Men and Ships at War Collection: HMS Arawa and Get the Oars Out 9798838819536, 9798838891174, 9798839098077

Table of contents :
Series introduction
Foreword
Preface
Lexicon
Introduction
Part One – The chameleon
Chapter One – British J, K, N Class destroyer
Chapter Two – Dutch Norseman
Chapter Three – Australia’s HMAS Nepal
Chapter Four – Fictional HMS Torrin
Chapter Five – Convoy PQ.17
Chapter Six – Convoy WS.21P
Chapter Seven – Battle honours
Chapter Eight – Madagascar Campaign
Part Two – To Tokyo
Chapter Nine – Transition to the war against Japan
Chapter Ten – Operation PAMPHLET
Chapter Eleven – Operations DIPLOMAT, COCKPIT and TRANSOM
Chapter Twelve – Burma Campaign
Chapter Thirteen – Pacific Ocean
Chapter Fourteen – Afterwards
Conclusion
Postscript
Appendix One – Figures
Appendix Two – Esther Williams Trophy
Appendix Three – Crew members mentioned in this book
Bibliography
About the author

Citation preview

HMAS Nepal Fleet destroyer

Allan A. Murray

© The Family Murray Trust 2019-2021 No reproduction without permission. All rights reserved. First edition e-published in Australia December 2019. Second edition e-published in Australia March 2020. Third edition e-published in Australia September 2021. Amazon ASIN: B0828RJBPS (e-book) Series: Men and Ships at War.

For Claire Mary Forbes (1923-2013), my great aunt

Cover: HMAS Nepal, in the Indian Ocean, 1943.

Table of Contents Series introduction Foreword Preface Lexicon Introduction Part One – The chameleon Chapter One – British J, K, N Class destroyer Chapter Two – Dutch Norseman Chapter Three – Australia’s HMAS Nepal Chapter Four – Fictional HMS Torrin Chapter Five – Convoy PQ.17 Chapter Six – Convoy WS.21P Chapter Seven – Battle honours Chapter Eight – Madagascar Campaign Part Two – To Tokyo Chapter Nine – Transition to the war against Japan Chapter Ten – Operation PAMPHLET Chapter Eleven – Operations DIPLOMAT, COCKPIT and TRANSOM Chapter Twelve – Burma Campaign Chapter Thirteen – Pacific Ocean Chapter Fourteen – Afterwards Conclusion Postscript Appendix One – Figures Appendix Two – Esther Williams Trophy Appendix Three – Crew members mentioned in this book Bibliography About the author

Series introduction Men and Ships at War describes the service of a number of ships from the middle of the 20th Century. The connective thread of the Series is the family members of the author who served either aboard or alongside these ships during World War II and the opportunity to describe details of each phase of the Australian Campaign. The Series explores leadership, luck and the service of HMS Arawa and HMA Ships Nepal, Mildura and Australia (II) as well as the merchant vessels, SS Iron Chieftain, Iron Knight and the Leprena. The two Iron vessels were sunk during the War by Japanese submarines off the south-east coast of Australia. The three key protagonists are Bobby Forbes, his brother Arthur ‘Dukesy’ Forbes, and George Anderson. The Forbes brothers are paternal great-uncles of the author and George Anderson is the maternal grandfather. Between them, they served in every ocean, against every foe and their sea time encompassed every year of the War. All three survived the War. The Series includes e-books, in suggested reading order: HMS Arawa – The dramatic war service of an unglamorous Armed Merchant Cruiser (Amazon ASIN: B01M9B2CLW), The Family Murray Trust, 2016 Get the Oars Out – When I-24 sank the Iron Chieftain (Amazon ASIN: B01HBNDCOY), The Family Murray Trust, 2016 Sunk in 2 Minutes – The fatal encounter between I-21, HMAS Mildura and the Iron Knight (Amazon ASIN: B01MYO776O), The Family Murray Trust, 2016 HMAS Nepal – Fleet destroyer (Amazon ASIN: B0828RJBPS), The Family Murray Trust, 2019 HMAS Australia – Last of her luck (Amazon ASIN: B07D5KWGN3), The Family Murray Trust, 2018 Leapin Lena – A Small Ship at war, 1942-45 (Amazon ASIN: B08P1RNMP8), The Family Murray Trust, 2020 Paperback:

Men and Ships at War Collection – HMS Arawa and Get the Oars Out (Amazon ASIN: 9798838819536), The Family Murray Trust, 2022 Men and Ships at War Collection – Sunk in 2 Minutes and HMAS Nepal (Amazon ASIN: 9798838891174), The Family Murray Trust, 2022 Men and Ships at War Collection – HMAS Australia and Leapin Lena (Amazon ASIN: 9798839098077), The Family Murray Trust, 2022 Hardcover: Lost Iron Vessels Collection – Get the Oars Out, Down 700 Metres and Sunk in 2 Minutes (Amazon ASIN: B09K21SM39), The Family Murray Trust, 2021 War against Japan Collection - Down 700 Metres, Sunk in 2 Minutes, Men from Newcastle, HMAS Australia, Leapin Lena and HMAS Nepal (Amazon ASIN: B09JJKHNQS), The Family Murray Trust, 2021 Men and Ships at War Collection – HMS Arawa, Get the Oars Out, HMAS Nepal, Sunk in 2 Minutes, HMAS Australia and Leapin Lena (Amazon ASIN: B0B4HJSP1G), The Family Murray Trust, 2022 Alluring, romantic yet dangerous and unforgiving: these are the extremes encountered when at sea. The oceans have constants – waves, tides and currents – but the winds, storms, fog and marine life add challenges and uncertainty. This is the backdrop to the Series.

Foreword Despite being related, I have never met Allan A. Murray, yet his books on HMS Arawa and HMAS Nepal reveal a common connection that has also been important to me from my earliest memories. The key protagonist in these books, Bobby Forbes, is my grandfather. As a young boy growing up, I loved to listen to Bob’s stories about his time aboard various ships during World War II; he insisted we all call him Bob. Some were made up – like the fact that the scar on his cheek was from a bullet that had gone straight through – while others demonstrated the ‘larrikin’ behaviour and attitude towards authority Bob was famous for. He often talked about the Italian and German aircraft that came screaming out of the sky, the Germans flying so close to the ship that the crew could almost touch them. He would always joke that the Italians never got close enough to worry about … ‘but the Germans, the Germans were a different proposition’. You could hear just a hint of admiration in his voice at the bravery of the enemy. Whilst I heard these stories numerous times and never tired of hearing them, they rarely told the full story of what it must have been like. Allan’s book, HMAS Nepal: Fleet destroyer, is about one of the ships my grandfather sailed on. Starting as a torpedo armed minesweeping destroyer, HMAS Nepal became for a time an anti-aircraft destroyer. Depth charges to combat enemy submarines were later fitted. The book is also about the men that sailed on her, escorting military equipment and attacking the enemy. Allan’s book really brings to light how dangerous some of her missions were and how real the threat from the enemy Air Forces and Navies was: and brought home for me the bravery of my grandfather and his fellow crewman that the light-hearted nature of Bob’s stories could not. It was wonderful to see the photo of Bob batting on board HMAS Nepal in Kilindini; cricket is in our blood. By taking you through the many changes that the HMAS Nepal went through, Allan has succeeded in illuminating an important part of Australia’s naval history. Books like this are not only important for my family, or even for others that had family members serve during World War II, they are important so that we never forget the sacrifices that many young Australians

made, especially those that were on ships less fortunate than the Australian fleet destroyer, HMAS Nepal.

Cameron Forbes

Preface This book returns to the story of Robert Ernest ‘Bobby’ Forbes, the brother of my paternal grandmother, Doreen Isobel Murray. After his service with HMS Arawa, 12 months training in the United Kingdom was followed by seven months active service on the Australian N Sub-class destroyer, HMAS Nepal. [1] As I began to research HMAS Nepal in more detail, I found there was no book or single repository of her story; it was worthy of a book. Her story is the most interesting and varied of Australia’s five N Sub-class destroyers. Starting life intended for the British Royal Navy as the Norseman, the destroyer was earmarked briefly for service with the Royal Netherlands Navy before ultimately being commissioned into the Australian Navy with a name chosen by the British Admiralty to acknowledge the great services being rendered to the War effort by the tiny country of Nepal. Soon after commissioning, she played the role of the fictional HMS Torrin in the 1942 film In Which We Serve. In addition to these identity changes there were a number of changes of form. Originally intended as a torpedo destroyer, for a brief period after commissioning her anti-aircraft capabilities were bolstered before again having her torpedo capability restored. Similarly, she was originally intended as a minesweeping destroyer but after commissioning, her anti-mine capabilities were replaced with depth charges to fight the more pressing threat from submarines. The period 1939-43 is the focus of Part One of this book, the time when my Uncle Bobby served on HMAS Nepal; a chameleon destroyer, ever changing in form and identity. Laid down in the first week of the War, HMAS Nepal was the last of the N Sub-class destroyers to commission into the Australian Navy. After working up with the Home Fleet she spent time in the north Atlantic Ocean. This book looks at the question of why HMAS Nepal was not awarded the battle honour ‘ATLANTIC 1939-43’. HMAS Nepal transferred to the Indian Ocean, spending most of the War there. The year 1943 is an appropriate interregnum in the story of HMAS Nepal. Firstly, my Uncle Bobby left the ship in late 1942. Secondly, HMAS Nepal’s service was more focused upon the war against Japan.

Insights are provided on the Disruption phase of the Australian Campaign that commenced after September 1942. In Part Two of the book, the War took her from the coast of Madagascar, protecting convoys from Japanese submarines, to attacking Japanese positions and installations in Burma, Java and Sumatra, then to the Okinawa Campaign – the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific War – and finally to supporting attacks upon the Japanese mainland. She had the honour of being the first Australian Navy ship to berth in Tokyo Harbour after the surrender ceremony. HMAS Nepal survived all of this without a single loss to the crew. Up until early 1943, HMAS Nepal had been a chameleon. During 1943 she established a reputation as a truly Australian fleet destroyer. By 1945 she was respected as one of Australia’s more capable, trusted and best led fleet destroyers of World War II. In writing this book, I sailed from Portsmouth, England, in 2017; visited Liverpool, England, and the Clyde River and Scapa Flow, Scotland, in 2019; and visited Indonesia in 2019.

Allan A. Murray

Lexicon ASDIC

Covering

Draught

Flotilla HF/DF HMAS HMIS HMS HMT HNLMS KMS kW OBE ORP RAF RAN Ranks – RAN (ascending)

An acronym derived from the Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee and used to describe an early form of sonar used to detect submarines. A task assigned to a powerful grouping of fast warships – battleships, cruisers and fleet destroyers. Involves sailing at a distance from a fleet or convoy and being prepared to move quickly to that fleet or convoy if support is needed. Can be close cover (over the horizon) or distant (100 kilometres or more). The vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull (keel). Draught determines the minimum depth of water a ship or vessel can safely navigate. A grouping of warships, between 5 and 10, usually of the same class. High Frequency Direction Finding Her / His Majesty’s Australian Ship Her / His Majesty’s Indian Ship Her / His Majesty’s Ship (British Royal Navy) Her / His Majesty’s Troopship (British Royal Navy) Her / His Netherlands Majesty’s Ship German Navy Ship kilowatt Officer of the Order of the British Empire Vessel of the Republic of Poland Royal Air Force (British Air Force) Royal Australian Navy (Sailor) Seaman, Able Seaman, Leading Seaman, Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer, Warrant Officer. (Officer) Midshipman, Acting Sub-Lieutenant, Sub Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain, Commodore, Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral,

RANR RANVR RFA RMS RN Screen

SS TSS U-boat UNSW USS

Admiral, Admiral of the Fleet. Royal Australian Navy Reserve Royal Australian Navy Volunteer Reserve Royal Fleet Auxiliary (British Royal Navy) Royal Mail Ship or Steamer Royal Navy (British Navy) A task assigned to a group of escort ships – light cruisers, destroyers, frigates and corvettes. Involves remaining close to and dispersed around larger warships or convoys to protect them from attacks by aircraft, submarines or other warships. Single-Screw Steamship, a steam-powered vessel with one screw propeller. Twin-Screw Steamship, a steam-powered vessel with two screw propellers. An anglicised version of the German word U-boot, a shortening of unterseeboot, literally ‘under sea boat’. University of New South Wales United States Ship

Terminology The Australian Navy now uses the term ‘sailor’ for those serving who are not Officers in the Navy. During World War II it conformed with the British Navy and used the word ‘rating’. I have used the more contemporary ‘sailor’ for simplicity. Ship’s guns were named according to their calibre, which during World War II were often measured in inches or pounds. I have used the old measurements when referring to the guns but included the metric conversion the first time. A 4.7-inch gun fired a shell 4.7 inches in diameter, or 120 millimetres. The traditional measure of speed at sea is knots, which equals one nautical mile/hour. A nautical mile is 1.852 kilometres. To aid the layman reader, I have used kilometres/hour. Many in my family referred to Arthur Alan Forbes as ‘Dootsy’. My

father was insistent that he derived his nickname from his love of ‘putting up his dukes’ and that his nickname should be spelt ‘Dukesy’. I have honoured my father’s wishes.

Introduction The World War II destroyer was a utility ship. They had a lot of different jobs, so the weapon characteristics of a good destroyer were guns, torpedoes, anti-submarine sensors and weapons, and anti-aircraft sensors and guns. These had to be combined on a platform that had speed and was seaworthy in rough waters, like the North Atlantic, so the ship could reliably do its job. The final requirement was expendability, the ship had to be cost-effective enough that it could be risked in operations in dangerous waters. British destroyers in World War II tended to be well-balanced, seaworthy ships; true multi-role vessels that were seldom the best for a specific purpose or in any single category, but competent in virtually all roles. The United Kingdom needed many destroyers to protect the numerous heavy ships of the Royal Navy, her merchant marine (the largest in the world at the beginning of the War) and her far-flung Empire. This argued for large numbers of small to medium-sized destroyers, rather than a few large destroyers. British destroyers had to have good sea going qualities, because they operated under all conditions in all of the oceans of the world. The British Royal Navy, from its experience in World War I, understood that anti-submarine warfare was a vital task, and also that it required a large number of small, cheap, expendable ships. The tasks of escorting oceanic convoys and patrolling inshore waters to protect local traffic was most often, and more efficiently, handled in the British Royal Navy by frigates, corvettes and sloops, of which the British had many. The United States would collectively refer to these as destroyer escorts. Of course, the larger British destroyers – fleet destroyers – were also excellent at escort duties. They were often assigned to protect valuable surface ships, like troop transports, and were also assigned to reinforce convoy escorts against German U-boat ‘wolfpacks’. So they were best able to do this job, Britain shared with its Allies sensor technology (sonar, radar, radio-direction finders), tactics, links to their very efficient aircraft patrols, and had first-rate command and intelligence facilities ashore. The true raison d’etre for the fleet destroyers, per doctrine, was to scout for, escort, and screen larger fleet units. They would protect aircraft

carriers, battleships and cruisers against submarine attacks and attacks by other surface vessels, attack the enemy screen and fleet with guns and torpedoes, defend the fleet against air attack, and support their own damaged or sinking ships. They also were valuable for ship-to-shore bombardment. The British built fine fleet destroyers. British naval guns and torpedoes were excellent and British destroyer Captains utterly fearless in taking on any opponent, up to and including battleships. Their seaworthiness was outstanding, it was a recurring theme during the War for British destroyers to torpedo large enemy ships in conditions so vile that the enemy destroyers that were supposed to screen their heavy ships had been sent back to port. However, their anti-aircraft gunnery was not as good as it needed to be and cost-cutting in construction left a lot of British destroyers terribly vulnerable to bomb damage. HMAS Nepal was a British built fleet destroyer.

