SHIPS
Ships which were torpedoed, mined or sunk in Australian Waters
Which I believe did not have any Australians as Crew
Which I believe did not have any Australians as Crew
BANTAM (Dutch) - Bombed & Beached Oro Bay, Papua New Guinea 28-3-1943
Oro Bay, New Guinea 1943. The wreck of the Dutch Transport SS BANTAM, sunk in a Japanese Air Raid while taking part in Operation Lilliput.
BRITISH MOTORIST - Bombed Darwin 19-2-1942
Darwin, NT. 1942-02-19. A Tanker, the BRITISH MOTORIST, was piping oil at the wharf when the first bombs of the Japanese air raid crashed on Darwin at 10-00a.m. She managed to swing away from the wharf and back into the harbour where she was bombed by Japanese aircraft and set afire.
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Darwin, NT. 1942-02-19. The Wreck of the Tanker SS BRITISH MOTORIST, sunk in the Japanese Air Raid.
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CAMBRIDGE - Sunk on 7-11-1940 by a mine laid by German Raiders off the Victorian Coast with the loss of 1 crew
BASS STRAIT, 1940-11-08. Survivors of the Merchant Vessel CAMBRIDGE, Mined off Wilsons Promontory, coming alongside the Auxiliary Minesweeper H.M.A.S. Orara in one of the Cambridge's Boats.
CITY OF RAYVILLE - Sunk by German mine off Cape Otway 8-11-1940
The 38 crew members were able to safely abandon the vessel in lifeboats, although one mariner (James Bryan of Norfolk, Virginia) re-entered the vessel to find his personal items and subsequently drowned. The light keeper stationed at Cape Otway Light station witnessed the sinking, and three boats from Apollo Bay went in search of survivors. The ship's lifeboats were found, and successfully towed back to Apollo Bay, arriving at dawn, 9 November 1940. The site of the wreck is approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) south of Cape Otway - Wikipedia
The 38 crew members were able to safely abandon the vessel in lifeboats, although one mariner (James Bryan of Norfolk, Virginia) re-entered the vessel to find his personal items and subsequently drowned. The light keeper stationed at Cape Otway Light station witnessed the sinking, and three boats from Apollo Bay went in search of survivors. The ship's lifeboats were found, and successfully towed back to Apollo Bay, arriving at dawn, 9 November 1940. The site of the wreck is approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) south of Cape Otway - Wikipedia
COAST FARMER - 21-7-1942 torpedoed & sunk 15 miles off Jervis Bay by the Japanese submarine 1-11
DON ISIDRO (Philipines) - Bombed & Sunk Darwin Northern Territory 19-2-1942 with loss of 11 crew
She was beached in flames after being attacked by Japanese aircraft en route to bomb Darwin on 1942-02-19. Her survivors were picked up by HMAS Warrnambool.
The Merchant Ship Don Isidro, heavily damaged by bombs during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin 1942-02-19, was so badly burnt out that she was beached and abandoned aground near Melville Island.
She was beached in flames after being attacked by Japanese aircraft en route to bomb Darwin on 1942-02-19. Her survivors were picked up by HMAS Warrnambool.
The Merchant Ship Don Isidro, heavily damaged by bombs during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin 1942-02-19, was so badly burnt out that she was beached and abandoned aground near Melville Island.
FlORANCE D (American) - Bombed 19-2-1942
After five direct hits during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, the ship was beached on fire south of Cape Fourcroy on Bathurst Island, 19th February 1942. The initial attack by Japanese aircraft occurred forty kilometres north-west of Bathurst Island. Forty survivors landed on the island and were rescued either by H.M.A.S.Warrnambool or walked overland to the mission station, where a lugger took them to Darwin.
After five direct hits during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, the ship was beached on fire south of Cape Fourcroy on Bathurst Island, 19th February 1942. The initial attack by Japanese aircraft occurred forty kilometres north-west of Bathurst Island. Forty survivors landed on the island and were rescued either by H.M.A.S.Warrnambool or walked overland to the mission station, where a lugger took them to Darwin.
