SUBMARINERS
The Trade by Rudyard Kipling (modified)
They play their grisly blindfold games
In little boxes made of tin.
They follow certain secret aims
Down under, far from strife or din.
When they are ready to begin
No flag is flown, no fuss is made
That is the custom of "The Trade".
Their feats, their fortunes, and their fames
Are hidden from their nearest kin;
No eager public backs or blames,
No journal prints the yarns they spin
When they return from run or raid.
Unheard they work, unseen they win.
That is the custom of "The Trade."
LINKS
Holbrook Museum holbrooksubmarinemuseum.com.au ANS MUSEUM ansmpilot.org.au
QUEENSLAND’S SUBMARINE HERITAGE
During World War II approximately 800 USA service personnel were based at Capricorn Wharf New Farm (Teneriffe) in Brisbane. Brisbane proved highly suitable, with well established port facilities and a dry dock capable of handling most USA Submarines then in service. It was also out of range of Japanese aircraft bnased in New Guinea. The first of eleven S Class submarines arrived at New Farm, on the Brisbane River, in company with their tender USS Griffin, on 15th April 1942 under command of Captain RW Christie, USN. By the end of the month four of the boats were on active war patrols. Eventually the ageing S Class boats were replaced by newer Gato Class submarines, which were fitted with Radar, had a greater operating range, higher speeds and larger payloads of torpedos.
In addition to disrupting Japanese sea lines of supply and communication, the US submarines supported Australian Coast Watchers and Special Forces operating deep behind enemy lines throughout the Pacific. By the War's end patrols under Brisbane's Submarine Command resulted in the sinking of 117 enemy ships, totalling 515,000 tons. This number included three heavy and two Light Japanese Cruisers. Seven of the Brisbane based Submarines were lost . The following link shows the Base then and now. www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/capricorn.htm
In addition to disrupting Japanese sea lines of supply and communication, the US submarines supported Australian Coast Watchers and Special Forces operating deep behind enemy lines throughout the Pacific. By the War's end patrols under Brisbane's Submarine Command resulted in the sinking of 117 enemy ships, totalling 515,000 tons. This number included three heavy and two Light Japanese Cruisers. Seven of the Brisbane based Submarines were lost . The following link shows the Base then and now. www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/capricorn.htm
Brisbane was also the initial base for HMS Bonaventure and 6 XE craft midget submarines that arrived in April 1945, the US flotilla commander showed no interest in these midget submarines until a proposal to use them to cut the communication cables at Hong Kong and Saigon (these cables were vital to Japanese signal security as their radio codes were being deciphered by the US codebreakers).
Training for these operations took place in waters near Hervey Bay on an old disused cable at Mon Repos. Two divers lost their lives during this training , a monument had been erected to them at Burnett Heads by the Qld Submarine Association, a recent upgrade to the monument in conjunction with a project by the local Council now includes several plaques that tell the story of the XE Craft and the Operations they conducted.
A Heritage Walk has been established in Brisbane at the site of the WW II Submarine Base to commemorate the servic e of Australian, USA and British Submariners. Further information can be found at the following link : www.bing.com/videos/search?q=submariners+walk+heritage+trail&qpvt=submariners+walk+heritage+trail&view=detail&mid=EE465D5AEC723B88904BEE465D5AEC723B88904B&&FORM=VRDGAR
Training for these operations took place in waters near Hervey Bay on an old disused cable at Mon Repos. Two divers lost their lives during this training , a monument had been erected to them at Burnett Heads by the Qld Submarine Association, a recent upgrade to the monument in conjunction with a project by the local Council now includes several plaques that tell the story of the XE Craft and the Operations they conducted.
A Heritage Walk has been established in Brisbane at the site of the WW II Submarine Base to commemorate the servic e of Australian, USA and British Submariners. Further information can be found at the following link : www.bing.com/videos/search?q=submariners+walk+heritage+trail&qpvt=submariners+walk+heritage+trail&view=detail&mid=EE465D5AEC723B88904BEE465D5AEC723B88904B&&FORM=VRDGAR
Distinguished Submariners of the Queensland Branch
CAPT. GEORGE EDWARD HUNT
DSO* DSC* Royal Navy
(ETERNAL PATROL)
INAUGURAL PATRON OF SAAQLD INC.