Part One – The chameleon

Chapter One – British J, K, N Class destroyer

Front facing rear turret on HMS Jupiter, early in the War. Source: Wikipedia (Public Domain) HMAS Nepal started life as Norseman, one of eight N Sub-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in the 1939 Programme. Due to delays and cost over-runs associated with the larger and more complicated L, M Class destroyers, the N Sub-class destroyers were a repeat order of the simpler design J, K Class from the 1937 Programme; the Admiralty was aiming to bring as many destroyers as possible into service by the outbreak of the forthcoming War. This created the J, K, N Class of destroyers comprising 24 ships in total. The first 16 ships, now the J, K Sub-class, had names beginning with ‘J’ or ‘K’. The eight N Sub-class destroyers were initially named Napier, Nerissa, Nestor, Nizam, Noble, Nonpareil, Norman and Norseman. The J, K, N Class were a smaller ship compared to both the preceding Tribal Class destroyers and the L, M Class. The design incorporated a radical new idea that was a departure from all previous British destroyer designs; the adoption of a layout with two adjoining boiler rooms. This reduced hull length – the J, K, N Class were 108.66 metres long overall compared to the 115 metres of the Tribal Class – and allowed for a single

funnel, both reducing the profile and increasing the arcs of fire of the light anti-aircraft weapons. However, this also increased vulnerability, as there were now two consecutive large compartments with the resultant risk of a single well-placed hit flooding both and causing a total loss of boiler power. The odds of a single hit striking just the right spot to disable both boiler rooms simultaneously were considered remote enough to be worth risking in exchange for the benefits given by a two-room layout. The J, K, N Class had a heavier torpedo armament than the preceding Tribal Class destroyers which had emphasized guns over torpedoes. Whereas the Tribal Class had four twin 4.7-inch (120 millimetre) gun turrets, the J, K, N Class had only three turrets; two forward and one rear. In lieu of a second rear turret, the J, K, N Class was fitted with an additional bank of torpedo launcher tubes and each bank consisted of five tubes (a pendant mount) compared to the single bank of four tubes on the Tribal Class. With two sets of five tubes between the funnel and the rear gun, ten 21-inch (533 millimetre) torpedoes could be carried. See Appendix One. Other design changes from the Tribal Class were: A significant advance in construction technique developed by naval architect Albert Percy Cole. Instead of going for transverse frame sections which were unnecessarily strong, but held together by weak longitudinals, Cole went for extra strong longitudinals and weaker transverse frames. The J, K, N Class had a beam of 10.87 metres and a maximum draught of 4.98 metres. The bow design was modified; the clipper bow was replaced by a straight stem with increased sheer. This change was not as successful and consequently these ships were very wet forwards. Despite the vulnerability of the boiler layout, the design was to prove compact, strong, very fast and highly manoeuvrable; they were the greyhounds of the sea. During their acceptance trials, HM Ships Jackal and Jupiter achieved speeds of 63.65 kilometres/hour and 61.2 kilometres/hour respectively on a light displacement in deep water. The J, K, N Class were a considerable advance in British destroyer design and formed the basis of all British Royal Navy destroyer construction up until 1945. The N Sub-class were ordered on 15 April 1939, when the first of the

J, K Sub-class were entering service. A lesson soon learned from the J, K Sub-class was the inability to fire dead astern. The rear turret on the J, K Subclass could train around an arc of 340°. Curiously, the blind 20° in the arc was across the stern, rather than the more logical forward position where fire was obscured by the bridge and masts anyway. This was corrected in the N Sub-class; the rear turret was mounted facing astern. The N Sub-class were to lead a change in form that would eventually be applied to the J, K Sub-class. This first change of form was a portent for the future of the destroyer. The Norseman was allocated to Yard No. 1203 of John I. Thornycroft and Co Pty Ltd at Woolston, Southampton in Hampshire and laid down on 9 September 1939; the week war was declared with Germany. Nearby was the Norman which had been laid down two months earlier. The Yard was on the River Itchen and Thornycroft and Co. was one of Southampton’s major employers. It focussed upon building ships of destroyer size as the width of the river precluded ships of greater length from being built. There was a saying in the British Royal Navy that if you were serving on a Thornycroft-built ship then you were serving on a well built and sound vessel. Thornycroft was benefitting from the large shipbuilding programmes of the late 1930’s which were rapidly expanding the British Royal Navy fleet. The original anti-aircraft suite planned for the N Sub-class consisted of power-operated twin 0.5-inch (13 millimetre) Vickers machine gun turrets on the quarterdeck and a quadruple barrel Quick Fire 2-pound (40 millimetre) gun (Mark VIII), commonly called a Multiple Pom Pom, situated just aft of the funnel. These multiple gun mounts required four different guns. The mount had two rows each of two guns. Guns were produced in both rightand left-hand and ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ so that the feed and ejector mechanisms matched. Fire control arrangements differed from the Tribal Class destroyers. The dedicated high-angle rangefinder was not fitted, instead only a 12-foot (3.7 metre) rangefinder was carried but it was heavily modified to allow it to also control the main armament for anti-aircraft fire.

Chapter Two – Dutch Norseman

Norseman crest. Source: Antiques Storehouse, Portsmouth After Germany overran the Netherlands in May 1940, the still under construction Norman and Norseman were earmarked to be sold to the Royal Netherlands Navy as replacements for their wartime losses. After several changes in form, this was the first identity change for the destroyer. Concurrently, it was decided that the entire N Sub-class would not be manned by the British Royal Navy – sister ship Nerissa was to be manned by a Free Polish Navy crew and the remainder of the sub-class would be leased to Australia and crewed by the Australian Navy.[2] The German Blitz on major cities in the United Kingdom commenced during the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Nepal_(G25) cite_note-Cassells57-2construction of the Norman and Norseman. The Thornycroft shipyard was bombed and damaged several times, not only

because Southampton was a major port but also because the Supermarine factory (making Spitfires) was the next industrial facility upriver. The air raids became less frequent when the Supermarine factory was burnt out on 26 September 1940. Ninety-two people were killed and many more injured in this raid, most of them were experienced aircraft production workers. Aircraft production transferred to outlying sites.[3] Nevertheless, in late December 1940, a Luftwaffe air raid on the shipyard saw Norseman take a direct hit and two near misses. She sustained severe damage; the bombs nearly cut the hull structure of the destroyer in two. This air raid also badly damaged a nearby O Class destroyer under construction – the Opportune. Norseman was lucky, the decision was taken to repair her, and it was believed the work would result in considerable delay in launching both the Norman and the Norseman. Consequently, two other N Sub-class destroyers – the Noble and Nonpariel, being built by W. Denny & Bros at Dumbarton – were sold to the Dutch in lieu. The sale occurred on 18 March 1941 and the two replacement ships were subsequently commissioned as HNLM Ships Van Galen and Tjerk Hiddes respectively.[4] The latter ship, named after the 17th Century Dutch Admiral Tjerk Hiddes de Vries, was to be a frequent companion of the Australian-crewed N Sub-class destroyers. The Norseman and Norman were re-allocated for crewing to the Australian Navy as repair and construction proceeded. This was the second change in identity for the destroyer in a brief time. Comparisons with a chameleon were now appropriate. Norseman was subject to further changes in form. Fire control was enhanced by replacing the 12-foot rangefinder with a Type 285 Fire Control radar and the ship was transformed from a torpedo destroyer to an anti-aircraft destroyer as a response to three of the J, K Subclass being bombed by aircraft and sunk off Crete in May 1941; HM Ships Juno, Kashmir and Kelly. Firstly, the aft bank of five torpedo launcher tubes was removed and replaced with a single Quick Fire 4-inch (101 millimetre) gun on high-angle mountings for the heavy anti-aircraft role. It could reach out to 8,800 metres. See Appendix One. Next, the Vickers machine gun turrets on the quarterdeck, which were found to be prone to jamming, were replaced by two single 20-millimetre Oerlikon guns and a further two single 20-millimetre Oerlikon guns were added abreast the searchlight platform amidships.[5] These guns could reach out to 1,500 metres. The Multiple Pom

Pom could reach out to 4,000 metres. The N Sub-Class now had a comparatively heavy anti-aircraft armament. A Type 286 radar, for detecting aircraft movements, was added to the masthead. In ideal conditions it had a range of about 15 kilometres.[6] The ship now had four layers of aircraft detection and response. Additionally, the class was moved from an anti-mine capability to an anti-submarine capability. Despite two of the J, K Sub-class being lost to mines, the requirement to hunt submarines was the stronger imperative. HMS Jersey struck a mine off Valletta, Malta on 2 May 1941 and sank two days later whilst HMS Kandahar struck a mine off Tripoli, Libya on 19 December 1941 and was sunk by gunfire from HMS Jaguar the following day. The twospeed destroyer sweep system was replaced with ASDIC and a holding of 45 depth charges launchable aft via a rack and to each side by throwers. The ASDIC, a ping activated sonar, was effective out to 2,900 metres on submerged vessels. Norseman was launched on 4 December 1941; the week war was declared with Japan. A crest was designed for the ship depicting the horned warrior helmet of a Norseman. Soon after her launch, the community of Hartley Witney in Hampshire adopted the Norseman as part of a national campaign known as ‘Warship Week’. Norseman was planned to be capable of reaching 67 kilometres/hour. This was in part achieved by the ship having no protective armour plating but primarily through the propulsion provided by two oil-fired Admiralty threedrum boilers connected to Parsons geared steam turbines; 30,000 kilowatt (kW) was available to the ship’s two propellers. The fundamental characteristic of the three-drum design is the arrangement of a steam drum above two water drums, in a triangular layout. Water tubes fill in the two sides of this triangle between the drums, and the furnace is in the centre. The whole assembly is then enclosed in a casing, leading to the exhaust flue. She was launched with the following armament: Six Quick Fire 4.7-inch guns (Mark XII) in three twin mounts, with each gun capable of firing 10 rounds per minute out to 15,520 metres. A single Quick Fire 4-inch gun (Mark V) in the heavy anti-aircraft role. A quadruple barrel Quick Fire 2-pound anti-aircraft gun (Mark VIII)

capable of firing 115 rounds per minute per barrel. Four single 20-millimetre Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns. One bank of five torpedo launcher tubes with a range of 4,500 to 6,400 metres dependent upon the variant of torpedo. Once fired they could not be reloaded at sea. Capacity for 45 depth charges with a rack and two throwers.

A pendant mount on HMAS Nepal with the tail of one torpedo visible. Source: Ken Oxenbould The heavily armed Norseman was a well-balanced blend of strike capabilities (4.7-inch guns and torpedo launcher tubes) and defensive capabilities (anti-aircraft guns and depth charges). Some believe the class was perhaps the most handsome British destroyers ever constructed with their sleek low silhouettes, single raked funnel and a certain jauntiness about them.

Chapter Three – Australia’s HMAS Nepal

Map 1. Home Fleet, late 1941. Source: Gordon Smith, www.navalhistory.net

The five Australian-crewed N Sub-class destroyers were commissioned and completed between 11 December 1940 (HMAS Napier) and 11 May 1942. In addition, the Australian Navy was providing the crews for two Q Class destroyers being built in the United Kingdom at the time, Quiberon and Quickmatch. This required Australia to train and have available in the United Kingdom approximately 1,700 Navy Officers and sailors over the course of 18 months. Of the numerous pathways to the United Kingdom, a prominent one was via the British Royal Navy’s armed merchant cruisers. In the first few years of the War, large numbers of Australian Navy personnel were manning the armed merchant cruisers that had been converted from former passenger ships in Australia. As greater numbers of light cruisers were being commissioned into the British Royal Navy, the armed merchant cruisers were transferred back to cargo or troop transport duties thus freeing up the Australian Navy crews. Australia prepared many of them for transfer to the destroyers. Two such sailors were Ordinary Seamen Robert ‘Bobby’ Forbes and George ‘Puddin’ Hunter. Bobby Forbes was born in Newcastle on 16 February 1920. Following an ordinary, working-class upbringing he chose a career in the Australian Navy, enlisting on 4 July 1939, aged 19½. Bobby Forbes signed on for a period of 12 years and was allocated number ‘23330’. [7] He was five feet seven-and-a-quarter inches tall (170.8 centimetres) with fair hair, brown eyes and fresh complexion. When the war started in September 1939, Bobby Forbes was training to be a gunner at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria where he met Puddin Hunter. Both completed training on 1 November 1939 and soon after joined their first ship, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Arawa. Together, they served in the North Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans and became best mates.

Wartime Ship & Castle, Portsmouth. Source: ©The Family Murray Trust After seven months of escorting convoys to England from Freetown, Sierra Leone, both left HMS Arawa on 30 April 1941 and transferred to the Australian Navy’s London Depot. Whilst they completed training, they lived at HMS Victory, the barracks at Portsmouth, England. See Map 1. Fortunately, they arrived three days after the third and last of the Blitz raids on Portsmouth in which over 100 people lost their lives and almost 300 were injured. There was wide-spread damage all over the city and especially in the Dockyards. When Bobby Forbes arrived, Portsmouth was mostly destroyed by bombs or fires. Shopping centres, churches, cinemas and theatres, The Royal Hospital, the Guildhall and the Royal Sailors’ Rest Home were all destroyed. Little wonder he and Puddin Hunter wanted to see London. From 12 May to 22 June 1941, they were un-authorised absentees from the Australian Navy. They were again lucky, the last major attacks on London were on the nights of 10-11 and 11-12 May. Bobby Forbes experienced German bombing on a number of occasions and witnessed the devastation of the Blitz on London; one-third of the streets were impassable and all but one railway line was blocked.[8] Upon returning to the Navy, Bobby Forbes forfeited pay for 24 days as punishment and continued training. Over the next twelve months, Portsmouth was only bombed once more, on 9 July, but the city remained strongly defended. Bobby Forbes trained amongst anti-aircraft gun batteries on Hayling Island, along the crest of Portsdown Hill, and on Southsea Common. Naval ships in harbour would also open up their anti-aircraft guns. There were many barrage balloons, and

air raid precautions in Portsmouth were also advanced, as the authorities expected the city to be heavily targeted. In between training, the outgoing Australian enjoyed the local pubs including the Ship & Castle on the harbour at Portsmouth. Bobby Forbes was promoted to Able Seaman on 20 July 1941 and initially posted on 2 December 1941 to the N Sub-class destroyer HMAS Norman; commissioned 15 September 1941. She had just returned from a demanding activity which had taken her to Iceland and Russia and was now warned for transfer to the East Indies Station (later known as the Eastern Fleet) by January 1942.[9] The logistics of getting Bobby Forbes to HMAS Norman proved too challenging and on 1 January 1942, the free-spirited, reputedly gruff, and experienced Able Seaman was instead earmarked to join the Norseman as an anti-aircraft gunner. Puddin Hunter was training to serve on the Quiberon. January 1942 saw the culmination of a sequence of events that would lead to the third identity change for the chameleon. The British Admiralty had selected the name Gurkha for one of its Tribal Class destroyers to maintain the association of the British Royal Navy with both the Kingdom of Nepal and the Gurkha regiments, which dated from 1888. HMS Gurkha was commissioned on 21 October 1938. During her wartime service with the Home Fleet she sank the German submarine U-53 on the night of 23-24 February 1940. When Germany invaded Norway in April 1940, HMS Gurkha was part of a naval force of five cruisers and seven destroyers detached from the Home Fleet to attack Bergen, where a German cruiser was reported. The attack was cancelled by the British Admiralty but not before a swarm of 47 Junkers Ju-88 and 41 Heinkel He-111 bombers attacked the British ships. HMS Gurkha was struck by a single bomb from a German aircraft killing 16 of her crew. The remainder of the crew were rescued by the cruiser, HMS Aurora, and the destroyer, HMS Mashona, as HMS Gurkha sank. The Officers and men of the Gurkha regiments each subscribed one day’s pay to replace the lost Tribal Class destroyer. An L, M Class destroyer then under construction, the Larne, was re-named and commissioned as the next HMS Gurkha on 18 February 1941. After time with the Home Fleet, HMS Gurkha (II) spent the second half of 1941 in the western Mediterranean Sea and on 30 September 1941 sank the Italian submarine Adua. On 17

January 1942, HMS Gurkha (II) was torpedoed by the German submarine U133 off Sidi Barrani and sank after 90 minutes. The surviving crew members were saved by the Dutch destroyer HNLMS Isaac Sweers. There were promises from the Admiralty (the position of Third Sea Lord is often cited) to continue the association with Nepal and the Gurkhas, particularly given the great services being rendered by Nepal to the War effort. This promise was fulfilled by changing the name of Norseman in January 1942 which became the first British Royal Navy ship to bear the name Nepal. [10] The chameleon had her fourth identity. The Nepal was finally finished in April 1942, three years after the order was placed by the British Admiralty. She had cost 402,939 British Pounds to build. She was placed on loan and transferred to the Australian Navy on 1 May 1942 whilst remaining the property of the British Royal Navy. Upon completing contractor trials in early May 1942, the ship was commissioned as HMAS Nepal on 11 May. The heraldic design of the crest of HMAS Nepal brought together three threads of her history to date – the British Royal Navy, Australia and Nepal. On a field of six wavy bands, alternatively white and blue, were a Gurkha kukri, a trident adorned by a gold crescent and a gold star of seven points; the Australian Federation Star.[11] She was the last of the Australian N Sub-class destroyers to commission and was earmarked to join her sister ships in the 7th Destroyer Flotilla. HMAS Nepal’s pennant number, for the purpose of visual signalling, was G25.[12] Build would continue until 29 May including the fitting of degaussing gear.[13] HMAS Nepal displaced 1,597 tonnes at standard load and 2,135 tonnes at full load. The first Captain of HMAS Nepal was Commander Franklyn Bryce Morris, RAN, who was born on 22 May 1902 at Wycherproof, Victoria. He was appointed on 11 May 1942, just short of his 40th birthday.[14] The 226 members of the Commissioning Ship’s Company were assembled in Southampton. Many, including Bobby Forbes, were taken there by train from Portsmouth, 15 kilometres to the south-east. Bobby Forbes had been away from Australia for almost 2½ years. He had seen active service in the north Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, now he was about to serve near the Arctic Circle. This was occurring at the very time the Japanese 8th Submarine Squadron was preparing to attack Sydney Harbour and then

launch a limited campaign against merchant vessels off the south-east coast of Australia to disrupt Allied supply lines. As Bobby Forbes was experiencing the thrill of joining a new ship, a half-a-world away, his hometown of Newcastle, and his family, were about to be shelled by a Japanese submarine bringing the Battle for Australia to their doorstep.[15] The crew was a mix of experiences. Among the Officers were Acting Sub-Lieutenant Brian Murray and Surgeon-Lieutenant Henry Wettenhall.[16] [17] Acting Sub-Lieutenant Murray entered the Australian Navy as a special entry Cadet Midshipman on 18 March 1939 and within a few days was dispatched to England for training at the British Royal Navy CollegeDartmouth from May to December 1939. Murray was promoted to Midshipman in January 1940 and joined his first ship, the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra, in February and served with her until December 1940. He then served briefly on the heavy cruiser, HMAS Australia (II), from April to June 1941. During this period, HMAS Australia (II) operated in Australian and New Zealand waters during the Limited Disruption phase of the Australian Campaign. There was also a short visit to Singapore. Murray then proceeded, by troopship, to undertake further training courses in the United Kingdom during 1941-42 and was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant in September 1941.[18] In contrast, Surgeon-Lieutenant Wettenhall was a resident medical officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for a year before he enlisted in the Australian Navy in 1941. HMAS Nepal was his first ship. Bobby Forbes had experienced wintry weather in the northern Pacific and his ship had been at the centre of a diplomatic incident between the United Kingdom and Japan. In the Indian Ocean, he participated in the hunt for the German raiders Pinguin and Atlantis. In the South Atlantic Ocean, he participated in the hunt for the German raider Kormoran and escorted convoys to the United Kingdom amidst attacks from German warships, Italian submarines and German U-boats, and aircraft. He had experienced the tedium and adrenalin of the war at sea. He set about becoming familiar with the anti-aircraft guns – the Quick Fire 4-inch gun, the Multiple Pom Pom and the single 20-millimetre Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns. In contrast, two fellow sailors were ‘PA2308’ Ordinary Seaman Tom Howie, who enlisted into the Australian Navy on 9 September 1941 and Ordinary Seaman Peter Lapthorne.[19] After initial training in seamanship and

gunnery at HMAS Cerberus, both were transferred to the Australian Navy’s London Depot in late March 1942 and prepared to crew their first ship, HMAS Nepal. Ordinary Seaman Lapthorne was allocated to the rear main gun turret team; the ‘X’ turret. Ordinary Seaman Lapthorne recalled Commander Morris soon acquired the nickname ‘Piggy’ because he was short and stout.[20] In naval tradition, the Captain was also known as the ‘Old Man’ by the sailors. Part of the crew of HMAS Nepal were British Royal Navy members. They were in key positions to teach Australian Navy personnel how to handle the destroyer. This included the Gunnery Officer, the Coxswain and the Telegraphist operating the ship’s HF/DF equipment, Wireless Operator John S. D. Fisher. On 21 May HMAS Nepal gained a Mascot, a dog called ‘Major’, sourced from Southampton.

