0952 20 July 1942 - A replacement for a sick man
0952 20 July 1942, Auckland, New Zealand
Captain Frank Getting watched as Rear Admiral Victor Crutchley was lifted down the gangplank from Canberra's sister ship HMAS Australia towards the waiting ambulance. Commander Downard, the surgeon on board HMS Canberra, was of the opinion that appendicitis was the likely cause. That being the case, it would mean a hospital stay for Crutchley and someone else would have to lead task Force 44 in his absence. Who that would be would be open to question, but at this stage his most immediate priority was to contact Admiral Sir Guy Royle in Sydney to inform him of the latest developments. It would certainly not be Jack Crace, an able commander to be sure, but now in the United Kingdom.
Time was of the essence. The Watchtower force, numbering 75 warships and transports, all vessels from the U.S. and Australia, were due to assemble near Fiji on 26 July and engage in one rehearsal landing, prior to leaving for Guadalcanal on 31 July. That left little time to organise a replacement commander. From there, Admirals Turner, as commander of the amphibious forces and Vice Admiral Fletcher, commander of Task Force 61, the covering force, would also have to be notified.
1252 20 July 1942, HMAS Manoora, Garden Island, Sydney, Australia
Acting Commander Thomas Gower, had assumed command of the ship in early July and Manoora was assigned to undertake escort duties between Sydney and Fremantle. He had not expected to be conveying Commodore John Collins, commander of West Coast naval forces, to accompany his ship to Sydney for a conference, nor have the old man watching his ship handling skills from the bridge as they came in to berth at Sydney harbour. The naval base was still on heightened alert after the Japanese midget submarine attempt in late May that had sunk the ferry Kuttabul. There were less ships in the harbour than he expected, a couple of Bathurst Class corvettes, the older destroyer leader Stuart and the old cruiser Adelaide. Very little in the way of USN ships, he noted, unlike earlier in the month. As the bulk of the 10,800 ton armed merchant cruiser was made secure, he could see the black saloon with the blue crown on the door waiting near where the gangplank would be rolled out.
As soon as the ship was secured and access provided, it seemed by magic that the young Lieutenant appeared on the bridge. He immediately went to Collins. "Sir, Admirals' compliments. Can you come with me, he wished for you to reports to him as soon as possible."
John Collins did no more than raise his eyebrows. "Of course, lead on McDuff. Thank you for the ride Commander."
"Of course, sir."
1336 20 July 1942, Office of First Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board
Collins was still in the dark as to the reason he had been summoned so rapidly, planning originally to have the day to himself before he reported to Admiral Sir Guy Royle at the original planned time, 0900 tomorrow. Something was obviously up, but what?
As he sat in front of Guy Royle's desk, his heart initially leapt into his mouth at the words. "John, I am afraid i have had some unexpected and bad news..." , thinking initially of his wife and daughter. Then Royle went on "Victor Crutchley is laid up in an Auckland hospital". Collins inwardly relaxed as Royle went on. "That being the case, I am going to need someone to lead the allied covering Task-force, consisting of both American and our own ships, that are assigned to Operation Watchtower. Now, I am aware that you are only aware of this Operation in general terms and not in specifics."
"Of course, sir."
"That being the case, we will be here for quite some time going over more specific details. The Watchtower force are assembling at Fiji on the 26 July, before engaging in a rehearsal landing, prior to leaving for Guadalcanal in the Solomon's on 31 July, which will be the target of the operation. Task Force 44 leaves Auckland on the morning of the 22nd. We do not have time to get you there before their departure. With that in mind, we thought that, after today's briefing, which will take some time, that we transit you by ship to Fiji. We have, as you know, a paucity of assets available. Australia, Canberra and Hobart are already assigned. Our modern destroyers are in Europe or the Med. However, we do have a couple of ships here in Sydney. I propose that you leave on board Adelaide tomorrow morning, being escorted by Stuart. At 16 knots, this should have you on station late on the 25th. We are recalling the crews of both ships from shore leave at present, although Adelaide was ready to sail on the morrow, in any case, as she has just come out of refit. Now I am sure you have questions, however..."
Questions, yes I have a million bloody questions, thought Collins, yet he let Royle continue on. It looked like a return to the fires of war, thought Collins.
1558 20 July 1942, HMAS Adelaide, Garden Island Naval Base, Sydney, Australia
Captain James Esdaile watched the preparations of his command, the light cruiser Adelaide, being made ready. She was no longer anything even approaching a front line unit. Her hand loaded 6 inch guns in gun-shields were obsolete when she was completed in 1922. With only three four inch AA guns and seven 20mm's she was ill equipped in regard anti aircraft defense, as well. The removal of her torpedo tubes further reduced her ability to fight real warships. In addition, her crew comprised mainly reservists, albeit experienced seaman. At least the same could not be said of her companion ship for tomorrow's expedition. HMAS Stuart was also an old ship, completed as part of the end of World War 1 destroyer programs. Yet, she had one of the most experienced crews in the navy, seasoned by two years of fleet battles and the Tobruk Ferry run. If only her crew could be recalled in time to sail tomorrow.
