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HMAS Bataan

Big wave of destruction

A voyage from Fremantle to Cocos Islands to farewell the Royal Yacht SS Gothic at the successful end of Queen Elizabeth II’s first visit to Australia ended badly when two of the escort ships collided during a RAS. On 5 April 1954 after HMA Ships Vengeance, Anzac I and Bataan, an Australian-built Tribal-class destroyer, handed over the escort duties to the cruisers HM Ships Colombo and Newfoundland, Bataan was low on fuel and needed to refuel. Consequently orders were received to take on fuel from Vengeance.

Former Chief Radio Electrician Bill Robertson, who was on board Bataan at the time, believes the collision was caused by a rogue wave which lifted Bataan’s bow and turned the ship towards Vengeance, when there was less than 10 tonnes of fuel left to transfer. “The change in heading couldn’t be controlled by the quartermaster in time to avoid a collision,” he said. “The Venturi effect, so dreaded when two moving vessels are so close together, held Bataan’s port side in contact with Vengeance’s starboard side. “There was an imminent danger Bataan would roll over and be sucked under Vengeance.” Mr Robertson said, as Bataan slowly slid aft, each time Vengeance rolled to starboard, her AA platforms came down on Bataan’s port superstructure. “Then the port side of the PO’s Mess, the ‘B’ gun deck and the Bofors platform on the port side of the bridge were all crushed,” he said. “I remember thinking the noise sounded like the damage was going to be expensive.” According to Mr Robertson, only the quick thinking of CO Bataan CMDR Glenn Fowle saved the ship. “He ordered, ‘hard a’ port, full ahead together’,” he said. “This forced our bow into Vengeance while kicking the stern out. “When Bataan had pushed itself out to about 45 degrees, the CO ordered full astern together, which separated the ships but didn’t do the bow
any favours. “At the time of the action I was on the starboard side of the bridge with a lifejacket in one hand and a roll of toilet paper in the other, somewhat unsure which had priority.”

There were no casualties during the collision, which left Bataan’s keel twisted. Bataan paid off at Sydney in October 1954, having steamed 279,395nm after commissioning in May 1945, and was sold for scrap in May 1958, to Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha Ltd of Tokyo, Japan

 

Originally published in the Australian Navy News on 14 July 2016

Korean Waters – Tribal Class Destroyers

This is a slightly abbreviated version of Chapter 13 from the book Action Stations – Tribal Destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy by the late Iris Nesdale, published by the HMAS Warramunga Veterans’ Association, South Australian Branch. It is reprinted here with the kind permission of the author’s son, Oliver Nesdale.

The Korean War proper began in June 1950. HMAS Warramunga, apart from a March visit to New Zealand, had spent the first seven months in home waters. On 6 August she sailed north to join the United Nations forces, her first duty to escort HM Ships Ceylon and Unicorn to Pusan, departing Hong Kong on 25 August. The Tribal was to do two tours of duty off Korea, spending altogether nineteen months of strenuous service in the northern waters – icy waters during the winter months.

We tended to accept the Korean War and Allies involvement in it without question, but why were they involved – the Royal Navy, the United States Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Australian Navy? What could possibly be the reason for all that involvement, even whilst allowing that representation from the Royal Navies tended to be somewhat modest as to numbers.

After Japan’s defeat in 1945, it was decided that her forces in Northern Korea would surrender to the Commander of Soviet forces. Those in the South could surrender to General Macarthur, and land below the 38th Parallel became known as South Korea. The decision was duly put into motion, but the Soviets interpreted the plan differently.

What happened then was almost inevitable.

With plenty of Soviet know-how and Chinese assistance, North Korea prepared to invade the South, troops sweeping down well armed with Russian and other weapons. Britain then sent ships and troops to show support for the United States, when that country weighed in to assist the South. Britain and the USA were, of course, joined by Australia, Canada and New Zealand in offering assistance.

The invasion had begun with bombardment when North Koreans crossed over the 38th Parallel, and RAN Ships already in Japan’s area were immediately placed at the disposal of the UN Naval Commander.