Crest of HMAS Nepal, 1942. Source: Wikipedia (Public Domain)

‘Major’ on ‘B’ gun deck. Source: Ken Oxenbould

Chapter Four – Fictional HMS Torrin

Noel Coward (left) on the compass platform of HMAS Nepal with Commander Franklyn Bryce Morris, RAN off Southampton. Source: Wikipedia (Public Domain) Acceptance trials commenced and the first timers began to find their sea legs. Throughout the various trials in the English Channel and completion of construction, the chameleon briefly assumed another identity. HMAS Nepal’s first task, and what she is most famous for in this period, was to represent the fictional British destroyer HMS Torrin in the 1942 patriotic war film In Which We Serve. With the full backing of the British Ministry of Information, which offered advice on what would make good propaganda and facilitated the release of military personnel, HMAS Nepal was used by Two Cities Films to represent the fleet destroyer in the sequences at sea. Whilst none of the filming of the actors occurred on board, all the action shots of the ship – sailing at sea, firing its guns and turning at speed – were taken on board HMAS Nepal.[21]

Able Seaman Frank Whitrod, of Plympton, South Australia, recalled … … “Noel Coward, with his staff of technicians and cameramen, came aboard from time to time and took shots for the film. The whole job occupied a month.” [22] The wife of Ken Oxenbould related the story of the hat bands … … “for the filming, the crew were issued Royal Navy hat bands … the crew refused to cover their HMAS hat bands and many a hat band was found around the neck of ‘Major’ the ship’s mascot.” [23] The screenplay by Noel Coward was inspired by his friend, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was the Captain of the destroyer HMS Kelly. The film was based on the exploits of HMS Kelly – sister ship to HMAS Nepal – in Home waters, off Norway and in the Mediterranean where she was lost in action in 1941 during the Battle of Crete. Noel Coward and David Lean directed the film, Coward composed the film’s music as well as starring in the film as the ship’s Captain. The film also starred John Mills and Richard Attenborough, the latter in his first screen role. In Which We Serve became a classic example of wartime British cinema through its patriotic imagery of national unity and social cohesion within the context of the War. Every part of the ship’s machinery and electrical equipment was tested to the fullest for defects. Upon successful completion of acceptance trials and storing, on the evening of 29 May HMAS Nepal took passage to Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands, 11 kilometres off the north-east coast of Scotland. See Map 1. Scapa Flow is a 324.5 square kilometre body of water enclosed by the Orkney Islands – Mainland to the north, Graemsay and Hoy to the west, and Burray and South Ronaldsay to the east. As in World War I, it was again selected as the main base for the British Home Fleet during World War II; this time because of its great distance from German airfields. HMAS Nepal arrived on 31 May to … … “the most heavily defended harbour in Europe.” [24]

Map 2. The defences of Scapa Flow, 1942. Source: Peter Dennis in Scapa Flow – The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914-45. Following the bold intrusion between the eastern islands by U-47 on

the night of 13-14 October 1939, which resulted in the sinking of the battleship, HMS Royal Oak, and the loss of 833 men, extensive work was undertaken to beef-up the defences and seal the gaps between Mainland, Burray and South Ronaldsay; ‘Plan R’. Stretches of large concrete blocks became known as the Churchill Barriers and by mid-1942 had almost replaced the more haphazard blockships from World War 1 in sealing these gaps. On the western tip of Mainland, the main commercial entrance and port of Stromness was protected to the west by an outer underwater induction loop and sealed from Scapa Flow, to the east of Graemsay, by an underwater minefield and boom. Electrical induction loops could detect the metal of ships and submarines and the supporting underwater minefields could be detonated on command in response. The booms supported large metal nets to snare ships and submarines. Access by warships to the Main Fleet Anchorage and facilities at the Lyness Naval Base on Hoy was via the southern entrance between the islands of Flotta and South Ronaldsay. This entrance was also protected by an outer underwater induction loop and an inner boom and underwater minefield. Each of the entrances was further protected by coastal batteries, 19 in total, with both 6-pound (57 millimetre) and 6-inch (152 millimetre) guns.[25] The anti-aircraft defences were extensive and comprised 88 3.7-inch (94 millimetre) heavy anti-aircraft guns, dozens of Bren, Lewis and Vickers light anti-aircraft guns, 100 aircraft searchlights and 80 barrage balloon launch sights.[26] By May 1942 the ‘Scapa Barrage’, a curtain of flak over the anchorage, had deterred German air activity for nearly two years, other than reconnaissance and minelaying flights. Air support was provided by the nearby RAF Bases Grimsetter and SkeaBrae and the Fleet Air Arm stations at Hatston and Twatt (all on Mainland).[27] See Map 2.

August 2019. The view south-west from St Mary’s on Mainland towards the southern entrance to Scapa Flow and the Main Fleet Anchorage to its right. Source: ©The Family Murray Trust

One of the earliest images of HMAS Nepal (left) with HMS Offa and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes (right) in Scapa Flow, 25 June 1942. Source: Wikipedia (Public Domain) HMAS Nepal joined the Home Fleet to undertake working-up exercises in the waters between Scotland, Faroe Islands and Norway. A major focus for the Home Fleet at this time was the escort of convoys to the Soviet Union ports of Murmansk and Archangel, north of the Arctic Circle; the PQ convoys. The return convoys were identified as QP. In late May, PQ.16 and QP.12 had just concluded. The next PQ and QP convoys were planned for late June. The working-up exercises assisted the crew to learn their duties and learn how to operate the ship including gunnery practice, maneuvering with other ships, lowering the lifeboats and hook-up with different buoys.[28] Included was several days of anti-submarine exercises with the British Royal Navy submarine HMS Unrivalled (under Lieutenant H. B. Turner, RN) and other Fleet units. These exercises were carried out in heavy North Sea conditions during which several of the crew, including Bobby Forbes, suffered from mild frost bite. The details for HMAS Nepal were as follows: 5 June. Participated in anti-submarine exercises off Scapa Flow during the morning with HMS Unrivalled and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes (under Lieutenant Commander W. J. Kruys, RNethN).

6 June. Participated in anti-submarine exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Unrivalled, destroyers, HMS Ledbury and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes and the minesweeper, HMS Speedwell. 9 June. Participated in anti-submarine exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Unrivalled, the light cruiser, HMS Nigeria, HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes and two anti-submarine trawlers. 13 June. Participated in anti-submarine exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Unrivalled and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes. 16 June. Participated in anti-submarine exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Unrivalled, the destroyers, HMS Offa and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes and the minesweeper, HMS Salamander.[29] During their voyages in and out of Scapa Flow the crew of HMAS Nepal would observe the rapid progress towards completion of the Churchill Barriers. They were built by the construction company Balfour Beatty plc with assistance from Italian prisoners-of-war held at Camp 60 on the northern shore of Lamb Holm, a small island that was joined to Mainland by Barrier No. 1.

Taken from the south side of Lamb Holm, work is progressing on Barrier No. 2 connecting with Glims Holm. Source: Scapa Flow – The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914-45

August 2019. The author in front of a Churchill Barrier No. 1 between Mainland and Lamb Holm. Note the LeMaire Fabt marine binoculars. Source: ©The Family Murray Trust The routine with HMS Unrivalled was broken twice. On 6 June, the British King, George VI, arrived at Scapa Flow aboard the destroyer, HMS Somali, where upon he transferred to the battleship, HMS Duke of York. On the morning of 8 June, accompanied by the Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir John C. Tovey, RN, the King visited the Naval Base and the Destroyer Command; a number of sailors from HMAS Nepal took part in a parade to greet the King who departed Scapa Flow that evening. On 14 June, with the destroyers, HM Ships Ashanti and Wilton, HMAS Nepal completed her first operational activity. Armed with 45 depth charges, she participated in an overnight anti-submarine patrol from Scapa Flow to the Faroe Islands. By now the ‘watches’ had become routine for the crew. Ordinary Seaman Lapthorne recalled … … “There was the morning watch, which was from eight till twelve, and the afternoon watch, which was from twelve to four o’clock. And then what they called the dogwatch, which was from four o’clock till eight. And then there was the evening watch from eight o’clock until midnight, and then there was the middle watch from midnight until four, and the early morning

watch from four until eight. During the daylight hours of course, you were busy with things around the ship, doing either painting and scraping or keeping things in order … But there was always somebody on watch … what they called the cruising watch, and there was only one gun manned, that was generally ‘B’ turret … The rest of them weren’t manned ... until such time as action stations went and then of course all guns were manned.” [30] The three destroyers returned to Scapa Flow without incident on the evening of 15 June. In the second half of June, HMAS Nepal prepared to participate in the next sequence of Arctic convoys as news of the loss of sister ship, HMAS Nestor, was received. On 15 June, HMAS Nestor, under Commander A. S. Rosenthal, RAN, was part of the covering force for a large convoy in the Mediterranean Sea. The convoy was about 160 kilometres north of Tobruk and heading for Alexandria, Egypt, when it came under air attack from Italian aircraft; HMAS Nestor was straddled by two heavy bombs amidships. One bomb fell about 15 metres off HMAS Nestor’s starboard side and the other about a metre off her port side. The risk the British Admiralty had taken with the two adjoining boiler room design of the J, K, N Class destroyers was precisely exposed. HMAS Nestor was holed, No. 1 Boiler Room was flooded with the loss of all inside – Stoker Petty Officer J. B. Bulmer, RAN; Leading Stoker C. B. Hill, RAN; Leading Stoker M. Burns, RN; and Stoker L. J. Blight, RAN. The other boiler room also flooded, causing a total loss of boiler power; HMAS Nestor was crippled. The ship’s medical officer, Surgeon-Lieutenant S. A. C. Watson, RANR, displayed outstanding bravery in immediately entering No. 1 Boiler Room to rescue the crew who he knew must be either killed or seriously injured. Surgeon-Lieutenant Watson recovered the bodies of all four men and was subsequently recognised with the award of a Distinguished Service Cross. Still subject to air attack, sister ship HMS Javelin took the stricken HMAS Nestor under tow. The tow parted twice and with only 130 kilometres covered over the ensuing ten hours, German submarines sighted on the morning of 16 June, and more air attacks imminent, the daunting task of getting the crippled destroyer back to Alexandria, a further 402 kilometres away, became impossible. The decision was made to remove the ships

company to HMS Javelin and scuttle HMAS Nestor; she was sunk with a series of shallow set depth charges dropped nearby. Sadly, the five Australian N Sub-class destroyers were destined never to serve together. HMAS Nestor was the only N Sub-class destroyer to become a war loss and despite the very busy War of the Australian-crewed ships, only the four crew members killed aboard HMAS Nestor in this action were lost to the enemy in the course of the War. With the knowledge of the loss of HMAS Nestor on convoy escort duties, HMAS Nepal prepared to participate in her first major operation, escorting a convoy.

Scuttling depth charges explode beneath HMAS Nestor, 16 June 1942. Source: HMAS Cerberus Museum Collection

Chapter Five – Convoy PQ.17

Map 3. Arctic convoy routes. Source: Gordon Smith, www.naval-history.net With the entry of the Soviet Union to the War in June 1941, the British and American Governments agreed from October 1941 to send unconditional aid to their Soviet ally.[31] The most direct way to carry these supplies was past northern Norway and through Arctic waters to the ports of Murmansk and Archangel. See Map 3. The agreement stated that the Soviet government was responsible for receiving the supplies in Soviet Union merchant vessels at British or American ports. However, since there were not enough Soviet Union vessels for the quantities of munitions being sent, British and United States vessels constituted an increasing proportion of the convoy traffic. Although the defence of these Arctic convoys was the responsibility

of the British Royal Navy, the United States assigned Task Force 39 – built around the carrier, USS Wasp, and the battleship, USS Washington – to support the British. By the spring of 1942, thirteen convoys had made the passage with the loss of only one out of 103 vessels. The Germans began to focus their attention upon the convoys with the intent of stopping the flow of supplies to the Soviet Union. They concentrated the battleships, KMS Tirpitz, Admiral Scheer and Lützow, and the heavy cruiser, KMS Admiral Hipper, in Norwegian ports and reinforced air and submarine bases along the length of Norway, which meant the convoys were now threatened by German surface ships, aircraft and U-boats. They assembled a force of more than 260 aircraft and about 30 U-boats. From convoy PQ.13 onwards, the Germans began to achieve some coordination in their attacks; convoy PQ.16 lost seven vessels.

HMAS Nepal at speed showing the weakness of the straight stem bow. Source: Australian War Memorial AWM POO490.032 (Public Domain) The next Arctic convoys, and the first major operation for HMAS Nepal, were convoys PQ.17 and QP.13. With the pack ice retreating, the convoys were able to pass north of Bear Island and farther away from the hostile coast of Norway. See Map 3. But summer also brought its own perils. It was the time of the midnight sun, when the days were nearly endless, and darkness never really came. Under these conditions, concealment from a vigilant enemy was all but impossible. German long-range bombers and surface ships had little trouble locating and attacking the convoys. The greater travel distance of the northern route also added several days to the voyage. On 26 June, 35 merchant vessels returning from Archangel and Murmansk assembled as convoy QP.13, escorted by five destroyers and three corvettes. It was sighted by German aircraft but not attacked as the German tactic was to concentrate on the laden eastbound PQ convoys. Spared by the Germans, QP.13 unfortunately sailed into a friendly minefield in the Denmark Strait and lost four vessels. After assembling near Reykjavik, Iceland, the 35 vessels of PQ.17 sailed for the Port of Archangel. PQ.17 was the largest and most valuable convoy in the history of the Arctic convoys. Crammed into bulging holds were nearly 300 aircraft, 600 tanks, more than 4,000 trucks and trailers, and a general cargo that exceeded 136,000 tonnes. It was more than enough to completely equip an army of 50,000. Although some argued that PQ.17’s run should be postponed until the shorter days of winter, it was considered

politically prudent to continue supplying the Soviet Union without interruption, and the convoy left as scheduled on 27 June. The full effort of the Home Fleet and Task Force 39 was provided in support of this impressive convoy. The close escort, Force Q, progressively joined the convoy and by 30 June comprised six destroyers and 15 other ships and submarines. The destroyers were HM Ships Fury, Keppel, Leamington, Ledbury, Offa and Wilton. In addition, a Cruiser Covering Force consisting of HM Ships London and Norfolk, US Ships Tuscaloosa and Wichita, and three United States destroyers sailed 65 kilometres to the north of the convoy. The convoy was the first joint Anglo-American naval operation under British command in the War. For additional protection, the Home Fleet set sail from its base at Scapa Flow on 29 June and trailed convoy PQ.17 by 320 kilometres to provide distant cover. The Fleet included the battleships, HMS Duke of York and USS Washington, the carrier, HMS Victorious, two cruisers and numerous destroyers. HMAS Nepal participated in a decoy convoy organised to divert enemy forces from PQ.17, known as Operation ES. There is evidence that Commander Morris volunteered for the sortie in order to give his crew some operational experience.[32] The convoy assembled at Scapa Flow for a week in a conspicuous position in the hope that they would be seen by enemy reconnaissance aircraft. Four collier merchant vessels were to be escorted by Force X towards the Norwegian coast to infer a major landing. Force X consisted of the light cruisers, HM Ships Sirius and Curacoa, the destroyers, HM Ships Brighton, Catterick, Oakley, St Marys, HMAS Nepal, HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes and numerous minelayers; it was a sizable force.[33] German reconnaissance of Scapa Flow during the period of assembly failed to notice the convoy. The decoy convoy, under the command of the Rear Admiral T. B. Drew, OBE, sailed from Scapa Flow at 4.00 am on 29 June 1942 and to the west of the Shetland Islands. It then steered north east towards the Norwegian coast as far north as latitude 61°30ʹ. The Home Fleet steered an easterly course in the latitude of the Faroes, so shaped to give the impression that it was covering Force X. Again, Force X was not sighted by the Germans on its passage mainly due to the poor visibility out at sea. The Home Fleet moved north towards convoy PQ.17. After turning back on 30 June and sailing for some time, the decoy convoy operation was repeated. On 1 July,

Force X reached 001° East for the second time, again without success and so the operation was abandoned. It is unlikely that the Germans, long forewarned of the imminent PQ convoy operation, would have been much mislead in any case. HMAS Nepal had voyaged into the bleak northern waters around the Arctic Circle and completed her first major operation without loss to the crew.[34] Ordinary Seaman Lapthorne recalled … … “the German battleships never came out to take the bait. But we were told before we sailed that if we did happen to meet them, we would probably never come back. That wasn’t very nice. Anyway, luckily nothing happened to us … And that was the first time that most of us had seen the northern lights. It was very intriguing to be sailing in daylight at midnight.” [35]

Of all his service, this brief journey impacted Bobby Forbes significantly ... … “Dad also spoke of escorting convoys to the southern approaches of Norway.” [36] Sailing twice towards the coast, through the fog in the endless daylight and nervously waiting at action stations for the enemy to appear all had a psychological effect that would not be easily erased from personal memory. For Bobby Forbes it was second time lucky in avoiding KMS Admiral Hipper. On 12 February 1941, KMS Admiral Hipper came upon the slow moving, unescorted convoy SLS.064 in the Atlantic sinking seven merchant vessels and damaging two more. Bobby Forbes was aboard HMS Arawa, a little to the north as escort for the faster convoy SL.064.[37] On the return passage, HMAS Nepal and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes detached from Force X, and the Home Fleet, and headed for the west coast of Scotland, escorting the minelayers to their base at the Kyle of Lochalsh. The remainder of Force X arrived back in Scapa Flow on 2 July. As HMAS Nepal headed south, what British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was to refer to as … … “one of the most melancholy naval episodes in the whole of the war” enveloped convoy PQ.17. On 1 July, some damage was done to the convoy by ice and one merchant vessel was forced to return to Reykjavik. The convoy was first sighted by enemy aircraft on 2 July and from then on was continually shadowed while U-boats were being homed on to the convoy. The convoy’s progress was being observed by the British Admiralty.

