Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yo!Chingo]

All of these heroic genes! I'm sorry to say that both of my grandfathers were either too drunk or too old to serve in WWII when it happened. My husband's grandfather on his mother's side however died in the Phillippines in the Bataan Death March.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Both of my grandfathers served on the Western Front in WWI. One was a cook (!) and the other was an engineer on the trains that ran troops and supplies from the Atlantic coast up to the front.

In WWII my dad was a plane mechanic in the Army Air Force. He was on Saipan when the the Enola Gay took off for Hiroshima. He said he never questioned Truman's decision. That was the only thing he'd say about the war except that he refused to eat lamb ever again. That was what was served on the ship going over. My mom's brother was on some navy ship in the Atlantic. He said the English girls were very, very happy to see Yanks 'over there'. He said we all may well have an English cousin. My mom's cousin was a nurse in the Pacific.

[desultude]

My father and my mother both served in WWII. My grandfather served in WWI, and my brother in Viet Nam.

My father was also in the South Pacific, and was just last week telling me about pulling into Sydney Harbour to get repairs. They had to debirth the Australian ship, the Canberra, which had a gaping hole in its side from a torpedo, to make room for the USS Iowa (my father's ship)- both ships seemed to battle to which would sink first- but both came out okay.

Yeah, he has stories to tell, or, often, not.

Last week (I spent it at my father's) I got a box of letters that had been sent home from Viet Nam by older brother during the war. I have tried to read a few at a time, but it's really hard. The strange and interesting thing for me now, reading them for the first time, is that I have been to the places he talks about, so I can really appreciate his descriptions and his experiences.

My father hates this current war and this presidency with all of the venom I have ever seen him muster for anything. He knows it to be corrupt, and he is absolutely no lefty. In fact, it seems like the first time I have ever been in agreement with him on anything political.

[joe_doufu]

[desultude]

[Dan The Chainsawman]

HMS Canaberra

"ABANDON AND DESTROY!"

By J. E. MACDONNELL, R.A.N.


The HMAS Canberra Story

from "As Your Were" 1950 AWM

0NE of the saddest losses the Australian Navy suffered during the war was the sinking of H.M.A.S. Canberra in a fierce action lasting only ten minutes, in the Battle of Savo Island.

On the night of 8 August '42 Allied naval units comprising heavy and light cruisers and a flotilla of destroyers were operating offensively off Guadalcanal. American forces had just established themselves on the island.

The area south of Savo Island was being patrolled by a squadron of four ships, Chicago, Canberra and U.S. destroyers Patterson and Bagley. Australia was flag and lead ship, but at the time was absent carrying Admiral Crutchley to a conference aboard U.S.S. McCawley. In his absence Captain H. D. Bode in Chicago was in command, with Canberra as guide ship of the squadron. Both ships were disposed in line ahead, with Patterson and Bagley screening 45 degrees on either bow of Chicago.

There was no moon; the darkness fell wide and dense on all sides. A 4-knot breeze carried heavy, low-hanging clouds across the sky, trailing fingers of rain in the sea like a giant opaque curtain.

The four ships were about to turn on the reverse leg of their patrol when, without warning, a group of star-shells burst and hung above the clouds over Guadalcanal. They were large, blue, white and intensely brilliant, and fit up the assembled transports vividly.

Then at about 0143 hours destroyer Patterson sighted a ship five thousand yards away dead ahead, rounding the tip of Savo Island. Immediately she broadcast the R/T alarm to her consorts:

"Warning warning warning. Strange ships entering harbour."

At the same time she altered course to bring her full broadside of guns and tubes to bear.

The enemy -for enemy they were- altered course, and were seen to be two cruisers, one a Mogami-type heavy, the other a light Jintsu class.

Patterson was ready and her guns flared redly. Above the enemy cruisers four star shells burst, dropped suddenly, then swayed slowly seawards beneath their parachutes. Almost at once the rear Jap ship fired a spread of eight torpedoes. Then two great eyes of light opened on their hulls and searched the silvered wave tops. The beams found and held the little destroyer.

A line of red flashes rippled along the Japs sides and a heavy shell razed Patterson's No. 4 gun shelter to the deck. The gun's ready-use ammunition ignited in a sweeping, searing blast that laced her after part in flames and burned No. 3 and, No- 4 guns out of action.

