WA Chapter – Monthly Meeting with Guest Speaker Commodore Bob Trotter OAM RAN (ret’d)

TOPIC: Iron Men and Tin Fish

The Story of WW2 Submarine Operations from Fremantle, WA, from 1942 to 1945

In the period from 1942 to 1945, Fremantle was the second largest submarine base in the World. Some 167 Allied submarines operated from Fremantle, and they conducted one of the most effective submarine operations in history. The US submarines operating from Fremantle, sank over 50% of all the Japanese tanker tonnage, and 42% of Japanese warships.

In a Report to Congress on the United States Naval Administration in World War II, the Perth-Fremantle area was generally conceded the finest base area any US submarines operated from in the Pacific during the war, with gracious hospitality and genuine appreciation shown to the submariners by the populace of Perth, and the Pacific Fleet submarine skippers requesting to end their patrol run at Fremantle.

SPEAKER: Commodore Bob Trotter OAM RAN (ret’d)

Commodore Bob Trotter OAM RAN (ret’d) was a submariner in the Royal Australian Navy for 35 years and served on or under most seas and oceans in the world. After several Senior Headquarters postings, Bob retired in 1998 from the position of Commodore Fleet Bases at HMAS Stirling, Garden Island WA. He is a Patron of the Submarines Association. Bob was one of the Directors of the Finding Sydney Foundation which found the wreck of HMAS Sydney II in 2008, for which Bob had the honour of being awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia.

The NHS-WA Chapter talk is on Monday October 16th, 2023 at 6:00pm at the Claremont Tennis Club, Shenton Road, Claremont. Parking is at the Tennis Club, also at Claremont Station opposite the Tennis Club, and in the public car park opposite Foodies on Davies Road. There is a $5 Admin fee. There is a cash bar open before and after the talk. To attend the meeting, you must register with Dr Heather Rogers: EMAIL: secretary.nhs.wa@gmail.com  or Mobile: 0407-912-781