South African Navy at War with Japan (1941-1945)

[Panzer_Kraut]

On December 7th, 1941, Japan declared war on the United States of America and British Empire when they launched a surprise attack against the American naval base at Pearl Harbour Hawaii. The South Africa government acted swiftly and on December 9th, 1941, a proclamation was issued, stating that, as of December 8th, 1941, South Africa was at war with Japan.

Dr. D.F. Malan and the Nationalists justified Japanese expansion and regarded Soviet communism as the real threat to the Union. However, while the Nationalists did not, on the whole, regard Japan as a threat, government supporters took a much more realistic view of the situation. Prime Minister (Field Marshal) J.C. Smuts said that should Japan dare to attack the Union, he would arm all able-bodied blacks and coloureds.

The threat of a Japanese invasion declined after the battle of Midway (June 4th – 6th, 1942), but still hung over South Africa until the United States started to roll back the Japanese by the end of 1942. Throughout the war against Japan, South Africa’s contribution was mostly of an indirect nature, with the emphasis on coastal defence and safeguarding the Cape sea-route.

Although more than three years would lapse before units of the UDF were actually sent to the Far East in the war against Japan, South African naval personnel, seconded to the Royal Navy almost immediately after Pearl Harbour, saw action against the Japanese. Having dealt the American navy in the Pacific a severe blow at Pearl Harbour, the Japanese invaded, the Philippines, Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, the Gilberts and Wake, and set out to destroy Allied naval Units operating in the Pacific Ocean.

Amongst the first vessels to fall prey to the Japanese were the British Battleship HMS “Prince of Wales” and the British Renown-Class Battle Cruiser HMS “Repulse”. Both vessels had stopped at Cape Town and Durban on their way to the East, forming part of Task Force Z, also including 4 Destroyers, which had been sent out to intercept the attacking Japanese Task Force. Both the Battleship & Battle Cruiser were sunk on December 10th, 1941, off the east coast of Malaya, by shore-based naval aircraft. Amongst the HMS “Repulse” casualties was 1 South African. Of the Battleship & Battle Cruisers total complements of 2921 crewmen, 840 were killed.


Renown-Class Battle Cruiser HMS “Repulse”

South African Losses on the British Renown-Class Battle Cruiser HMS “Repulse”:

- Ordinary Seaman W.D. Adamson, 69001 (SANF)

From February 27th, 1942 to March 1st, 1942, the battle of the Java Sea occurred when an Allied force of 5 Cruisers and 11 Destroyers challenged a Japanese force, escorting a convoy carrying troops for the Invasion of Java. Two Dutch Cruisers and one Dutch Destroyer and two British Destroyers were sunk in the ensuing running battle, and one British Cruiser and one US Cruiser were damaged. The Japanese suffered only minor damage and went ahead with the invasion. During the clash, one South African was killed on March 1st, 1942, when the British “E” Class Destroyer HMS “Encounter” was sunk by Japanese surface craft.


British “E” Class Destroyer HMS “Encounter”

With the Japanese almost completely in control of the skies, they started mopping up the little remaining Allied resistance and April 1942 became a very bleak month for the Allies. On April 5th, 1942, as part of the engagement known as the “Easter Sunday Raid”, a wave of Japanese dive bombers took off from Japanese carriers to attack and sink the British County-Class Heavy Cruisers HMS “Cornwall” and HMS “Dorsetshire” 320 km southwest of Ceylon. Amongst the HMS “Cornwall” casualties were 25 South Africans, and amongst the HMS “Dorsetshire” casualties were 16 South Africans. Of the two British County-Class Heavy Cruisers total complements of 1544 crewmen, 424 were killed.


British County-Class Heavy Cruisers HMS “Cornwall”

South African Losses on the British County-Class Heavy Cruisers HMS “Cornwall”:

