjoey research, always springs to mind when wondering - although marine maps would have been readily available, as would information regarding the Hawkesbury bridge:
A SPY SCARE.
JAPANESE SURVEYS.
[By Telegraph]
MELBOURNE, October 30
A paper on ' The local government engineer and national defence was read to-day at the conference of the Australasian local government engineers by Mr. G. A. Taylor, General Secretary, and a captain in the Australian Intelligence Corps. Dealing with the possibility of invasion, Mr. Taylor said that severe weeks ago a distinguished Japanese officer, who had fought in the recent war, was discovered making surveys of several vulnerable points on the coast of New South Wales. Only a month ago at Prospect, near Sydney, a party of Germans were arrested while making plot surveys of the natural features.
SYDNEY, October 30.
In connection with the startling statements of Mr. Taylor in Melbourne regarding the arrest of two Germans who wore making plot surveys at Prospect, it has been gathered that two Germans were first seen in the neighbourhood of Prospect about the time of the Hawkesbury floods. Their actions were deemed suspicious, so they were shadowed. Finally a party from the Intelligence Corps, under the command of Captain Taylor, surprised the two foreigners, arrested them, and seized their belongings. Subsequently, however, the captives were released as under the existing laws there is little authority to arrest for espionage unless the suspected persons are surprised making maps or surveys on a military reserve. Although the two men who were arrested at Prospect were set at liberty, their actions have since been closely watched.
The party of Japanese referred to by Captain Taylor were discovered accidentally. It appears that at Easter this year a party of campers came upon three Japanese in the vicinity of Barrenjoey. They had with them a plane table and military survey instruments. When asked what they were doing, they answered in a manner that made it seem that only one of them could speak English, and that only imperfectly. The matter was reported to the authorities and, on inquiry being made, it was ascertained that the three Japanese were officers, one of them of high standing, and that they could all speak English very well and were known to have been in constant communication with Japan during the time they had been in Australia. It was also found that they had succeeded in making an elaborate and extensive military survey of the country around Broken Bay. Their movements were closely watched, and it was understood that they have since returned to Japan. A SPY SCARE. (1912, November 1).Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53282180
Pittwater Historian Jim Macken, in his book The Iron Coffin(2008) published evidence found by him in military diaries that what may have been the midget submarine that escaped from Sydney Harbour had been seen in Broken Bay on July 8th and 9th 1942. The conning tower being seen by Patonga fishermen on July 8th at 4.40 in the afternoon and later, 9 p.m., a message was received at west Head Garrison, from the Garrison Battalion at Brooklyn Naval Auxiliary Patrol that a 'suspicious object resembling a conning tower of a submarine was seen off Gunyah Point at the entrance to Cowan Creek.
Subsequent West Head diaries record Skipper Fear of NAP vessel Kazembo reported that 'what was undoubtedly a submarine moving down towards Challenger Head was observed..'
By the 9th of July, what appears to have been the then drifting derelict M-24 was sighted, fully exposed, and caught by a low tide in Mangrove swamps below Juno Point.
No further sightings inside Broken Bay were recorded, but the HMAS Winbah, a Halvorsen 1936 build of 62 feet in length, 45 tons gross, was sent to Pittwater for patrol duties on July 11th. Soon after her arrival War Diaries record she was actioned to
'carry out an anti-submarine patrol between West Head and lion Island tonight Tuesday. Presence of submarine suspected..'
On August 1st, 1942 two sightings of an apparently drifting submarine were recorded in the sea off Barrenjoey. The Sydney Forward Defence Command writing:
'1730 hours. IO Richmond reports a possible submarine sighting 3-5 miles east of Barrenjoey.'
and
'2020. New reported submarine sighting off B. Barrenjoey made at 1645 to 1600 hours.'
Jim reasons, through researching the tides of those two first days of July reportings, that the sub, if the M-24 it was, was already derelict, her batteries having finished their capacity, and that she was being carried by the tides into and out of the Hawkesbury and then back south to where she rests now.
In 1942 a submarine boom was placed across the mouth of Pittwater. Cedric Vincent Williams recalling the submarine nets were a good place to fish:
They were trying to stop the Japanese coming into Pittwater. There was a net across the mouth of Pittwater, which you had to go through if you wished to go out to sea. I used to go fishing a little bit then and I remember hating having to go through that net gate.
I remember my father used to go fishing at that time with some of the local people and I too would go out sometimes. I always remember the fact that you had to go through the gate to get out to sea – we didn’t do this very much as no one wanted to be out in the ocean at that time with so many Navy vessels and possible submarines and enemy ships out there.
I remember we’d fish underneath West Head and the guns would be up there and they’d point them down on us! So I knew they were there.
Anti-submarine net between Barrenjoey Headland and West Head. Courtesy Les Wright. Held in MonaVale Library local history unit.
Corner of Barrenjoey Road and Beach Road Palm Beach with Mr B.L. Houghton's house on the left and the Rendezvous Tea Rooms on the right and anti submarine net in Pittwater in the background. Courtesy Jim Macken. Held in Mona Vale Library local history unit.
When we were living further towards the Mona Vale end of Bayview the Army were there. We lived in Roche Avenue – just up from where the Tennis courts are now. The Army were camped further along, where the dog park is now – there were three houses, ours included. They had their tents there, all along there, so you were conscious of the Army being about. We weren’t allowed to have much to do with them of course.
Apart from having the net and gate to stop people at the Palm Beach end they put stops around the edges of Pittwater – these concrete pyramids. They were great heavy things they dropped in so nothing could go over them. They used to go all around the foreshores. Eventually they kept sinking down into the mud of course, and there is a lot of them still under the mud even now. They had great big steel loops on them.
My father would get them and make moorings out of them – they could never move, once they were put down they were there, permanently. The only way he could do it was get two dinghies together, wait for the tide to come in to lift it, tie the pyramid concrete onto it, then cut it – a couple of times the dinghy was sinking just as much as the pyramid!
The attacks via air raids on Northern Australia, and on shipping on the East coast were feared to be precursors of an invasion. Post-war it became apparent the goal of the Japanese had been to divert Allied forces away from Midway Island prior to the Japanese attempt to capture it, while Japanese submarine campaigns off the Australian east coast in 1942 and 1943 were attempts to break the supply line between Australia and New Guinea during the New Guinea Campaign.
The possibility of invading Australia was discussed by the Japanese Army and Navy on several occasions in February 1942. On 6 February the Navy Ministry formally proposed a plan in which eastern Australia would be invaded at the same time other Japanese forces captured Fiji, Samoa, and New Caledonia, and this was again rejected by the Army. On 14 February, the day before Singapore was captured, the Army and Navy sections of the Imperial General Headquarters again discussed invading Australia and during this discussion Captain Tomioka argued that it would be possible to take Australia with a "token force". This statement was labelled "so much gibberish" in the Imperial General Headquarters' secret diary. General Tomoyuki Yamashita:
He said that after he had taken Singapore, he wanted to discuss with Tojo a plan for the invasion of Australia... Tojo turned down the plan, making the excuse of lengthened supply lines, which would be precarious and open to enemy attack...
The dispute between the Army and Navy was settled in late February with a decision to isolate rather than invade Australia. The Army continued to maintain its view that invading Australia was impractical, but agreed to extend Japan's strategic perimeter and cut Australia off from the US by invading Fiji, Samoa, and New Caledonia in the so-called Operation FS. The question of whether to invade Australia was discussed by Imperial Headquarters for the last time on 27 February and in this meeting the Army stated that it believed that Australia was defended by a 600,000-strong military force. During a further meeting held on 4 March the Imperial Headquarters formally agreed to a "Fundamental Outline of Recommendations for Future War Leadership" which relegated the option of invading Australia as a "future option" only if all other plans went well. This plan was presented to the Emperor by Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō and in effect ended discussion of invading Australia. [1.]
The FS Operation was not implemented due to Japan's defeats in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) and Battle of Midway (June 4-7, 1942) and was canceled on 11 July 1942. These Japanese naval losses were preceded by reports such as this:
JAPANESE SUBMARINE
OFFICIAL ENEMY CLAIMS
NEW YORK. Saturday.— A Japanese submarine sank 65 vessels, totalling 444.000 tons, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans up to last Thursday, says the Tokyo official radio. The claim In detail was— 'Hawaiian area: 15 ships of 101.000 tons: South-west Pacific: 15 ships of 96.000 tons: Indian Ocean: 35 ships of 246.000 tons.' JAPANESE SUBMARINE (1942, May 18).Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144187537
OFFICIAL ENEMY CLAIMS
NEW YORK. Saturday.— A Japanese submarine sank 65 vessels, totalling 444.000 tons, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans up to last Thursday, says the Tokyo official radio. The claim In detail was— 'Hawaiian area: 15 ships of 101.000 tons: South-west Pacific: 15 ships of 96.000 tons: Indian Ocean: 35 ships of 246.000 tons.' JAPANESE SUBMARINE (1942, May 18).Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144187537
Some counts state that between January 1942 and February 1945 at least 28 Japanese and German submarines operating in Australian waters sank a total of 30 ships with a combined tonnage of 151,000 long tons (153,000 t) killing 654 people, including 200 Australian merchant seamen and the Australian Hospital Ship (AHS) Centaur, with 268 of 332 medical personnel and civilian crew aboard dying, including 63 of the 65 army personnel.
