HMAS Mk 3 The RAN's third book (1944)

HMAS Mk 3 The RAN's third book (1944)
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H.M.A.S. Mk. III WRITTEN AND PREPARED BY SERVING PERSONNEL OF THE R.A.N. Published for THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY by AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA, A.C.T. 1944

Set up, printed and bound in Australia by Halstead Press Pty Limited, 9-19 Nickson Street, Sydney, 1951. Registered in Australia for transmission through the post as a book.

EDIT0RIAL N0TE

"H.M.A.S. Mk. III" differs from its forerunners-"H.M.A.S." and "H.M.A.S. Mk. II"-in that a far larger proportion of its contents consists of material contributed by personnel afloat and in shore establishments. In this it is, we feel, an improvement on the two volumes that have gone before. For
here the story of a year of achievement is told by those who have themselves participated in the events chronicled. In phrases coloured by experience; in scenes painted in words; through feelings crystallized in the heat of action and communicated sharp-etched in reminiscence; facets of the
life of the sea and of the Royal Australian Navy are brought to us with a clarity and verity not existent in the second-hand narrative.

We are complimented by the plenitude of material that has made possible the inclusion of this greatly increased proportion of contributed matter. Indeed, we have been embarrassed with riches. Contributions have trebled those for "H.M.A.S. Mk. II". It suggests, not only that the literary and artistic talents exist in the Service, but that the medium is considered worthy of the exercise of those talents. Our thanks go to all who sent in their work, not only to those whose contributions are here reproduced, but also to those others to whom lack of space denied publication. Thanks are extended also to many other workers whose willing co-operation has made the editing of this volume yet another enjoyable experience.

Again an attempt has been made - this time necessarily in a much abridged form - to continue the still-unfolding picture of the war in a chronological narrative. It provides but the barest bones. Those bones are clothed with flesh and inspired with life by the individual narratives following that opening chapter.

Again the production and publication of this book has been made possible by the Australian War Memorial Board, from whose officers the greatest help and co-operation has been received, and to whose official war artists and photographers much of the credit for our illustrations is due. Other photographs, apart from those contributed from within the Service, have been made available by the Press and the Department of Information. To all these we extend our appreciative thanks.

"Jungle Warfare", dealing with the work of the Australian Army, and "RAAF Saga", giving the story of the Royal Australian Air Force, are being produced as companion volumes to "H.M.A.S. Mk. III". The three books provide an interesting and valuable record of Australia's part in the war.

The EDITORS.

FOREWORD

IN this volume, "H.M.A.S. Mk. III", is a further unfolding of the story of this war which, because of its nature as a world-wide conflict, is so largely the story of sea power and its influence on the final outcome.

During the period covered, the twelve months up to the 3oth September, 1944, that influence has become increasingly manifest. For the first years of the war, especially throughout the eighteen months following the fall of France when Britain held the seas alone, sea power was, 4 necessity, exercised largely in a defensive role. The Royal and Dominion navies were strained to their uttermost in protecting the world-wide lines of communication between Britain and her many sources of supply, and the vital routes to battle fronts, such as those to the Middle East and to Russia.

The few episodes made public were concerned, in the main, with the protection of convoys against attacks by surface raiders or submarine packs; or, following the entry of Japan into the war, the gallant attempts by numerically inferior naval forces to stem the enemy's first advances.

It was during that defensive period that Allied sea power rapidly built up and accumulated offensive striking power and now we have seen that power in action, its blows increasing in frequency and force during the past twelve months. The first major blow was struck in the latter half of 1942 in the great combined operation in North Africa. Since then they have followed and gained weight - as at Sicily, Italy, the Marshall Islands, Normandy, the Marianas, the south of France. Under the impetus of these amphibious blows, made possible by sea power, our gallant sister services the Army and Air Force, we British and our Allies, are carrying the war to enemy coasts, and beyond them to enemy hearts.

Now is the function of sea power becoming apparent to the enemy. His sea-borne supplies ever dwindling and failing; his sea-borne foes ever drawing closer; and the sea-borne invasion of his territories an accomplished fact.

In this book something of the story of that mounting sea power of the Allies is told, told by men of the R.A.N. who, with their ships, have added the weight of their blows to the common effort. It is a story of which the Royal Australian Navy may be proud.


	Admiral, First Naval Member, Chief of the Naval Staff.