So the war was certainly happening; it was manned and supported. The ‘Commos’ were the ‘baddies’; USA with Britain and the Allies were the ‘goodies’, which seemed to make a general understanding of the situation.

Before the war ended names like Inchon, Seoul, Pusan, Han, Sasebo, Wonsan and Kunsan were to become increasingly familiar.

HMAS Warramunga

Capt O.H. Becher, DSO. DSC and Bar (Photo: Val Becher)
Capt O.H. Becher, DSO. DSC and Bar
(Photo: Val Becher)

Commander Otto Humphrey Becher DSC & Bar, RAN, took command of Warramunga on 28 July 1950. He was a popular Commander, competent, and with a sense of humour that took the boredom or sting out of many a situation. Patrols and escort duties continued during the next three months.

Inchon was recaptured on 15 September after amphibious operations on the west coast using a large Naval force. Warramunga, with HM Ships Charity, Cockade, and Concord screened the carrier Triumph.

Rear Admiral W. G. Andrews CB, CBE, DSO, FO in Command of the Far Eastern Fleet, embarked in the Tribal destroyer at Sasebo for Inchon. There, an important conference with Vice-Admiral A. D. Struble, USN, discussed the official move of Seoul to South Korean civil administration.

On 17 November, Warramunga sailed to Sasebo where she remained for more than a week, but on the 28th she was escorting a US dredger to Point Lucky in Chinnmanto Channel, arriving there on the following day. She then joined Bataan at Kunsan, and for the next few days the two Tribals patrolled and carried out bombardments as North Koreans retreated.

HMAS Bataan

There were landings at Wonsan, then patrols with HMC Ships Cayuga, Athabaskan and Sioux. Bataan and USS Forrest Royal now joined the four other destroyers with Cayuga the leader, Captain J. V. Brock, DSC in command. They were ordered out to assist in the evacuation of troops and wounded, waiting at the head of the Taedong River some forty miles away.

Whilst the embarkation of men onto the LSIs continued, the destroyers would give cover. Men who served in the Australian Tribals have paid warm tribute to the consistent efforts of their sister ships in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Captain Brock decided upon night sailing, and the ships moved slowly in line ahead through icy darkness and falling snow; through the minefields of swept channels.

Obituary: Commander Arthur Stanley Storey (1909 – 1995)

Arthur Stanley Storey was 13 years old when selected to enter the Royal Australian Naval College in 1923 as one of 12 Cadet Midshipmen. His peers were quick to note that his initials provided a ready foundation for the nickname “Donk”. It was an early measure of the man to be that he happily adopted the pseudonym for use in all company for the rest of his life.

His academic, sporting and professional achievements at the Naval College were outstanding and included the award of the King’s Medal for gentlemanly bearing, character, good influence among his fellows and officer like qualities. After graduation in 1926 he proceeded to the United Kingdom for further shore and sea training as Midshipman and Sub-Lieutenant.

He returned to Australia at the end of 1930 to serve in the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia as a Lieutenant. In mid 1934 he was back in England for training as a Gunnery specialist. The period 1937-1938 saw him serving in HMA Ships Canberra and Australia.

With the threat of war with Germany looming in 1939 he was sent to the United Kingdom to help man the growing Royal Navy. Shortly after the outbreak of war he was appointed to the new light cruiser, HMS Naiad as Gunnery Officer in the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. After service in the Atlantic and the Arctic the Naiad was sent to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet on Italy’s entry into the war in mid 1940. There she became flagship of the 15th Cruiser Squadron wearing the flag of Rear Admiral Philip Vian with Donk as Squadron Gunnery Officer.

By the end of 1941, following many naval actions and losses, the 15th Cruiser Squadron of 3 light cruisers was the major surface fighting force left in the Eastern Mediterranean. In December 1941 the Squadron and its escort of 6 destroyers fought a supply convoy through to Malta in the face of constant daylight air attack and attempted intervention by an Italian force of 3 battleships, 3 heavy cruisers and escorting destroyers. An attempt to reinforce the Squadron with HMS Cleopatra in March 1942 resulted in the successful arrival of the Cleopatra but the sinking of the Naiad by German submarine.

