Biography: overview summary

Lieutenant General Troy Houston Middleton (12 October 1889 – 9 October 1976) was a distinguished soldier-educator who served as a corps commander in Europe during World War II and later as president of the Louisiana State University (LSU).  Enlisted in the Army of the United States in 1910, Middleton reached the rank of colonel in 1918, becoming the youngest officer of that rank in the American Expeditionary Force.  During the First World War, Middleton commanded in combat and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his actions in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

After the First World War, Middleton served in the U.S. Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, command and general staff at the school in Fort Leavenworth, the Army War College Washington, DC and as commander of Cadets at LSU.  He retired from the army in 1937 to accept an offer as Dean of Administration at LSU he later became executive vice president.

Recalled to duty in early 1942, Middleton commanded the 45th Infantry Division during the Battle of Sicily and the Salerno in Italy and then in March 1944 he was appointed commander of the Eighth U.S. Army Corps, showing a head bright during the Operation Cobra and during the Battle of the Bulge.

Again retired U.S. Army in 1945, Middleton returned to Louisiana State University and in 1951 was appointed to the presidency of the university, a position he held for 11 years.  Middleton continued to serve frequently as a consultant of the U.S. military.  He lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, until his death in 1976 and his remains were buried in the National Cemetery in Baton Rouge.  The library of the Louisiana State University bears his name.

Its role in France during the First World War

Calais at the Second Battle of the Marne

Part of the American Expeditionary Force sent to France, Troy Middleton is an officer of the 4th U.S. Division, the first mission to France was to be a reserve unit for the British, just south of Calais.  When Germany began an offensive in the north of Paris, the 4th moved by train and sent to the banks of the Marne, about thirty-five miles west of Chateau-Thierry, to a reserve unit for 42nd British Division.  At the end of July 1918, Middleton, promoted to major, moves 7 June 1918 the first battalion to support the 167th Regiment of the 42nd Division.  In the next step, called the Second Battle of the Marne, four days of intense fighting took place against the Prussian troops of the 4th Division of the Guard.  While veterans Germans fought with determination, the Americans were able to repel about twenty kilometers, but at considerable cost, over one in four American soldier fell in the fighting.

When the 4th Division was relieved, she was sent to the region of Saint-Mihiel provide logistical support role, complicated by the requirement to convey the material night, pulled by horses and mules.  This large logistics company was an experience that will be used to Middleton later during the Second World War.  After Saint-Mihiel, the unit was moved to Verdun, where hundreds of thousands of French and Germans had previously fought in 1916 during the Battle of Verdun.  This will be the last major engagement in this war for Middleton, who was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 17 September 1918, just before the beginning of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

The Meuse-Argonne offensive

4th Division, on its own for the first time in the war, is assigned a front of about three kilometers wide, sandwiched between two French divisions experienced, a dozen kilometers from Verdun.  Lieutenant Colonel Middleton leads the American attack 26 September 1918.  That day, U.S. troops advanced 8 kilometers pierce the German defenses, after which the 47th Infantry Regiment is responsible for maintaining the newly conquered positions.  On 11 October 1918, he was given command of the 39th Infantry Regiment, and most members of his regiment were victims of a gas attack.  Around 1 am, Middleton must find its way to the headquarters of the 39th Infantry Division and prepare for battle at dawn.  Shortly before 7:30, Middleton leads his new regiment in the territory held by the enemy using a tactic called “fire walk”, where all troops fired continuously while moving through the woods for nearly two kilometers.  This means that most German soldiers hiding in trenches to go, and allows the 4th Division moved along the Meuse.  Three days after taking command of the 39th Infantry and two days after his twenty-ninth birthday Division, Middleton was promoted to colonel, he became the youngest officer in the American Expeditionary Force to reach that rank.  He also received the Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding performance in this battle.

On 19 October 1918, the 4th Division was withdrawn from the front after 24 days of continuous contact with the enemy, the longest uninterrupted period of struggle for any American division during the war.  Middleton then was given command of his old regiment, the 4th.  In early November 1918, he noted an African-American division around Metz and prepared to hunt down the German defenders down the valley of the Moselle part in France.  The attack was not triggered since November 10, Middleton received confidential news informing the imminent armistice.