The McGirr Inquiry into the Needs of Australian Mariners, conducted by the Department of Repatriation in 1989, found that five percent of Australian merchant seamen had died, and that this was the same as the casualty rate in the RAN. The report noted that there was no definitive source of statistics about Australian merchant mariners killed in the war, but that the Australian War Memorial had compiled a list of 520 names of Australian merchant mariners who had died, and names were still being added (McGirr, 1989:30-31). [2.]
AHS Centaur. Courtesy National Archives of Australia: NAA: B6416, 280
On the night of 31 May – 1 June, three Ko-hyoteki-class midget submarines, each with a two-member crew, and launched from five mother submarines (I-21, I-22, I-24, I-27 and I-29) entered Sydney Harbour, avoiding the then only partially constructed Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net:
TO REMOVE THE SUBMARINE BOOM.
The Marine Services Board have decided to ask the Navy Board to remove the submarine boom across the' harbour as soon as possible, because it is considered a hinderance to navigation. In 1941 the Navy asked the Maritime Services Board to build the net as a defence measure across the harbour from. Green Point to Georges Head. This work was at once started, but unexpected difficulties .delayed the completion of the work for several months. Construction had to proceed while tides were sweeping in and out. Large quantities of seaweed became caught in the net, and caused part of it to collapse.
When Japanese midget submarines entered the harbour in May 1942, the boom was still unfinished. There was sufficient net, however, to trap one submarine and give warning of the presence of others. 'When the boom was completed there were only two openings. That on the eastern side was so small that no craft drawing more than 16 feet could go through. It was used by Manly ferries and small coasters, and it was the only opening at night or during submarine alarms. On the western side a bigger gate could be opened for big vessels and warships.
The boom consists of hundreds of piles, ranging in length from a single logs 80 feet long to spliced piles up to 100 feet in the central and' deeper part of the boom. Chain net, supplied by the Navy, has been suspended between the piles, reaching to the sea-bed. Some parts of the net became so encrusted with oysters and other shellfish and laden with seaweed that they had to be cleaned, or they would have swung with the tide and carried the boom away. There is no doubt, that the boom has been of great service to the port, but now that the Pacific war has ended and shipping is expected to move more freely, especially with the coastal services, the navigation of the entrance to the port should be made more easily for the masters of all vessels entering or leaving the harbour. TO REMOVE THE SUBMARINE BOOM. (1945, August 24). Daily Commercial News and Shipping List (Sydney, NSW : 1891 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162850860
The British aircraft carrier HMS formidable going through the anti-submarine boom in Sydney Harbour. The blackened funnel was the result of a kamikaze aircraft which crashed on deck. The photograph was taken from George's Head and looks towards Green Point. AWM Naval Historical Collection - P00444.047
The naval officer-in-charge of Sydney Harbour at the time of the attack was Rear Admiral Gerard Muirhead-Gould of the Royal Navy. At the time of the attack, the static Sydney Harbour defences consisted of eight anti-submarine indicator loops — six outside the harbour, one between North Head and South Head, and one between South Head and Middle Head, as well as the partially constructed Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net between George's Head on Middle Head and Green Point on Inner South Head. The central section of the net was complete and support piles were in place to the west, but 400 m (1,300 ft) wide gaps remained on either side. Material shortages prevented the completion of the boom net prior to the attack. On the day of the attack, the six outer indicator loops were inactive; two were not functioning and there were not enough trained personnel to man both the inner and outer loop monitoring stations. The North Head – South Head indicator loop had been giving faulty signals since early 1940, and as civilian traffic regularly passed over the loop, readings were often ignored.
Harbour defence craft included the anti-submarine vessels HMAS Yandra and Bingera; the auxiliary minesweepers HMAS Goonambee and Samuel Benbow; pleasure launches converted to channel patrol boats (and armed with depth charges), namely HMAS Yarroma, Lolita, Steady Hour, Sea Mist, Marlean, and Toomaree; and four unarmed auxiliary patrol boats. Many of these launches had attended and participated in Pittwater Regattas prior to the war and were praised as such after hostilities as an auxiliary 'mosquito fleet', a name that had also been used to describe much earlier, from 1840, Hawkesbury and Pittwater traders.
In naval circles an organisation such as the Royal Motor Yacht Club is regarded as possible of conversion into a valuable auxiliary service in time of war, and in this connection the craft are often referred to as the "mosquito fleet." On Saturday, however, a more imposing impression was created as the ceremonial procession of visiting cruisers swept past the flagship of Branch Commodore A. D.Walker, of Broken Bay. The fleet was led by Miramar II, and advanced in line astern from a point near the entrance to the bay, creating the impression of a line of destroyers. As Miramir II. went past Lolita, the Broken Bay flagship, Commodore Stuart F. Doyle greeted Branch Commodore Walker with a salute of 11 guns, and received a similar courtesy from the after deck of Lolita. As each visiting ship passed flags were dipped in true naval style. ...MOTOR YACHT CLUB. (1933, October 9). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17013956
The choice of targets was left up to the midget commanders, but that they should primarily target aircraft carriers or battleships, with cruisers as secondary targets. On the night of the first attack, three major vessels were present in Sydney Harbour; the heavy cruisers USS Chicago and HMAS Canberra, and the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide. Other warships in the harbour included: destroyer tender USS Dobbin, auxiliary minelayer HMAS Bungaree, corvettes HMAS Whyalla, HMAS Geelong, and HMIS Bombay, armed merchant cruisers HMS Kanimbla and HMAS Westralia, and Dutch submarine K-IX. A converted ferry—HMAS Kuttabul—was alongside at Garden Island where she served as a temporary barracks for sailors transferring between ships. The hospital ship Oranje had also been in harbour, but departed an hour before the attack.
Two of the midget submarines were detected and attacked before they could successfully engage any Allied vessels, the crews scuttling their boats and killing themselves. These submarines were later recovered. The third submarine, M-24, attempted to torpedo the heavy cruiser USS Chicago, but instead sank the converted ferry HMAS Kuttabul. The attack killed 19 Royal Australian Navy and two Royal Navy sailors, and wounded another 10.
The other torpedo ran aground on the eastern shore of Garden Island without exploding. M-24 then dived and moved to leave the harbour.
This midget submarine's fate was unknown until 2006, when amateur scuba divers discovered the wreck off Pittwater's beaches.
VICTIM OF JAP SUBMARINE
VICTIM OF JAP SUBMARINE (1942, June 4).Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48377438
HMAS Kuttabul following the Japanese attack - courtesy Australian War Memorial/ID: 305105
Midget submarine M-14—launched from I-27, was first to enter Sydney Harbour. The Middle Head - South Head loop detected it at 20:01, but dismissed the reading due to heavy civilian traffic. At 20:15, a Maritime Services Board watchman spotted the midget after it passed through the western gap, collided with the Pile Light, then reversed and trapped its stern in the net. The submarine's bow broke the surface; the watchman rowed toward it to determine what it was and then rowed to the nearby patrol boat HMAS Yarroma to report his finding. Despite efforts by Yarroma to pass on this information, Sydney Naval Headquarters did not receive the report until 21:52. HMAS Yarroma and Lolita were dispatched to investigate. Upon confirming that the object in the net was a "baby submarine", Lolita dropped two depth charges while Yarroma's commander requested permission from Sydney Naval Headquarters to open fire. The depth charges failed to detonate, as the water was too shallow for the hydrostatic fuse setting. At 22:35, while Yarroma was waiting for permission to fire, and Lolita was setting up to deploy a third depth charge, the two crewmen on M-14 activated one of the submarine's scuttling charges, killing themselves and destroying the submarine's forward section.
Muirhead-Gould gave the general alarm, along with orders for ships to take anti-submarine measures, at 22:27; the alarm was repeated at 22:36 with advice for ships to take precautions against attack, as an enemy submarine might be in the harbour. At the time of the first alarm, Sydney Harbour was closed to external traffic, but Muirhead-Gould ordered ferries and other internal traffic to continue, as he believed that having multiple ships travelling around at speed would help force any submarines to remain submerged.
Midget submarine M-24 was the second to enter the harbour. HMAS Falie grazed M-24's hull and reported the contact to command. The report was not followed up. M-24 crossed the indicator loop undetected at 21:48, and at approximately 22:00 followed a Manly ferry through the anti-submarine net. At 22:52, M-24 was spotted by a Chicago searchlight operator less than 500 m (1,600 ft) to the moored cruiser's starboard, and on a course roughly parallel to the ship's facing. Chicago opened fire with a 5 in (130 mm) gun and a quadruple machine gun mount, but inflicted minimal damage as the weapons could not depress far enough. Some of the 5 in (130 mm) shells skipped off the water and hit Fort Denison's Martello tower, while fragments were later found in the suburbs of Cremorne and Mosman.
