Occasional Paper 168: The Royal Australian Navy in the Pacific War: 1943

Eighty years ago, in 1943 the tide of the war in the Pacific was at last turning for the better. After four long years of war and significant RAN ship losses in 1941 and 1942 the Australian public were relieved to receive more regular news of victories over Japanese forces on land, sea and in the air. It was the combined effects of the battle of the Coral Sea, Midway and later the Solomons Campaign which helped turned the tide of the Pacific War. The relationship between Australian and US forces further strengthened on the battle fields through increased tactical co-operation and the hosting of large numbers of US servicemen in Australia.

On the military front, Australian forces were involved in heavy fighting on the New Guinea battlefields. Naval and air forces were engaged in the defence of coastal shipping from enemy sea mines and submarines. RAAF squadrons worked with US allies to defend Darwin and Northern Australia from ongoing Japanese air raids. They then combined to inflict a stunning defeat on Japanese shipping in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Special forces were engaged in clandestine operations and the propaganda war greatly increased as significant events of the war were highlighted to continue to win hearts and minds on the home front.

The RAN also provided naval support for forces operating in northern New Guinea and commenced development of the string of bases that would be opened up along that coast to support the Allied advance. Operations included conducting hydrographic surveys, shore bombardments, transporting troops and providing logistic support.

As 1943 and 1944 progressed Australian ships were involved in the campaigns to oust the Japanese from western New Guinea and adjacent islands. In the succession of landings carried out the cruisers and destroyers carried out bombardments and provided seaward cover. The corvettes escorted merchant ships through the area. The armed merchant cruisers HMA Ships Manoora, Kanimbla and Westralia were converted to landing ships infantry (LSI). As such they were to take part in many of the amphibious operations such as those at Hollandia, Biak, Aitape and Morotai which brought the Allies closer to the Philippines.

RAN Force Structure

Behind the success of these operations lay very capable and resourceful Australian industries. In particular, ship building and repair yards which built, maintained and repaired units of the RAN. The following paragraphs provide details of the extent of work undertaken in 1943 and the later years of the war in the Pacific to provide the Royal Australian Navy with the ships, boats, launches and other vessels required for success.

1943 – Landing Ships Infantry

HMAS Manoora emerged as a landing ship infantry in February 1943, then Westralia in May and Kanimbla in June. Conversion from their armed merchant cruiser configurations spanned about two months for Kanimbla (2 April to1 June 1943) four months for Manoora (28 September 1942 to 2 February 1943) and six for Westralia (December 1942 to 31 May 1943).

After their conversion from armed merchant cruisers (AMCs) to infantry landing ships (LSIs), Kanimbla carried 1,280 troops, with 22 LCVPs and 2 LCMs, Manoora 1,250 troops, plus 17 LCVPs and 2 LCMs, and Westralia1,250 troops 16 LCVPs and 2 LCMs. Most of their heavy AMC armament was removed during conversion and now comprised only one large 6 inch (Kanimbla – 4 inch) and two 3-inch guns, as well as numerous smaller calibre weapons.

Conversion of the ships involved the provision of accommodation for the troops they embarked for passage to the landing zones, boat davits for the landing craft and an enlarged fresh water distilling plant. Radar was fitted to all three ships and scrambling nets fitted to the ship’s sides to allow the troops to enter the landing craft after they had been lowered. Most interior wood panelling was replaced by steel sheeting.

The first amphibious assault by a RAN LSI was undertaken by the Westralia on 15 December 1943 at Arawe. During 1944 Manoora served at Arawe, Hollandia, and Morotai, Westralia at Aitape and Hollandia, while the Kanimbla also operated at Hollandia and Morotai. On 20 October 1944 the three ships participated in the Leyte landings and on 9 January 1945 in company with over 950 other ships, landed troops at Lingayen Gulf. The three ships sailed on 26 June for the Balikpapan landings, the last to be made by the ships as a single amphibious force.

With the war’s end Kanimbla began aiding the occupation forces in Japan, while the other LSIs ferried troops and their supplies to the occupied lands. Westralia paid off on 19 September 1946, then returned to her owners in March 1951 and after a short period of service around Australia, was sold overseas and renamed Delfino.