The occupation of Germany

After the armistice of 11 November 1918, the 4th Division joined Germany as an occupying power in the area of Koblenz, the 47th Regiment commanded by Middleton with final destination the city’s Adenau, fifty kilometers west of Koblenz.  The road trip lasted fifteen days in an almost incessant rain and end in a snowstorm, Middleton Adenau reaching the 15 December 1918.  Once Adenau, the regiment was dispersed in many villages in the region, while Colonel Middleton stayed in a big house in Adenau, cohabiting with the owners.  During the stay in Adenau, the 47th continued training, Middleton built a shooting range.  Middleton visited his troops, while horseback most of the day.  In early March 1919, after nearly four months in Adenau, the 47th regiment was moved into the area of Remagen on the Rhine.

At Remagen the 47th Regiment was tasked with keeping the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine (twenty-five years later, the 47th regiment saw again the custody of the bridge at the end of the Second World War).  The 47th Regiment remained at Remagen until mid-summer of 1919, when the regiment was returned to the United States, starting from Brest in mid-July.  He was then assigned to Camp Benning, Georgia, to form the first faculty of the Infantry School being installed.

The role of General Troy Middleton during the Second World War

Having retired from the army in 1937, on 20 January 1942 Troy Middleton resumed active military service he was assigned to a training regiment at Camp Wheeler in Georgia.

At the head of the 45th Infantry Division

Promoted to Brigadier General, Troy Middleton was appointed to the 45th Infantry Division, composed mainly of soldiers from the Oklahoma, but also for some of Colorado, the Arizona and New Mexico, where he was given command of division with a promotion to the rank of Major General at the end of the summer.  The 45th division leads to Cape Cod (Massachusetts), and during the winter of 1942-1943 at Camp Pine, in the state of New York in extreme cold and snow, and from February 1943 to Camp Pine Camp Virginia.

The landings in Sicily (Operation Husky)

In April 1943, Middleton is sent to Morocco to start preparing at the General George Patton the landing in Sicily the U.S. Seventh Army.  The 45th American division (consisting of three infantry regiments, the 157th, 179th and 180th, and many other troops) still controlled by Middleton, is incorporated and the American First Infantry Division, the Third American infantry division and a part of the 82nd Airborne Division, the second American force led by General Omar Bradley himself under the command of the British Eighth Army under the command of General Bernard Montgomery.

The departure ‘of Oran was held on 4 July 1943, the crossing by strong sea for six days.  On 10 July 1943 the landing begins near the town of Scoglitti, south-west of Sicily, the 45th Division was instructed to take the two airfields Comiso (which is done on the same day) and Biscari (taken 3 days later).  Then the 45th Division fighting German and Italian troops in the northern part of Sicily, the first elements of the 45th Division reached the north coast of the island on 23 five miles east of Termini Imerese, reaching Santo Stefano di Camastra on 30 July 1943.  During the Sicilian campaign, the 45th Division was 11,000 prisoners.  The division was raised and takes off in August 1943.

The landing and fighting in mainland Italy

The 45th Division is one of eight divisions of Major General Ernest Dawley VI U.S. Corps in the fifth army commanded by Lieutenant-General Mark Wayne Clark, the plan called for the landing of Allied forces in the vicinity of Salerno, Italy, about 370 kilometers north of Sicily.

The first Allied landings occur on 9 September 1943 on a beach near Salerno, two regiments of the 45th Infantry Middleton the 157th and 179th, landed the next division, the other regiment of the division, 180th, would land at a different point and be set aside by General Clark.  Middleton is responsible for ten miles of the bridgehead over a width of about 17 km between the 10th British Corps and the 36th U.S. Infantry Division.  After fighting hard to maintain its position, the 45th Division began to move into the center of the Italian boot, placed at the far right of the U.S. Army V e, along with the British Eighth Army.  The 45th division takes Oliveto and Quaglietta on 24 September 1943 after intense fighting and Benevento on 3 October 1943.  On October 21, the division is set reserve corps, after six weeks of non-stop action.

