First Battle Tour
Sydney - Milne Bay - Arawe - Cape Gloucester - Sydney

HMAS Shropshire left Sydney on 29 October 1943 at 1600 in company with the Tribal class destroyer HMAS Warramunga as her escort after swinging compasses at No 2 Buoy.

HMS Anson was sighted off our starboard beam as we approached Moreton Bay on Saturday 30th and we anchored off Pile Light at 1900 - Warramunga had parted company earlier at 1700 proceeding up Brisbane River to No 5 Wharf.

USS Ralph Talbot, a Savo Island survivor was in the Brisbane River and joined Task Force 74 ships including HMAS Australia, Arunta, Warramunga, Stuart and USS Helm and commanded by Rear-Admiral Victor Crutchley VC, DSC, RN as we travelled North. The USS Mizor a storeship and USS Long Island entered harbour as HMAS Kanimbla departed on 1 November 1943.

All ships were in line ahead as we sailed for New Guinea waters and several exercises were carried out including streaming paravanes, damage control, sub calibre and starshell shoots. Later as we sailed towards Percy Island we carried out exercises with Arunta and Warramunga including full calibre and long range HA shoots, using dummy runs of bombing and strafer attacks by a flight of Boomerang fighters. USS Ralph Talbot escorting General John Pope parted company enroute and as we moved through the reef, passing Cairns, the destroyers again formed a screen and we were given some aircraft cover as well.

After passing through China Straits into Milne Bay we refuelled from the oiler Trinity and anchored at our delegated berth, Gili Gili, hopefully to enjoy an evening picture show. This was short lived because instructions were received to darken ship because of some air raid RED warnings.

On 7 November 1943 whilst anchored in Milne Bay, Admiral Crutchley came on board to inspect Shropshire. The following day Wing-Commander Conaghan in charge of the RAAF Fighter Direction team with Captains Manning and Calder, AIF, of the Army Bombardment Team joined, both as part of our Fighter Direction and Gunnery Bombardment groups.

In addition to Wing-Commander Conaghan and his fighter direction team we had our own very effective fire direction team under Lieutenant Ron Major DSC and his team of two officers and eight OR's including Leading Seaman John Turner.

Radar equipment fitted to Shropshire during her refit consisted of the ninety-one (291) an aircraft warning set, 271 a surface warning set, 285 navigational surface warning set as well as for gunnery control and the 282 and 283 being gunnery control sets. These sets were to give the ship a big advantage in radar reporting whilst attached to the US 7th Fleet. The ship provided the 7th Fleet with prompt and most accurate long range reports. We were congratulated by one US Admiral and other ships' captains during the Philippines liberation campaign when we provided over ninety percent of all reports. A magnificent effort by our radar operators using this British development.

During this period in Milne Bay many ships entered and left harbour. USS Bagley and Helm, Warramunga and Arunta engaged in towing ship exercises, Shropshire had an 8" blind radar practice shoot, Arunta was refuelled by Shropshire, Helm had a fire on its foc'sle and Warrego, Colac and the Ping Wo entered harbour.

We put to sea on the 13th for Port Purvis where we refuelled to be on a two-hour state of readiness. During this passage an enemy submarine sighting was reported and Australia catapulted her Walrus at a searcher 0531 and it was recovered at 0730 - no result. Air-raid warnings red then green were received from Guadalcanal, action stations were sounded and the ship closed up - we sighted HMNZS Matai and USS Mugford passing us on an opposite course.

On the 23rd whilst returning from exercises an able seaman fell overboard and the loud speakers called urgently for 'Away Lifeboat's Crew'. He was rescued some miles astern unharmed; however, so the story goes, he was run in and charged for being adrift (AWOL). Apparently against instructions, he was outboard of the guard rails without a safety belt - a punishable offence under KR and AI.

On 25 November 1943, 'Guns' supported by Lieutenant Ken Stock suffered one of his rare and minor failures when he visited USS Perkins to obtain some much-needed chemicals. However, a magnificent feed of turkey made up in part for this unsuccessful foray to scrounge.