The senior officer present aboard Chicago ordered the crew to begin preparing for departure, and for USS Perkins to begin an anti-submarine screening patrol around the cruiser, orders that were revoked by the sceptical Captain Howard Bode when he arrived on board at around 23:30.
HMAS Whyalla and Geelong also fired upon M-24 as it fled west toward the Sydney Harbour Bridge, before the midget was able to submerge and escape. When it returned to periscope depth, the midget found itself west of Fort Denison. It turned and sailed east for about 1 nmi (1.2 mi; 1.9 km), then took up a firing position south-west of Bradley's Head, from where its commander could see Chicago's stern silhouetted against the construction floodlights at Garden Island's new Captain Cook Graving Dock.
On 1 May 1940, Prime Minister, R.G. Menzies, told parliament : "A dry dock of a larger size than any in Australia has been an important strategic consideration since the size of capital ships has increased so greatly. I do not need to elaborate the great value to Australia of a dock capable of accommodating not only the largest warships but also merchant ships of great tonnage. The possession of such a dock would make Australia a fit base for a powerful fleet and would, in certain contingencies, enable naval operations to be conducted in Australian waters without the necessity for ships to travel 4,000 miles to Singapore for purposes of refit and repair. It is estimated that three years will be occupied in the construction of the dock."
Garden Island was identified out of three options as the best and the construction of the graving dock, new workshops and modern machinery would be provided on the island, together with construction of a repair wharf with a 250-ton crane. The coffer-dam, known as the 'Burma Road', was commenced in December 1940 and completed in February 1942 this involved the reclamation of 30 acres between Potts Point and Garden Island and the construction of the graving dock approximately 1,140 feet (345 metres) long, 147 feet (45 metres) wide and 45 feet (14 metres) deep.
Midget submarine M-21—from I-22—possibly entered the harbour at the same time that USS Chicago opened fire on M-24. The unarmed auxiliary patrol boat HMAS Lauriana spotted M-21 and illuminated the submarine's conning tower, while sending an alert signal to the Port War Signal Station at South Head, and the nearby anti-submarine vessel HMAS Yandra. Yandra attempted to ram the submarine, lost contact, regained contact at 23:03, and dropped six depth charges. At the time of the attack, it was assumed that the depth charges had destroyed or disabled the midget, but M-21 survived. Historians believe that the midget took refuge on the harbour floor and waited until the Allied vessels had moved away before it resumed the attack.At 23:14, Muirhead-Gould ordered all ships to observe blackout conditions. Just after 23:30, he set off on a barge towards the boom net, to make a personal inspection.
The Admiral reached Lolita at about midnight and indicated to her crew that he did not take the reports of enemy submarines seriously, reportedly saying: "What are you all playing at, running up and down the harbour dropping depth charges and talking about enemy subs in the harbour? There's not one to be seen." The crew reiterated that a submarine had been seen, but Muirhead-Gould remained unconvinced and before he left, added sarcastically: "If you see another sub, see if the captain has a black beard. I'd like to meet him."
Despite the blackout order, the Garden Island floodlights remained on until 00:25 the next morning. About five minutes later, M-24 fired the first of its two torpedoes; it delayed firing the second torpedo for several minutes as the midget submarines would lose longitudinal stability immediately after firing a torpedo. Historians are divided as to the exact paths of the torpedoes relative to Chicago, although all agree that the US cruiser was the intended target. Both torpedoes missed Chicago. One of the torpedoes continued underneath the Dutch submarine K-IX and HMAS Kuttabul, then hit the breakwater Kuttabul was tied up against. The explosion broke Kuttabul in two and sank her, and damaged K-IX.
HMS Kanimbla fired on M-21 in Neutral Bay at 03:50, and at 05:00, three auxiliary patrol boats—HMAS Steady Hour, Sea Mist, and Yarroma—spotted the submarine's conning tower in Taylors Bay. The patrol boats set their depth charge fuses to 15 m (49 ft), and when Sea Mist passed over where the submarine had just submerged and dropped a depth charge, she had only five seconds to clear the area. The blast damaged M-21, which inverted and rose to the surface before sinking again. Sea Mist dropped a second depth charge, which damaged one of her two engines in the process and prevented her from making further attacks.
Steady Hour and Yarroma continued the attack, dropping seventeen depth charges on believed visual sightings and instrument contacts of the midget over the next three and a half hours.
At 04:40, HMAS Canberra recorded that the Japanese may have fired torpedoes at her. This may have been one of many false alarms throughout the night. However, M-21 had attempted to fire its two torpedoes, but failed because of damage to the bow either from HMAS Yandra's ramming or depth charges, or a possible collision with USS Chicago, making it possible that M-21 attempted to attack the cruiser. The observer aboard Canberra may have seen bubbles from the compressed air released to fire the torpedoes.
The midget submarine attacks and subsequent bombardments are among the best-known examples of Axis naval activity in Australian waters during World War II, and are the only occasion in history when either city has come under attack. The physical effects were slight: the Japanese had intended to destroy several major warships, but sank only an unarmed depot ship and failed to damage any significant targets during the bombardments. The main impact was psychological; creating popular fear of an impending Japanese invasion and forcing the Australian military to upgrade defences, including the commencement of convoy operations to protect merchant shipping.
Despite a mix of keeping the lid on bad news during these events, there was no hiding this one - it had been witnessed in the light display, or heard, by everyone even miles from the harbour.
WHERE JAP SUBMARINE NOW LIES
WATCHING SALVAGE OF JAP SUBMARINE
Divers at work in Sydney Harbor on the sunken Japanese submarine.
Department of Information photo. WATCHING SALVAGE OF JAP SUBMARINE (1942, June 4). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 3 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231789934
Divers at Work on Submarine
(Department of Information photo.)
Divers at Work on Submarine (1942, June 5). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140409299
TORPEDOES IN BOW OF SUBMARINE
The bow of the Japanese submarine as it was raised from the Harbour yesterday, showing the two torpedo tubes. The torpedo on the left was projecting about three feet when the steel ropes were made fast for the lift, but it slipped back as the submarine was swung vertically by the crane. (Story on Page. 5.) TORPEDOES IN BOW OF SUBMARINE (1942, June 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17798752
A Japanese midget submarine being lifted from the water after the raid in 1942. Photo Australian War Memorial
BATTLE OF PORT JACKSON
Whose The Responsibility?
HOW submarines entered Sydney Harbor calls for inquiry and for sackings. If it's the navy or the coastal defences that neglected safeguarding the great port of Sydney, the responsibility should be sheeted home.
Whose The Responsibility?
HOW submarines entered Sydney Harbor calls for inquiry and for sackings. If it's the navy or the coastal defences that neglected safeguarding the great port of Sydney, the responsibility should be sheeted home.
H. G. Wells once suggested that there should be a Minister for Foresight in government.
Such a Minister appears to have been woefully lacking in preventing the audacious Jap adventure in Port Jackson. Early in the war at Scapa Flow the Nazis sank a battleship under the eyes of the British Navy. That, and what occurred at Pearl Harbor, should have been sufficient warning what to expect in Australia's greatest port. In last war the English Channel was netted against submarines. Troops were ferried to and fro between Britain and France without thought of loss.
Precautions at Sydney Heads were believed to have been taken. There should be no possible chance of a submarine entering Port Jackson. Quite apart from safeguards to shut them out where were the detector devices?
Of course, it may be that the idea was that submarines be admitted into the Harbor in order 'to trap them. But that seems hardly likely! It came as an unpleasant shock to Sydney on Sunday night that a happening such as alarmed the waterfront could be. Waterfront residents were' roused from their beds by terrific crashes around 11 pm on Sunday, and those .with a view of the harbor saw the water slashed by dozens of searchlights. A warship's guns went into action. A shell ricochetted and— glowing red— travelled up the harbor and outlined its flight to watchers.
Until the official statement was issued the city was alive with rumors. Relief came with the belated announcement that the attack had failed. Why were the facts so long withheld? Range of Jap "midget" subs, which are run on storage batteries, does not exceed 200 miles.
If the mother ship was at sea reconnaissance planes would have observed It. Could It, by any chance, have sheltered in one of the many inlets on the NSW coast. Japs are cunning enough to disguise such a vessel so that It would look like one of our coastwise craft — a collier, oven. Search for the mother ship should not overlook any bet. Sole cause for satisfaction Is that the Japs didn't pull oft the trick. But more safeguards and greater vigilance are plainly called for at the entrance to Sydney Harbor. Raid was carried out by three midget submarines, all of which were reported sunk — one by gunfire and the other two by depth charges. By Tuesday morning two had been definitely located and preparations made to raise them, and it was stated that approximate position of the third was known.
An old Sydney Ferries vessel, sold some time ago to the Navy by Sydney Ferries Ltd., and used as a depot ship, was sunk at her moorings. She was not directly hit, but the torpedo which sank her crashed into the wall alongside her and the explosion shattered her stern and smashed her Rocking. A second torpedo fired by submarine missed its mark and came ashore, where it was taken in hand by the Navy and rendered harmless. There were some casualties aboard the ship which was sunk.