A torpedo track slid towards her on the port quarter, but swinging violently she avoided it. Though badly hit, she was game. Her guns took on the rear cruiser and struck her repeatedly. Suddenly the Jap's searchlight jerked into the air abruptly, and went out.

The enemy altered course. Destroyer Bagley reported an unidentified ship ahead; soon after the port look-out on Canberra's bridge shouted: "Ship bearing dead ahead! "

But the officer of the watch and signal yeoman, peering into the murk over her bows, could see nothing. By this time all ships had rushed to action stations. Then Canberra's main director sighted two ships less than a mile away on her port bow. The director rasped violently on to the bearing. The guns started to follow. An instant later a storm Of 5-inch armour-piercing shells plunged upon her in a roaring violence of bursting explosive.
Her whole length shuddered under the vicious upthrust of bursting steel. One shell burst on the bridge and cruelly wounded Captain Getting. Another bored into the barbette of "A" turret and, its fuse started, exploded inside and jammed the training. Further aft the plane on its catapult flared into flame, and a shell burst between the guns of "X" turret.

The worst destruction was caused on the 4-inch gun-deck. Here P1 4-inch gun received a direct hit; its body was blown in a moment into nipping slivers of steel. Almost the whole crew were killed by the blast.

Then two torpedo tracks stretched out toward her and touched. A blast of fire lighted her length and a rampart of water bulged from her side. It rose in a mound that swelled to a flying mountain of spray high above her bridge.

Fifty feet of her side plating were ripped open near the boiler-rooms. The hungry water rushed in, causing the whole ship's lighting to fail. Engine-rooms were so choked with smoke that orders were given to abandon them ' Yet, staggering, Canberra managed to get off a salvo before her guns fell silent.

She was stopped now, listing 10 degrees to starb'd. Her innards were a shambles. The heat generated when T.N.T. bursts is terrific, and furnishings and kit flamed instantly when shells and torpedoes exploded. Through smashed hatches and doors could be seen the dull red of burning, fuel oil and where their deadlights had been blown off, her ports shone round, like dilated eves.

In the meantime Chicago prepared to fire on an enemy cruiser sighted over Canberra's bow, and which was still firing into the Australian cruiser. This gave rise to the wholly erroneous rumour that she was sunk by American forces. At no time was Canberra struck by friendly shells.

Chicago had no sooner lighted her target with star-shell than the white wake of a loosened torpedo sprang towards her and savaged a gaping hole in her port bow. Her fo'c'sle was deluged with water and her bow below water-line largely blown away.

Then a heavy shell hit the starb'd leg of her foremast. It detonated over the for'ard funnel, holing it like a Swiss cheese and showering the upper deck with splinters.

Chicago was now firing at an enemy destroyer seven thousand yards distant and, on hearing heavy gun-fire to the north-west of Savo Island, plunged heavily northward to join it. The rest of the enemy force drew off.

Canberra was left alone to fight for her life.
Her wardroom was a scene straight from hell. It had been turned into a sick bay, and the ship's surgeons were operating on tables among dying and wounded laid everywhere over the decks and couches.

On the upper deck a torpedo-man fought through flames to fire the loaded tubes. Another rating jettisoned the petrol tanks beside them. In a pom-pom ready-use magazine ammunition caught fire and detonated in a brilliant shower of pyrotechnics. A chain of men was formed and the burning boxes thrown over the side. In that holocaust individual acts of heroism and self-sacrifice became commonplace.

In a choppy sea at 0300 hours destroyer Patterson poked her nose alongside and took off some of the wounded. Not one able-bodied man attempted to leave his ship. Cutters and rafts were lowered, with some of the wounded lowered from the upper deck, their faces black with fumes.

At 0500 Patterson received from Admiral Crutchley this signal:

"It is urgent that Task Force should leave the area by 0630. If Canberra is not in condition to proceed, she is to be abandoned and destroyed."

So they left her, Patterson loading four hundred of her men, destroyer Blue another two hundred and fifty. She was now burning furiously, a huge cloud of smoke reaching high above her.

The lights of the red dawn shot up across the sky as Selfridge and Ellet were ordered to sink her. The two destroyers began their run in, turned, and fired five torpedoes, plus salvoes of 5-inch shells into the fiery hull. The old lady was reluctant to go. It was 0800 before, turning slowly over to starb'd, she sank beneath a pall of smoke, transformed in a few hours from a proud fighting ship to a twisted tangle of steel falling through the sunlit upper waters of the Pacific into -the freezing darkness of the unfathomed bottom.

