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With the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939 all commissioned Australian naval ships were placed at the disposal of the Admiralty. Five destroyers, Stuart, Waterhen, Vampire, Vendetta and Voyager were initially despatched to the Mediterranean. These were later joined by the cruisers Australia, Sydney and Hobart as well as minesweepers and armed merchant cruisers. Italy's declaration of war 10 June 1940 quickly transformed the Mediterranean into an active theatre of war. The task of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean was a daunting one as it had to confront a numerically stronger Italian fleet and powerful German air forces while attempting to guard the vital supply lines and bases of the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. The RNs ability to fulfil its role was compromised by the downfall of France and loss of the French fleet as well as the increasing apprehension about the Far East and the need to provide ships in that theatre. The RAN was therefore a most welcome and crucial addition to the British fleet. Naval Action Some of the RANs most noteworthy achievements in WW2 occurred in the Mediterranean. On 3 July 1940 HMAS Australia participated in the attack upon French ships at Dakar to prevent them falling into enemy hands. On 9 July 1940 four RAN warships (Sydney, Stuart, Vampire and Voyager) formed part of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham's fleet and engaged the Italian fleet off the Calabrian coast damaging a number of enemy ships. Ten days later the Sydney, while in the company of British destroyers near Cape Spada (Crete), encountered the Italian cruisers, Bartolemeo Colleoni and Giovanni delle Bande Nere. The Sydney's gunfire crippled the Bartolemeo Colleoni and she then pursued the Bande Nere which was able to make her escape. It was a clear victory for the RAN and made the Sydney a famous ship. The Italians were dealt a further blow when the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm sank three battleships at Taranto on 11 November 1940. In late March 1941 the Italian fleet emerged to undertake offensive operations against the transports ferrying Commonwealth troops to Greece. HMAS Perth and Stuart were both actively engaged in action off Cape Matapan where the British fleet had a major victory, sinking five Italian ships. The Greek campaign proved a disaster and in late April the Australian warships Perth, Stuart, Vampire, Vendetta, Voyager and Waterhen were involved in the evacuation of the army from Greece. Crete was used as one haven for the evacuated troops but when it, too, was invaded the navy was called to assist the army. The cruiser Perth and several Australian destroyers were involved in evacuating troops from Sfakia in the last days of May. The troops were returned to Aleaxandria. This operation was carried out in the face of sustained German air attacks which inflicted terrible losses on the British fleet. RAN ships were soon despatched along the coast to support the invasion of Syria. HMAS Yarra helped disperse rebel forces along the right bank of Shatt-el-Arab. The Perth, Stuart and Nizam also participated in tours of duty a long the coast in what was a much more relaxed service after the rigours of Greece and Crete. |
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