GEORGE S LIVANOS - Torpedoed 20-7-1942 by the Japanese submarine 1-11
GUATEMALA (Panama) - Torpedoed 12-6-1942 40 miles off Sydney, N.S.W. Her crew is rescued by HMAS DOOMBA.
LYDIA M. CHILDS (Liberty Ship) - Torpedoed and sunk by Japanese Submarine off N.S.W. 27-4-1943 (100 nautical miles off Port Stephens N.S.W.)
Liberty ship 7,176 tons, sunk at 33ş 8' S and 153ş 24' E (100 miles N.E. of Sydney) in 20 minutes by 2 torpedoes, all crew rescued.
MAUNA LOA (American) - Bombed & sunk Darwin, Northern Territory 19-2-1942 with loss of 5 crew
Darwin, Northern Territory - Feb 1942 - H.M.A.S. Swan, The Mauna Loa & H.M.A.S. Warrego in Darwin Harbour
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Looking from the Bathurst Class Corvette, HMAS Warrnambool (J202), towards the United States Transport ship SS Mauna Loa as she lists to starboard before sinking in Darwin Harbour, after being attacked by carrier based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
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MEIGS - Bombed & sunk Darwin, Northern Territory 19-2-1942 with loss of 2 crew
The United States Army Transport (USAT) Meigs underway in Darwin Harbour some days before the Japanese air raid on 19 February 1942. USAT Meigs was laden with munitions, railway track, tracked machine gun carriers and trucks of the 2/4th Pioneer Regiment, which was destined for Allied forces in Portuguese Timor. However, prior to sailing she was attacked by Japanese aircraft. As the largest vessel in Darwin Harbour on the day of the attack, USAT Meigs was a prime target and she went down in flames after being struck by numerous bombs and aerial torpedoes. Two of her crew were killed.
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Aerial view of the USAT Meigs, sunk in Darwin Harbour during the first Japanese bombing raid on 19 February 1942.
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USS PEARY (American) - Bombed & sunk Darwin, Northern Territory 19-2-1942 with loss of 80 crew
This photograph was taken from HMAS Swan by a member of the crew possibly during the abortive Koepang Voyage. USS Peary was sunk and eighty of her crew killed during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin 19-2-1942 by naval aircraft of the Japanese 1st & 2nd Carrier Divisions.
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The United States Navy destroyer, USS Peary on fire and partially sunk in Darwin Harbour. The crew suffered 80 men killed and 13 wounded after she was was struck by five bombs when attacked by single motored Japanese dive bombers during the first air raid on Darwin. On the right is the Hospital Ship Manunda.
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Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld) 11-4-1942
LOSS OF U.S.S. PEARY
Suffered Five Direct Hits
PERTH. April 8.— The U.S. destroyer, Peary, suffered five direct hits in the first Japanese raid on Darwin on February 18, survivors said here. . .
A Washington communique last Saturday announced the loss of the Peary (1,138 tons) at Darwin.
Fifty-three Injured members of the Peary's crew are in a Perth military hospital Laurence T. Farley, 28, of West 'Virginia, who was foreman water tender on the Peary, said that before the Peary went to Darwin she had suffered casualties, but little damage, in Jap raids in the Philippines.
One or the tombs that hit the Peary at Darwin struck a galley passage in which a shipmate and I were, Farley said. 'I was .badly burned, and my eyes were affected. With my companion, I went on deck and dived, overboard. I swam towards the hospital ship Manunda, but, as I neared her, I saw the Japs attack her. I turned and swam back. My burned legs and arms and shoulder were greatly troubling me. As I swam I saw Jap planes machine-gunning men in the water. Some were shot as they swam. Others sank exhausted. Bullets smacked the water all round me, but I was not hit by them. By then a bomb blast had so affected me that I could not see. A lifeboat from the Manunda picked me up and took me on board. As a result of treatment here, I have made a wonderful recovery. I had expected to be a cripple.
LOSS OF U.S.S. PEARY
Suffered Five Direct Hits
PERTH. April 8.— The U.S. destroyer, Peary, suffered five direct hits in the first Japanese raid on Darwin on February 18, survivors said here. . .
