- Author
- Minto, Thomas, MN, Captain
- Subjects
- History - WW2, WWII operations, Ship histories and stories
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- AHS Manunda, HMAS Swan II, HMAS Platypus
- Publication
- June 2002 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
The crew also came out of the raid exceptionally well.
- The Deck Department was exposed without cover during the greater part of the raid, manning boats, carrying stretchers and fighting fires, and hoisting wounded on board.
- The Stewards Department manned their fire stations and rendered what aid they could. Two of them helped to man a boat.
- The Engine Room Department kept the essential services going, and did splendid work effecting temporary repairs to the fire mains and permanent repairs to steering gear controls, which were badly cut with shrapnel. They also helped to put out fires.
To summarise:
Lost:
- WS Peary – destroyer (USS Peary)
- One Catalina Flying Boat
- USAT Meigs
- SS Mauna Loa
- SS. Zealandia
- SS Neptuna
- SS Barossa (salvaged and now running)
- SS British Motorist
Damaged, Final and Uncertain:
- SS Tulagi (escaped with minor damage)
Damaged and beached:
- SS Port Mar (salvaged and now running)
- HMAS Swan
Damaged and abandoned:
- HMAS Platypus
Damaged:
- USS Preston (destroyer)
- HMAHS Manunda
- Unknown American freighter
The wharf was burnt out with the Neptuna capsized and in halves in the outer berth.
I know nothing about events ashore.
Ten days or more after the raid, the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, stated that the result of this raid was such as to give no satisfaction to the enemy.