In November 1943, Troy Middleton was hospitalized in Naples, then to Walter Reed (United States) to treat an old and bad knee injury incurred while playing football.  While Middleton was at Walter Reed, the General Eisenhower to General Marshall that he really needed Middleton return abroad.  Recognizing the difficulty of Middleton with his knees, Eisenhower said: “I do not care about his knees…  I want his head and heart and I will take him into battle on a litter, so we must. ”

At the head of VIII Corps U.S. Army

Now accompanied by a physiotherapist, Troy Middleton was then appointed to command the Eighth U.S. Army Corps in December 1943 in England.  To deceive the Germans, he removed the seat of the U.S. Eighth Army Corps, located far to Kidderminster, about 25 miles from Birmingham, near Liverpool.

The Eighth U.S. Army Corps is then incorporated into the Third U.S. Army led by General Patton (including Troy Middleton approved the appointment to this position in an interview with General Eisenhower) being formed between March and May 1944.  Two weeks before the Normandy landings, the Eighth U.S. Army Corps is incorporated in the U.S. First Army led by General Omar Bradley.  His army moved quietly in Southampton waiting for the landing.

Operation Cobra

The Eighth U.S. Army Corps is not part of the troops who landed on D-Day, but begins to cross the English Channel on 11 June 1944, landing near Carentan.  Not taking part in the fighting for the liberation of Cherbourg, the Eighth U.S. Army Corps advance through the Operation Cobra in a week about 80 miles across southern Cotentin, fighting difficult because of grove that serves as a shelter for the Germans.

On 30 July 1944, the Eighth U.S. Army Corps takes Avranches, then begins to penetrate in Britain, the 83 th Division taking Saint-Malo on 17 August 1944, resulting in the capture of 14,000 Germans.

The release of Brest in September 1944

Brest, which had among other things an important submarine base is fiercely defended by three elite German divisions under the command of General Ramcke.  The defense of the city was well organized and Troy Middleton was going to conquer methodically.  Generalleutnant Hermann Ramcke Middleton did achieve a map showing several hundreds of Americans were detained in the city and also indicates a number of red crosses meant to represent the point of care but the Allies knew to be ammunition depots or other military targets.  Middleton answered Ramcke he better remove these false that the Geneva Convention does not apply.

The Battle of Brest was intense and destructive.  After two weeks of constant bombardment and night attacks, units Middleton forced the Germans to strengthen their positions.  On 12 September 1944, sent a letter to Middleton Ramcke offering him a chance to stop the bloodshed and to the surrender of the city in a humane manner and in a reasonable manner, with terms of surrender contained in the letter.  The terse response Ramcke was simply: “I must decline your proposal.”  Dissatisfied with the response, Middleton ordered his soldiers to “join the fray with renewed vigor (…) and finish the job.”  A week later, on 19 September 1944, Middleton received the German surrender.  His army had fought continuously for 99 days.  At an official ceremony, Middleton gives the city its mayor, and General Patton awarded the Distinguished Service Order with oak leaf in Middleton for his conduct during the campaign in Britain, resulting in the capture of Brest.

The Americans captured over 36,000 Germans evacuated and 2,000 injured, far exceeding the estimated 10,000 Germans given to Middleton by Patton before the operation.  Ramcke was captured in the Crozon peninsula by the troops of the 8th Division, and asked the assistant division commander, that is to say Middleton back to his surrender; Ramcke appeared and impeccably dressed and with his setter Irish.  Faced with the many journalists and photographers to capture the event, commented Ramcke English that he felt like a movie star.  He was sent to a POW camp in Clinton, Mississippi, less than 80 kilometers from where Middleton was born and raised.  After the war, he spent time in a POW camp in England, and then was sent to France where he was tried and soon released after five years in jail in total.  He returned to Germany and entered the concrete business, continuing correspondence with Middleton for 15 years after the war.

Battle of the Bulge

At the end of September 1944, Middleton took a leisurely stroll through eastern France east to the Ardennes, stopping en route to visit the battlefields where he had served with distinction during the First World War.  The Germans were now behind a line running west of Metz, through Luxembourg and the eastern Belgian city of Bastogne Liege and Antwerp.  The Allies had exceeded their supply lines and had slow their advance due to supply problems.