Heavy guns from Ships and large-calibre machine-guns were in action. After- the shooting the harbor surface was lit by searchlights for' an hour, and patrol vessels skimmed over it at high speed, dashing about in quest of the subs. Lights wero then turned out, and just as most waterfront dwellers had settled into their beds, there were two tremendous muffled detonations which again rattled windows and caused the whole harborside to tremble. These were depth charges. At intervals through the night further depth charges were fired — the last of them soon after dawn. No announcement of the incident was made in Monday morning's Press, nor in early editions of the evening Press. First announcement came from Allied Headquarters in a brief communique at 2 pm announcing the raid and stating it ' was believed three enemy submarines had bqeii sunk, one by gunfire and two by depth charges. Sydney's reaction to the incident was -one of excitement, but there was no panic. Great majority of the watchers were ignorant of what was going On. Most thought it was an air-raid until they saw that searchlights were played on the water Instead of into the air. Then they knew something was happening in the harbor. Another theory 'propounded was that ammunition aboard a ship had exploded.
Suddenness of the incident was underlined by the fact that through it all Sydney Ferries and Manly Ferries continued to run. Watchers ' saw Manly boats, both outward and inward bound, carry on with their trips and pass across the scene of action as though nothing were happening. Similarly Sydney Ferries ran trips to Mosman, Cremorne, and Neutral Bay through the whole Incident. In fact, only one trip to a north-side suburb— timed to leave Circular Quay at 11.20. pm — was cancelled. Some of the passengers on these ferries saw the conning tower of a sub caught in searchlight beams and witnessed the first crash of shells and machine-gun bullets on the enemy craft.
Air and surface patrol search for the ship which may have brought the midget subs was carried on throughout Monday and Tuesday, but no success was reported. After Pearl Harbor, Emperor Hiro-hito of Japan granted posthumous promotion to the heroes of his suicide squads who manned these pigmy submarines and did not return. They were all named by Tokyo radio. Here's a chance for a few more posthumous promotions. They are brave men, without a doubt. Incidentally, the part our US allies played in this Port Jackson incident was splendid. We salute them !
In the light of the Jap midget submarine raid on Sydney Harbor, this Donaldson joke, published last week, appears prophetic.
"It's undersize. Do you think we ought to throw it back?"
BATTLE OF PORT JACKSON (1942, June 6). Smith's Weekly (Sydney, NSW : 1919 - 1950), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article234591842
Immediately following the raid, the five Japanese fleet submarines that carried the midget submarines to Australia embarked on a campaign to disrupt merchant shipping in eastern Australian waters. Over the next days and weeks, the submarines attacked at least seven merchant vessels, sinking three ships and killing 50 sailors.
JAPANESE SUBMARINE
VICTIMS' STORY
Twelve survivors from an Australian coastal freighter which was torpedoed and sunk without warning by a Japanese submarine off the New South Wales coast, told grim stories of their ordeal when they reached an Australian port last night. They had been picked up by a naval vessel after having spent several hours on two rafts, clad only in pyjamas.
VICTIMS' STORY
Twelve survivors from an Australian coastal freighter which was torpedoed and sunk without warning by a Japanese submarine off the New South Wales coast, told grim stories of their ordeal when they reached an Australian port last night. They had been picked up by a naval vessel after having spent several hours on two rafts, clad only in pyjamas.
The ship was one of three vessels mentioned in an official communique issued yesterday by Allied Head-quarters as having been attacked by submarines off the coast. The communique said that one of the vessels was sunk and the other two escaped undamaged. (See Page 5.) JAPANESE SUBMARINE VICTIMS' STORY (1942, June 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17798747
SANK JAPANESE SUBMARINE
The pilot and crew of the bomber which sank a Japanese submarine off the eastern coast of Australia, being photographed by a war correspondent's newsreel camera on their return to an Allied base. They are from, left: Sergeant D. K. Godfrey, of Perth (wireless air-gunner): Flight-Lieutenant G. Hitchcock (pilot), of Sydney; Flight-Sergeant A. T. Morton (wireless air-gunner), of Adelaide; and Flying-Officer S. Morrison (second pilot), of Melbourne. SANK JAPANESE SUBMARINE (1942, June 10). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17796112
ROUTED JAPANESE SUBMARINE
Flying-Officer W. F. A. Winckel (left), pilot of the Netherlands Indies Air Force Squadron bomber, in the recent successful submarine hunt off the NSW coast. With him is Lieut. J. Ivan Loggem, the man who dropped the bombs on the Japanese submarine. ROUTED JAPANESE SUBMARINE (1942, June 13). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 3 (FOOT BALL LAST RACE). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231794741
It was during these activities, between midnight and 02:30 on 8 June, that two of the submarines bombarded the ports of Sydney and Newcastle. Just after midnight, I-24 surfaced 9 mi (14 km) south-south-east of Macquarie Lighthouse. The submarine's commander ordered the gun crew to target the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They fired 10 shells over a four-minute period; nine landed in the Eastern Suburbs and one landed in water. I-24 then crash dived to prevent successful retaliation by coastal artillery batteries. Only one shell detonated, and the only injuries inflicted were cuts and fractures from falling bricks or broken glass when the unexploded shells hit buildings.
JAP SUBMARINES SHELL SYDNEY AND NEWCASTLE
Only Fire Shells Explode: One Casualty
Only one casualty-a broken leg-and little damage, none of a military nature, resulted from the shelling from Japanese submarines of Sydney and Newcastle early on Monday .
SYDNEY was attacked at 12.5 a.m., the submarine firing shots for about 15 minutes.
About 15 shells were fired, but only three — thought to be 5.9 calibre — exploded, causing little damage. The others were duds. One of these hit a block of flats and Mr. Edward Hirsch, 40, a refugee, who left Germany five years ago, suffered a broken leg.
Only Fire Shells Explode: One Casualty
Only one casualty-a broken leg-and little damage, none of a military nature, resulted from the shelling from Japanese submarines of Sydney and Newcastle early on Monday .
SYDNEY was attacked at 12.5 a.m., the submarine firing shots for about 15 minutes.
About 15 shells were fired, but only three — thought to be 5.9 calibre — exploded, causing little damage. The others were duds. One of these hit a block of flats and Mr. Edward Hirsch, 40, a refugee, who left Germany five years ago, suffered a broken leg.
NEWCASTLE was shelled at 2 a.m., and the attack lasted 1 5 minutes. Only two of the 12 shells fired exploded, causing little damage apart from broken windows. Three or four crashed in streets near the beach. There were no casualties.
SHOTS were fired at motorists whose car headlights were conspicuous as they went through city streets while the alert was on, following the shelling of Sydney by enemy submarines. A pedestrian, Frank Rogers, 47, was wounded in the left leg and admitted to Sydney Hospital. A member of the Allied forces called on a passing motorist to pull up and to attract the driver's attention fired two shots into the air. It is believed that one of these bullets ricocheted from a building and struck the pedestrian in the leg. Hundreds of lighting breaches were reported in nearly all city and suburban areas. JAP SUBMARINES SHELL SYDNEY AND NEWCASTLE (1942, June 10). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225564903
DAMAGED IN SYDNEY RAID
REFUGEE'S LEG BROKEN
The only casualty was Edward Hirsch, consulting engineer, who is in hospital with a broken leg. He was in bed at his flat in Manion Ave., Rose Bay, when a shell came through the roof. It knocked a hole in a brick partition wall, ripped up several feet of flooring, then ricochetted high up through another wall.
HERSCH, a German-Jew, was injured by flying bricks.
"Five years ago I left Germany to escape the Nazis, and I came to Australia to be hit by the Japs," he said in hospital. Dawn brought thousands of sightseers to view the damaged buildings. At one house an Army officer stood guard, allowing the curious to go in four at a time. Early in the day it was announced that a total blackout was to be enforced in Sydney and along the coastal districts, but a later official statement ordered only the screening of all lights showing to sea, and brownout of all others. All big city stores closed at 5 pm. because of the brownout. The Minister for the Army (Mr Forde) said that the search for enemy submarines would be intensified as a result of the raid. "This is the greatest testing time for Australia," he declared. "Whether we emerge triumphant depends upon how all sections of the services and the community co-operate. "The shelling should bring nearer to Australians the seriousness of the war position.” REFUGEE'S LEG BROKEN (1942, June 10). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225565027
A United States Army Air Forces pilot, 1st Lieutenant George Cantello, based at Bankstown Airport was ordered into the air to retaliate, but was killed when engine failure caused his Airacobra to crash in a paddock at Hammondville. In 1988, following efforts by residents and the US Consulate in Sydney, the City of Bankstown established a memorial park in his honour.
At 02:15, I-21 shelled Newcastle, from 9 km (4.9 nmi; 5.6 mi) north-east of Stockton Beach, firing 34 shells over a 16-minute period, including eight star shells. The shells landed over a large area, causing minimal damage and no fatalities: the only shell to detonate damaged a house on Parnell Place, while an unexploded shell hit a tram terminus. Fort Scratchley returned fire, the only time an Australian land fortification has fired on an enemy warship during wartime, but the submarine escaped unscathed.