Kanimbla, after paying off on 25 March 1949, was returned to her original owners in December 1950 for further work on the passenger trade run. Manoora was paid off on 6 December 1947 and returned to the Adelaide Steamship Company in August 1949.

1943 – Wartime Frigates

The introduction into service of the first RAN River class brought with it a modern escort ship able to counter the submarine threat.

Gascoyne became the first River class frigate to be commissioned into the RAN on 18 November 1943, with another five, Barcoo (commissioned 17 January 1944), Burdekin (26 June 1944), Hawkesbury (5 July 1945), Lachlan (14 February 1945) and Diamantina (27 April 1945), in use during the Second World War. Two extra ships completed the class, Macquarie, (7 December 1945) and Barwon (10 December 1945). The six Rivers employed against Japan operated in local, south-east Asian and Pacific waters.

On a hull measuring 301-feet overall, each of the RAN’s River class frigates began its active career with two single four-inch HA/LA guns, up to ten 20mm Oerlikons and eight .303-inch machine guns. Depth charges were also carried, launched via throwers and rails sited aft. A number of the class were armed with the Hedgehog ahead-throwing anti-submarine weapon, its launcher in front of the forward 4-inch gun containing twenty-four 35lb bombs on spigots fired up to 200 yards ahead of the frigate. Some of the frigates later received two triple-barrelled Squid depth charge mortars in place of ‘B’ 4-inch gun mount, with the gun relocated to the ‘A’ position, and the Hedgehog removed.

To enhance their armament, four of the frigates, Barcoo, Burdekin, Gascoyne and Hawkesbury were re-armed with two twin 20mm Oerlikons for four of the single mounts and two 40mm mounts to replace two of the single 20mm guns. Also deleted were two single Bren guns and two single Vickers machine guns mounted on the quarter deck.

Lachlan transferred to RNZN 1949. Conducted 30-day farewell cruise around NZ from 12 November 1974. While departing Gisborne for Napier on 16 November, in high winds, her stern struck a rock shelf with damage to port propeller, the rudder and steering gear. Towed off by Gisborne Harbour Board tug Hikurangi and a fishing boat, then temporary repairs, and sailed on one engine to Auckland on 24 November. Arrived at Philomel 26 November and paid off 13 December. Used as accommodation ship at Devonport from 1975 to 1989-90. Towed 22 September 1993 with Pukaki and Rotoiti for the Philippines. Lachlan broken up in 1994.

The careers of the River class frigates spanned 37 years from 1943 to 1980, an excellent effort for ships designed and quickly built in wartime, yet easily adapted to new auxiliary supporting roles for a Navy at peace. With Gascoyne, the RAN received its first purpose-built frigate and later with Diamantina, from 1945 to 1980, its longest surviving frigate.

River Class Frigate Data:

1943 – Fairmiles

Local new construction focused around nine HDMLs and 35 of the larger, more effective Fairmile B Motor Launches. Both types, together with the 21 imported HDMLs were effectively armed for missions in northern Australia, New Guinea and around the islands, operating as groups or independently. The Fairmiles and HDMLs were later supported by the numerous Bathurst class ‘corvettes,’ the latter being able to satisfy long term and open-ocean operations.

Forming the RAN’s principal and most effective patrol force during the years from 1943 to 1945, the 35 Fairmiles served in distant operations satisfying numerous roles. The class more than replaced the early wartime requisitioned tonnage used as auxiliary patrol vessels with more firepower, greater speed and reduced manpower demands. Working with the smaller HDMLs, the Fairmiles provided the necessary patrol forces around New Guinea, the Islands and in northern Australian waters.

Each Fairmile was to originally mount one two pounder Mk XIV 9 cwt gun, one 20mm Oerlikon, one 4‑barrelled .303 Vickers on a Mk I mount, two .303 Lewis and one Y gun (with two depth charges ready to launch). Another fourteen depth charges (seven on each beam), two single shoulder shooting stripped .303 Lewis machine guns, three rifles and 24 grenades were also normally carried.