VIII Corps U.S. Army Middleton is then assigned a front line about 80 km from Losheim, the Belgian-German border, in the center of Luxembourg, the 83rd U.S. division and the new 9th Armored Division from under his control, and a little later the 106th U.S. Infantry Division.  Middleton had now about 68,000 officers and men in his body, being many, and many are tired of not used to fighting along a front of about 130 km against 200,000 Germans who were displaced in the deftly new soldiers the cover of darkness.

Forward by surprise at 05:30 on Saturday 16 December 1944, the Germans managed to break through the Allied lines in what is commonly called the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans launched their great attack of 1940 in the same region, with Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt command and it also led the attack.  His goal was to separate the American forces of the British and Canadian forces, and resume the important port city ‘of Antwerp.  By late afternoon, the Germans had 14 divisions be fighting in the Ardennes, but this number could swell to about 25 divisions with 600 tanks and 1,000 aircraft.  The 106th division, located in the most exposed along the body line positions, and the 28th Division received the main shock of the attack.  Middleton, whose headquarters was at Bastogne, was awakened by a guard and could hear the guns from there.  Throughout the day, the 106th Division was able to hold his position, but other German units poured overnight.  Much of the 106th Division, led by Major-General Alan Jones, was taken prisoner by the Germans on the German side of the river Our in the Eifel and the 110th Regiment of the 28th Division, led by Colonel Hurley Fuller on 17 December 1944.  Despite these serious setbacks, the stubborn resistance of the Eighth U.S. Army Corps has contributed to slow against the German attack.

The city of Bastogne, Belgium, a crossroads of several major roads had become a target for the Germans, who considered taking as essential to their progress.  Troy Middleton was in constant communication with General Bradley to the headquarters of the U.S. 12 th Army located in Luxembourg, and maintained that if Bastogne could soon be surrounded, the position could be held.  Middleton left Bastogne on 19 December 1944, and folds into a school building Neufchâteau, about thirty miles southwest of Bastogne.  The following day, Bastogne was mainly defended by the 101st Division, led by General Anthony McAuliffe with the help of some artillery corps that Middleton was able to provide.  McAuliffe had dispersed units in localities around Bastogne, which bear the weight of attacks by the Panzer Lehr Division and the second Panzer division.  At one point, on December 19, some units McAuliffe wanted to retreat, and McAuliffe agreed, calling Middleton for approval.  Middleton response is: “We can not hold Bastogne if we retreat,” and the order was given to the units concerned to maintain their positions at all costs.  The VIII Corps is then returned to the rear.

On 22 December 1944, the Germans felt their position around Bastogne strong enough to send an emissary with a note advising Americans to surrender, otherwise they would be attacked in the afternoon.  McAuliffe’s famous reply, “Nuts!  “(” Nuts! “) Was referred to the German commander.  Adverse weather conditions, snow and fog, slowing the German attack, on 23 December 1944, the return of the sun allows the Air Force to use nine 240 aircraft to support its ground troops.  Over the next three days, the German offensives are countered by U.S. troops Troy Middleton manages to evacuate the 964 Bastogne soldiers wounded and 26 December 1944 the first elements of the Fourth American armored division arrived as reinforcements, and two days later, the 87th Infantry Division and the 11th U.S. Armored Division.

Hitler demanded that Bastogne is taken at all costs.  A new German offensive led by General der Panzertruppen (Lieutenant General equivalent) Hasso von Manteuffel begins 30 December 1944.  On 3 January 1945, the new “17th Airborne Division” relieves the 11th armored division which was in trouble.  The weather worsens (snow, cold, sleet).  Fighting, fiercely around Bastogne last until 28 January 1945, U.S. troops manage to push German troops east of the River Our finding approximate positions of 16 December 1944 and having eliminated the salient that German offensive had caused in their lines.