SEA RAIDERS SHELL SYDNEY AND NEWCASTLE HIT-RUN ATTACKS BY SUBMARINES SUSPECTED. BOOM OF COASTAL GUNS WAKES THOUSANDS - LITTLE DAMAGE DONE; ONLY ONE PERSON INJURED .
Sydney and Newcastle were shelled from the sea early this morning-probably by submarines. In Sydney the bombardment began about 12.5 a.m. An air-raid alert was sounded shortly before 12.30 a.m. and the "all-clear" was sounded at 1.11 a.m. In Newcastle, the shelling began about 1.3o a.m. and lasted about 35 minutes. Two shells exploded but did no damage. At least five shells fell in Sydney suburbs and others are believed to have fallen in the harbour. As far as is known, only two exploded. A "dud" shell tore through a block of flats in Manion Avenue, Woollahra, and one man was injured. Shells fell in Rose Bay, Woollahra. Bellevue Hill and Bondi. Thousands of people in eastern suburbs were aroused from their sleep by the scream of shells passing overhead and by the boom of coastal defence gunsopening fire. The sound of the shells from the sea was heard in many suburbs, but it seemed loudest in Bondi, Bellevue Hill, Rose Bay, Bronte, Coogee, and Randwick. It was estimated that at least 12 shells were fired. SEA RAIDERS SHELL SYDNEY AND NEWCASTLE. (1942, June 8). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17801108
SHIP SURVIVES ENEMY SUBMARINE
This ship arrived in an Australian port with a shell hole in the bow after fighting off an attack by a Japanese submarine off the south-east coast of Australia. The submarine is thought to be of the same type which is believed to have shelled Sydney on Sunday night. There were no serious casualties among the crew. SHIP SURVIVES ENEMY SUBMARINE ATTACK (1942, June 12). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17799861
This ship arrived in an Australian port with a shell hole in the bow after fighting off an attack by a Japanese submarine off the south-east coast of Australia. The submarine is thought to be of the same type which is believed to have shelled Sydney on Sunday night. There were no serious casualties among the crew. SHIP SURVIVES ENEMY SUBMARINE ATTACK (1942, June 12). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17799861
Amongst the reports of ships limping into safe harbours and the day after the second sea to land attacks:
CREMATION OF JAPANESE
Submarine Crews
When the bodies of the four Japanese sailors recovered from the wreckage of the midget sub-marines raised from the bed of Sydney Harbour have been cremated with full naval honours to-day, their ashes will be retained in the columbarium at Eastern Suburbs Crematorium for return to Japan after the war.
Submarine Crews
When the bodies of the four Japanese sailors recovered from the wreckage of the midget sub-marines raised from the bed of Sydney Harbour have been cremated with full naval honours to-day, their ashes will be retained in the columbarium at Eastern Suburbs Crematorium for return to Japan after the war.
Naval authorities were faced with a situation without precedent regarding what procedure to adopt with the bodies of the first Japanese naval personnel killed in action in these waters. However, cremation is the usual Japanese method of disposing of the dead, and it was considered that these men should have in death similar treatment to that which relatives and colleagues of Australians who died in enemy-occupied territory would expect to be accorded to brave men who died in the course of their duty.
The cremation will be at 11.30 a.m. to-day, and the ceremonial will be similar to that which took place at the burial of the Australian naval men who were killed in the former ferry steamer which was sunk by a Japanese torpedo.
A.N.A. PROTEST
Speaking on behalf of the Australian Natives' Association, of which he is general secretary, Mr. H. R. Redding, of Rose Bay, said last night that he was amazed to learn of the decision that the Japanese were to be cremated with full naval honours.
"I believe that such a proposal is abhorrent to Australians, who heard with regret of the tragic loss of life on the depot ship which was sunk at the hands of these persons," he said. "On behalf of the Australian Natives' Association, I wish to make an emphatic protest." CREMATION OF JAPANESE (1942, June 9). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17829075
HONORS TO FALLEN JAPANESE
Ministers to Examine Japanese Submarine
MELBOURNE, Thursday. - The Ministers for the Army, Navy, and Supply (Messrs. Makin, Forde, and Beasley) will leave Melbourne tomorrow for Sydney. They will examine the Japanese midget sub-marine recovered from Sydney Harbour. The investigation is expected to include a survey of the harbour defences. Ministers to Examine Japanese Submarine (1942, June 12). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140411029
"RED UMBRELLA" IN JAPANESE SUBMARINE
CANBERRA - An article described as a ''red umbrella" found in one of the Japanese submarines in Sydney Harbor turned out to be an officer's two-handed sword. This was revealed by the Minister for the Navy (Mr. Makin) last night.
It is a type of sword used in Japan for executions. It was three feet long, with a slightly curved blade of 27 inches. "RED UMBRELLA" IN JAPANESE SUBMARINE (1942, July 8). Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48407670
JAPANESE SWORD
The then also huge interest in the submarines brought this announcement in the third week of July:
JAPANESE SUBMARINE ON EXHIBITION
SYDNEY, Monday. - At the end of next week a complete Japanese midget submarine will be exhibited in Sydney. Some sightseers may be able to enter the hull. Charges will be made for inspection, and the proceeds will assist the R.A.N. Relief Fund. The submarine may be shipped later to other States for exhibition. JAPANESE SUBMARINE ON EXHIBITION (1942, July 21). Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68773034
Perhaps an idea that came from this:
JAPANESE SUBMARINE ON EXHIBITION
One of the two-men Japanese submarines captured by U.S. Forces at Pearl Harbour is now on exhibition at Hawaii. These craft, which have a range of 200 miles, are serviced from a tender. JAPANESE SUBMARINE ON EXHIBITION (1942, March 25). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17794149
JAPANESE SUBMARINE ON EXHIBITION IN SYDNEY
SYDNEY, Thursday. — Officially opening the exhibition which began today of a Japanese midget submarine which was sunk In Sydney Harbor in May, the New South Wales Acting Premier (Mr. Baddeley) said that the submarine was a reminder of the necessity for Australia to be always on guard or to speed up production so that at the earliest possible moment we might be ready to launch an attack on the ruthless but efficient enemy. Paying a tribute to the men of the small ships which patrol these waters, and others associated with the harbor defence, Rear-Admiral Muirhead Gould said that the Japanese who elected to man the midget submarines were brave and capable of great endurance. JAPANESE SUBMARINE (1942, July 31).Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144207555
Complete Japanese midget submarine, Sydney, 30 July 1942. 1 postcard : black and white ; 9.2 x 14.3 cm. Courtesy National Library of Australia. Image No.: nla.obj-153088487-1
EXHIBITION OF SUBMARINE
The Japanese midget submarine will be on show at Fort Macquarie to-day from 9 a,m, to 5 p.m. and to-morrow from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EXHIBITION OF SUBMARINE (1942, August 8). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17812073
A salvage party at work on a Japanese midget submarine sunk in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, 30 July 1942. 1 postcard : black and white ; 9.2 x 14.3 cm. Courtesy National Library of Australia. Image No.: nla.obj-153088937-1
The exhibit did travel - going north before heading to Melbourne by the end of the year. The charges for looking were directed to the Royal Australian Navy Relief Fund (for families who had lost loved ones) and the Merchant Navy (ditto). While this was going on, merchant navy ships and others were being attacked off the coast:
TRAWLER SHELLED BY SUBMARINE
Two Killed Four Wounded
Attack off Coast
BULLETS SPRAYED DECK
"Don't fire! We are only a harmless fishing boat," yelled the skipper of a Sydney-owned trawler as a Japanese submarine began to shell the vessel off the east coast of Australia recently.
Vainly the fishermen sought cover by dodging to sheltered corners; two even dived overboard for safely. Shell after shell ripped into the superstructure and the submarine then circled three times, sweeping the deck with a hail of machine-gun fire.
When the attack was over two men lay sprawled on the deck, dead; four others were wounded, and the remaining six of the crew bewildered with shock. The trawler itself kept afloat and later was brought into a port.
Two Killed Four Wounded
Attack off Coast
BULLETS SPRAYED DECK
"Don't fire! We are only a harmless fishing boat," yelled the skipper of a Sydney-owned trawler as a Japanese submarine began to shell the vessel off the east coast of Australia recently.
Vainly the fishermen sought cover by dodging to sheltered corners; two even dived overboard for safely. Shell after shell ripped into the superstructure and the submarine then circled three times, sweeping the deck with a hail of machine-gun fire.
When the attack was over two men lay sprawled on the deck, dead; four others were wounded, and the remaining six of the crew bewildered with shock. The trawler itself kept afloat and later was brought into a port.
SHOT DOWN IN DASH TO LIFEBOAT
The announcement of the shelling, made from General MacArthur's Headquarters yesterday, gave the first, indication since June 11 of the presence of a Japanese submarine in Australian waters. The submarine, a sea-going type 300 feet long, attacked the trawler, which was of 200 tons about 20 miles off the coast. The raider came to the surface about a mile from the trawler and opened fire with big guns.