- Ordinary Seaman H.C. Beswetherick, 68871 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class J.S. Botes, 68924 (SANF)
- Able Seaman N.P. Commerford, 66493 (SANF)
- Engine Room Artificer 4th Class C.E. Crawford, 67922 (SANF)
- Able Seaman C.P.H. Du Preez, 68173 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class C.C.W.P. Dutton, 68949 (SANF)
- Leading Seaman J. Geisler, 66653 (SANF)
- Able Seaman R.F. Hanslo, 68295 (SANF)
- Able Seaman R.D.H. Hawkins, 66700 (SANF)
- Able Seaman K.I.B. Keith, 66742 (SANF)
- Able Seaman G.A.B. Kenyon, 68002 (SANF)
- Able Seaman M.G.W. Kirsten, 68917 (SANF)
- Electrical Artificer 4th Class E.V. Law, 66760 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class W.K. McDavid, 69138 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class W.A. Mitchell, 68796 (SANF)
- Able Seaman W.A. Palmer, 68344 (SANF)
- Ordinary Seaman N.W. Spence, 68732 (SANF)
- Ordinary Seaman J.E. Squires, 68728 (SANF)
- Ordinary Seaman E.B. Stephen, 68861 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class L.T. Swann, 68710 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class M. Thorpe, 69140 (SANF)
- Able Seaman P.H.S. Versfeld, 68859 (SANF)
- Ordinary Seaman B.F. Vink, 68860 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class G.F. Willson, 69006 (SANF)
- Able Seaman T.H. Wright, 68039 (SANF)


British County-Class Heavy Cruisers HMS “Dorsetshire”

South African Losses on the British County-Class Heavy Cruisers HMS “Dorsetshire”:

- Stoker 1st Class D.S. Bell, 67243 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class A.M. Bruce, 67907 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class A. Evenepoel, 67909 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class S. Geffen, 68035 (SANF)
- Ordinary Seaman H.G. Howe, 68680 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class G. Kendrick, 67910 (SANF)
- Able Seaman N.G. McIntyre, 67446 (SANF)
- Ordinary Telegraphist R. McLellan, 67897 (SANF)
- Able Seaman L.V. Milne, 67724 (SANF)
- Able Seaman D.E. Morrow, 67989 (SANF)
- Able Seaman C.P. Orton, 68009 (SANF)
- Leading Stoker R.A. Redman, 67406 (SANF)
- Able Seaman W.J. Scott, 68007 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class H. Sevel, 68100 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class A.A.S. Willett, 67240 (SANF)
- Able Seaman W.N. Williamson, 67803 (SANF)

On April 9th, 1942, Japanese dive-bombers attacked and sank the British Aircraft Carrier HMS “Hermes” and the British Flower-Class Corvette HMS “Hollyhock” off the east coast of Ceylon. Amongst the HMS “Hermes” casualties were 16 South Africans, and amongst the HMS “Hollyhock” casualties were 5 South Africans. Of the Aircraft Carrier & Corvettes total complements of 750 crewmen, 352 were killed.


British Aircraft Carrier HMS “Hermes”

South African Losses on the British Aircraft Carrier HMS “Hermes”:

- Ordinary Telegraphist N.W. Bryson, 69147 (SANF)
- Able Seaman I.A. Burnie, 67786 (SANF)
- Engine Room Artificer 4th Class F.H. Clayton, 68102 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class A.T. De Castro, 67914 (SANF)
- Able Seaman F.W. Keeney, 67748 (SANF)
- Able Seaman R. Keytel, 67296 (SANF)
- Engine Room Artificer 4th Class D.C. Kimble, 67766 (SANF)
- Able Seaman F.E. Krause, 68321 (SANF)
- Able Seaman P.R. Raphael, 67841 (SANF)
- Able Seaman R.P. Richardson, 67494 (SANF)
- Able Seaman I.S. Toms, 67709 (SANF)
- Able Seaman C.P. Vickers, 68296 (SANF)
- Able Seaman J.P. Vorster, 67755 (SANF)
- Stoker 1st Class E.G. White, 68026 (SANF)
- Able Seaman E.R. Wiblin, 67717 (SANF)
- Stores Assistant P.R. Yates, 67570 (SANF)


British Flower-Class Corvette HMS “Hollyhock”

South African Losses on the British Flower-Class Corvette HMS “Hollyhock”:

- Able Seaman H.G. Anderson, 67501 (SANF)
- Engine Room Artificer 4th Class D.T. Baston, 68600 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class J.M. Buitendach, 69223 (SANF)
- Ordinary Seaman K.J. Juby, 69211 (SANF)
- Stoker 2nd Class P.A.D.H. Leach, 69225 (SANF)

Some time elapsed before the next South African died in action against the Japanese the British Troop Ship SS “Khedive Ismail” left Mombasa bound for Colombo carrying 1511 people as part of Convoy KR 8 was sunk on February 12th, 1944, by the Japanese submarine I-27. Amongst the SS “Khedive Ismail” casualties was 1 South African. Of the Troop Ships total complements of 1511 crewmen & passengers, 1220 (Men) & 77 (Woman) were killed. This sinking was the third largest loss of life from Allied shipping in World War II and the largest loss of servicewomen in the history of the Commonwealth of Nations.