Captain Frank Getting watched as Rear Admiral Victor Crutchley was lifted down the gangplank from Canberra's sister ship HMAS Australia towards the waiting ambulance. Commander Downard, the surgeon on board HMS Canberra, was of the opinion that appendicitis was the likely cause. That being the case, it would mean a hospital stay for Crutchley and someone else would have to lead task Force 44 in his absence. Who that would be would be open to question, but at this stage his most immediate priority was to contact Admiral Sir Guy Royle in Sydney to inform him of the latest developments. It would certainly not be Jack Crace, an able commander to be sure, but now in the United Kingdom.
Time was of the essence. The Watchtower force, numbering 75 warships and transports, all vessels from the U.S. and Australia, were due to assemble near Fiji on 26 July and engage in one rehearsal landing, prior to leaving for Guadalcanal on 31 July. That left little time to organise a replacement commander. From there, Admirals Turner, as commander of the amphibious forces and Vice Admiral Fletcher, commander of Task Force 61, the covering force, would also have to be notified.
1252 20 July 1942, HMAS Manoora, Garden Island, Sydney, Australia
Acting Commander Thomas Gower, had assumed command of the ship in early July and Manoora was assigned to undertake escort duties between Sydney and Fremantle. He had not expected to be conveying Commodore John Collins, commander of West Coast naval forces, to accompany his ship to Sydney for a conference, nor have the old man watching his ship handling skills from the bridge as they came in to berth at Sydney harbour. The naval base was still on heightened alert after the Japanese midget submarine attempt in late May that had sunk the ferry Kuttabul. There were less ships in the harbour than he expected, a couple of Bathurst Class corvettes, the older destroyer leader Stuart and the old cruiser Adelaide. Very little in the way of USN ships, he noted, unlike earlier in the month. As the bulk of the 10,800 ton armed merchant cruiser was made secure, he could see the black saloon with the blue crown on the door waiting near where the gangplank would be rolled out.
As soon as the ship was secured and access provided, it seemed by magic that the young Lieutenant appeared on the bridge. He immediately went to Collins. "Sir, Admirals' compliments. Can you come with me, he wished for you to reports to him as soon as possible."
John Collins did no more than raise his eyebrows. "Of course, lead on McDuff. Thank you for the ride Commander."
"Of course, sir."
1336 20 July 1942, Office of First Member, Australian Commonwealth Naval Board
Collins was still in the dark as to the reason he had been summoned so rapidly, planning originally to have the day to himself before he reported to Admiral Sir Guy Royle at the original planned time, 0900 tomorrow. Something was obviously up, but what?
As he sat in front of Guy Royle's desk, his heart initially leapt into his mouth at the words. "John, I am afraid i have had some unexpected and bad news..." , thinking initially of his wife and daughter. Then Royle went on "Victor Crutchley is laid up in an Auckland hospital". Collins inwardly relaxed as Royle went on. "That being the case, I am going to need someone to lead the allied covering Task-force, consisting of both American and our own ships, that are assigned to Operation Watchtower. Now, I am aware that you are only aware of this Operation in general terms and not in specifics."
"Of course, sir."
"That being the case, we will be here for quite some time going over more specific details. The Watchtower force are assembling at Fiji on the 26 July, before engaging in a rehearsal landing, prior to leaving for Guadalcanal in the Solomon's on 31 July, which will be the target of the operation. Task Force 44 leaves Auckland on the morning of the 22nd. We do not have time to get you there before their departure. With that in mind, we thought that, after today's briefing, which will take some time, that we transit you by ship to Fiji. We have, as you know, a paucity of assets available. Australia, Canberra and Hobart are already assigned. Our modern destroyers are in Europe or the Med. However, we do have a couple of ships here in Sydney. I propose that you leave on board Adelaide tomorrow morning, being escorted by Stuart. At 16 knots, this should have you on station late on the 25th. We are recalling the crews of both ships from shore leave at present, although Adelaide was ready to sail on the morrow, in any case, as she has just come out of refit. Now I am sure you have questions, however..."
Questions, yes I have a million bloody questions, thought Collins, yet he let Royle continue on. It looked like a return to the fires of war, thought Collins.
1558 20 July 1942, HMAS Adelaide, Garden Island Naval Base, Sydney, Australia
Captain James Esdaile watched the preparations of his command, the light cruiser Adelaide, being made ready. She was no longer anything even approaching a front line unit. Her hand loaded 6 inch guns in gun-shields were obsolete when she was completed in 1922. With only three four inch AA guns and seven 20mm's she was ill equipped in regard anti aircraft defense, as well. The removal of her torpedo tubes further reduced her ability to fight real warships. In addition, her crew comprised mainly reservists, albeit experienced seaman. At least the same could not be said of her companion ship for tomorrow's expedition. HMAS Stuart was also an old ship, completed as part of the end of World War 1 destroyer programs. Yet, she had one of the most experienced crews in the navy, seasoned by two years of fleet battles and the Tobruk Ferry run. If only her crew could be recalled in time to sail tomorrow.
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