Another aggravating failure occurred on 29 November 1943 during a red alert in that a main steam pipe burst (due to water hammer) requiring some urgent repairs by USS Dobbin. This defect reduced Shropshire's top speed to 24 knots on three propellers. Understandably the engineering department was also working flat out to fix the problem.

In the build up for our part in the Cape Gloucester attack several softening up bombardments were carried out by Arunta, Warramunga, USS Ralph Talbot and Helm in the Gasmata area, the Ring Ring Plantation, a dump west of Anwek river mouth. Catalina flying boats dropped flares to assist ships using starshell illumination. The results were very satisfactory as most shots fell within the target areas. The destroyers returned to base at 27 knots.

During this period ships entering and leaving harbour were many. All this activity was coupled with red alerts, refuelling, sea exercises, with Shropshire in the Blue Force representing two Japanese Nachi heavy cruisers, later to store ship after MV Merkur's arrival. Many discussions between the admirals and ships' captains re tactics for Operation Dexterity I & II, the ship was a hive of activity and expectation.

To keep up morale many exercises of a personal interest were introduced - boxing, handicrafts, sailing, quiz contests, debates and talk sessions and the not to be forgotten leading seaman 'Count' Whitby's broadcast of the 'Pacific Merry Go Round'. Extra appointments of schoolmasters were envisaged because of increased interest in correspondence courses.

Our Operations Officer, Commander Gatacre, and Wing-Commander Conaghan liaised with 7th Fleet Headquarters and the US 5th Air Force regarding TF 74's role and to arrange air cover when required.

On 10 December 1943 Lieutenant Commander H.A.E. Cooper RAN joined, arriving from HMS Tana as well as an Arunta rating coming on board for fourteen days to 'enjoy' private accommodation in our below decks foc'sle suite, 'the cell'.

Attached to Task Force 74 were two US cruisers with fifteen 6" guns in five triple turrets - they exhibited a frightening fire power, particularly as they ripple fired their guns. The ships were the USS Nashville and Phoenix with the 2100 ton US destroyers Bush, Ammen, Mullany and Bache as part of the Task Force, commanded by Rear-Admiral Crutchley.

Arawe
Phase I of Operation Dexterity (New Britain) got underway at 0630 15 December 1943 when the troops were landed at Arawe by HMAS Westralia. Little opposition was met but at about 0930 enemy aircraft unsuccessfully attacked the landing beach and ships in the harbour. Prior to the landing Warramunga dropped a full pattern of depth charges but was recalled before a result could be finalised due to the approaching daylight and her being required for other duties.

Many messages were intercepted indicating night air attacks by the enemy on the Arawe landing but no reports regarding possible enemy naval intervention so Task Force 74 received orders from Commander 7th Fleet Vice-Admiral Kinkaid to return to Milne Bay.

On 22 December 1943 a group of 'Tivoli Girls' in a concert party came on board to entertain the crew with a rousing performance. Two months at sea without members of the opposite sex gave the men a much needed boost to their morale and dreams.

Phase II Operation Dexterity was to take place shortly, but in the meantime all aircraft and aviation fuel was to be removed and left ashore in Milne Bay and additional ammunition was to be embarked by all the bombardment ships.

Shropshire and Australia were to fire 350 ( 8") rounds each.
Nashville and Phoenix were to fire 1000 (6") rounds each.
Warramunga and Arunta were to fire 300 (4.7'') rounds each.
And the six US destroyers 300 rounds of (5'') each.

The Fighter planes based at Kiriwina commanded by Squadron-Leader Darnton were placed on alert for the impending action to provide air coverand Squadron-Leader Dalton boarded Shropshire to liaise with the RAAF'S Wing-Commander Conaghan who was in overall control of the Allied fighters during this our First Battle Tour.

The day before Christmas at 1630, Task Force 74 consisting of four cruisers and eight destroyers left Milne Bay. On Christmas Day Task Force 76 carrying the First US Marine Division left the Buna Area. TF 74 overtook TF 76 as they approached Cape Ward Hunt, and proceeded twelve miles ahead to be ready for the early bombardment scheduled for 26 December 1943.