British Troop Ship SS “Khedive Ismail”

South African Losses on the British Troop Ship SS “Khedive Ismail”:

- Signalman L.A. Soskaug, 74773V (SANF)

The last South Africans to die in action against the Japanese, were 2 South Africans who died while on duty in the Far East, one at HMS “Highflyer”, a Royal Navy Shore Establishment in Trincomalee, Ceylon, and the other at HMS “Lanka”, a Royal Navy Shore Establishment in Colombo, Ceylon. In total, 191 died while on active service, with 67 in the war against Japan.

South African Losses on the Royal Navy Shore Establishment HMS “Highflyer”:

- Engine Room Artificer 4th Class D.J. Donaldson, 69203 (SANF)

But apart from the men serving on ships, South Africa as a precaution prepared for the threat of a Japanese penetration into the Indian Ocean rendered the defence of the Union against invasion a matter of urgency. Accordingly, in June 1942, the UDF in South Africa was reorganised into an Inland Area (comprising the Northern, Central and Witwatersrand Commands, with Headquarters at Johannesburg) and a Coastal Area (comprising the Fortress Commands of the Cape, Outeniqua, Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban, with Headquarters at Cape Town). Defences at the countries ports were strengthened and sea and air patrols along the coasts were intensified. Those Active Citizen Force (ACF) Units that remained in the country were organised into a Mobile Field Force with Headquarters at Ermelo.

Defence Headquarters called for special vigilance against possible attacks from the sea, as well as for the stepping up of internal security. When relations with Japan became strained in July 1941, and especially after the fall of Singapore in February 1942, the threat to the Unions coastline was greatly increased and all coastal Batteries were manned with a greater degree of alertness. Towards the end of 1941, the first coloured (Cape Corps) troops made their appearance in the Coast Artillery. They proved to be apt pupils and, by June 1942, formed the largest portion of the detail manning the various Batteries. South Africa’s Coast Artillery defences were gradually improved and a few South African coast gunners also served outside the Union, such as at Kismayu and Mogadishu in the former Italian Somaliland, which, it was feared, might be threatened by the Japanese. As the threat of invasion decreased during 1944, so too did the strength of Coastal Artillery Units and, by November 1944, all Batteries were placed in care and maintenance. Despite South Africa having invested heavily in coast defence during the war, the Coastal Defence Units never fired a shot.

Over and above coastal guns, South Africa’s harbours were also protected by other means. The Japanese had attacked Sydney harbour (Australia) and Diego Suarez (Madagascar) with midget submarines and, with a Japanese submarine force operating in the Indian Ocean, Durban harbour, with its long entrance channel, was considered to be exceptionally vulnerable. Loops of electric cable were installed at the harbour entrance and later also at Cape Town, and depth-charge throwers were introduced at Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Simon’s Town and Cape Town. Saldanha Bay was earmarked as a convoy assembly port and, to protect the assembly area in the land-locked bay, a controlled minefield was laid there in l943.

As the situation in the East deteriorated at the beginning of 1942, South Africa braced itself for possible attacks from the sea and air. Towards the end of February 1942, the British War Cabinets Subcommittee on Defence Arrangements for the Indian Ocean envisaged the possibility of brief bombardments of the Unions ports by Japanese Battleships, operations by torpedo and mine laying craft, Infantry landings, as well as attacks by up to 200 carrier-borne aircraft. Consequently, more anti-aircraft guns were ordered for the defence of the countries ports.

And by April 23rd, 1942, the following anti-aircraft guns existed at the ports: two 3,7-inch guns, four old 3-inch guns and four Bofors guns. By September 1942, the increasing availability of equipment had turned the countries anti-aircraft port defences into a respectable force, with a total of 104 3,7-inch and 104 40mm guns and 60 searchlights at Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, Simon’s Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban.