First Sea Lord, Admiral Dudley Pound, was also closely monitoring reports on the movements of German surface ships, especially the battleship, KMS Tirpitz. The first attack on the convoy occurred on the afternoon of 3 July when six German torpedo bombers made a completely ineffective attack. Early the next day, a surprise attack in low visibility by a lone torpedo aircraft resulted in the loss of one merchant vessel and later that day two more merchant vessels were abandoned and sunk after air attacks by 24 torpedo bombers. A third ship was torpedoed at this time, but after being abandoned, the crew were sent back, and the ship re-joined the convoy. Four German aircraft were shot down during this attack. The Admiralty received news that KMS Tirpitz was moving to intercept the convoy. Admiral Pound made a fateful decision. On 4 July, the close escort and the Cruiser Covering Force withdrew to intercept the presumed German raiders and the merchant vessels were ordered to scatter to the north east. Detecting this, the Germans cancelled the raid by KMS Tirpitz and repeatedly set upon the individual merchant vessels, left without their escorting destroyers, with air attacks and U-boats for the next week. Of the 31 remaining merchant vessels, only 11 reached their destination; ten reached the White Sea and one ran aground in Nova Zembla but was later re-floated. Approximately 200 merchant seamen were killed and 210 aircraft, 430 tanks and 3,350 trucks and trailers were lost. The consequences were dramatic: The Soviet Union did not believe so many ships could be lost in one convoy and openly accused the Western Allies of lying. PQ.17 worsened relations with the Soviet Union over the short term. Admiral Ernest King, Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations, already known to distrust the British, was furious with what he perceived as Admiral Pound’s bungling and promptly withdrew Task Force 39, sending it to the Pacific. He hesitated to conduct further joint operations under British command. The British Admiralty temporarily suspended the Arctic convoys until perpetual daylight passed, handing a strategic victory to the Germans. It was not until September that another convoy set out for northern

Russia. An inquiry assigned no blame to anyone, since orders were issued by the First Sea Lord, and blaming the First Sea Lord himself was considered politically unacceptable. When PQ.18 was dispatched, the revised scheme of defence included a very strong and constant close escort of sixteen destroyers and the first of the new escort carriers, HMS Avenger, equipped with twelve fighters. From Kyle of Lochalsh HMAS Nepal and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes proceeded through the Irish Sea. The latter went into Liverpool and HMAS Nepal to Southampton, berthing at her builder’s yard on 4 July. She underwent work to rectify defects and was warned for transfer to the British Eastern Fleet. She was under maintenance in the shipyard until mid-July 1942. The chameleon changed in form again. As with other survivors of the J, K, N Class, the Quick Fire 4-inch gun, found to be of dubious value in the anti-aircraft role, was removed and the second bank of five torpedo launcher tubes was re-fitted. The two single 20-millimetre Oerlikon guns abreast the searchlight platform amidships were replaced with twin mountings, those on the quarterdeck remained single mountings. Bobby Forbes had a new weapon system to master. The Type 286 radar was removed and unique to HMAS Nepal among the N Sub-class, an American SG1 radar was fitted at the head of a new lattice foremast.

Chapter Six – Convoy WS.21P

Map 4. The Atlantic, 1942. Source: Gordon Smith, www.naval-history.net For passage through the Atlantic Ocean en route to the Eastern Fleet, HMAS Nepal was nominated as part of the escort group for a military convoy of five large troopships; known as convoy WS.21P. The troopships were RMS Duchess of Athol, SS Duchess of York, RMS Empress of Japan, SS Oronsay and RMS Windsor Castle. The WS convoys were routed via the Cape of Good Hope originally to Egypt but from late 1941, also to India. The ports of call from Clyde or Liverpool were Freetown (to the north of Liberia) then Cape Town or Durban

in South Africa. The convoys were split between Cape Town and Durban as neither port had the capacity to support an entire convoy. The convoys re‑assembled off Durban for the onward passage to the latitude of Mombasa, Kenya where the convoy diverted to either Aden, in Yemen, or to India. See Maps 4 and 5. Legend has it that the initials WS, which bear no relation to origin or destination as convoy codes usually did, were derived from ‘Winston’s Special’ as the first convoy was organised on the explicit orders of the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. The WS convoys were specifically for movement of formations of troops. Each troopship normally carried between 2,000 and 4,000 troops apiece with their personal baggage and equipment, stores, artillery, armour and vehicles. Air Force personnel, in large numbers, were also lifted both to Egypt and to India. This convoy escort was a special responsibility conferred upon HMAS Nepal and the other ships. WS.21P was arranged to provide reinforcements to the Eighth Army in North Africa. The normal order was given … ‘special sea-duty men close up for leaving harbour’. All over the ship, teams of men cast off lines that secured her to the dock. On 17 July, HMAS Nepal departed from Clyde in company with the light cruiser, HMS Orion, destroyer HMS Georgetown and three of the troopships. HMS Orion was on her way back to the Mediterranean Sea after a major refit. The three bombs that had badly damaged her during the Battle of Crete penetrated her decks killing several hundred soldiers sheltering below. Next day, they joined up with the destroyers, HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes and HMS Buxton, and the remaining two troopships which had sailed from Liverpool. Both HMAS Nepal and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes were taking passage to join the 7th Destroyer Flotilla. The convoy sailed at 28 kilometres/hour and for many of the crew of HMAS Nepal it was a brief return to the Battle of the Atlantic. The Battle was now in the phase that commenced on 19 July 1942 when the U-boats were ordered to leave the United States Atlantic coast and shift back to the North Atlantic to attack convoys from Canada to the United Kingdom, particularly in the ‘air gap’ between Greenland and Iceland. There were enough U-boats spread across the Atlantic to allow several wolfpacks to attack many different convoy routes. Often as many as 10 to 15 boats would attack in one or two waves.

Freetown was safely reached on 27 July, where the shorter legged Atlantic liners and the coal burners required fuel and the whole convoy water, both boiler feed and potable. See Map 4. Arrival in Freetown was a particularly sharp reminder for Bobby Forbes who had spent seven months at the port with HMS Arawa as part of the Freetown Convoy Escort Force of the British South Atlantic Station. On 2 August, convoy WS.21P and escorts departed Freetown. Next day, HMAS Nepal experienced her first action of the War, in defence of the convoy; she was in the Gulf of Guinea, south of Liberia. Radio Operator Leonard J. Cox recalled … … “I walked out on to the upper deck of the fleet destroyer on the beautiful afternoon on 3 August … Troop convoys with big ships are fast convoys and this one was no exception. In the distance on the port side, HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes’ huge bow wave was plainly visible. A gentle breeze blew across an almost calm sea with the nearest of two great liners … presenting a magnificent view. Conditions were excellent for the ‘off duty’ watch to sunbathe, so I walked down aft and climbed the steel ladder that led to ‘X’ turret where the gun’s crew were closed up in second degree readiness. Seeing several dolphins playing in the ship’s wake was the last thing I remembered before I dozed off into a restful sleep. Sometime later, in the dim distance, I heard one of the gunners make a remark about a string of flags flying from the foremast. In a suspended animated state, my brain told me, ‘that’s the 12-minute alter course signal for the zig-zag manoeuvre’! Then came another remark, ‘there is a large black flag being hauled aloft now’! ‘What’s a large black flag?’, I am saying to myself. As a radio operator, flags were not my scene, but I did tangle with them during my basic training. It comes to mind ‘Am in contact with an underwater object’! – a submarine! Leaping to my feet, I sprinted forward and headed for the Wireless Office just as the alarm bells rang and the starboard look-out yelled ‘torpedoes on the starboard bow!’ The tracks crossed our bows heading for the RMS Windsor Castle. But the great ship was already altering course to port so the torpedoes sped by her to harmlessly comb the convoy. Picking the wrong moment to attack, the submarine Commander must have cursed his bad luck. Guided by an ASDIC bearing and a track to follow, HMAS Nepal

sped along it at high speed to drop a pattern of depth charges.[38] The ship turned and stopped. It was a cat and mouse game! Another contact, so the destroyer moved forward towards the submarine until the transmitted ASDIC ping and the echo were almost as one. Out went the port and starboard depth charge throwers and three 300-pound [136 kilogram] charges dropped from the stern. Fifteen hundred pounds of high explosives erupted below, tossing columns of water high into the air.

Explosion of depth charge from attack carried by HMAS Nepal in the Gulf of Guinea. Source: Ken Oxenbould Again, we turned and stopped! Minutes went by then the destroyer moved forward once more firing another pattern of charges. This time huge air bubbles came to the surface followed by an oil patch that spread over a large area of the sea. There was a sudden quietness as we all gazed at the scene, knowing full well some 90 men were either dead or in real trouble deep below us. After a while, the ASDIC reported the now faint echo had faded away. It was then Commander Morris gave the order to re-join the troop convoy which at high speed had already disappeared over the horizon.” [39]

Australia’s Official Historian, G. Hermon Gill, recorded the incident succinctly as … … “at 2.00 pm … she started a series of depth charge attacks on a submarine. The hunt continued for an hour and a half, but without decisive result.” [40] A small window of time for the traditional ceremonies of King Neptune’s Court was enthusiastically availed by the crew as they crossed the Equator, then on 5 August, convoy WS.21P was joined by convoy AS.4 from the United States. This built upon the special responsibility HMAS Nepal and

the other escorts had to reinforce the Eighth Army. With the news of the fall of Tobruk, at a meeting with British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and United States President, Theodore Roosevelt, in Washington on 22 June, General George Marshall offered to withdraw 300 Sherman tanks from the troops in training and ship them direct to Egypt. He also offered to send 100 of the new M7 Priest self-propelled 105-millimetre howitzers. A special convoy to carry the tanks and howitzers, convoy AS.4, was hurriedly arranged with a United States Navy escort. Between 13-15 July the convoy departed from New York and Norfolk. Six vessels (SS Empire Oriole, Exhibitor, Fairport, Hawaiian Shipper, Tarn and Zaandam) were loaded with 302 tanks and 100 howitzers. Three other vessels destined for Aden (SS Mormacdale, American Manufacturer and Santa Cruz) and the escorts completed the convoy. Significantly, the decision was made to ship the tank engines as cargo separate from the tanks, in order to better protect them from the elements. All were loaded on the SS Fairport which also carried 51 of the tanks and 32 of the howitzers. On 16 July, the SS Fairport was sunk by the German U-161. At the rendezvous on 5 August, south of the Gulf of Guinea, the United States Navy escorts departed. See Map 4. The addition of eight merchant vessels and the consequent reduction in convoy speed to 20.4 kilometres/hour added danger to the convoy but a safe arrival at Cape Town was achieved on 13 August, at which point the importance of this convoy became more evident. The first Battle of El Alamein had ended in a stalemate on 27 July and come at considerable cost in manpower (the Eighth Army had suffered over 13,000 casualties in July) and tanks, but it had halted the Axis advance on Alexandria. On 13 August, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery was appointed to command Eighth Army and was intent on building overwhelming strength before launching the next offensive. The men, tanks and howitzers in convoy WS.21P were crucial to that plan. After setting off from Cape Town, the convoy followed the normal pattern, sailing northward to Aden where the convoy vessels dispersed and proceeded to Suez, Egypt, independently. HMAS Nepal and HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes detached from convoy WS.21P en route to Aden and took passage to Mombasa, in the British colony of Kenya. The port of which, known as Kilindini, had by far the finest harbour anywhere on the east coast of Africa

from the Red Sea to Delagoa Bay. At Kilindini was a British Naval Base well protected by anti-aircraft defences and an anti-submarine loop. They joined HMA Ships Napier, Norman and Nizam in the 7th Destroyer Flotilla on 25 August as units of the British Eastern Fleet. HMAS Nepal completed her first major convoy escort, through the entire length of the Atlantic Ocean, without loss to the crew. To date, HMAS Nepal had served exclusively with British Royal Navy ships, except for her erstwhile Dutch companion HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes. Now, in company with her sister Australian-crewed ships, the chameleon had the chance to develop her identity as an Australian N-Sub class destroyer. The three vessels from convoy AS.4 destined for Aden safely made port. The five remaining vessels from convoy AS.4, with their precious cargo of tanks and howitzers, along with the five troopships, safely reached Suez and Port Said between 2-5 September. After the loss of the SS Fairport, the fast ship SS Seatrain Texas (capable of 30.5 kilometres/hour) was loaded with 52 Sherman tanks, 25 M7 Priest howitzers and 300 more tank engines and set off on 20 July independently and without escort to replace the losses. She caught up with the convoy at Port Said, the northern point of the Suez Canal. After the arrival of the September shipment, work began immediately to modify the tanks for desert conditions and to train the troops with their new weapon.[41] Work was still in progress when the decisive second Battle of El Alamein opened on the night of 23 October 1942. However, reports of that evening showed that 252 Shermans were fit for action in the forward units of the Eighth Army, the first time Sherman tanks were used in battle and the first time the Eighth Army fielded a tank superior to those of the Germans.

Bobby Forbes (batting) on board HMAS Nepal in Kilindini, 1942. The white bands on the funnel denote the 7th Destroyer Flotilla. Source: The Forbes Family

Chapter Seven – Battle honours The awarding of battle honours by the Australian Navy to its own ships was a confusing mess and stifled by subservience to the British Royal Navy for over 100 years. It was not sensibly resolved until 2007 when a significant review of Australian Navy campaign awards and battle honours was undertaken by the RAN History Section. The review focused on examining campaigns and actions in which Australian naval forces had been involved to ensure that all eligible units received appropriate recognition. Battle honours would be awarded for participation in … … “Fleet or Squadron Actions. Fleet or squadron actions consist of: the sinking of enemy merchant ships in an escorted convoy; engagements with light enemy forces when both sides incur losses or heavy damage; and operations which resulted in frustrating the enemy’s intention at the time, although no warship may have been sunk. Single Ship Actions. Single engagements of particular significance between two ships which deserve to be highlighted. Major Bombardments. Campaign/battle honours for major bombardments (naval gunfire support or air attacks) are granted only when there was appreciable opposition by the enemy. Other bombardments, where the enemy reply was negligible, are to be included among the various minor affairs for which a separate battle honour will not be awarded and which are merged, when appropriate, with a campaign or area award. Joint Operations. The capture of a fortified area or a large island, in conjunction with other military units, may be recognised with the award of the battle honour. When the Navy has little to do beyond safe conveyance of troops to the point of attack, a naval battle honour will not be awarded, notwithstanding that a participating military unit may wear the honour on its colour. Campaign Awards. Campaign/battle honours may be awarded for certain campaigns as a whole rather than for individual actions during

those campaigns. Area Awards. Awarded for service in a specified area of operations.” [42]

Further, each five years there would be further review of the awarding of battle honours. For service up to early 1943, HMAS Nepal was subsequently awarded the battle honour ‘INDIAN OCEAN 1941-45’. The award criteria being … … “All of the Indian Ocean north of 23°S with the exception of that part east of 95E and south of 7°N. Ships which sank enemy submarines or were employed as escorts to convoys in the area during the period 8 December 1941 to 15 August 1945.” [43] There is a legitimate question as to why HMAS Nepal was not also awarded the battle honour ‘ATLANTIC 1939-43’, the award criteria being … … “The North Atlantic, from the Equator to the Arctic Circle. All ships and submarines which were employed as escorts to ocean convoys in the North Atlantic and also those ships of support groups which took part in a successful action. HMAS Nepal was in the North Atlantic for about two months. Operation ES, from late June to early July 1942, saw HMAS Nepal employed as an escort to a diversion convoy as part of the larger battle around the Arctic Convoy, PQ.17. HMAS Nepal did not go as far north as the Artic Ocean. Then, in the second half of July 1942, HMAS Nepal was employed as escort to an ocean convoy, WS.21P, and saw a successful action employing depth charges to deter a submarine attack up the convoy. WS.21P was a significant convoy, carrying reinforcements and a large quantity of the first Sherman tanks to the Eighth Army in time to play a crucial role in the Second Battle of El Alamein. Battle honours are traditionally displayed on a ship’s battle honours board which normally comprise the official badge of the unit around which are placed ribbons, or scrolls, with the name of the authorised award emblazoned on it. These are made of teak. When a ship is alongside in harbour it is customary for battle honour boards to be prominently displayed

adjacent to a ship’s gangway.