A Washington communique last Saturday announced the loss of the Peary (1,138 tons) at Darwin.
Fifty-three Injured members of the Peary's crew are in a Perth military hospital Laurence T. Farley, 28, of West 'Virginia, who was foreman water tender on the Peary, said that before the Peary went to Darwin she had suffered casualties, but little damage, in Jap raids in the Philippines.
One or the tombs that hit the Peary at Darwin struck a galley passage in which a shipmate and I were, Farley said. 'I was .badly burned, and my eyes were affected. With my companion, I went on deck and dived, overboard. I swam towards the hospital ship Manunda, but, as I neared her, I saw the Japs attack her. I turned and swam back. My burned legs and arms and shoulder were greatly troubling me. As I swam I saw Jap planes machine-gunning men in the water. Some were shot as they swam. Others sank exhausted. Bullets smacked the water all round me, but I was not hit by them. By then a bomb blast had so affected me that I could not see. A lifeboat from the Manunda picked me up and took me on board. As a result of treatment here, I have made a wonderful recovery. I had expected to be a cripple.
S S PORTMAR - Damaged & beached in the First Japanese air raid on the Australian Mainland (Darwin) 19-2-1942 with loss of 2 crew.
Darwin, Northern Territory Feb 1942 - The SS Portmar, used by the Americans as a troopship in the unsuccessful attempt to reinforce the Timor Garrison, is seen beached after being damaged in the first Japanese Air Raid on the Australian Mainland on 19-2-1942
ROBERT J WALKER (U.S. Liberty Ship) - Torpedoed by German Submarine U-862 about 60 miles south of Jervis bay on 25-12-1944 with the loss of 2 crew
This damaged wooden name board was found on the beach at Bherwerre Beach, near Sussex Inlet NSW after the Liberty ship SS Robert J Walker was sunk in December 1944.
Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, N.S.W.) 13-3-1945
Liberty Ship Lost
Off Austn. Coast
SYDNEY.-An American Liberty ship, the Robert J. Walker, was torpedoed recently off the Australian coast. A dust storm was raging at the time and the Australian destroyer, Quickmatch, which went to the rescue, had difficulty in locating lifeboats and rafts. The first torpedo which struck the Robert J. Walker in the early morning cut off the ship's propeller and destroyed the steering and engines. It did not however, sink the vessel. An-S.O.S. was sent out. Two hours later the submarine fired another torpedo, but it was sighted and it was exploded by Navy gunners 1,000 yards from the ship.
A third torpedo struck the ship shortly afterwards and forced its abandonment, though it did not sink and it was later sunk by Allied gunfire. One member of the crew of the Robert J. Walker was killed and another is missing.
Liberty Ship Lost
Off Austn. Coast
SYDNEY.-An American Liberty ship, the Robert J. Walker, was torpedoed recently off the Australian coast. A dust storm was raging at the time and the Australian destroyer, Quickmatch, which went to the rescue, had difficulty in locating lifeboats and rafts. The first torpedo which struck the Robert J. Walker in the early morning cut off the ship's propeller and destroyed the steering and engines. It did not however, sink the vessel. An-S.O.S. was sent out. Two hours later the submarine fired another torpedo, but it was sighted and it was exploded by Navy gunners 1,000 yards from the ship.
A third torpedo struck the ship shortly afterwards and forced its abandonment, though it did not sink and it was later sunk by Allied gunfire. One member of the crew of the Robert J. Walker was killed and another is missing.
SIANTAR (Dutch) - Shelled, torpedoed and sunk 2-3-1942, 250 miles N.W. of Shark Bay, Western Australia
STARR KING (American) - Torpedoed 10-2-1943
United States of America Liberty Ship 'Starr King' sinks off Port Macquarie, NSW after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.
S S TRIASTER (British) - Sunk 7-12-1940 by a raider off Narau
SS VAN HEEMSKERK (British) - Bombed at Milne Bay 14-4-1943 with the loss of 4 crew.
S.S.WILLIAM DAWES - Torpedoed 22-7-1942 by the Japanese submarine 1-11, with the loss of 5 crew ( 1 US soldier & 4 Naval Armed Guards)