From the beginning of the war, South African air - and later also naval - forces played an important role in watching over the trade routes along the countries shores. By February 1942, there were 2002 aircraft in the Union, but of those only 179 were of the operational type and serviceable. Ventura aircraft were used to seek out and attack enemy submarines and, later, the SAAF took over the Royal Air Force (RAF) Catalina Squadron that was stationed at Durban. In 1945 this squadron (No. 35 Squadron) switched to Sunderland aircraft.

Far away from enemy air force bases, South Africa’s air space was ideally suited for training purposes. On April 11th, 1940, Prime Minister (Field Marshal) J.C. Smuts announced that the British government had accepted his offer of facilities for training airmen, a scheme with far-reaching consequences for both the RAF and the SAAF. The Joint Air Training Scheme (JATS) virtually commenced its existence on June 1st, 1940, and was one of the countries great success stories during the war, continuing after the war in Europe had ended and providing a steady stream of pilots for the struggle against Japan. By December 31st, 1945, the JATS had passed out 33347 aircrew members at 57 flying schools and depots: 20800 for the RAF (including about 15000 pilots and navigators), 12221 for the SAAF and 326 for other Allied air forces.

When Japan entered the war, the SDF was fully occupied in patrolling South African waters against possible enemy submarine attacks and sweeping mines where necessary. The threat of a Japanese invasion meant that these patrols were to be stepped up. On August 1st, 1942, the SDF and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (South African Division), or RNVR, were amalgamated under a new designation, the South African Naval Forces (SANF). All South African Officers and men serving in the Royal Navy automatically became SANF seconded personnel.

By the end of 1943, when the war at sea and the threat of a Japanese invasion began to abate as the Allies gradually rolled back the Japanese forces, there were about 4000 Officers and ratings in the SANF and, on December 7th, 1943, the SANF had 18 small anti-submarine vessels and 40 minesweepers. By the end of hostilities in 1945, more than 10000 Officers and men had served in South Africa’s naval forces, and 89 vessels had, at one stage or other, been in commission.

Abbreviations

SANF – South African Naval Force

Bibliography (All Articles written on the S.A Navy used the following sources)

· South Africa’s Navy: The First Fifty Years – Commodore J. C. Goosen (W. J. Flesh & Partners, 1973)
· South African Forces World War II, Vol. 2: A Gathering Of Eagles: The Campaigns Of The South African Air Force In Italian East Africa 1940-41 – J.A. Brown (Purnell & Sons, 1970)
· South African Forces World War II, Vol. 4: The Campaigns Of The South African Air Force In Egypt, Cyrenaica, Libya, Tunisia, Tripolitania And Madagascar From 1941–1943 – J.A. Brown (Purnell, 1974)
· War In The Southern Oceans 1939-1945 - L.C.F. Turner, J.E. Betzler (Cape Town, Oxford University Press, 1961)
· For Valour: The History Of Southern Africa's Victoria Cross Heroes – I.S. Uys (Johannesburg: Uys Publishers, 1973)
· South African Forces World War II, Vol. 6: Eagles Victorious: Operations Of The South African Forces Over The Mediterranean And Europe, In Italy, The Balkans And The Aegean, And From Gibraltar And West Africa - H.J. Martin, N.D. Orpen (Cape Town: Purnell, 1977)
· South African Forces World War II, Vol. 7: South Africa At War “Military And Industrial Organization And Operations In Connection With The Conduct Of The War, 1939-1945” - H.J Martin, N.D. Orpen (Purnell, 1979)
· Sailor-Women, Sea-Women, SWANS: A History Of The South African Women's Auxiliary Naval Service 1943-1949 - M.P.H. Laver (Simonstown: Swans History Publication Fund, 1986)
· South Africans At War Vol. 5: War At Sea: South African Maritime Operations During World War 2 – C.J. Harris (Ashanti Publishing, Rivonia, 1991)
· South Africa’s Fighting Ships: Past and Present – A. Du Toit (Ashanti Publishing, Rivonia, 1992)
· Military History Journal Vol. 9 No. 2: The South African Air Force In The Madagascar Campaign – J.A. Clayton (1992)
· Official History Of The South African Naval Forces During The Second World War (1939 - 1945) - Cdr H. R. Gordon-Cummings (Naval Museum - Simon's Town, 2008)
· British & Commonwealth Orders of Battle (http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/index.htm)
· Naval-Histories.Net (http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas2540-SANF.htm)
· South African War Graves Commission (http://www.southafricawargraves.org)