Chapter Eight – Madagascar Campaign

Map 5. Indian Ocean. Source: Gordon Smith, www.naval-history.net HMAS Nepal was to spend the remainder of 1942 in the waters off the southern coast of Africa where German and Japanese submarines were operating in small numbers. In addition to Fleet exercises, the tasks of the 7th Destroyer Flotilla included escorting convoys and large warships between Simonstown, South Africa, and Aden, and anti-submarine patrols in the Cape area and the Mozambique Channel. However, the first threat HMAS Nepal was to deal with was an unimagined foe – the remaining Vichy French on Madagascar. See Map 5. Following the Japanese conquest of south-east Asia, by the end of February 1942, submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy were moving freely throughout the north and eastern expanses of the Indian Ocean. Japanese cruiser submarines had a range of approximately 26,000 kilometres or 90 days at sea. They were equipped with Type 93 torpedoes. Known as the ‘Long Lance’, they were the best torpedoes in the world with such range and

speed that their targets literally would not know what had hit them. If these submarines could utilise bases on Madagascar, whose Government was sympathetic to the Vichy French, Allied lines of communication would be affected across a region stretching from the Pacific and Australia, to the Middle East (especially the supply route to the British Eighth Army) and as far as the South Atlantic. The Japanese came a step closer to achieving this in March 1942, when their carrier task force – comprising six aircraft carriers, four battleships, three cruisers and twelve destroyers – conducted a raid upon shipping in the Bay of Bengal and bases in Colombo and Trincomalee, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). See Map 5. Newly appointed Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet, Vice-Admiral Sir James Somerville, chose to move his Fleet to Bombay, India, and Kilindini; his flagship was the battleship, HMS Warspite. In April, the Japanese committed five cruiser submarines and two auxiliary cruisers to operations in the western Indian Ocean between Aden and the Cape. The possibility of Japanese naval forces using forward bases in Madagascar, particularly Diego Suarez in the north, had to be addressed; planning for an amphibious assault on northern Madagascar, Operation IRONCLAD, began in earnest. Throughout April, Force 121 assembled under command of MajorGeneral Robert Sturges of the British Royal Marines. The British landing force comprised 29th Infantry Brigade (under command of Brigadier Frank Festing), No. 5 (Army) Commando and two brigades of the 5th Infantry Division, the latter en route to India. The Allied naval contingent consisted of over 50 ships to cover the landings including the aircraft carriers, HM Ships Illustrious and Indomitable, the aging battleship, HMS Ramillies, the cruisers, HM Ships Hermione and Devonshire, and eleven destroyers, including the HMA Ships Norman and Nizam. The first wave, 29th Infantry Brigade (comprising 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers; 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment; 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers; and 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment) and No. 5 (Army) Commando, landed in assault craft on 5 May 1942, just west of the major port of Diego Suarez. The two brigades from 5th Division with some British Royal Marines were the follow-up waves. The Vichy French defence – 1,500 to 3,000 Vichy French troops were

concentrated around Diego Suarez under command of Governor General Armand Léon Annet – was highly effective in the beginning and the main Allied force was brought to a halt by the morning of 6 May. The deadlock was broken when the old destroyer, HMS Anthony, dashed straight past the harbour defences of Diego Suarez and landed 50 British Royal Marines amidst the Vichy French rear area. The Marines created disturbance in the town out of all proportion to their numbers and the Vichy French defence was soon broken. Diego Suarez was surrendered on 7 May, but substantial Vichy French forces withdrew to the south. The British halted their offensive and phase one of the Madagascar Campaign ended. Hostilities continued at a low level for several months, the British relieved the assaulting forces but did not have the combat power to take the remainder of the island. When HMAS Nepal joined the Eastern Fleet the situation on Madagascar was a standoff. In the first week of September, HMAS Nepal was nominated to support the second phase of the Allied capture of Madagascar. She took part in preliminary exercises with ships of the Eastern Fleet, Exercise TOUCHSTONE. On 9 September, the four Australian-crewed N Sub-class destroyers and HNLM Ships Tjerk Hiddes and Van Galen left Kilindini. Ninety-six kilometres south of Mayotta Island they rendezvoused with the carrier, HMS Illustrious, cruisers, HMS Birmingham and HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck, and a troopship convoy carrying the military assault force. The destroyers established a screen as the force headed for Majunga, on the north-west coast, for the landings next day, Operation STREAM. Off Majunga, Force M assembled, the assault force and escorts were joined by the battleship, HMS Warspite, seaplane carrier, HMS Albatross, cruisers, HM Ships Gambia, Dauntless and Manxman, and seven additional British Royal Navy destroyers.[44] As the amphibious landings were successfully undertaken, HMAS Nepal and the destroyer, HMS Fortune, provided the screen for HMS Warspite. The landings, again by 29th Infantry Brigade, were not significantly opposed; HMAS Nepal did not fire a shot and nor was naval gunfire support required from any of the Force M ships. Soon after, Force M moved to Tamatave, Madagascar’s chief port on the east coast. The planned bombardment was cancelled in favour of an air demonstration and ship movements within sight of the shore. On 19

September, amphibious landings captured the port in a bloodless battle, Operation JANE. HMAS Nepal and HMS Fortune again provided the screen for HMS Warspite and again did not fire a shot. The only shots fired by an Australian-crewed ship came from HMAS Norman. Next day, HMAS Nepal was released early from Operation JANE and returned to Kilindini. She resumed anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort duties. HMAS Nepal had supported her first major land campaign, again without loss to the crew. At this point the N Sub-class destroyers were split up, HNLM Ships Tjerk Hiddes and Van Galen sailed for Fremantle with the cruiser HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck, arriving 25 October. The Madagascar Campaign ended on 5 November with the Allied occupation of the entire island and the surrender of the Vichy French forces.

Part Two – To Tokyo

Chapter Nine – Transition to the war against Japan

HMAS Nepal in the Indian Ocean, 1943. Source: Royal Australian Navy On 10 October 1942, German U-172 achieved the third largest sinking by a U-boat of the War. The 21,280-tonne troop and passenger vessel, SS Orcades (II), was sunk off Cape Town en route to the United Kingdom.[45] Forty-five on board were lost. HMAS Nizam was one of three vessels that picked-up more than 1,000 survivors. For the remainder of 1942 and early 1943, HMAS Nepal and her sister ships were engaged in combating a serious enemy submarine threat to Allied shipping around the Cape of Good Hope designed by the enemy to interrupt the supply and build-up of men and materials for Montgomery’s Western Desert Offensive. In addition to German U-boats a handful of Japanese submarines had also been operating in the western Indian Ocean since April 1942 out of Penang, in Malaya.[46] This was a period of transition for HMAS Nepal; a transition to the war against Japan.

Durban and Cape Town were the main bases from which operations were conducted resulting in HMAS Nepal seeing service in both the Indian and Atlantic oceans.[47] The convoys and patrols were only interrupted in October by a maintenance docking at HM Dockyard, Simonstown and by once again screening HMS Warspite as she transited from Kilindini to Durban between 11-18 October with the Commander-in-Chief Eastern Fleet aboard. The large United States cargo vessel, SS Pierce Butler, was sailing unescorted east of Durban en route from Baltimore to Suez, with 8,880 tonnes of general cargo and coal. At 11.40 am on 20 November, she was hit on the starboard side by two torpedoes from the German submarine U-177. The armed guards fired eight rounds from the forward 3-inch (76.2 millimetre) gun and seven from the 5-inch (127 millimetre) stern gun in order to keep the U-boat submerged. After ten minutes, the engines were secured and the eight Officers (including Master George Patullo Moodie), 33 crewmen and 21 armed guards abandoned ship in four lifeboats. At 12.10 pm, the vessel sank by the stern. The Germans questioned some of the crew then left. The distress signal had been picked up by the Eastern Fleet and HMAS Nepal and HMS Fortune were dispatched to the scene. After travelling all afternoon and through the night to reach the reported position, they commenced a box search looking for tell-tale flotsam and lifeboats. After 20 hours in the lifeboats, all 62 crew were picked up and HMS Fortune (Lieutenant Commander R. D. Pankhurst, RN) landed them at Durban. November 1942 was one of the worst months of the War for losses of merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean, 23 vessels were lost to Japanese submarines and German U-boats.[48] On 1 December, HMAS Nepal joined as escort to convoy WS.24. This was one of the more unusual WS convoys, in that it departed greatly from the normal route. At the end of October 1942, the first great amphibious invasion convoys were at sea heading for North Africa from both the United Kingdom and United States, Operation TORCH. It was highly undesirable to have an additional troop convoy crossing their routes. Hence WS.24, which sailed on 31 October, was routed far to the west in the Atlantic and was obliged to use the port of Bahia, in Brazil as a fuelling stop rather than

Freetown. Brazil had declared war on Germany and Italy on 22 August 1942. Convoy WS.24 was also interesting for Bobby Forbes as one of the six vessels in the convoy when HMAS Nepal joined the escort force was his former ship, now HM Troopship Arawa. HMAS Nepal joined the escort group comprising the armed merchant cruisers, HM Ships Queen of Bermuda and Alcantara, destroyers, HMS Rotherham and HMAS Norman, and the corvettes, HMS Rockrose and Thyme, to safely guide the troops, bound for India, into the port of Durban on 4 December. Convoy WS.24 combined with convoy CM.36 upon departing Durban on 13 December. HMAS Nepal left the escort group, and HMT Arawa, on 20 December and returned to Kilindini with HMS Rotherham. In December, the first of the Commissioning Ship’s Company began to post off HMAS Nepal. Bobby left the ship at Durban on 8 December 1942 and headed to Australia via the Indian and Southern Oceans. He had brought to the ship his experience from serving on the armed merchant cruiser HMS Arawa. His Newcastle background and outgoing character would also have contributed to the development of the Australian identity aboard HMAS Nepal. After three years away from home, Bobby Forbes returned to the shore establishment HMAS Penguin, in Sydney, Australia. At the same time, his brother, Arthur ‘Dukesy’ Forbes, having recently joined the Australian Navy, was also at HMAS Penguin.[49] Bobby Forbes travelled home to Newcastle on extended leave where he met Claire Mary Owen.[50] His next ship would be the heavy cruiser, HMAS Australia (II), the premier warship of the Australian Navy.[51] For a brief period, Commander Morris performed the role of Captain of Destroyers, Eastern Fleet in addition to his ship Captain duties. This was done in order to give different ship Captains experience as Captain of Destroyers. He worked directly under Commodore S. Arliss, RN, then Commodore of Destroyers, Eastern Fleet including three days at sea (21-23 December) on local exercises with the battleships, HM Ships Warspite and Valiant, carrier, HMS Illustrious, the light cruisers, HM Ships Birmingham and Gambia, the armed merchant cruiser, HMS Ranpura and fellow destroyers, HM Ships Rotherham, Hotspur, Blackmore and Derwent.

Late in December, HMAS Nepal was detached to bolster the convoy escort force in the South Atlantic Station operating from Simonstown; HMAS Nepal brought in the New Year in the South Atlantic. The first few weeks of 1943 were uneventful for her in the escort role. Not so for SubLieutenant Murray who was promoted to Lieutenant in January. On 13 January, HMAS Nepal departed Kilindini with HMAS Norman escorting the carrier, HMS Illustrious, to Durban. HMAS Nepal departed Durban on 27 January returning to Kilindini on 31 January.

Chapter Ten – Operation PAMPHLET Between April 1942 and January 1943, the objective of the British Eastern Fleet was survival so that it could continue to defend the vital and numerous supply lines between India, the Middle East, and South Africa. This important task was humbling but necessary. It was akin to the ‘fleet-in-being’ concept that had traditionally been the last resort of lesser naval powers that might regard their fleet as too precious to risk in battle. It worked; the bulk of the British Eastern Fleet had been preserved. [52] Things would begin to change in February 1943. HMAS Nepal was allocated to Operation PAMPHLET; a major convoy to move the Australian 9th Division from the Middle East to Australia. Force A was constituted comprising the battleships, HM Ships Warspite, Resolution and Revenge, light cruiser, HMS Mauritius and destroyers, HMA Ships Nepal, Norman and Nizam, and HMS Rotherham. In the second week of February they headed for Addu Attol (now in the Maldives). The troopship convoy, with 31,000 Australian troops, arrived at Addu Atoll on the evening of 9 February 1943, and anchored there to refuel and take on supplies.[53] The troops were not permitted to go ashore, but regarded the sight of the tropical atoll as a welcome change from the arid Middle East. After the ships were refuelled, the convoy sailed on the afternoon of 10 February. This was considered the most dangerous stage of the voyage, as the convoy would pass within range of the Japanese warships based at Singapore or potentially encounter a Japanese submarine closer to the west coast. At this stage in the War, the Australian Campaign was again in a Disruption phase. Submarine I-166 had undertaken a bombardment of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands on 25 December 1942 and on 21 January 1943, I165 left her base at Surabaya, East Java, destined for Western Australia. Under command of Lieutenant Commander Kennosuke Torisu the boat was tasked with creating a diversion to assist the evacuation of Japanese forces from Guadalcanal following their defeat there. After a six-day voyage, I-165 reached Geraldton on 27 January when Torisu believed that he had sighted lights of aircraft or a destroyer near the town and broke off his attack. I-165 instead headed north for Port Gregory a former whaling, lead and salt port. At

around midnight on 28 January, the crew fired 10 rounds from her 100millimetre deck gun at the town. The shells completely missed Port Gregory, which had long been abandoned, and did not result in any damage or casualties. The bombardment would have gone unnoticed but for nearby coastwatchers sighting the gunfire. Allied naval authorities learned of the attack a week later. As a result, the attack was not successful in diverting attention away from Guadalcanal. [54] In addition to the close escort – the heavy cruiser, HMS Devonshire, and light cruiser, HMS Gambia – Force A covered the convoy. It sailed within view of the transports on 10 February to provide reassurance to the Australian soldiers, and subsequently patrolled over the horizon from the convoy. When the convoy reached a point 1,300 km from the Western Australian port of Fremantle, its close escort was reinforced by the Dutch cruisers, HNLM Ships Jacob van Heemskerck and Tromp, and the destroyers, HNLM Ships Tjerk Hiddes and Van Galen. Force A turned and sailed west, much to the disappointment of the Australian-crewed destroyers. There were no encounters with the Japanese in HMAS Nepal’s first foray into the Australian Campaign. The troopships safely arrived at Fremantle on 18 February. The sight of the Australian coast had been eagerly anticipated by the soldiers who broke into cheers when it became visible shortly before noon that day. HMAS Nepal was back in Kilindini when a rumour circulated that she would be the first of the N Sub-class destroyers to return to Australia. George Ramsay recalled the events of 23 February … … “I originally commissioned on HMAS Norman … in September 1941 and served happily in her till one day … at the ungodly hour of 4.30 am, I received a ‘crash draft’ to join HMAS Nepal at 6.00 am. With bag and hammock hurriedly packed, I left HMAS Norman with several other shipmates, and in HMAS Nepal’s motorboat, travelled across the Kilindini harbour to join her. That Sunday was really a ‘shuffle around’ day as sailors from HMA Ships Nepal and Nizam crossed over to HMAS Norman and other N Subclass men who had been overseas a considerable time, most over three years, were also being transferred to HMAS Nepal.” [55]

With an almost new crew, albeit they were very experienced, HMAS Nepal undertook some working-up. This went very well, and the ship carried out the Fleet’s requirements as though there had been no changes. On 11 March, in company with HM Ships Quilliam and Foxhound, HMAS Nepal again screened HMS Warspite as she transited from Kilindini south to Durban. On arrival at Durban, another transfer of sailors occurred, now with HMAS Napier. Ordinary Seaman Lapthorne was one who transferred from HMAS Nepal to HMAS Napier. On Friday 19 March, HMAS Nepal departed from Durban with a very happy complement as it was confirmed she was bound for Australia for a six-week refit during April and May at Sydney.[56] The next few days were eventful, not because of the enemy but the weather. William Golding, famous for writing Lord of the Flies, frequently focussed upon the sea in his work. He once said … … “anybody who knows the sea enough hates it. It’s really incredibly hateful and loathsome: beautiful, grand, tremendous. It’s really the cruellest bit of nature.” The men of HMAS Nepal were about to discover, George Ramsay continues … … “Our course first was to the island of Mauritius, and it seemed the gods may not have liked us leaving the area, as conditions rapidly deteriorated and the ship encountered gale force winds and mountainous seas which slowed the progress unmercifully. At 8.00 am on 23 March, we arrived at Mauritius to secure, Mediterranean mooring style, between our anchor and a stern buoy, to fuel from a floating pipeline installation. In pretty smart time, we were on our way again at 1.00 pm and on a north-easterly course headed for our next destination, Diego Garcia, at 18 knots [33.3 kilometres/hour]. But another cyclone engulfed HMAS Nepal and again it was mountainous seas and gale force winds … The next day we were all but hove to … the upper deck was almost demolished, both the motorboat and the jolly boat were smashed up, ammo lockers torn away, guard rail stanchions and structures amidships all bent and twisted.” [57]

A crewman on the deck of HMAS Nepal in choppy seas, March-April 1943. Source: Ken Oxenbould HMAS Nepal ran out of the cyclone on 25 March and began attending to repairs of the upper deck and bailing out some of the lower decks. Commander Morris had demonstrated his seamanship. With all of the crew accounted for, HMAS Nepal’s record of not having lost a crew member remained intact.[58] Next day, Friday, she arrived at Diego Garcia, and moved alongside the RFA Appleleaf, the only ship at this remote island spot, to refuel. From Diego Garcia, RFA Appleleaf sailed with HMAS Nepal for part

of the journey to Australia, topping up her fuel supplies. HMAS Nepal took on 100 tonnes of fuel on the Sunday and more on the Monday before RFA Appleleaf wished her bon voyage and turned back on her lonely trip to re-join the Fleet. On Wednesday 31 March, HMAS Nepal ceased her zig-zagging course to conserve fuel and headed for the west coast of Australia alone.[59] HMAS Nepal arrived in Fremantle on 3 April 1943 in a damaged state.