The total force consisting of four cruisers, twenty-two destroyers, nine APD's, twelve LST, sixteen LCM, nineteen LCI, twelve LCT, four SC, three YMS, two tugs, one PC and one LSI totalling 105 vessels was slowly moving through the Vitiaz Straits whilst being given air cover by squadrons of Thunderbolt fighters. The second-in-command of TF 74 was Rear-Admiral Berkey USN in Phoenix.

The movement and navigation of this convoy towards the battle area was controlled by SG radar and because the night was very dark the cruisers and destroyers formed an A/S screen to finally split into TG's 74.1 and 74.2 for their respective fire support areas. Westralia a recently converted AMC to an LSI disembarked 1150 US Marines and equipment within one mile of the Cape Gloucester landing area during 26 and 27 December 1943 before proceeding to Stringer Bay. There was some light automatic gunfire with tracers observed to the east as we swept along abreast of Cape Gloucester.

Cape Gloucester
At 0600 on 26 December 1943 Shropshire, Australia, Arunta and Warramunga, moving at about 2 knots, opened fire on targets in the vicinity of the Cape Gloucester air field.
It was a thunderous discharge of 8'' and 4.7'' guns for one hour and twenty minutes giving the new crew, especially ex-Canberra men, of Shropshire a feeling of at last we are hitting back after nearly a year of refitting, trials and work up. At 0625 the other task group including Nashville and Phoenix opened fire at targets in Borgen Bay including targets near the 'Yellow Beach' landing assault area.

The total number of rounds expended during the bombardment from 0600 to 0720-27 consisted of 700 He (8''), 900 (4.7'') , 100 (4'') , 700 (5") and 1600 (6''). In addition five squadrons of B24 Liberator and four squadrons of B 25 Mitchell bombers swept in from seaward to bomb and strafe the Yellow Beach area, whilst a creeper rocket barrage was fired from the rocket boats. The Green Beach area at Tauali was given similar support and both landings were accomplished without opposition.

For this whole operation, under instructions from Captain Collins, 'Guns' Bracegirdle had prepared an effective programme for his gunnery department to cover all contingencies. He proposed three main objectives in support of the United States Marines landing (i) to neutralise located shore batteries and prevent them attacking us and the landing barges, (ii) be prepared to engage other targets with our main and secondary armament as required, and (iii) to engage and destroy all installations as necessary.

Photomaps including the bombardment clock and trace in the Tactical Plot were prepared and times for actual engagement of the enemy positions were shown on 'Plan Able'. 'Plan Baker' was also prepared as a variation to Plan Able. Gun ranging instructions, both visual and backed by radar, were as near perfect as could be. Using 'B' turret with onegun salvos and reference point (Bold Hill 5000 yards inland) until the area was bracketed; then four gun salvos were used.

Without going into the gunnery bombardment plan in great detail nothing was left to chance and even though the whole plan was laid out for the main armament, all other gunnery support groups of Shropshire were hard at it to make sure nothing was missed. Both HA directors searched for gun flashes and troop movement, the pompom director searched in depth all areas and all surface lookouts gave relative bearings, locked on bearings and from EBI operators on the bridge to gun directors.

Shortly after 0800 Shropshire's radar picked up a large group of 'bogies' approaching from Rabaul but did not reach the Cape Gloucester area, instead they attacked Arawe. We had air cover of twelve planes which later was increased to forty-eight planes as aircraft warnings continued. Again our radar picked up two more groups of bogies and Shropshire being the fighter director ship asked for and got ninety-six fighters to cover the fleet. No contact was made with the enemy at this time but a few hours later a Japanese dive-bomber did attack our Cape Gloucester force and sank USS Brownson and damaged three others. An estimated fifty-six Japanese planes were shot down during this period.

After refuelling at Buna from the tanker ESSO Balboa several covering patrols of destroyers were sent into the Cape Gloucester area as well as carrying out depth charge attacks on suspected submarine contacts. No results were observed. Arunta and Warramunga were running low on fuel and ready to rejoin the 9th Echelon with Helm and Ralph Talbot. They refuelled from Shropshire and Australia respectively, bunkering 100 tons each.

