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You are here: Home / Archives for Article topics / Naval history / History - WW2

History - WW2

The Loss of HMS Kuala, 1942

Creer, H.V., Commander, RAN · Sep 7, 1979 ·

This is an edited account of the loss of the auxiliary patrol vessel HMS Kuala as related by her commanding officer Lieutenant Franklin Caithness, RNR, to the late Commander H.V. ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

The Destruction of Force K – Mediterranean 1941

Rodwell, E · Jun 7, 1979 ·

ON 3RD JUNE 1941 the Italian 7th Division (Admiral Casardi) and the 4th Division (Admiral Giovanola) comprising five cruisers and seven destroyers, laid two deep minefields to the north-east of ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Escape From Gumusluck (Turkey, 1943)

Perry, W.G. · Jun 7, 1979 ·

Printed by permission of the Editor of the Journal of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors Association IN OCTOBER 1943 I was serving as FNCO on the staff of the ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

British Monitors East of Malta

Buxton, Ian · Mar 5, 1979 ·

A full account of the design, construction and operation of the Royal Navy’s 42 monitors is contained in the book Big Gun Monitors by Ian Buxton. WHEN WINSTON CHURCHILL and ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

The Chindwin Flotilla 1945

Pertwee, J.W.M., Lieutenant, RN · Mar 5, 1979 ·

THE DISASTROUS RETREAT of the British forces in Burma, their incredible heroism during the siege of Imphal and the eventual southward advance through the worst fighting terrain in the world ...

The Torpedoing of HMAS Hobart 1942

Parker, R.G., OBE, Captain, RAN (Rtd) · Dec 25, 1978 ·

Also published as Occasional Paper 157, March 2023 I JOINED HMAS HOBART at Brisbane in September 1942 as the Commander (E), relieving Commander (E) A.D. Cairns, who had been in ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Fateful Encounter – Sydney and Kormoran

Holmes, L.F. · Sep 7, 1978 ·

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL NOVEMBER DAY bathed in warm sunshine and visibility in that part of the Indian Ocean was in Captain Detmers’ own words ‘perfect.’ Approaching Shark Bay south ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

A Royal Salute with Live Ammunition – Korea, 1952

Bracegirdle, Warwick, DSC, Commander, RAN (Rtd) · Dec 25, 1977 ·

(This article was the winner in the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Essay Competition.) IN COPIES OF QUEEN’S REGULATIONS and Admiralty Instructions under the section Ceremonial is a Table of Gun ...

The Fate of Singapore’s Guns – Japanese Report

Bogart, Charles H. · Jun 25, 1977 ·

In a previous issue of Naval Historical Review we published an article on the guns of Singapore and their ultimate fate. Mr. Bogart, a United States member of the Society, ...

HMS Exeter at the Battle of River Plate

Atwill, R., DSM, Lieutenant, RN (Rtd) · Mar 30, 1977 ·

By Lieutenant R. Atwill DSM RN (Retd) This eyewitness account of HMS Exeter’s part in the Battle of the River Plate was especially written for Naval Historical Review by Lieutenant ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

Japan’s Balloon Bombs

Rubb, Douglas · Dec 25, 1976 ·

US member, Douglas Rubb, served on Admiral Halsey’s staff in the Pacific during World War 2. From mid-1942 until April 1945 he was closely connected with investigations into Japan’s secret ...

The Guns of Singapore

A.N. Other · Dec 25, 1976 ·

One of the great mysteries of World War 2 was the ultimate fate of Singapore’s batteries of 15 inch guns. Records do not clearly indicate whether all the guns were ...

The Catapult Fighters

Payne, Alan · Dec 31, 1975 ·

For two years during World War II, from 1941 to 1943, the Catapult Aircraft Merchant Ships, assisted by Fighter Catapult Ships of the Royal Navy, played an important role in ...

Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, GCMG, GCVO, KCIE, CB, DLJP 1872-1949

Grazebrook, A.W., Lietutenant Commander · Sep 30, 1975 ·

LIONEL HALSEY served in several posts closely associated with the RAN during the years immediately prior to, and following, its birth. To his distinction of having commanded the Australian Fleet ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Merchant Ship Losses in Australian Waters in WW2

A.N. Other · Sep 1, 1975 ·

Forty four Allied merchant vessels were lost by enemy action in Australian waters in World War II. With a total tonnage of 196073 the ships ranged from the 12568 ton ...

Surrender of Yokosuka Naval Base

Pacini, John · Mar 31, 1975 ·

John Pacini was one of a team of war correspondents who covered the Japanese surrender. He took passage on HMAS Napier for the last important mission in the Pacific war. ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Normandy Landing

Smythe, D.H.D., AO, Commodore, RAN · Mar 30, 1975 ·

For five days in June 1944, a young Australian Naval Lieutenant who was serving on exchange duty as the Gunnery Control Officer in a British cruiser kept a diary. Those ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5

The Blazing Trail – poem

A.N. Other · Sep 4, 1974 ·

‘Twas on the gallant Quickmatch With crew two hundred bold, To “Dusty” Rhodes the Captain, They were like sheep in fold. The men comprised of fighters, Their homes the Empire ...

Au revoir – poem

A.N. Other · Jun 4, 1974 ·

A poetical tribute to Lieutenant Commander R. (Dusty) Rhodes DSC, RAN, on his relinquishing command of HMAS Quickmatch in 1944. Now Cobbers, fellow shipmates, The time is drawing near When we shall lose that gallant man, ...

British Pacific Fleet Memorial

Pollock, M.P. · Mar 30, 1974 ·

THREE HUNDRED MEMBERS and guests witnessed the unveiling of the British Pacific Fleet Memorial at Naval Headquarters, Potts Point, Sydney, on Sunday 2nd December 1973. Rear Admiral G.D. Moore, CBE, ...

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