A heavy sea was running and clouds constantly obscured the moon. The ship was trawling, and when the first shell came across the bows the crew thought a naval vessel had fired as a warning to put lights out.
STEAM PIPE HIT
The second shell hit the trawler and put the main steam pipe out of action. Then the superstructure, including the bridge, was quickly shot away.
As the first shells pounded in, the skipper of the trawler, Captain William Held, of Rozelle, Sydney, tried to warn the attackers by yelling that the vessel as only a harmless fishing boat, but, the only answer he got was the explosion of more shells.
It soon became apparent that the only chances of safety lay in getting clear of the ship. Twelve shells had already hit the vessel out of 17 to 20 fired, and there was a chance that in the intervals between more shells the lifeboat could be launched, but instead of shells a new terror now appeared.
The submarine, moving in from its distant range, opened fire with machine-guns. It circled the trawler three times at a distance of 100 yards, spraying the deck with bullets. The deadly hail struck the crew just as they made for the lifeboat. Archibald McPherson, a deck-hand, was running when a bullet struck, him down, dead. Arthur Scobie, the second mate was killed also.
SWAM ROUND SHIP
In this, new danger, attempts to launch the lifeboat were abandoned. All that the men could do was to dodge for shelter wherever they could. Suddenly the attack ceased. The sub-marine disappeared in a dive.
Frank Temple, a fireman, who was injured in the leg with a shell fragment, said that the first shell went over the bows. The next severed the steam pipe, and he leapt over the side for protection. But the submarine fired at them from all quarters, George Reid, chief engineer, told the same story. He said he swam round and round the ship and found it difficult to dodge the hail of machine-gun bullets and shells. William Miller, the cook, said he had been shelled by German sub-marines in the last war, but had never had such an experience as this, it was cowardly and typical of the Japanese.
None of the crew saw any Japanese in the glimpses they caught of the submarine.
CASUALTY LIST
The casualties on the trawler were:
KILLED
Archibald McPherson, deck hand, of the Frisco Hotel, Dowling Street, East Sydney.
Arthur Scobie, second mate, of Cardiff, Wales.
WOUNDED.
George Reid, chief engineer, of Mortdale.
Alexander Thomas Reid, brother of the captain, mate, of Mortdale, in a serious condition.
Frank Temple, fireman, Glebe.
I. W. Wilson, radio operator, of Amalgamated Wireless.
SUFFERING FROM SHOCK.
Captain William Reid, of 12 Byrnes Street, Rozelle.
Jack Reid, second engineer, of 40 Marlborough Street, Drummoyne.
William Bray, deck hand, resident of a Sydney hotel.
Theodore Anderson, fireman, on first trip, address unknown.
John Gunderson, fireman, 2 Ann Street, Surry Hills Sydney.
William Miller, cook, 358 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst.
FERRIED IN DINGHY
People from a fishing town on the coast gathered at the edge of the sea and watched the flash of the guns. As soon as the local police heard of the attack they asked several local residents to go out in their trawler. At the same time two policemen, accompanied by another local resident, put out in a 30ft launch. Because of the rough seas they were unable to get nearer than two miles from the attacked vessel.
In the meantime, however, the first rescuing craft had got close enough to the trawler to fix a line to it. Using the line, a dinghy plied to and fro until the two dead men and the survivors had been transferred to the rescuing vessel.
Later, the rescuing trawler hooked to the vessel which had been attacked, and held her until a tug arrived to take her away. When the wounded arrived at the fishing town, they were attended to by the local N.E.S. first-aid unit, and taken to hospital.
Close relatives of the dead and wounded were in the country town yesterday near the scene of the attack. They and members of the crew who could walk followed the funeral of the two men who had lost their lives.
"MURDER AND PIRACY"
"The Axis Powers have delighted in murder and piracy on the high seas," said the clergyman at the funeral service.
"Their practices, which have led to such a murder as this, warn us of the kind of thing which at any moment we here may have to face. The shells which laid our brothers low were not merely fired at them, but were aimed at trying to create panic among our people on the shore. But I am confident that that aim will not have any such result. Instead, I am sure that the people here will be stiffened in their determination to do all that is in their power to eradicate such evils from the earth."
The skipper, on behalf of the crew, has presented a letter to the N.E.S. organisation in the area, expressing gratitude for the splendid services rendered on the arrival of the crew.
The nationalities in the crew include Australian, Danish, English, American, Scottish, New Zealand, and Orkney Islands.
Previous attacks by submarines off the east coast of Australia have occurred as follows:
On June 2 it was announced that eight men were killed and ten injured when a midget submarine sank a naval depot vessel in Sydney Harbour.
On June 5 it was announced that one ship had been torpedoed and sunk, and two others attacked but had escaped damage, off the east coast.
On June 11 it was revealed that an Allied ship had fought off a submarine which shelled it off the south-east coast.
The crew of a Russian ship, on June 27, reported that a submarine had shelled and machine-gunned the ship off the east coast.
(Pictures on Next Page)
SURVIVORS OF SUBMARINE ATTACK ON TRAWLER
Above: The bridge of the trawler which was shelled by a Japanese submarine off the east coast of Australia. In the attack the bridge was shot away. Right: Four of the survivors, three of whom are related.
...TRAWLER SHELLED BY SUBMARINE (1942, August 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17796063
Japanese Submarine Was Large
SYDNEY, Wednesday: Relating a grim story as he sat at the bedside of his brother, Alexander Reid, one of the four seamen injured when a Japanese submarine attacked an unarmed trawler off the Australian east coast and killed two, Captain William Reid said that if they had only had a six-pounder he would have fought until he died. Captain Reid said that during the period he had been at sea he had seen some submarines, but the one that attacked them was the biggest of all. As he saw it approaching after surfacing within 200 yards he yelled out that they were only a fishing boat, then went to his room to remove his heavy clothes Through the portholes he kept watch on the enemy craft, which immediately commenced to shell.
SYDNEY, Wednesday: Relating a grim story as he sat at the bedside of his brother, Alexander Reid, one of the four seamen injured when a Japanese submarine attacked an unarmed trawler off the Australian east coast and killed two, Captain William Reid said that if they had only had a six-pounder he would have fought until he died. Captain Reid said that during the period he had been at sea he had seen some submarines, but the one that attacked them was the biggest of all. As he saw it approaching after surfacing within 200 yards he yelled out that they were only a fishing boat, then went to his room to remove his heavy clothes Through the portholes he kept watch on the enemy craft, which immediately commenced to shell.
"Soon one side of the wheelhouse was wrecked and the funnel was gone," declared the captain, who said that the wheelhouse wreckage came down into his room, blocking the exit and compelling him to struggle free. He saw Archie McPherson staying on deck exposed to the Japanese fire and shouted a warning. McPherson replied, "It does not matter, skipper, he has got me." McPherson dropped dead on the deck. Captain Reid revealed that the submarine fired from eight to 12 shells and machine-gunned them nine times, cruising around to the stern to machine-gun them with fire which raked the decks. Its parting shot was a burst of shell-fire.
SENT DISTRESS SIGNALS
The wireless operator, Wilson, who was interviewed in hospital today, said he first saw the sub-marine just aft. Just before a shell burst in the wireless room he had succeeded in sending out distress signals. When dodging around the deckhouse trying to avoid shells and bullets he was struck in the shoulder and stomach by pieces of shrapnel. Those who had seen the bodies of the victims stated that, embedded in their wounds were pieces of safety razor blades which the Japanese had included in their shrapnel. Japanese Submarine Was Large (1942, August 6). Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW : 1914 - 1949), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192943363
The wireless operator, Wilson, who was interviewed in hospital today, said he first saw the sub-marine just aft. Just before a shell burst in the wireless room he had succeeded in sending out distress signals. When dodging around the deckhouse trying to avoid shells and bullets he was struck in the shoulder and stomach by pieces of shrapnel. Those who had seen the bodies of the victims stated that, embedded in their wounds were pieces of safety razor blades which the Japanese had included in their shrapnel. Japanese Submarine Was Large (1942, August 6). Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW : 1914 - 1949), p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article192943363
Propaganda that was flowing in the other direction amongst all this:
THE JAPANESE SAW THIS
In this prompt manner the Directorate of Public Relations capitalised the triumph of the RAN patrol vessels which sent the attacking submarines to the bottom of the harbor.
Terse caption written in English and Japanese reads: "Behold the result of the Japanese Navy's attack on Sydney Harbor!" ... .
An explanatory note underneath the photograph says: "Following the Tokio bombing attack, the Japanese Navy's midget submarines attempted a surprise attack on Sydney Harbor. "From this know the martial might of the Allied countries. The photograph shows a Japanese Navy submarine raised from the bottom of Sydney Harbor."
Following the Tokio bombing attack, the Japanese Navy's midget submarines which attempted a surprise attack on Sydney Harbour. From this know the martial might of the Allied countries. The photograph shows a Japanese Navy submarine raised from the bottom of Sydney Harbour.