10 May 1943. HMAS Australia (II) docked in Sutherland Dock (left) and HMAS Nepal in the Fitzroy Dock of Cockatoo Island, Sydney. Source: New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority Archives She sailed for Sydney via the Southern Ocean where a refit was undertaken from 8 April to 22 May 1943. Her bottom was scraped of Indian Ocean weed, her boilers cleaned, and her engines tuned up. James Willis joined the ship as the new, Australian, Gunnery Control Officer: he went on to become Chief of Naval Staff, 1979-82. Leading Torpedoman Richard V. Radcliffe, formerly of HMA Ships Sydney (II) and Rockhampton, also joined. On completing the refit, HMAS Nepal took passage back to Western Australia.

Chapter Eleven – Operations DIPLOMAT, COCKPIT and TRANSOM HMAS Nepal returned to Fremantle on 31 May 1943, entering the port alongside the destroyer, HMAS Quiberon. From Fremantle, HMAS Nepal returned to the Eastern Fleet in June 1943. The Australian Campaign was still in the Disruption phase that would last until November 1943. The transit through the Indian Ocean by HMAS Nepal coincided with the return of the German raider Michel which was the final German raider in Australian waters. Michel departed from Yokohama, Japan on her second raiding cruise on 21 May 1943 and entered the Indian Ocean in June. On 14 June she sank the 7,715 tonnes Norwegian tanker, Høegh Silverdawn about 2,900 kilometres north-west of Fremantle. Michel followed up this success two days later in the same area by sinking a second Norwegian tanker, the Ferncastle (10,100 tonnes). Both tankers were sailing from Western Australia to the Middle East and 47 merchant seamen and passengers were killed. Following these sinkings, Michel sailed well to the south of Australia and New Zealand and operated in the eastern Pacific. On 3 September, she sank the 10,137 tonnes Norwegian tanker, India, with all hands west of Easter Island. The tanker was sailing from Peru to Australia. During 1943, a joke between two friends aboard HMAS Nepal – Lieutenants Lindsay ‘Georgie’ Brand and David Stevenson (who went on to become Chief of Naval Staff) – became the Esther Williams Trophy.[60] See Appendix Two. She operated from Durban through to January 1944 resuming screening duties and convoy escort duties in the Indian Ocean where there were never enough suitable escorts! There were also sweeps for Japanese blockade runners in the Indian Ocean. In February 1944 she transferred to Trincomalee, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) with the remainder of 7th Destroyer Flotilla for operations in the northern Indian Ocean; the next phase of her service was focused on screening of major warships during Eastern Fleet operations. Soon after, a mid-ocean incident again demonstrated the seamanship of Commander Morris. A seaman, known as ‘Maintop’ recalled … … “HMAS Nepal … was running before a sea that looked like an

immense waterfall: one enormous roaring mass of foam. Occasionally, from out of this cataract, a Himalayan sea would gain on her and dash itself against her sides in a smother of green and flung white. Down aft the Captain’s steward was trying to get for’ard. He waited for a lull, found it, stepped from shelter and ran into a liquid wall that crushed him through the port rails and over the side. The lifebuoy sentry saw him go. In such a sea the ‘Old Man’ was, of course, on the bridge. Through speakers he ordered the First Lieutenant to prepare lines and a buoy; the engine-room to be ready with full power. Then, conversationally, he said … ‘Stand by, I’m coming round’. Five degrees at a time the destroyer edged round to meet the frenzied seas. She rolled and shuddered as her propellers raced. Then over again, until the torn seas raced level with her rails. A final hammer blow against her bows and she was round, slicing confidently into the troughs. Such was the skipper’s judgment that no line was needed; the steward reached out and grabbed the lowered scrambling net. Half an hour later the Surgeon-Lieutenant, one hand braced against the swaying bulkhead, was operating on a compound fracture of the rescued man’s right leg.” [61] On 21 March HMAS Nepal sailed from Trincomalee for the first of a trilogy of operations (Operation DIPLOMAT). With the destroyers, HMA Ships Napier, Norman and Quiberon, HM Ships Quality, Queensborough, Quilliam, and HNLM Ships Van Galen and Tjerk Hiddes, she screened the battleships, HM Ships Queen Elizabeth and Valiant, the carrier, HMS Illustrious, and cruisers, HM Ships Ceylon, Cumberland, London and HMNZS Gambia, during a passage across the Indian Ocean towards Fremantle. En route, on 24 March, HMAS Nepal and others were refuelled by the Tanker Force which was escorted by the light cruiser, HNLMS Tromp. The Australian, British, Dutch and New Zealand ships rendezvoused on 27 March with the United States Task Group 56.25 – the carrier, USS Saratoga, and destroyers, US Ships Cummings, Fanning and Dunlap, sailing from the Great Australian Bight. The combined force then returned to Ceylon in two groups, one around the battleships and cruisers the other around the aircraft carriers. The destroyers provided a screen for each group.

Trincomalee was safely reached on 2 April. Lieutenant Commander John Plunkett-Cole, RAN, of Sydney, then assumed command; a graduate of the Naval College at Jervis Bay he was a survivor from the sinking of HMAS Canberra in 1942 and most recently Captain of the destroyer, HMAS Vendetta. Commander Morris, whose period of command was marked by fairness, seamanship and the trust of his superiors, became Commanding Officer of the corvette, HMAS Ballarat, from 1 December 1944 to 18 June 1945.[62]

Lieutenant Commander John Plunkett-Cole, RAN. Source: Australian War Memorial AWM 017503 (Public Domain) Early April was busy as HMAS Nepal fulfilled the constant demand for convoy protection, but the arrival of USS Saratoga heralded to the crew there was a bigger operation pending. During her first two weeks with the Eastern Fleet, USS Saratoga conducted intensive training with HMS Illustrious. On 16 April HMAS Nepal joined Force 69 – the battleships, HM Ships Queen Elizabeth and Valiant, and the recently arrived French Richelieu, the cruisers, HM Ships Ceylon, Newcastle and Nigeria, HMNZS Gambia, and HNLMS Tromp, screened by the destroyers, HMA Ships Napier, Nepal, Nizam and Quiberon, and HM Ships Penn, Petard, Racehorse and Rotherham, and HNLMS Van Galen. Force 69 was to provide cover to Force 70 – the carriers, HMS Illustrious and USS Saratoga and their screen, the battlecruiser, HMS Renown, a cruiser and six destroyers. A raid in the Sumatra area had been requested by the United States as

a distraction from their own operations on Hollandia. Sabang Island, off the northern tip of Sumatra, was selected (Operation COCKPIT). See Map 5. At a strategic location at the entrance to the Malacca Strait, targets included the port, submarine base and oil installation.[63] An airfield on the northern tip of Sumatra would also be attacked. At this time, Japanese forces in Burma were under pressure and suffering serious supply problems: the raid was expected to exacerbate these problems and thereby assist the British Fourteenth Army. A further gain was the opportunity for British Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm crews to work with United States personnel and learn procedures needed for their subsequent deployments together in the Pacific. The action had been made possible by the recent substantial increase in the destroyer strength needed to escort the task forces’ capital ships, notably the United States destroyers.

Lho Nga airfield, on the northern tip of Sumatra, under attack on 19 April 1944. Source: United States Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation NNAM.1996.488.024.026 (Public Domain) The raid was launched at 5.30 am on 19 April. The strike force was 17 Fairey Barracuda bombers and 13 Vought Corsair fighters from HMS Illustrious, and 29 Douglas SBD Dauntless and Grumman TBF Avenger bombers and 24 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters from USS Saratoga. The Japanese were caught by surprise; there was initially no fighter opposition. The attackers bombed Sabang Harbour and the nearby Lho Nga airfield. They hit two small merchant ships, sinking one and forcing the other aground, and strafed two destroyers and an escort ship, setting them on fire. Twenty-four Japanese aircraft were destroyed on the airfield and a direct hit by a 1,000-pound (453 kilograms) bomb set a large oil tank on fire. The power-station, barracks, and wireless station at the airfield were badly damaged. An attempted counter-attack by three Japanese Mitsubishi G4M ‘Betty’ bombers upon Force 69 was defeated when intercepted and shot down by the combat air patrol from Force 70.

Twelve United States aircraft were hit by anti-aircraft fire; all but one made it back to USS Saratoga. A single F6F Hellcat crashed into the sea, but the pilot was recovered by the submarine, HMS Tactician, under fire from shore batteries. HMS Tactician reported large fires in the port burned fiercely hours after the attackers had left the area. The raid was a clear success. Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet, Admiral James Somerville said that the Japanese … ‘had been caught with their kimonos up’. The destruction of oil installations and shipping successfully contributed to the cessation of Japanese offensives in the Arakan. HMAS Nepal, as part of Force 69, returned to Trincomalee on 24 April. The Captain recalled … … “We were rather pleased with ourselves because, up to that time we had not fired our guns in anger. We did fire in anger on that occasion.” [64] He was also very proud of the crew, adding … … “Most of the crew were Reservists who had left shore jobs to join the Navy … the recruits [are] absolutely excellent. They are as keen a crowd of fellows that could be mustered anywhere. When one considers that it takes seven years to make an Able Seaman, these boys are first-class and have learned what they could in the limited amount of training that could be given in wartime.” [65] The success of Operation COCKPIT led to a repeat activity against shipping and shore installations at Surabaya on the north coast of Java in the Netherlands East Indies (Operation TRANSOM). See Map 5. On 6 May HMAS Nepal deployed with Force 65 – HMA Ships Napier and Quiberon, and HM Ships Quality, Rotherham, Racehorse, and HNLMS Van Galen as screen for the battleships, HM Ships Queen Elizabeth and Valiant, the battlecruiser, HMS Renown, and cruiser, HMS Kenya. Force 65 was to provide cover to Force 66 – the carriers, HMS Illustrious and USS Saratoga and their screen of major warships and destroyers. The combined force arrived at Exmouth Bay, on the north coast of Western Australia, on 15 May where tankers of Force 67 hurriedly conducted refuelling. The carriers of Force 65 launched devastating air attacks on 17 May striking the oil refinery in the Wonokromo district and destroying the nearby Braat Engineering Works. A number of small ships were damaged,

naval stores blown up and some 35 Japanese aircraft destroyed. One United States bomber was lost.[66] The combined force then sailed to Exmouth Bay for refuelling.[67] HMAS Nepal returned to Trincomalee with Force 65 on 27 May bringing to an end an extraordinarily long voyage. No crew had been lost but this did not mean there were no casualties. Leading Torpedoman Radcliffe witnessed a torpedo detonator explosion during maintenance, and recalled it … … “caused one of my mates to lose a hand, another to lose an eye. I carried the second fellow up to the sickbay and slipped in some blood from the first.” [68] Seven land-based B-24 heavy bombers of the United States Army Air Forces’ 380th Bombardment Group made a follow-up night attack on Surabaya Harbour from their base at Corunna Downs Airfield, in Western Australia. Operations COCKPIT and TRANSOM were carrier-based contributions to the lesser known North West Pacific Campaign being conducted from the north-west coast of Australia by a large force of Australian, Dutch and United States bomber aircraft, including a force of Australian Consolidated Catalina flying boats performing sea mining of channels and Japanese occupied harbours. The campaign targeted the Netherlands East Indies, Philippines, Formosa Island and the southern China coast.[69] HMAS Nepal had participated in the first tentative steps towards offensive actions by the British Eastern Fleet. Through June and July she resumed convoy defence and patrolling of the Indian Ocean from Trincomalee. In August she took passage back to Australia for refit, arriving in Sydney on 18 August.[70]

August 1944, Able Seamen W. K. Hutchinson and J. McEwan cleaning the main armament in Sydney. Source: Australian War Memorial AWMPOO444.043 (Public Domain)

Chapter Twelve – Burma Campaign

Lieutenant Commander Charles John ‘Charlie’ Stephenson, RAN. Source: http://www.niwarmemorial.nlk.nf September 1944 was spent under refit in Sydney. Fatefully, Lieutenant Murray was transferred to HMAS Australia (II) during the month.[71] From 2 October, HMAS Nepal carried out post-refit trials. Lieutenant Commander Charles John ‘Charlie’ Stephenson, RAN, took over command on 8 October; she was his fourth destroyer command of the War.[72] Lieutenant Commander Plunkett-Cole had been a very ‘steady hand on the tiller’.[73] HMAS Nepal completed work-up for further service with the Eastern Fleet. By now she had a very experienced crew. First Lieutenant I. H. Cartwright, RAN, was on the destroyer, HMAS Vampire, when she was bombed and sunk off Singapore in 1942; Petty Officer Joseph P. Harrison

had served in New Guinea on the corvette, HMAS Katoomba, in early 1943; Leading Stoker Arthur Hedges had served on the light cruiser, HMAS Adelaide, and the corvette, HMAS Burnie; and Medical Officer, SurgeonLieutenant K. M. Morris, RANVR, was a survivor of the sinking of the heavy cruiser, HMAS Canberra. On 21 October 1944 HMAS Nepal departed Fremantle to re-join the Eastern Fleet. She sailed in company with sister ship, HMAS Napier, the corvettes, HMA Ships Ipswich (I) and Tamworth, and the tanker SS British Fusilier. They arrived at Trincomalee on 1 November where HMA Ships Napier and Nepal re-joined the 7th Destroyer Flotilla. Fleet exercises and screening the carrier, HMS Victorious, to Bombay (now Mumbai), in India, occupied the remainder of November and early December. On 22 November the Eastern Fleet was renamed the East Indies Fleet and it was decided to establish a British Pacific Fleet. HMAS Nepal was retained for duty with the East Indies Fleet.[74] On 7 December HMAS Nepal joined HMAS Napier at Chittagong, India, at the head of the Bay of Bengal where they were based temporarily as part of Force 64 with orders to support British Fourteenth Army operations to push the Japanese back down the coast of Burma. They proceeded to the Mayer Peninsula on the Arakan coast where the 74th Indian Infantry Brigade was fighting (Operation ROMULUS). HMAS Nepal began providing ship-toshore bombardment on 14 December, firing on Japanese gun positions. HMAS Nepal, with her six 4.7-inch guns, was equivalent to an extra battery of field artillery available to ground troops when operating in the bombardment role. It was a complex activity requiring dedicated communications with the troops ashore. Key advantages were that a ship was far less vulnerable to counter-battery fire and more readily able to move to guarantee hitting a target in the mountainous country. The bombardment of Japanese positions continued through the remainder of December, HMAS Nepal alternating with HMAS Napier as fire support destroyer then running to Chittagong every third day for stores and ammunition.[75] HMAS Nepal was released from this duty on 24 December and returned to Trincomalee for Christmas with other N Sub-class destroyers. Interestingly, she provided fire support to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Gurkha

Rifles on a number of occasions.