Taking Donk with him, the Admiral transferred his flag to Cleopatra. Within a week the Squadron and 11 destroyers were off again in support of another convoy to Malta. In addition to constant daylight air attack the force beat off a determined attack by an Italian surface force of a battleship, 3 cruisers and 10 destroyers. Admiral Lord Cunningham later described this action as “one of the most brilliant Naval actions of the War, if not the most brilliant.”

For his part Donk was awarded a bar to the Distinguished Service Cross awarded for his services in HMS Naiad.

After 3 years constant sea service he returned to Australia where he spent 18 months shore service in the rank of Commander. In mid 1944 he was appointed to HMAS Australia on the staff of the Commodore Commanding the Australian Squadron. During actions off Leyte and Lingayen in the Philippines Donk survived six Kamikaze attacks.

Commander A.S. Storey, DSC and Bar, RAN Rtd, June 1995. (Photo - A. Zammit)
Commander A.S. Storey, DSC and Bar, RAN Rtd, June 1995. (Photo – A. Zammit)

In March 1945, at the special request of Vice Admiral Sir Phillip Vian, commanding the 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron of the British Pacific Fleet, Donk joined HMS Indomitable as a member of the Admiral’s operations staff. Here, during air operations against the Japanese home islands, Donk experienced 2 further Kamikaze attacks and, after transferring with the flag to HMS Formidable, his 9th attack. As soon as the war ended Donk was recalled to take up duty as Executive Officer in HMAS Australia. Before taking up his posting his appointment was changed to Director of Naval Intelligence in Melbourne. After 2 1/2 years ashore he was posted to the command of the destroyer HMAS Bataan.

In April 1949 Donk resigned his commission, an event which shocked his peers and all who knew him, particularly as his promotion to Captain in June 1949 was expected with confidence. Throughout his 26 years of Naval Service his performance could be regarded only as exemplary. His official service record is a never ending list of superlatives when describing him. It was, perhaps, significant that after leaving the Naval College he spent a mere 4 years shore service in Australia.

The RAN’s Destroyers

Surely destroyers are the backbone of our Royal Australian Navy. Thirty-nine destroyers have served in the RAN since Foundation in 1911, from our first destroyers – HMA Ships PARRAMATTA (1), and YARRA (1), of only 700 tons, to our latest DDGs PERTH, HOBART and BRISBANE displacing over 4,500 tons.

River Class

HMAS Parramatta
HMAS Parramatta

Australia’s first destroyers were known as the River Class (I Class in the Royal Navy). The first two, PARRAMATTA and YARRA, were completely built in the UK during 1910/11, with WARREGO 1910/12, built in England, then disassembled and shipped to Australia to be rebuilt in Cockatoo Island Dockyard in NSW (for the ship building experience). The remaining four were completely built in Cockatoo Island Dockyard – WARREGO 1910/11/12, HUON (laid as DERWENT, but renamed HUON so as not to be confused with HMS DERWENT) 1913/15, TORRENS 1913/15 and SWAN 1915/16. They had a displacement of 700 tons, length 250ft, beam 24½ft and a 9ft draught. They carried one 4″ gun forward, 3x 12pdrs, 3×18″ torpedoes in tubes. Speed of 26/27 knots, with a complement of 66 officers and men. The cost of the UK built ships was £81,500, and the Australian built ships £160,000. (How times have changed.)

These ships served in the Mediterranean and the Pacific areas during World War I, and after the War, from 1919 in various duties, and for Naval Reserve training.