Capt. Hunt during his service as captain of the submarine Ultor that he achieved the record of sinking the highest number of ships sunk by any British submarine during the war. During her seventeen patrols, Ultor sank or destroyed over 50,000 tons of Axis shipping. Admiralty records of 5 September 1944 show 20 vessels sunk, two damaged by torpedo, and 10 sunk by gunfire (including one destroyed on the stocks), giving a total of 30 vessels sunk and two damaged. In addition, Ultor took part in one bombardment, one beach-marking and one special operation. In achieving this record, Ultor carried out 27 torpedo attacks, of which 23 were successful, a success rate of 85.2 per cent. She fired 68 torpedoes, of which 32 were hits (plus two possibilities), a success rate of 47 per cent, which was the highest rate of any British submarine. Counting his time in other submarines, Hunt carried out 32 patrols.
Link to interview - australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/1977-george-hunt
Link to interview - australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/1977-george-hunt
Submarine Memorial and Commemorative Places of Interest in the Brisbane Area
1.THE SUBMARINERS WALK HERITAGE TRAIL (SWHT)
Overview -In cooperation with the Brisbane City Council an interpretive walk has been established to tell the community the story of submariner’s and submarines and their crucial role in defending Australia during all wars and the people who served and those that gave their lives. The public is free to walk along the 300 meters called 'Submariners Heritage Trail’ and to stop and reflect on the past. On display are a series of plaques and submarine shaped benches that tell the story of submarine events during WW1 to WW2 and to the current day.
The 'Submariners Walk' honours the American submarines that were lost with all hands from New Farm as well as Australia's first Naval loss in 1914, HMAS AE1, which lay undiscovered off the Duke of York Islands near Rabaul until 2017 and HMAS AE2’s sinking in the Dardanelles in 1915.
sections also honour the X and XE Craft Miniature Submarines part crewed by RAN personnel as well as Australia’s Oberon class submarines.
2. The Plaque shown below is located on the River Walk near Newstead House
3. Honour Roll Wall at SWHT
An Honour Roll Wall for Submariners on Eternal Patrol
Has been incorporated within the ‘Submariners’ Walk Heritage Trail’ as a lasting legacy to Submariners whose service can be recorded on a Plaque located on the Wall for family friends and fellow Submariners to come to remember and pay their respect. Its aim is to educate the wider community of our submarine history from 1914 to the present day. The Honour Roll Wall is a heritage listed monument honouring the dedication and service provided by the submarine community. If you would like to receive additional information concerning the Wall, please do not hesitate in reaching out to the Honour Roll Wall Sub-committee via email [email protected]
Link to SWHT Promo Video https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=submariners+walk+heritage+trail&qpvt=submariners+walk+heritage+trail&view=detail&mid=EE465D5AEC723B88904BEE465D5AEC723B88904B&&FORM=VRDGAR
4. Plaque listing Queensland Submariners lost in WW 1
located in the Crypt at Anzac Square
located in the Crypt at Anzac Square
5. Camp Cootha
USN Mine and Torpedo Depot WW11
USN Mine and Torpedo Depot WW11
We are close to getting a large rock located to the vicinity of the Hoop Pine picnic area and once in place, Queensland Heritage Masonry will prepare the rock for the installation of the signage.
(A3 paper indicative of size of the Plaque)
The following Plaques and Monuments etc.
can be found at Ruth Whitfield Memorial Park Kallangur (AE2)
and Anzac Park Petrie (AE1)
( NAA Pine Rivers projects)
can be found at Ruth Whitfield Memorial Park Kallangur (AE2)
and Anzac Park Petrie (AE1)
( NAA Pine Rivers projects)