THE JAPANESE SAW THIS (1942, August 15). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 2 (FOOT BALL LAST RACE). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231790144
SUBMARINE ATTACK.
Freighter Hit off Coast
Five of the crew were killed and nine injured when a Japanese submarine attacked and damaged an Australian freighter off the coast of New South Wales a couple of months ago. The announcement of the attack was authorised officially yesterday.
The bodies of the seamen who were killed were still buried under the wreckage on the vessel's deck when she berthed 24 hours after the attack with her stern shattered. Two badly injured men were on deck, lying on improvised bunks and sheltered by tough tarpaulin tents. They were too dangerously injured to be moved below.
Freighter Hit off Coast
Five of the crew were killed and nine injured when a Japanese submarine attacked and damaged an Australian freighter off the coast of New South Wales a couple of months ago. The announcement of the attack was authorised officially yesterday.
The bodies of the seamen who were killed were still buried under the wreckage on the vessel's deck when she berthed 24 hours after the attack with her stern shattered. Two badly injured men were on deck, lying on improvised bunks and sheltered by tough tarpaulin tents. They were too dangerously injured to be moved below.
The vessel was attacked soon after 5 a.m. in darkness and a heavy mist. Two torpedoes were fired. The first struck the stern, blasting away the rudder. Parts of the propeller were blown through the ship on to the aft deck near the-crew's quarters where 22 men were asleep. The second torpedo missed. The crew's quarters were wrecked by the explosion, and by heavy Iron spars, which were dislodged by the torpedo.
KILLED BY BLAST
Two of the five men killed are believed to have died from the effects of the blast from the explosion. One was enveloped in a sheet of steel, which had been wrapped round him by the force of the blast. An oxyacetylene torch had to be used to extricate his body.
Those killed were:
John B. Bromilow, A.B., of Douglas Street, Newport, Victoria.
Ernest Noble, A.B., of Soundwell Street, Largs, South Australia.
Arthur Sundeil, ‘Greenan,' Crown Street, Sydney.
Alfred Smith, of Miller's Point, Sydney: and
Henry G. Talbot. Quebec Street, Port; Adelaide, South Australia.
Those injured were:
Donald Mccauley. 30, Napier Street, Sydney; lacerated forehead and shock:
Maxwell Pemberton, 22, Steel Street, Nielsen Park, Sydney, bruised face, internal injuries, and shock;
John Clarke, 52. Arris Street. Ryde, concussion and shock:
Laurie Bignell, 36, .Brace Street, Bondi, lacerations to legs and shock;
Sidney Williams, 31, Smith Street, Sydney, lacerated arms and legs:
William Rich, 52. Balmain Road, Leichhardt, injured pelvis, fractured collarbone, internal injuries:
George Cartwright, 55, Garrert Street, Maroubra, lacerated face and head, probable fracture of the skull, internal injuries:
Ernest Brown. 46. Argyle Place. Sydney, lacerated left fore-arm and shock
CAME TO SURFACE
Immediately after the explosion the crew saw the submarine surface and fire another torpedo, which passed under the stern of the ship.
The submarine then approached the freighter, and a Japanese officer shouted an order in English for the crew to abandon ship.
"We were amazed at the size of the submarine," said one seaman. "She was so close that we could easily have thrown a stone on her deck."
After the Japanese officer had ordered the crew to abandon ship the submarine fired a shell over the freighter.
"It went well over us and I think it was meant to hurry us up." a member of the crew said.
'The freighter was at the mercy of the attacker, and the master, after conferring- with his officers, ordered the men into the ship's boats.
The injured men who could be reached were helped into the boats.
When the boats had moved clear of the freighter, which the crew expected would be shelled, the submarine disappeared.
"We cannot understand why they did not finish off the ship," said Master Pemberton.
"The Japs came and had a good look, and evidently decided that we were doomed, and further shelling would be unnecessary."
RAOIO REPAIRED
When the ship showed no sign of sinking, Captain McLellan called for volunteers to go aboard with him. The chief officer, the wireless operator, the boatswain, and the carpenter were selected. They repaired the wireless aerial, which had been wrecked, and seat out distress signals. During the attack about 40 distress signals were sent out before it was known that the aerial was useless.
Soon after two vessels arrived, and the rest of the ship's crew returned to the freighter. She drifted helplessly for hours with the pumps working; until tugs arrived and took her in tow. She was loaded heavily and was becoming dangerously low at the stern. The freighter, in tow of the tugs, reached a port next day.
While the freighter stood off-shore vessels took a doctor and ambulance men out to attend to the Injured Working by the light of torches they gave first aid to the injured. In the early mowing the stricken vessel was brought into port by tugs, three towing and one pushing astern.
FLAG AT HALF-MAST
Four ambulance waggons were waiting at the wharf to receive the injured as the ship berthed she and her flag lowered to half-mast to honour the dead
It was not until some hours later that the work of clearing the heavy wreckage from the bodies of the victims was completed.
Every member of the crew praised the cool seamanship of the master whose brother was master of another freighter which was sunk recently. He is still missing.
The crew described Frank Grant 16 the deck boy as a "blooming little hero Grant was one of those blown out of his bunk when the torpedo struck
"He behaved bravely all through and dragged one wounded men from the shattered bunk-house" one sea-man said. SUBMARINE ATTACK. (1942, September 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17830397
CAME TO SURFACE
Immediately after the explosion the crew saw the submarine surface and fire another torpedo, which passed under the stern of the ship.
The submarine then approached the freighter, and a Japanese officer shouted an order in English for the crew to abandon ship.
"We were amazed at the size of the submarine," said one seaman. "She was so close that we could easily have thrown a stone on her deck."
After the Japanese officer had ordered the crew to abandon ship the submarine fired a shell over the freighter.
"It went well over us and I think it was meant to hurry us up." a member of the crew said.
'The freighter was at the mercy of the attacker, and the master, after conferring- with his officers, ordered the men into the ship's boats.
The injured men who could be reached were helped into the boats.
When the boats had moved clear of the freighter, which the crew expected would be shelled, the submarine disappeared.
"We cannot understand why they did not finish off the ship," said Master Pemberton.
"The Japs came and had a good look, and evidently decided that we were doomed, and further shelling would be unnecessary."
RAOIO REPAIRED
When the ship showed no sign of sinking, Captain McLellan called for volunteers to go aboard with him. The chief officer, the wireless operator, the boatswain, and the carpenter were selected. They repaired the wireless aerial, which had been wrecked, and seat out distress signals. During the attack about 40 distress signals were sent out before it was known that the aerial was useless.
Soon after two vessels arrived, and the rest of the ship's crew returned to the freighter. She drifted helplessly for hours with the pumps working; until tugs arrived and took her in tow. She was loaded heavily and was becoming dangerously low at the stern. The freighter, in tow of the tugs, reached a port next day.
While the freighter stood off-shore vessels took a doctor and ambulance men out to attend to the Injured Working by the light of torches they gave first aid to the injured. In the early mowing the stricken vessel was brought into port by tugs, three towing and one pushing astern.
FLAG AT HALF-MAST
Four ambulance waggons were waiting at the wharf to receive the injured as the ship berthed she and her flag lowered to half-mast to honour the dead
It was not until some hours later that the work of clearing the heavy wreckage from the bodies of the victims was completed.
Every member of the crew praised the cool seamanship of the master whose brother was master of another freighter which was sunk recently. He is still missing.
The crew described Frank Grant 16 the deck boy as a "blooming little hero Grant was one of those blown out of his bunk when the torpedo struck
"He behaved bravely all through and dragged one wounded men from the shattered bunk-house" one sea-man said. SUBMARINE ATTACK. (1942, September 5). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17830397
The unnamed ship in the above article was the merchant ship Allara, carrying a load of sugar from Cairns to Sydney. She was spotted from the air and later towed to Mort’s Dock, Sydney, where repair crews reported it being ‘‘torn and twisted into almost unbelievable shapes’’.
The Allara after the encounter at sea.
The Mort's crews ingeniously repaired it, welding an outer ‘‘coffer dam’’ to its stern to keep water out while they replaced the rudder, propeller and damaged hull from inside the dam. She was able to sail again only months later to continue its war-time east coast supply runs, and thereby you learn the reason many of these attacked vessels were not named - until after peace had been restored.
Japanese Submarine Exhibit
INGENUITY BELIES OLD BELIEFS
When the Japanese midget submarine exhibition opens in Newcastle next Saturday, people who have formerly scorned the "Made in Japan" trademark will be impressed with the ingenuity, careful design, capable planning and skilful workmanship that go into their construction.
They will get a salutary reminder not to underestimate the Japanese foe. The Japanese midget submarine seems to have been developed for the primary purpose of entering a harbor, unobserved, firing its armament of two torpedoes at a ship at anchor, and then, if lucky enough, returning to its parent ship, which has remained during the operation beyond the defended approaches to the port. A great deal of the complicated gear found in the submarine is, according to authorities, there for no other reason than to enable the craft to avoid detection when firing torpedoes, and to remain stable and seaworthy after its at-tack. A midget submarine is manned by two men only. The captain remains in the control room amid-ships, where most of the controls can be operated. The other man's duties necessitate his moving for-ward and aft in the submarine to a limited extent.