January 1945, British commandoes embarking in landing barges from the deck of HMAS Nepal heading for Akyab Island. Source: Australian War Memorial AWM 041185 (Public Domain) Carrying a contingent of British commandoes, on 2 January 1945 HMAS Nepal sailed with HMAS Napier and the sloop, HMS Shoreham, to re-join an enlarged Force 64 to support a planned amphibious assault (Operation LIGHTNING) by 3rd Commando Brigade (comprised of both British Army and Royal Marine commandoes). They were to capture Akyab Island, the main Japanese base. On 3 January the force assembled off the island included the cruisers, HM Ships Newcastle, Nigeria and Phoebe; the destroyers, HMA Ships Napier and Nepal, and HM Ships Pathfinder, Raider and Rapid, and the sloops, HM Ships Shoreham and Narbada, and HMIS Jumna. Prior to the assault the Japanese withdrew from the island; a routine

landing by only 870 commandos ensued without the need for any ship-toshore bombardment from the naval force; some boarded their barges from the deck of HMAS Nepal. On 6 January HMAS Nepal left the Burma theatre for docking at Colombo.[76] She again returned to the Burma Campaign on 25 January to support the seizure of Cheduba Island (Operation SANKEY). Next day, HMAS Nepal embarked the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Fleet, Admiral Sir Arthur Power, to witness the operation from her deck. Ship-to-shore bombardment began early on 26 January, HMAS Norman fired 214 rounds of 4.7-inch ammunition.[77] HMAS Nepal took no part in the bombardment.[78] Aircraft from the escort carrier, HMS Ameer, strafed Japanese positions. The assault was conducted by a force of British Royal Marines who were launched from the decks of the cruisers, HM Ships Kenya, Newcastle and Nigeria. There was only minor opposition ashore from the Japanese. On 30 January, she deployed with HMAS Norman and HMS Pathfinder to support landings on Sagu Island, south of Ramree Island.[79] They successfully silenced Japanese field guns on Sagu Island which had repulsed an attempted landing the previous day.[80] By 1 February HMAS Nepal had moved to Ramree Island to bombard Japanese positions on this and the succeeding two days; Ramree Island had been assaulted by Indian troops on 21 January (Operation MATADOR). Unfortunately, on 5 February she badly damaged her starboard propeller when she struck a submerged rock in the Kaleindaumg River. At the time she was engaged in preventing the withdrawal of Japanese troops from Ramree Island. Ordinarily, an incident like this would be fatal to the ship Captain’s career. However, Lieutenant Commander Stephenson continued operating HMAS Nepal on one engine, remaining off the coast of Burma until 12 February.[81] HMAS Nepal then took passage to Colombo for docking and repair. There appeared to be no detriment to Lieutenant Commander Stephenson who remained Captain through to the end of the War.[82] No crew had been lost. During HMAS Nepal’s time supporting the Fourteenth Army the Japanese had been driven back some 400 kilometres.[83] On completion of repairs she sailed to Trincomalee to prepare for a return passage to Australia; she was warned for future service with the British Pacific Fleet.[84] On 1

March 1945 HMAS Nepal’s service in the Indian Ocean finally ended when she sailed from Trincomalee.[85] HMAS Nepal sailed as screen for the escort carriers, HMS Fencer and Ruler, during passage to Fremantle. She was on her way to Tokyo. On the 9 March HMAS Nepal arrived at Williamstown, Melbourne. During her time at Williamstown her pennant number changed from G25 to D14 to suit United States Navy identification for destroyers.[86] See Appendix One.

Chapter Thirteen – Pacific Ocean

Map 6. Japan. Source: Gordon Smith, www.naval-history.net During March 1945, whilst at Williamstown, new crew joined the ship, including recently mobilised Navy Reservists like ‘S/9813’ Ordinary Seaman John Hong from Newcastle.[87] They were bound for operations in the northern Pacific. See Map 6. HMAS Nepal served with the British Pacific Fleet until after the end of World War II. Logistics was the key issue for the British Royal Navy regarding conducting any meaningful operations in the northern Pacific. It would never be completely independent of the America support chain, but the aim was that it should be as self-sustaining as possible, for practical as well as political reasons.

At various times the fleet, now being called Task Force 57 to fit in with the United States Navy, used the Admiralty Islands, the massive United States bases at Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Island chain and Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. This did not solve the supply problem; keeping the force at sea, on station, and in line with the frenetic tempo of United States naval operations was a real challenge for the British Royal Navy. Their supply difficulties stemmed in part from the sort of navy it was and partly from the totally inadequate resources it possessed. Historically, it had been designed to operate from fixed bases and, because of the size of the British Empire, it could do that and still have a virtual global reach. This meant that the British Royal Navy was a long way behind the United States in the techniques of replacement and replenishment at sea. Also, the Pacific Ocean had never been a main operating area for the British Royal Navy, so it was not geared or experienced for that sea’s vast distances in the way the United States Navy was; its vessels did not have the same cruising ranges and could not remain on station as long. So Task Force 57 started its operational life at a distinct disadvantage. This was compounded by having an inadequate supply fleet. Its ‘Fleet Train’ was not only too small, it was also a rather motley collection of vessels cobbled together from a variety of sources. Replenishment at sea often took an embarrassingly long time to complete.[88] These are the circumstances that HMAS Nepal sailed into. She sailed to Sydney where the 7th Destroyer Flotilla re-assembled. HMA Ships Napier, Nepal, Nizam and Norman took passage from Sydney to the forward support base for the British Pacific Fleet at Manus Island, north of New Guinea.[89] There they joined a replenishment convoy as escorts for its passage from Manus Island to an area south of the Sakishima Islands, midway between Okinawa and Formosa Island (now Taiwan). Here British Task Force 57 was operating to secure the southern flank of the Okinawa Campaign under command of the United States 5th Fleet. The major combat elements of Task Force 57 comprised five large armoured-decked carriers, HM Ships Formidable, Illustrious, Indefatigable, Indomitable and Victorious – embarking 207 combat aircraft – two battleships and five cruisers.[90] British aircraft carriers provided about 25 percent of the naval aviation used in the Okinawa Campaign.[91] There were also six escort aircraft carriers

guarding the Fleet Train and ferrying replacement aircraft. The Battle of Okinawa (Operation ICEBERG) began in late March. On 1 April, United States troops began landing on a 15-kilometre strip of beach opposite two important Japanese airfields. It was the largest amphibious assault launched by Allied forces in the Pacific Theatre. Okinawa lay only 540 kilometres from the Japanese mainland and was sought as a forward base for the bombing of Japan as well as a base from which an invasion of the mainland could be launched later in 1945.[92] It was now early on 18 April, 7th Destroyer Flotilla arrived 18 days into what would be an 82-day land battle. Other Australian Navy assets in British Task Force 57 included the destroyer, HMAS Quickmatch (4th Destroyer Flotilla) and Bathurst Class corvettes in the 21st and 22nd Minesweeping Flotillas.[93] On arrival in MOSQUITO ONE replenishment area the destroyers screened ships of the Fleet Train (Task Force 112) which was providing logistic support to British Task Force 57. On 19 April, HMA Ships Napier, Nepal and Norman reinforced the anti-aircraft screen of British Task Force 57: on 20 April the Task Force launched the sixth and final series of attacks on airfields in the Sakishima Islands (Operation ICEBERG ONE).[94] A Grumman Avenger of No. 848 Squadron was hit over Ishigaki and crashed into the sea, all of the targeted Japanese airfields were cratered. Total British losses for this operation were 68 planes with 34 aircrew killed. Late on 20 April British Task Force 57 took passage to Leyte, in the Philippines; site of the United States Navy forward support base. Three days later the ships entered San Pedro anchorage. During the fortnight of preparations for the next operation there was no shore leave, in a token effort to alleviate the strain, Admiral Rawlings ordered beer be brought from ashore and distributed among the crews at the rate of one can per man per day.[95] 7th Destroyer Flotilla again headed to the Okinawa Campaign, the Flotilla screened a tanker group of Task Force 112 to MOSQUITO ONE with the escort carrier, HMS Ruler, and several other destroyers, frigates and sloops. British Task Force 57 was refueled there on 3 May en route again to the Sakishima Islands to participate next day in Operation ICEBERG TWO. HMAS Nepal remained with Task Force 112 for several days

supporting replenishments of British Task Force 57 on 6 May and 10 May at COOTIE ONE replenishment area. On 11 May she was detached to screen ships of British Task Force 57 during further air attacks on the Sakishima Islands on 12-13 May. Up till this date Japanese Kamikazes had repeatedly attacked Task Force 57 ships, on these two days there were none. On 14 May the Task Force replenished at COOTIE ONE, air attacks on the Islands resumed on 15 May. After again replenishing at COOTIE ONE on 18-19 May, on the evening of 19 May HMAS Nepal was relieved in the screen by HMAS Norman and took passage to Leyte to resume duties with Task Force 112. HMAS Nepal’s brief sojourn into the Okinawa Campaign was complete. Unbeknown to the men of HMAS Nepal, the Okinawa Campaign was to be the last ground battle in the advance towards Japan. On 25 May she returned to Manus Islands with other ships. Meanwhile, on 27 May, British Task Force 57 transferred to the United States 3rd Fleet and became British Task Force 37. Five United States Army and three United Sates Marine divisions fought at Okinawa. The land battle lasted until 21 June 1945 and was hard-won. The supporting Allied fleet suffered severe casualties from numerous Kamikaze attacks. The British Royal Navy carriers lost many dozens of planes and crew. In early June, HMAS Nepal sailed to Sydney for a period of shore leave for the crew. From 7-27 June was spent between Sydney and Jervis Bay, at the latter location exercises with other ships of the 7th Destroyer Flotilla were conducted, including firing the 40-millimetre Bofors antiaircraft guns installed amidships. [96] [97]

8 July 1945. Rescue of pilot from HMS Ruler. Source: Australian War Memorial AWM121146 (Public Domain) On 28 June she cast off from Sydney bound for British Task Force 37, by now making surface and air attacks against the main Japanese island of Honshu.[98] [99] After passing through Milne Bay on 2 July with HMAS Napier, HMAS Nepal was again designated as screen for the escort carrier, HMS Ruler. After loading ammunition from Manus Island both headed north. [100] On 8 July a lifeboat from HMAS Nepal rescued a pilot from HMS Ruler who had bailed out.[101] Rejoining the Fleet on 12 July her first task through to 26 July was to screen replenishment convoys from Task Force 112 delivering support to the British Task Force 37 elements deployed off Japan. During this task she conducted a transfer of personnel whilst at speed with the battleship, HMS King George V. [102] On 27 July she commenced the journey south as screen for replenishment ships returning to Manus Island and arrived in August. On 15 August, when Japan announced its surrender, HMAS Nepal was at Manus Island.[103] On 20 August she docked in the Admiralty Floating Dock No. 20, which had been towed to Manus Island, for routine inspections and repair. This concluded on 30 August and HMAS Nepal took passage to

Tokyo. She arrived in Tokyo Bay on 6 September 1945, four days after the surrender ceremony and had the great honour of being the first Australian ship to berth in Tokyo Harbour. On board was H. Kel Duncan, an acting Petty Officer in the torpedo category, who went on to be the first sailor in the Australian Navy to command a fleet destroyer; HMAS Duchess in 1966-67. [104]

For five weeks after the surrender ceremony, HMAS Nepal joined with the cruisers, HMA Ships Hobart and Shropshire, and the destroyers, HMA Ships Bataan, Napier, Nizam, Norman, Quickmatch and Warramunga, to enforce the terms of the surrender including repatriation of Allied prisoners-of-war and the de-militarisation of Japan. The former Imperial Japanese Navy base at Kure, near the devastated city of Hiroshima, became the main base for Australian and British warships.[105] The Australian sailors going on shore leave witnessed the devastation of cities like Yokohama. Some men participated in the ceremonies around the opening of the British Embassy in Tokyo alongside men from HMAS Norman.[106] Departing Japan on 12 October, HMAS Nepal sailed into Sydney Heads on 22 October 1945 for the fifth and final time.[107] Her operational service with the Australian Navy was now complete. She was decommissioned by the Australian Navy after steaming over 322,000 kilometres, more than any other N Sub-class ship, and prepared for return to the British Royal Navy with sister ships HMAS Napier, Nizam and Norman.

A shore leave party from HMAS Nepal strolls among the wreckage of Yokohama. Source: Australian War Memorial AWM019360 (Public Domain)

Chapter Fourteen – Afterwards On 22 October, harking back to her chameleon phase, HMAS Nepal assumed her final identity as HMS Nepal in the British Royal Navy. In this period, she suffered her only crew loss when Lieutenant Hector W. H. Roberts, RANVR, died from an illness. The ship was taken over by a British crew; personnel returning to the United Kingdom after service in the Pacific or ashore in Australia. Between 19 November and 28 December, she sailed back to Portsmouth, England. HMS Nepal underwent a final, and significant, change in form for her new role as a minesweeper trials and training ship for the Torpedo School; her main armament guns were removed, and pennant number was changed to D125. From July 1946, she served initially at Portsmouth and later at Rosyth until 16 November 1950 when she was transferred to the Reserve and sailed to Devonport. Through to February 1951, HMS Nepal and the four other N Subclass destroyers in the Reserve – three former Australian and the former Polish, ORP Piorun – came under close scrutiny for conversion to frigates as part of a program to combat new Soviet Union high-speed submarines that were entering service. This was never implemented, and HMS Nepal remained in the Reserve. She was placed on the Disposal List in May 1955 and sold for scrap. On 16 January 1956, she arrived in tow at the yard of Thos. W. Ward Ltd at Briton Ferry, in south Wales, and was broken up.

Conclusion Some believe the J, K, N Class were perhaps the most handsome British destroyers ever constructed with a sleek low silhouette, single raked funnel and a certain jauntiness about them. They were fast, heavily armed and highly manoeuvrable; a considerable advance in British destroyer design. The Australian Navy crewed five of the N Sub-class destroyers during World War II – HMA Ships Napier, Nepal, Nestor, Nizam and Norman. This book describes, for the first time, the tale of HMAS Nepal. Between 1939-43 when she was indeed a chameleon; ever changing in form and identity. She was well led by Commander Morris, a portent for the future. Ordinary Seaman Lapthorne recalled … … “he was quite a good commander really, quite a fair man.” [108] When HMAS Nepal arrived in Fremantle in April 1943, she established her identity. She was truly an Australian N Sub-class destroyer and had laid the solid foundations of her reputation as a capable Australian fleet destroyer. Her chameleon phase was over, she had served in the Home Fleet, Eastern Fleet and with the South Atlantic Station and taken the name of the tiny country of Nepal into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans fighting against German, Japanese and Vichy French forces. For this service, she was subsequently awarded the battle honour ‘INDIAN OCEAN 1941-45’ but not the battle honour ‘ATLANTIC OCEAN 1939-43’. Why? My great-uncle, Bobby Forbes, was a member of the Commissioning Ship’s Company for HMAS Nepal and brought to the ship his experience from serving on the armed merchant cruiser, HMS Arawa. His Newcastle background and outgoing character would also have contributed to the development of the Australian identity aboard HMAS Nepal. Between 1943-45 is the story of HMAS Nepal’s war against Japan that started on the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean and ended in Tokyo Bay, Japan, soon after the surrender ceremony. HMAS Nepal also served for five weeks in the first rotation of warships undertaking occupation and repatriation operations in Japan. HMAS Nepal was part of the 7th Destroyer Flotilla serving alongside

sisterships HMAS Napier, Nizam and Norman. She was also awarded the battle honours: ‘BURMA 1944-45’. The criteria being … … “For service in the prescribed area during October 1944 to August 1945.” ‘PACIFIC OCEAN 1941-45’. The criteria being … … “The South‑West Pacific area (as defined on 3 April 1942). Ships which gave direct support to the guerrilla campaign in Timor; or sank Japanese submarines; or took part in the Borneo operations in 1945; or operated in support of the Australian land forces in the Solomon Islands in 1945; or participated in minor bombardments; or were employed as escorts to convoys during the period 1 January 1942 to 14 August 1945.” ‘OKINAWA 1945’. The criteria being … … “All ships and submarines which are mentioned in the published despatch as having taken part in Operation ICEBERG.” [109] The author contends that by 1945 HMAS Nepal was respected as one of Australia’s more capable, trusted and best led destroyers of World War II. She had successfully fulfilled the raison d’etre for a fleet destroyer in all but one of the capabilities – she had not attacked an enemy screen and fleet with guns and torpedoes. But through her competence in the other capabilities she had been trusted to escort Atlantic Ocean convoys; screen the Flagship of the Eastern Fleet, the battleship, HMS Warspite; to escort the convoy returning the Australian 9th Division to Australia; to join Force 69 (the attack on Sabang Island) and Force 65 (the attack on Surabaya); to embarked the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Fleet, Admiral Sir Arthur Power, to witness from her deck operations in Burma; and to join British Task Forces 57 (off Sakishima Islands) and 37 (off Honshu Island). Her leadership was delivered by three first-rate destroyer Captains – the fairness and seamanship of Commander Morris; the steady hand on the tiller from Naval College graduate and HMAS Canberra veteran, Lieutenant Commander Plunkett-Cole; and the deep experience of Lieutenant Commander Stephenson. During the War, HMAS Nepal did not lose a single crew member.

Emblematic of the quality of the crew, two Officers went on to become Chief of Naval Staff, one to become State Governor of Victoria and one sailor went on to himself command a fleet destroyer.

Postscript

11 September 2017. The author standing at the entrance to the Ship & Castle pub, Portsmouth. Source: ©The Family Murray Trust My wife, Ingrid, and I travelled to Europe in the early Spring of 2017. One of my passions was to follow in the footsteps of the military service of my ancestors. On 11 September we travelled the 90 minutes by train from Waterloo Station, London, to visit Portsmouth, the naval facilities in southern England on the English Channel. I was following in the footsteps of my great-uncle, Bobby Forbes, the protagonist of this book from my family who as a young sailor was stationed at Portsmouth. I visited the Ship & Castle pub on the harbour and enjoyed a beer in memory of my great-uncle.

Appendix One – Figures Source: http://www.shipbucket.com

Figure 1. As designed, with two pendant mount torpedo launcher tubes.

Figure 2. July 1942 (Home Fleet) with Quick Fire 4-inch gun and 20millimetre Oerlikon guns.

Figure 2. 1945 (Pacific Fleet) with two pendant mount torpedo launcher tubes.

