Rushcutter Graduates in the Battle of the Atlantic

Author

Worledge, Ray

Subjects

Biographies and personal histories, Ship histories and stories, WWII operations, History - WW2

Tags

Atlantic, Anti-submarine operations

RAN Ships

HMAS Rushcutter (Shores establishment)

Publication

June 2006 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

Two Rushcutter graduates made major contributions to the Battle of the Atlantic in midget submarines. Sub-Lieutenant M.H. Shean began in the usual way as A/SCO in the corvette Bluebell, but responded to a call for volunteers for hazardous service. An engineering student, Shean soon showed his talents by analysing the task of cutting anti-submarine nets for the passage of X-Craft, after all the divers had difficulty, one being drowned. The method Shean devised was successful, though never easy.

Loss of X-9

Shean’s first operation saw him in the role of diver in X9, one of six X-Craft assembled to attack Tirpitz in Alten Fiord in September, 1943. The operational crew took passage in the towing submarine, Sirtis. On the way, the towline parted and X9 was never seen again. The towline had tangled around Sirtis’ port screw, and only a competent swim by Shean saved Sirtis from a nasty predicament.

Shean was now promoted to command his own midget, and after a brief spell in X22, was given X24 for a solo incursion into Bergen Harbour, the target being a floating dock in which the damaged Tirpitz might be repaired. Shean was delighted that the towing submarine was Sceptre, commanded by Lieutenant Ian McIntosh, an Australian with whom he had formed an excellent rapport. Thanks to Shean’s training and competence, it was a textbook attack, after which Shean made his rendezvous with Sceptre as arranged. A great effort, but on return to base, Shean was told he had sunk a ship instead. It transpired that Shean had been supplied with an outdated chart, but he was awarded the DSO, nevertheless.

Shean’s last exploit, just before the war ended, was closer to home. He was sent in XE4 to cut submarine cables off the mouth of the Mekong River, to oblige the Japanese to resort to wireless communication, which could be decoded. In most difficult conditions, the divers, Sub Lieutenants Bergius and Briggs (another Australian) located and cut the Singapore/Saigon and Saigon/Hong Kong cables, bringing back lengths of cable as proof. Shean was awarded a Bar to his DSO and the United States Bronze Star Medal.

The second Rushcutter graduate to achieve great distinction in X-Craft was Sub-Lieutenant Hudspeth. Like Shean, Hudspeth began his Atlantic service as a/SCO of the corvette Anemone before volunteering for hazardous service. He was CO of X10 in the first attack on Tirpitz, closing to within four miles before mechanical defects obliged withdrawal. He rejoined his towing submarine, but on the way home, in bad weather, X10 was scuttled under orders from the Admiralty. Hudspeth was awarded the DSC, and went to stand-by the building of X20.

X-Craft survey beaches

By this time preparations for the invasion were gaining momentum. It was decided to experiment with X-Craft for surveys of target beaches. In mid-December 1943, X20 was taken by rail to Portsmouth for modifications, which included an anchor, taut wire measuring gear, an echo sounder and a gyro repeater on deck. The first operation, from 17 to 21 January, 1944, surpassed expectations, the survey experts making periscope observations by day and landing on the beaches by night. Hudspeth expected to repeat the operation, but the authorities decided not to take further risk of disclosure, awarding Hudspeth his second DSC.

The final contribution to the invasion came with D-Day. On 2 June, X10 set sail to fix an exact position and act as a navigation marker for the first assault. All went smoothly, except that the 24-hour postponement required those on board to spend a second tiresome day submerged before surfacing to anchor for the important task, using a light, a radar beacon and a crude mechanical hammer for the benefit of those with Asdic. Then it was home to Dolphin for a hot shower and dinner, as the real war developed just over the water. This earned Hudspeth his third DSC.

Volunteers came from all over the world to serve in the Battle of the Atlantic, some with great distinction. Because Australian ships were employed in other theatres, history has tended to overlook the Australian contribution to that crucial battle. Australians served in ships of the Royal Navy and all the Allied navies, often as Group A/S officers, whilst many had staff and instructional duties ashore. Outstanding in the last category was Lieutenant L.M. Hinchliffe, DCS, RAN, who was on the instructional staff at Tobermory, where A/S ships did their final sea training. It could be argued that due to their high standard of training, the Australian contribution was even more valuable than their number would suggest.

Australians are intensely proud of that record, but are the first to acknowledge that the initial credit must be given to the (then) Commander Harvey Mansfield Newcomb, Royal Navy, and his hand-picked experts from HMS Osprey, who set top standards in 1938 and maintained them throughout the war.