- Author
- Nicholls, Stan, RAN (Rtd)
- Subjects
- Ship histories and stories, WWII operations
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Shropshire
- Publication
- March 1990 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
A very brief resume of HMAS Shropshire’s war record during its 18½ months in the South West Pacific and firing its last salvo on July 9, 1945.
Operations and Battles – 15:
Arawe 15/12/43, Cape Gloucester 26/12/43, Admiralty Islands 4/3/44, Hollandia 22/4/44, Wakde 22/5/44, Biak 27/5/44, Aitape 14/7/44, Moratai 15/9/44, Leyte 20/10/44, Surigao Straits Naval Battle 25/10/44, Lingayen 6/1/45, Corregidor 15/2/45, Brunei 18/6/45, Balikpapan 27/6/45, Surrender Tokyo Bay 2/9/45 and BCOF in Japan.
- Closed up dawn action stations 636 times.
- Closed up dusk action stations 636 times.
- Kamikaze and air attacks. Closed up an additional 133 times in SWP (Groups of 80, 100, 40, 50, 30 and 1 and 2s) coming in and reported by our radar.
- Shot down 11 aircraft, shared 8 more plus fired at many more — no results recorded in log.
- Bombarded 56 targets during operational landings.
- Destroyed Japanese Army Headquarters at Yakamul.
- Destroyed 4 shore batteries that fired at and straddled us.
- Destroyed on request by US Army and AIF 5 more shore batteries.
- Radar operators gained 92% of all reports from Fleet — commanded by USN admirals to use ‘Portholes’ reports.
- 2 Torpedo attacks on us — 1 near missed astern by 10 feet — US Reports.
- 3 Submarines reported close vicinity and depth charged by destroyers.
- 2 close shaves by mines — 1 attached to our Port Paravane.
- Naval Battle Surigao Straits: Fired 32 broadsides at a range of 15,800 yards closing in to 12,700 yards claiming 19 straddles and 16 broadside hits before ceasing fire after 14 minutes 40 seconds to witness the sinking of our target — the Battleship Yamashiro.
- Shot at by Yamashiro — 2 dropped short, 4 over the top.
- A lucky ship indeed — no one lost during our 4 Battle Tours, however, 4 men lost on active service.
An unsurpassed record in the RAN during World War II.