Appendix Two – Esther Williams Trophy In 1943, a joke between two friends aboard HMAS Nepal – Lieutenants Lindsay ‘Georgie’ Brand and David Stevenson (who also went on to become Chief of Naval Staff) – became the Esther Williams Trophy.[110] Stevenson wrote on a photograph of Esther Williams … ‘To my own Georgie, with all my love and a passionate kiss, Esther’. Brand put the screen idol photograph over his bed. The photograph was taken to another ship as a trophy by a fellow Officer starting a tradition whereby the trophy subsequently circulated by fair means or foul to over 200 ships of the Australian, British, Canadian and United States Navies over the next 60 years. The original photo became the ‘trophy copy’ to be kept in a safe location. A ‘fighting copy’ was displayed where officers from other ships could attempt to steal it or take it by force, often with a good deal of roughhousing between the officers of the ships involved. One of the more violent raids, by Officers of USS Boxer attempting to retrieve the trophy from HMAS Warramunga, resulted in three Americans and one Australian being hospitalised. After the ‘fighting copy’ had been successfully removed from the custodial ship, the ‘trophy copy’ would be presented to the new owners with appropriate ceremony. Following the death of Esther Williams in June 2013, the trophy was officially retired. The last unit to officially capture the trophy, RAN Clearance Diving Team Four, presented the trophy to HMAS Stuart for transportation to the Navy Heritage Centre at Spectacle Island, Sydney.

Appendix Three – Crew members mentioned in this book Name Lindsay ‘Georgie’ Brand I. H. Cartwright Leonard J. Cox* John S. D. Fisher, RN* H. Kel Duncan Robert ‘Bobby’ Forbes* K. Fraser Geoff Germain ‘Bluey’ Graetz George ‘Doug’ Grant* Joseph P. Harrison Arthur Hedges John James Hong Thomas ‘Tom’ Robert Howie* W. K. Hutchinson Peter Lapthorne* J. McEwan Franklyn Bryce Morris* K. M. Morris Brian Murray* Ken Oxenbould* John Plunkett-Cole Richard V. Radcliffe George Ramsay Hector W. H. Roberts Charles John ‘Charlie’ Stephenson David Stevenson Westwood* Henry Wettenhall* Ron Whitmore** Frank Whitrod James Willis

Rank Lieutenant Lieutenant Radio Operator Wireless Operator Acting Petty Officer Able Seaman

Petty Officer Leading Stoker Ordinary Seaman Ordinary Seaman Able Seaman Ordinary Seaman Able Seaman Commander Surgeon-Lieutenant Acting Sub-Lieutenant / Sub-Lieutenant / Lieutenant Officer Lieutenant Commander Leading Torpedoman Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Leading Seaman Surgeon-Lieutenant Able Seaman Gunnery Control Officer

Notes: * indicates member of Commissioning Ship’s Company

** the last living crew member

The B Gun crew of HMAS Nepal, including Geoff Germain, ‘Bluey’ Graetz, Westwood, George ‘Doug’ Grant and K. Fraser. Source: K Oxenbould

Bibliography http://www.armouredcarriers.com/task-force-57-leyte-layover-britishpacific-fleet http://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/okinawa Nigel Cawthorne, The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Spitfire, Anness Publishing Ltd, London, 2015. Leonard J. Cox, ‘HMAS Nepal – a South Atlantic Incident’ in the Naval Historical Review, September 1990 edition. ‘‘In Which We Serve’ Ship Comes Home’ in The Daily News, 23 August 1944, p. 5. ‘Destroyer Back Home’ in The Daily News, 23 August 1944, p. 5. Letter, Jimmy Forbes (son of Bobby Forbes) to Allan A. Murray, of April 2017. G. Hermon Gill, Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942 (Australia in the War of 1939-1945, series 2 [Navy], volume 1), Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1957. G. Hermon Gill, Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945 (Australia in the War of 1939-1945, series 2 [Navy], volume 2), Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1968. https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/LondonGazette/38308.pdf Angus Konstam, Scapa Flow – The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914-45, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2009. Allan A. Murray, HMS Arawa - The dramatic war service of an unglamorous Armed Merchant Cruiser (Amazon ASIN: B01M9B2CLW (e-book)), The Family Murray Trust, 2016. ‘Battleships, Aircraft Carriers and More: How the Royal Navy Helped Crush Japan During World War II’ in The National Interest, 9 March 2019. http://www.naval-history.net http://www.navy.gov.au https://www.navyhistory.org.au/hmas-nepal-and-operation-es-june-

and-july-1942/ http://www.niwarmemorial.nlk.nf/SalutingtheirService/Stephenson,_Charles_John_ http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/duncan-hugh-kelvin-kel-332 Ian Oxenbould, post on ‘N Class Destroyers’ of Facebook dated 2 February 2012. Leading Torpedoman Richard V. Radcliffe submission via Statutory Declaration to the HMAS Sydney (II) Commission of Inquiry dated 10 June 2008. George Ramsay, ‘Westralia – Appleleaf’ in Naval Historical Review, March 1990 edition. https://rantfoundry.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/hmas-nepal/ Herbert William Rodgers, The ‘N’ Class Destroyer Story, https://anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au http://www.shipbucket.com https://www.smh.com.au/national/sailor-at-heart-of-esther-prankbecame-top-loan-negotiator-20101001-160zc.htm Gordon Smith, www.naval-history.net https://uboat.net UNSW Canberra, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive Number: 1807 - Peter Lapthorne, Date interviewed: 13 April 2004. https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=196 Records of Service Record of Service (Petty Officers and Men) for FORBES, Robert Ernest. Record of Service (Petty Officers and Men) for HONG, John James. Record of Service (Petty Officers and Men) for HUNTER, George Ross.

About the author The books by Allan A. Murray are noted for their detailed research and historical accuracy. Strong narratives move the reader through military history events that are less well known or not previously written about with multiple layers cleverly integrated to reveal the overall context, the major events and the role of key protagonists. Allan grew up in Newcastle, Australia. Born in 1960, Allan’s own service in the Australian Army totals 40 years during which he reached the rank of Brigadier; was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal, Australian Service Medal and Federation Star; and commanded a supply company, a logistics battalion and an infantry brigade. Graduating from the Royal Military College-Duntroon with a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Modern History and Politics), Allan prepared himself for the commercial world gaining a Bachelor of Business and Master of Business (Integrated Logistics Management). At Army Command and Staff College he was awarded a Graduate Diploma in Management. A prolific diarist and article writer, Allan is bringing his work to a wider audience through e-books and paperbacks. Allan’s approach is one of continuous improvement to his stories, so each new reader has an enhanced experience. He has five Series of books: The entry price point e-book/paperback Series, Short Military Stories. The second price point e-book/paperback/hardcover Series, Men and Ships at War. The third price point e-book/paperback/hardcover Series, Their World War. The fourth price point e-book/paperback/hardcover Series about Allan’s own career, entitled From Boys' Brigade to Brigadier. The top price point Series, Themed Collections, is available in hardcover only and brings together three or more books from across the above Series with a common theme. Allan lives in New South Wales with wife, Ingrid, and has two adult sons. He is on social media:

Instagram. aa.murray.history and #aamurraybooks LinkedIn. linkedin.com/in/allan-a-murray-csm-mbus-gaicd32b0431 [1]

For more detail on the earlier service of Bobby Forbes, see HMAS Arawa in the Series. Nerissa was commissioned into the Free Polish Navy in November 1940 as ORP Piorun. She survived the War and was returned to the United Kingdom, becoming HMS Noble. [3] Nigel Cawthorne, The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Spitfire, Anness Publishing Ltd, London, 2015. [4] HNLMS Tjerk Hiddes was commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy on 27 May 1942 and was initially allocated to serve with the British Royal Navy’s 7th Destroyer Flotilla in the Eastern Fleet. [5] Just a few weeks before the fall of France, the Oerlikon factory in Switzerland approved manufacture of their gun in the United Kingdom, under licence. The production of the first Britishmade Oerlikon guns started in Ruislip, London, at the end of 1940. The first guns were delivered to the Royal Navy in March/April 1941. [6] The Type 286 was a British naval air search radar available from shortly after the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk in France. It was the first destroyer set, designed for small ships, and was very crude, having no rotating antenna. The target area was scanned by manoeuvring the ship. [7] This service story is drawn from copies of service documents held by the Family Murray Trust for ‘23330’ Able Seaman Robert Ernest Forbes, RAN. [8] Discussion George Murray with Allan Murray 23 June 2014. [9] HMAS Norman sailed from Scapa Flow, Scotland, on 6 October for Iceland where she collected next day a six-man British Trade Union Mission headed by Sir Walter Citrine. They immediately sailed for Archangel, Russia arriving 12 October. On 26 October, HMAS Norman departed with the Trade Union Mission on board and after dropping them at Thurso, Scotland, on 2 November, she returned to Scapa Flow. [10] http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [11] http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [12] https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5491.html [13] The German mines detected the increase in magnetic field when the steel in a ship concentrated the earth's magnetic field over it. They used the ‘gauss’ as the unit of measure for this increase. Degaussing in the early years of the War involved installing electromagnetic coils into a ship to produce a corresponding negative magnetic field, meaning that the net field was the same as background. In this way, they reduced the magnetic signature to below that which detonated the mines. [14] https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5491.html Commander Morris remained Captain until 30 March 1944. [15] For more detail, see Get the Oars Out in the Series. [16] Brian Stewart Murray was born at Glen Huntly, Victoria on 26 December 1921. He was educated at Hampton High School, Melbourne. [17] Henry Norman Wettenhall was born on 18 September 1915 in England, the son of Roland (a medical practitioner serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps) and Jane née Creswick. After his education at Geelong College (1930-34), he graduated with honours at the University of Melbourne (M.D., M.B.B.S., 1940). [2]

[18]

Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in June 1942. Thomas ‘Tom’ Robert Howie was born Brighton, England on 11 November 1919 and resided in Burnside, South Australia before the War. [20] UNSW Canberra, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive Number: 1807 - Peter Lapthorne, Date interviewed: 13 April 2004. [21] UNSW Canberra, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive Number: 1807 - Peter Lapthorne, Date interviewed: 13 April 2004. [22] ‘‘In Which We Serve’ Ship Comes Home’ in The Daily News, 23 August 1944, p. 5. [23] Ian Oxenbould, post on ‘N Class Destroyers’ of Facebook dated 2 February 2012. [24] Angus Konstam, Scapa Flow – The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914-45, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2009, p. 24. [25] Angus Konstam, Scapa Flow – The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914-45, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2009, p. 30. [26] Angus Konstam, Scapa Flow – The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914-45, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2009, pp. 26-28. [27] Angus Konstam, Scapa Flow – The defences of Britain’s great fleet anchorage 1914-45, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2009, p. 40. [28] UNSW Canberra, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive Number: 1807 - Peter Lapthorne, Date interviewed: 13 April 2004. [29] http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5491.html [30] UNSW Canberra, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive Number: 1807 - Peter Lapthorne, Date interviewed: 13 April 2004. [31] The Beaverbrook-Harriman Anglo-American Mission visited Moscow in October 1941, agreeing to a series of munitions deliveries to the Soviet Union. [32] https://www.navyhistory.org.au/hmas-nepal-and-operation-es-june-and-july-1942/ [33] The cruiser-sized minelayer HMS Adventure with HM Ships Southern Prince, Menestheus, Agamennon and Port Quebec all of the 1st Minelaying Squadron. [34] The Arctic Circle is at latitude 66° 33′ North. [35] UNSW Canberra, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive Number: 1807 - Peter Lapthorne, Date interviewed: 13 April 2004. [36] Letter, Jimmy Forbes (son of Bobby Forbes) to Allan A. Murray. of April 2017. [37] For more detail, see HMS Arawa in the Series. [38] The submerged submarine was within 2,900 metres of HMAS Nepal. [39] Leonard J. Cox, ‘HMAS Nepal – a South Atlantic Incident’ in the Naval Historical Review, September 1990 edition. [40] G. Hermon Gill, Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945 (Australia in the War of 1939-1945, series 2 [Navy], volume 2), Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1968, p. 127. [41] One Sherman was already in Egypt as of 30 August, probably one of the original tanks sent to the United Kingdom, which was then sent to Egypt for familiarisation. [42] https://www.navy.gov.au/customs-and-traditions/battle-honours [43] https://www.navy.gov.au/customs-and-traditions/battle-honours [44] HMS Manxman was a cruiser-sized minelayer. [19]

[45]

See HMS Arawa in the Series for the story of SS Orcades (II) and HMS Arawa. For a summary of Japanese submarine I-27’s World War II service in the Indian Ocean during 1942-44, see: Down 700 Metres – The story of the SS Iron Crown (Amazon ASIN: B07SWS9V62 (ebook)), The Family Murray Trust, 2019. [47] Herbert William Rodgers, The ‘N’ Class Destroyer Story, https://anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au [48] In March 1942, 65 merchant vessels were lost and in April 1942, 31 merchant vessels were lost. [49] For more detail on the service of Dukesy Forbes, see Sunk in 2 Minutes in the Series. [50] Claire Mary Forbes (nee Owen). Born 3 April 1923 at Islington, New South Wales and died 13 May 2013 at Islington. [51] For more detail, see HMAS Australia in the Series. [52] ‘Battleships, Aircraft Carriers and More: How the Royal Navy Helped Crush Japan During World War II’ in The National Interest, 9 March 2019. [53] RMS Aquitania carried 6,953; SS Île de France 6,531; SS Nieuw Amsterdam had 9,241 on board; 9,995 sailed on RMS Queen Mary and 1,731 on HMT Queen of Bermuda. [54] For details of Japanese submarine activity off the south-east coast of Australia at the time, see: Allan A. Murray, Sunk in 2 Minutes – The fatal encounter between I-21, HMAS Mildura and the Iron Knight (Amazon ASIN: B01MYO776O (e-book)), The Family Murray Trust, 2016. [55] George Ramsay, ‘Westralia – Appleleaf’ in Naval Historical Review, March 1990 edition. [56] George Ramsay, ‘Westralia – Appleleaf’ in Naval Historical Review, March 1990 edition. [57] George Ramsay, ‘Westralia – Appleleaf’ in Naval Historical Review, March 1990 edition. [58] On 11 February 1945, HMAS Nizam was struck by a freak wave off Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia. Rolling heavily to port, ten sailors were washed overboard. None were recovered. [59] George Ramsay, ‘Westralia – Appleleaf’ in Naval Historical Review, March 1990 edition. [60] https://www.smh.com.au/national/sailor-at-heart-of-esther-prank-became-top-loan-negotiator20101001-160zc.htm [61] https://rantfoundry.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/hmas-nepal/ [62] In 1952, Captain Morris was the Naval Officer-in-Charge of Western Australia during the British Atomic Tests on the Monte Bello Islands. [63] Herbert William Rodgers, ‘The ‘N’ Class Destroyer Story’, https://anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au [64] ‘Destroyer Back Home’ in The Daily News, 23 August 1944, p. 5. [65] ‘Destroyer Back Home’ in The Daily News, 23 August 1944, p. 5. [66] https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=196 [67] Herbert William Rodgers, ‘The ‘N’ Class Destroyer Story’, https://anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au [68] Leading Torpedoman Richard V. Radcliffe submission via Statutory Declaration to the HMAS Sydney (II) Commission of Inquiry dated 10 June 2008. [69] For more details, see: Allan A. Murray, Men from Newcastle – The World Wars of Ted and George Murray (Amazon ASIN: B01BHL6GWG (e-book)), The Family Murray Trust, 2016. [70] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [71] HMAS Australia (II) served in the Philippines Campaign from October 1944 to January 1945 where she was crippled by Kamikazes and 74 of her crew were killed. Murray survived and went on to achieve Flag rank (Rear Admiral) before becoming Governor of Victoria from March 1982 until October 1985. [46]

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http://www.niwarmemorial.nlk.nf/SalutingtheirService/Stephenson,_Charles_John_OBE.html Plunkett-Cole became one of the Australian Navy’s most experienced destroyer Captains. After HMAS Nepal he commanded HMA Ships Napier (October-November 1944) and Norman (November 1944 to September 1945). On 14 March 1951, Commander John Plunkett-Cole, was the commissioning Captain of the destroyer, HMAS Anzac (II). [74] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [75] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [76] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [77] https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-norman-i [78] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [79] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [80] https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-norman-i [81] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [82] In his subsequent career, Stephenson was awarded an OBE. [83] Herbert William Rodgers, ‘The ‘N’ Class Destroyer Story’, https://anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au [84] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [85] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [86] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [87] John James Hong was mobilised at 18-years-of-age on 1 November 1944, reporting to HMAS Penguin, Sydney, before undertaking training at HMAS Cerberus. [88] ‘Battleships, Aircraft Carriers and More: How the Royal Navy Helped Crush Japan During World War II’ in The National Interest, 9 March 2019. [89] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [90] https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/LondonGazette/38308.pdf [91] http://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/okinawa [92] http://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/okinawa [93] http://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/okinawa [94] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [95] http://www.armouredcarriers.com/task-force-57-leyte-layover-british-pacific-fleet [96] Refer to Australian War Memorial AWM110578 (Public Domain). [97] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [98] Refer to Australian War Memorial AWM121129 (Public Domain). [99] http://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/okinawa [100] Refer to Australian War Memorial AWM121138 (Public Domain). [101] Refer also to Australian War Memorial AWM121150 (Public Domain). [102] Refer to Australian War Memorial’s AWM121238 (Public Domain) and AWM121239 (Public Domain). [103] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [104] http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/duncan-hugh-kelvin-kel-332 [105] https://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/publications/semaphore-navy-and-british-commonwealth[73]

occupation-force-japan-1945-1952 [106] Refer to Australian War Memorial AWM019350 (Public Domain). [107] https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-45N-Nepal-ex-Norseman.htm [108] UNSW Canberra, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive Number: 1807 - Peter Lapthorne, Date interviewed: 13 April 2004. [109] http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-nepal [110] https://www.smh.com.au/national/sailor-at-heart-of-esther-prank-became-top-loan-negotiator20101001-160zc.htm