Thrust through Germany and victory

Having rectified the situation, General Bradley called his Army commanders and Army Corps headquarters.  He wanted the First Army, commanded by General Hodges advance towards the Rhine, while the Third Army of General Patton would have remained in place until the First Army reached the river.  Patton was very reluctant to hold up, and asked about the opportunity to do so.  Bradley explained that all available ammunition and reinforcements would go first to the First Army, as the two armies could not be supplied simultaneously.  Patton accepted against the heart of Bradley’s explanation, but after the meeting, he meets his three corps commanders, Manton S.  Eddy for the XII Corps, Walton H.  Walkerpour the XX Corps, and Troy Middleton.  He asked if he could easily take Eddy Trier), Walker if he could do the same with Bitburg and Middleton if he could take Gerolstein.  The three commanders all agreed, and reached all three goals in a few days.  Patton then demamnda Middleton to take with his army the way Koblenz on the Rhine, which he did, and the Eighth Army Corps reached the Rhine before the first units of the First Army.  Middleton never knew Bradley’s reaction to the method of Patton “keep up”!

Once the VIII Corps arrived near Koblenz, Patton took most of its divisions to carry out an operation with the XII Corps earlier in the Rhine at Mainz, leaving Middleton with some units of the body (especially the artillery) and one division, the 87th Infantry.  Middleton asked Patton if he could take with the 87th Koblenz, causing a burst of laughter from the Army commander.  Middleton urged to let him try, and with the approval of the commander, he could take the city, which had only about 500 supporters.  Most other German troops were on the other side of the Rhine did not want to get trapped between the Rhine and the Moselle.

Once Koblenz held in mid-March 1945, the eighth body lives assign a front of forty kilometers from Koblenz upstream to beyond Boppard and the famous monument of the Lorelei.  Patton then gave Middleton the 89th and 76th divisions to try to cross the river.  Middleton chose to cross the Rhine at the Lorelei, where the river is narrow, fast, and flanked by steep terrain, causing another reaction Patton.  Middleton knew there would be little German resistance at this point, and he managed to cross the 89th division entirely in one night using inflatable rafts and then setting up a dock in the early morning.  The 87th Division initially attempted to cross the Rhine in Koblenz, but encountering much resistance there, went further upstream near Boppard, where their crossing took place without incident.  In two days, Troy Middleton had three divisions east of the Rhine.

At the end of March 1945, the VIII Corps advanced to the east by Eisenach and crossed the river Fulda.  Some infantry Middleton discovered the concentration camp ‘of Ohrdruf, discovering the sickening evidence of what had just transpired so far.  Middleton called Patton to come take a look, and was joined by Bradley Patton and Eisenhower.  In his diary, Patton describes the place as “one of the most appalling I have never seen sites”.  This was the first Nazi concentration camp to be discovered by the U.S. military, and Eisenhower telephoned General Marshall for a delegation from the U.S. Congress come to realize in order to then testify.  Middleton forced officials of the city of Ohrdruf to come and see what had happened close to home.  While each of them began by denying that he knew what was happening, the mayor and his wife committed suicide that night.

General Patton then sent the letter to Troy Middleton: “My dear General Middleton.  Again the exigencies of war separated the VIII th body and the Third Army.  We all regret.  None of us will ever forget the bravery with which you and your body have defended every foot of ground during the attack Rundstedt.  Your decision to hold Bastogne was a stroke of genius.  Thereafter, the inexorable eighth body Kyll advanced to the Rhine river, in its most difficult area, resulting in your successful and rapid river running Mulde are events that will go down in history (…).  Please accept for yourself and send the officers and men under your command my sincere thanks and my admiration for the remarkable successes.  May all good fortune attend you.  Sincerely.  GS Patton Jr., Lieut.  General, commander of the U.S. Army III.”

The VIII Corps continued its advance eastward into the month of April 1945, and Troy Middleton was ordered to stop between Chemnitz and the Czech border, where the body is in contact with the Soviet army.  The immediate problem was to deal with the many prisoners of war.  Americans were almost overwhelmed by the number of Germans who wanted to make their army, and despite orders not to take more prisoners, thousands of Germans infiltrated through the lines of the VIII Corps during the night, desperately trying to avoid being captured by the Russians.  During the last week of April, a Russian cavalry made contact with Middleton.  While U.S. and Russian officials exchanged invitations to lunch, the Russians were very reluctant to allow Americans to cross the Russian line, and their American guests had to borrow a very tortuous route in territory occupied by the Soviet army.