Captain's Duties
Without moving from his seat in the tiny control room, the captain can carry out an amazing variety of operations, such as observe through his periscope, raising, lowering and training it as required; note the course on the gyro compass, and steer the vessel; flood or blow tanks to alter buoyancy and operate the horizontal rudders, thereby submerging or rising to the surface; control the speed of the main electric motor; operate the small wireless set or the hydrophone set; select from the various items of food (dried fish, tinned spinach, etc) within his reach: work the bilge pump; alter settings on the torpedoes, and fire the torpedoes. No. 2 man could, if space permitted, assist in the control room at some of these operations, particularly in the use of the wire-less, but would be required also to go aft through the narrow passageway between the after batteries to the motor room to see that everything was in order there, and forward through the passage-way between the forward batteries to the torpedo room, where he is required to move various levers for certain operations before the torpedoes can be fired. Movement in this very limited world to which the two men are restricted is very difficult, and along the passageways can only be carried out on hands and knees. Door openings between sections are approximately 13 inches wide and 30 inches high. The entrance to the motor room is even smaller, being only 18 inches high. In appearance externally the midget submarine is like a large torpedo 80 feet long, with a conning tower with access hatch situated slightly forward of amidships. A framework projects four feet forward of the box, serving a purpose similar to that of fender bars on a car, in protecting the vital projecting portions of the torpedoes and torpedo tubes. For negotiation of net defence, a series of saw tooth net cutters is fitted above the bow, and another series attached to the forward side of the conning tower, with wire ser-rated to give it additional cutting qualities, connecting the two cutters.
Propellers Protected
The tail is very similar to that of a torpedo, with horizontal and vertical fins, port and starboard horizontal rudders, upper and lower vertical rudders, and two directions one being left-handed and the other right-handed. Rudders and propellers are protected against the possibility of fouling a net by a circular framework attached to the fins. The shell is of simple construction. Plating generally is of mild steel 5-16ths of an inch thick, and the plates are butt welded. Strength necessary to withstand sea-water pressure when submerged to a depth of probably 100 feet is given by angle frames welded to the shell plating, and spaced approximately one foot apart. Japanese Submarine Exhibit (1942, September 28). The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167544441
Plan and details of the Japanese midget submarines sunk in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, 30 July 1942. 1 postcard : black and white ; 9.2 x 14.3 cm. Courtesy National Library of Australia. Image No.: nla.obj-153089232-1
Inside Submarine's Conning Tower
A seaman examines the controls inside the conning tower of the Japanese submarine which has been assembled at No. 2 Sports Ground. Inside Submarine's Conning Tower (1942, October 1). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132814760
Hoisting Submarine Into Position
Stern section, showing the propellers, of the Japanese submarine as it was placed in position at No. 2 Sports Ground for the exhibition to open on Saturday. Hoisting Submarine Into Position (1942, October 1). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , p. 6. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132814773
JAPANESE SUB. EXHIBITION
It is estimated that nearly 3500 people have inspected the Japanese midget submarine now on exhibition at No. 2 Sports Ground. It was visited yesterday by about 300 school boys from Hamilton, and during the fortnight 5000 school children will look it over. Those who have already inspected the submarine, have been impressed with the ingenuity of the builders. The craft is of careful design, and shows skilful workmanship, giving the lie to the once comfortably-held belief that everything made in Japan was automatically second-class rubbish. A great deal of the complicated gear found in the submarine is, according to the authorities, there for no other reason than to enable the craft to avoid detection when firing torpedoes, and to remain stable and seaworthy after its attack. The public has the opportunity to view the submarine up to October 18 between 11 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on week days, and 1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Sundays. Admission charges are 1s for adults and 6d for men in uniform, or children. Proceeds go to the RAN Relief Fund, and the King George Fund for the Merchant Navy. JAPANESE SUB. EXHIBITION (1942, October 6). The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167557477
JAPANESE SUBMARINE TO-NIGHT
The Japanese midget submarine which was sunk in Sydney Harbor on May 31 will arrive at Wagga this afternoon, and will be on view, in three sections to-night, to-morrow and Thursday, at the New Moon Gardens. Low admittance charges will be made, and the proceeds will go towards the R.A.N. Relief Fund and the King George V. Fund for the Merchant Navy
JAPANESE SUBMARINE TO-NIGHT (1942, November 17). Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144201750
JAPANESE MIDGET SUBMARINE.
The Minister of the Navy (Mr. Makin) has advised Cessnock Municipal Council that the Japanese mid-get submarine was being sent to Melbourne, and Council's request that it be exhibited at Cessnock would be considered when the future itinerary of the submarine was being arranged. JAPANESE MIDGET SUBMARINE. (1942, November 13). The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99934595
JAPANESE SUBMARINE TO-NIGHT (1942, November 17). Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144201750
JAPANESE MIDGET SUBMARINE.
The Minister of the Navy (Mr. Makin) has advised Cessnock Municipal Council that the Japanese mid-get submarine was being sent to Melbourne, and Council's request that it be exhibited at Cessnock would be considered when the future itinerary of the submarine was being arranged. JAPANESE MIDGET SUBMARINE. (1942, November 13). The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article99934595
On Sunday 12th of November 2006 at about 9am, seven scuba divers met at Long Reef Beach north of Sydney for another fun day of scuba diving. They decided to head for a spot they had marked four months earlier. Their fish finder had noted something interesting on the sea floor. The seas had been too rough that time to investigate, so they had decided to leave it to a calmer day.
The divers went down to the bottom and saw a large object covered in fishing net. They maneuvered to one end of the object and saw propellers sticking out of the sand. They began to realise what the object was. Paul Baggott swam back to the middle of the object and saw what looked like a conning tower. With much excitement, he then moved towards what he now believed to be the front of a submarine, to confirm his assumption by looking for torpedo tubes. His assumption was confirmed!
The divers were able to peer into a window on the conning tower and saw that the inside was full of sand and mud.
Back on the deck of their 5 metre dive boat, they were pretty, and pretty sure they had found the missing midget submarine, M24, which went missing decades before.
The seven recreational scuba divers were:-
Alan Simon, 59 yrs, retired Company Director
Paul Baggott, 33 yrs, builder
Phillip Hendrie, 65 yrs, retired printer
Anthony Hay, 49 yrs, bus driver
David Muir, 35 yrs, electrician
David Arnold, 44 yrs, plumber and gas fitter
Greg Kearns, 32 yrs, mortgage broker
They all took "sickies" the next day and did another dive on the midget submarine, just to make sure it was not all a dream and it was still there!!
The divers met with the Director of the Naval Heritage Collection, Commander Shane Moore who confirmed that they had indeed located the missing M-24 Japanese Midget Submarine. Commander Moore also told them Japanese tourists have often arrived at Garden Island to lay a wreath at the Conning Tower memorial.
The divers all shared a concern for the ongoing conservation of the wreck of the submarine. They, like all of us, are keeping the exact location a secret to avoid scavengers desecrating this war grave. It is likely that this is the final resting place of the two Japanese sailors:-
Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban
Ensign Mamoru Ashibe
Kazutomo Ban, the 74 year old brother of Lieutenant Katsuhisa Ban, had always wanted to know where his brother lost his life. He remembers the day he went to the train station with his mother to say goodbye to his brother who was on his way to fight in the coming war. Retired doctor Kazutomo Ban lives in Hekinan about 40 kms from Nagoya.
Itsuo Ashibe, the 84 year old brother of the other submariner, hoped that the midget submarine would be recovered or that he may be able to recover any remains that may exist or even something that belonged to his brother. Itsuo lost four brothers during the war.
On August 6th 2007 two ceremonies were held to honour the crew of M-24 and those killed in the harbour raid,one at Garden Island and the other at thew war grave site. Both the sailor's relatives, as well as members of the families of the Japanese sailors who died in the harbour, attended these services.
At the M-24 war grave wreaths were given to the waves and ritual sake poured over the waters. RAN divers had collected sand from the seabed near the wreck and this was presented to the families.
In 2012 the group that found M-24 was among those attending a Commemoration here in Pittwater to honour all those who had served, focused on the 70th anniversary of the World War II Japanese submarine attack on Sydney Harbour.
For the many still alive who bore witness to the events of the Winter of 1942 these are sounds, sights and smells they will never forget.
References
1. Proposed Japanese invasion of Australia during World War II. (2017, July 1). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Proposed_Japanese_invasion_of_Australia_during_World_War_II&oldid=788519490
Attack on Sydney Harbour. (2017, July 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Attack_on_Sydney_Harbour&oldid=790599570
2. War casualties and the Merchant Navy. NSW Government Office of Environment & Heritage, Resaerch Centre. Retrieved from: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/MaritimeHeritage/researchcentre/merchantnavy.htm