Due to enemy aircraft activities and radar reports of 'bogies' Shropshire, Australia, Phoenix and Nashville proceeded, during the last dogwatch to a much safer anchorage off Buna, Shropshire and Australia returned to Milne Bay on 1 January 1944 and Phoenix and Nashville were left under the command of Rear-Admiral Berkey joining USS Boise for other tasks.

Two reasons for the division of the cruiser force were:

1. both Shropshire and Australia were running low on HE 8'' shells and

2. it was advisable to avoid offering another 'Savo' situation. The Yunnan came alongside and we ammunitioned ship.
   

It was later reported that Warramunga had a salt water problem and she was put alongside Australia for assistance to facilitate her quick return to duty with the 9th Echelon.

This operation by the Task Force coupled with the magnificent fighting force of US Marines resulted in the effective bottling up and neutralizing of 135000 Japanese troops.

However, the ground forces did not get it all that easy - deep swamps (reported as shallow), 16'' of rain falling daily, rotting undergrowth and hand to hand combat made for tough fighting before the area was declared free and the airfield usable.

After our return to Milne Bay an inquiry was held into the 'lost one (1) boat hook through accident' episode resulting in the culprit having the cost added to his slop chit.

The MV Merkur arrived alongside with stores and Ping Wo gave us fresh water. The next day a boxing tournament was conducted to create those diversions in a usually routine life, to lift the morale of the crew, as well as organised fishing trips using explosives.

Mr G.S. Smale, schoolmaster, joined on 9 January 1944. We finally had Christmas dinner on 3 January 1944 as well as receiving some mail and enjoying the Pacific Merry Go Round show during the dogwatches.

Shropshire refuelled twice, once from the oiler Bishopdale and later from USS Victoria, whilst under way. After carrying out tracking exercises near the Cape in Porlock Bay to Sudest Bay in company with Boise and Phoenix we practised our AA skills during a sleeve target shoot.

On the 16th Arunta picked up a reluctant and injured Japanese survivor from a plane which had been shot down. After an operation his reluctance to leave the destroyer shows what kindness can do even to our 'bonsai' enemies.

On 19 January 1944 visits were made by our officers and crew to see old shipmates aboard Kanimbla, Westralia, Bundaberg, Warrego, Kapunda, Pine, Kalgoorlie, Katoomba, Stawell, Mildura, Castlemaine, Stuart alongside and ML 816. Others enjoyed a magnificent feed of turkey and icecream whilst visiting US ships Blue Ridge, Boise, Phoenix. These visits although very short in duration made a sailor's lot a little more rewarding - the Americans were always generous. The finishing touch to this interlude was an enjoyable show on 21 January 1944 held on the foc'sle by an all-negro band and other entertainers creating a very memorable occasion.

Warramunga left on the 8th returning to Sydney for refit, arriving on 12 January 1944. On 15 January 1944 Australia also left for a refit of eight weeks duration in Sydney which included the fitting of a 281 radar aerial.

Shropshire's time was taken up with several air raid alerts at this period, exercises at sea carrying out 4" and close range weapons firing at sleeve targets as well as 4'' surface firing at smoke floats, tactical manoeuvres and radar air tracking exercises with Phoenix and Boise. Shropshire departed for Sydney on the 27th using three propellers as one shaft was defective. We arrived on 30 January 1944 having averaged a speed of 24 knots.

On our return from Shropshire's first battle tour the crew more than welcomed liberty and rest whilst some long serving sailors received long leave. Shropshire was lying at No 3 berth Walsh Bay. A dance at Grace Bros Auditorium was well organised and well received and the attendance of Captain Collins and other officers gave the occasion a touch of class and tone to the proceedings.

On Monday 7 February, Admiral Crutchley's flag was hoisted in Shropshire and two days later we left Sydney for Milne Bay with Admiral Sir Guy Royle the First Naval Member, his secretary Captain J.B. Foley and Mr Essington Lewis on board heading for our second battle tour.