[desultude]

That is the story of the first HMS Canaberra. Here is a chronology, which includes both the Australian Canberras, and the USS Canbera.
I would assume that the ship my father was speaking of was the USS Canberra, unless first one had been damaged, repaired, reused and then sunk- which is also possible. I will try to remember to ask him the year next time I speak with him.

Ah, yes, thanks to Google:


HMAS Canberra Decommissioning Year 2005

HMAS Canberra is a long range escort frigate that undertakes roles including area air-defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The ship is capable of countering simultaneous air, surface and sub-surface threats.

Canberra and her five sister frigates HMA Ships Adelaide, Sydney, Darwin, Melbourne and Newcastle, were the first Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships to be powered by gas turbines for their main propulsion. This, combined with a modern repair by replacement policy, has allowed both a reduced complement and a high availability for sea. Canberra can be underway in less than 30 minutes. In addition, two forward mounted retractable auxiliary propulsion units are fitted to provide excellent manoeuvrability in confined waters.

Canberra 's principal weapons are the Standard medium range anti-aircraft missile and the Harpoon anti-ship missile, both of which are fired from the Mk13 launcher on the forecastle. A 76mm gun to counter both anti-aircraft and anti-surface threats is fitted forward of the funnel. The NULKA decoy system and one 20mm Phalanx close-in weapon system are fitted for anti-missile defence.

For long range anti–submarine tasks, Canberra is equipped with a flight deck and hangars for two S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters. For close-in anti-submarine defence the ship is fitted with two Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes.

The ship's sensors include long and short range radars and an electro-optical tracking system for air and surface surveillance, electronic warfare surveillance sensors and a hull mounted sonar. A computer based command and control system processes information as well as a data link from other ships and aircraft. The ship has a sophisticated suite of communications equipment allowing it communicate with other ships, aircraft and shore establishments.

Canberra is the third ship to bear this name. The original was a RAN Heavy Cruiser, which served from 1928 until she was sunk at the Battle of Savo Island in 1942. The second was a United States Navy Heavy Cruiser, USS Canberra, named in honour of the first, which served from 1944 to 1978 filling roles as a Heavy Cruiser and later a, Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser and ceremonial flagship.

HMAS Canberra is scheduled to decommission in November 2005.

[desultude]

The USS Iowa undergoing repairs at a floating drydock at Manus Island, Ulithi Atoll, 28 December 1944

So it looks like this all took place at Manus, not in Sydney. Well, the old man is 86, and still sharp but clearly capable of confusing details! And, Joe Doufu- it looks like your grandfather and my father were possibly within spitting distance of each other.

This is great- I have never googled anything about my father's war experiences. It is interesting to see a real history of it online.

[Ody]

my dad was a soldier during ww2, though i know nothing beyond that. my grandfather was too old but his little brother went. again, i know no details.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Now that is interesting, Thanks D!

[stumptown]

My grandfather "claimed" to have fought in Okinawa, but knowing his penchant for pathological lies, I doubt it. I did see his service pistol and some assorted Japanese souvenirs once, but that didn't really lend any credibility to it. My uncle did two tours of Vietnam, but he was a pretty high ranked officer (major I think) so I doubt he saw much action...war action anyway.

[Satori]

My Grandad served first in Egypt, then in Italy, as a luitenant in charge of the 45lb artilliary units.

[The evil penguin]

Maternal grandfather volunteered for action in the australian army along the kokoda trail, Papua New guinea. Not so much because he wanted to fight but more as a way to protect his young family (including my mother) from local hostilites due to them having comitted the mortal sin of being italian immigrants. Tensions in australia during world war 2 were high.... Italian immigrants (and presumably also german) were considered a threat and were often relocated into concentration type camps... My grandfathers actions seemed to have paid of. He survived the war and was given military honours when he died 15 years ago.

My fathers father was an officer (not sure the exact rank) on a british mine sweeper operating around the english coast. Not sure of the exact story but his ship somehow played a part in the capture of a german sub.
Still going strong at the age of 92.

[joe_doufu]

Cool, I know the US named some ships after Australian cities in honor of our new allies... WWII was really the first time Americans "discovered" a friendly English speaking country down there with a huge common interest. But I didn't know he'd ever actually visited Australia. He did have a kangaroo on his arm, one of several war tattoos.

[little mixed girl]

no. lol
he was eligible too... haHA