Gift Destroyers

In 1919 the RAN received six gift destroyers from the Royal Navy, the first was HMAS ANZAC (1), 1917 to 1933, a Marksman (Destroyer leader) Class destroyer of 1,660 tons, length 325ft, beam 31½ft, draught 12½ft, with three funnels. Her armament was 4×4″ guns, 2x12pdrs, 4×21″ torpedoes. She had a speed of 34 knots from her triple screws, with a complement of 122 officers and ratings. ANZAC transferred to the RAN, leaving Plymouth (England) in February 1920 and sailed to Sydney, arriving there on 29 April. There was little to do after the War (Great War), and she spent her time on the Australian east coast, though she visited New Guinea and New Britain in 1924, 1926 and 1930. But she remained the only destroyer kept through the depression years, till she was paid off in 1933, and scrapped in 1935. Sold for £1,800, ANZAC was sunk off Sydney on 7 May 1936 as target practice for RAN ships.

S Class

The other five S Class Destroyers – HMA Ships STALWART (1), SUCCESS, SWORDSMAN, TASMANIA and TATTOO were of 1,070 tons, 276ft in length, beam 26¾ft, draught 10½ft, with 3×4″ guns, 1x2pdr, pompoms and machine guns, 4×21″ torpedoes, speed 34 knots and complement of 90 officers and ratings.

For these ships, the majority of their service life was spent in port, and on the east coast, the only exception being TASMANIA, which visited New Guinea in 1924.

These S Class were famous ships, and over sixty more were built for the Royal Navy to replace WW I ships, and though many were scrapped between the wars, eleven still served in the Royal Navy during WW II.

The RAN’s five were built in the UK 1917/18, and commissioned into the RAN 1920. They paid off and went to Reserve in the late 1920s to 1930, and were all sold by 1937.

TATTOO was the last to pay off in 1933. On one of its last trips outside Sydney’s Heads, when passing the Matson Liner MARIPOSA, it signalled ‘Are you catching any fish’. Poor TATTOO! At least – they claimed – TATTOO never broke down.

V&W Class

Next, after service with the Royal Navy from 1918 to 1932, STUART transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in October 1933, along with four V & W Class destroyers (to replace the old S Class destroyers).

HMAS STUART (1) was a Scott Class Destroyer Leader, with displacement of 2,000 tons, length 332ft, beam 31¾ft, draught 12¼ft. Her armament (original) was 5×4.7″ guns, 1×3″ AA and small arms, and 6×21″ torpedoes. Speed 36½ knots and ship’s complement of 185. In her RAN commission, she was the Flotilla Leader, and up to 1939 served mainly in Australian waters, though being decommissioned for two short periods in that time.

With the declaration of war in 1939, STUART (Cmdr H.M.L. Waller, RAN), with the V & Ws HMA Ships VAMPIRE (1), VENDETTA (1), VOYAGER (1), and WATERHEN (1), sailed for the Mediterranean, where the Flotilla saw much action along the North African coast, with the British Fleet all over the Eastern Mediterranean, and with HMAS SYDNEY in action against the Italian Fleet at Calabria, through to the Battle of Matapan, then landings of troops on Greece and Crete, and later evacuating those troops after German occupation. STUART departed the Mediterranean August 22nd 1941, to return to Australia to commence a long and overdue refit, till April 1942. She then served in north eastern Australian waters till 1946, paying off 27th April 1946 and was scrapped in 1947.

Book Review: Action Stations

Action Stations by Iris Nesdale

Action Stations in some ways disappointed me but it must be very difficult to write a book about two ships serving in the same area and still manage to give each a distinct flavour. Bataan, of course, saw virtually no WWII activity as she was only commissioned on 26 June, 1945. However, she did see plenty of action in Korea. Her life was cut short, being placed in reserve in June 1954.

So the book has been ‘padded’ and contains some interesting information on Cockatoo Island Dockyard, the heavy (8”) cruisers and some good photographs.

One inclusion is the profile drawing ‘as fitted’ of Arunta. This is an excellent idea and apart from allowing laymen to see what that class of destroyer looked like inside, will stop many an argument from the ‘old hands’.

This book is well worthy of a place on your bookshelf and a welcome addition to Australian Naval Historical recordings.

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