As the war progressed most of the Fairmiles received a single 40mm Bofors in place of the two pounders plus single 0.5-inch Browning machine guns to port and starboard. Two 20mm Oerlikons replaced the Vickers and Lewis guns. Asdic was fitted to many units to assist in the search for submarines.

The need to retain the 33 surviving Fairmiles in the post‑war fleet was not great. For close‑in patrol work the RAN still retained numerous HDMLs which were smaller and more economical to operate, both with manpower and fuel. By 1946 the entire Fairmile ‘fleet’ had been placed in reserve at Brisbane (16 vessels), Sydney (13 vessels) and Fremantle (4 vessels). During the period 1947‑48 each launch was sold out of service at the contemporary defence auctions.

Fairmile Motor Launch Data

ML Nos. 424-431, 801-827

Type:                                             Motor Launches Fairmile B

Number:                                        35

Construction:                                 Built in three Australian yards

First LD:                                         ML 813; 25 Mar 1942; Last LD 825; 17 Aug 1943

First C:                                           ML 813; Nov 1942; Last C 827; Apr 1944

Displacement:                               Seventy-five tons (76 tonnes) standard

Length:                                          112 ft (34.13m) overall

Beam:                                            17 ft 10 in (5.46m); Draught: 5 ft 4 in (1.63m)

Armament:                                    1 x 2 pdr; 1 x 20 mm; 4 mgs; 2 DCTs; 14 DCs

Machinery:                                    Hall Scott Defender; two shafts; 1,300 hp

Speed:                                           20 knots

Complement:                                16

1943 – Behind Enemy Lines

The Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) was formed during March 1943, as part of the Allied Intelligence Bureau. The main role of its naval element, established in January 1944 was commando raids and reconnaissance missions close to and behind Japanese lines. At the outset, the trawler KRAIT and Army launch Alatna were the only two vessels available when the naval section of the SRD was inaugurated. To obtain the necessary number of suitable craft required for SRD operations, different types of vessels were secured from the other services.

Four Army 66-foot wooden trawlers under construction at Williamstown in Victoria were initially transferred on 26 March 1944, with alterations to the superstructures affected by the builder, J.J. Savage and Sons. The resultant Snake class trawler was a vessel similar in profile to the native junks sailed around Singapore. Another two sisters were completed in Fremantle, but the fifth Williamstown trawler was cancelled in August 1945.

The ‘Snakes” were never designed to carry any significant armament, the boats were intended to creep through Japanese held waters and insert naval and military teams to undertake their covert operations. To provide a basic defensive capability, most of the class mounted concealed 20mm Oerlikons, plus three to four machine guns. For each mission, up to 20 tons of cargo was stowed below. Manned by a crew from the RAN and other services, all of the SRD vessels were formally commissioned by the Navy.

From late 1944 Snake class vessels sailed to Darwin, Morotai, New Guinea, Borneo and the Philippines. In enemy waters at Morotai, BLACK SNAKE worked as a forward refuelling and stores ship for USN torpedo boats, also landing personnel to attack Japanese installations ashore and providing surveillance for planned missions.

After the Second World War, the requirement for the 66-foot Snake class was non-existent. All except Diamond Snake were deleted via transfer to the British Borneo Civil Administration Unit between September and December 1945. Diamond Snake returned to the Australian Army, having paid off as HMAS on 19 October.

Special Reconnaissance Division (SRD) Craft Data:

Black Snake, Diamond Snake, Grass Snake, River Snake, Sea Snake and Tiger Snake

1943 – A Dutch Boat

Escaping to Fremantle in March 1942 were the Dutch submarines VIII, KIX and KXII. The former was soon hulked as a breakwater, with KXII active for over two years. The need to provide anti-submarine training for RAN surface units was satisfied through the commissioning of KIX on 22 June 1943.

The 21-year-old boat was fitted with four 17.7-inch torpedo tubes and could achieve a top speed of 15 knots surfaced and just above nine knots submerged.

However, like the previous J class submarines, K9 as she was known, saw little gainful duty and served only briefly with the RAN. Paid off on 31 March 1944, K9 was eventually wrecked at Seal Rocks, under tow along the mid New South Wales coast on 7 June 1945.