On 25 April 1945, General Patton wrote a recommendation, citing Middleton “exceptional tactical skills and determination,” his “beautiful resistance against attack (…) Von Rundstedt” and “tireless and unflagging energy of aggression. “  He also sent a personal note to Middleton, shown here.  The war in Europe was almost over, the provision of different units was amended by the high command.  Some remain as occupation forces in Europe, others would return to the United States and some were sent to the Pacific theater to continue the fight against the Japanese.  The Germans officially surrendered in the American sector, 7 May 1945, and two days later, Patton published its agenda 98 thanking the soldiers of the Third Army, past and present, for their actions.  On 13 May 1945, Middleton wrote a letter to General Bradley asked to be released from active duty once his fighting services are no longer needed.  He asked to return to Louisiana State University before 1 August 1945.  He also received compliments of General Bradley wrote to him that “men like you, Ike, Joe Collins, Hodges and others have accomplished so much in this war, are available to guide the future of our army, we can not but feel the future is in good hands. “

The circumstances of the battle

In 1942, after the occupation of Southeast Asia, Japan sent a detachment of his Indian Ocean Raiders – auxiliary cruisers (armed cargo ships) – “Hokoku Maru” (Jap. 报国丸) and “Aikoku Maru” (Jap. 爱国丸) under the command of Captains 1st rank Hiroshi Imasato ( Jap. 今里博 ) and Tamotsu Oishi (Jap. 大石保).  Each of the Raiders had a displacement of 10.4 tons and a speed of 21 knots, their weapons include: eight 140-mm guns of the main fire, two 80-mm and four 25-mm anti-aircraft guns, two twin 533-mm torpedo tubes, two intelligence seaplane.  The ships was done experimental distorting camouflage.  November 1, 1942 “Hokoku Maru” and “Aikoku Maru” went on campaigns from Singapore for action on the communications between Australia and the Middle East.

November 5, 1942 from the Australian Fremantle went to Abadan in ballast Dutch tanker “Ondina” (6.3 million tons, 12 knots) under the command of Captain William Horsman.  To protect against submarines in the stern tanker was found 102-mm gun (calculation tools consisted of British and Australians).  The tanker was accompanied by a minesweeper, or at a different classification, the sloop “Bengal” Indian Royal Navy under the command of Lieutenant William J. Commanderie reserve Wilson.  When tonnage of 650 tons and a speed of 16 knots, “Bengal” was armed with a bow 76-mm gun and 40-mm and two 25 mm anti-aircraft guns.

November 11, 1942 at 11:45 am, while in 19 degrees 45 minutes south latitude and 92 degrees 40 minutes east longitude, to the “Bengal” noted reaching a rapprochement unknown ship without a flag, identified as a Japanese auxiliary cruiser.  Was broken alarm.  He was soon discovered and a second raider.  At 11.55 “Bengal” radioed for “one” instruction to act independently, and then turned toward the Japanese raiders.  While the trawler had no chance against the two auxiliary cruisers, his commander V. Wilson intended to delay the Raiders and give the tanker time to escape.  The Japanese hoped to fight with one escort ship, it was assumed that the tanker will have no resistance, firing at him at first was not conducted.  However, the captain “Ondina” B. Horsman decided that because of his low-speed ship is no chance to get away from the Japanese, he should take the fight with the “Bengal”.

Fight “Bengal”

12.12 In going ahead, “Hokoku Maru” opened fire from a distance of 3,500 yards (3.2 km).  Rader hit the trawler volleys four 140-mm guns starboard.  “Bengal” was responsible of 76-mm cannon.  Almost at the same time on “Hokoku Maru” was to shoot from a distance of 8,000 yards (7.3 km), 102-mm gun “Ondina”.  Almost immediately, “Hokoku” was struck in the add-in, and then – in the aft.  Shell hit the curb and caused the torpedo tube torpedo detonation.  A powerful explosion destroyed by Raider seaplane hangar and aviation gasoline ignited reserves.  Authorship as a successful hit claimed the Gunners and “Bengal” and “Ondina”.  The Japanese are inclined to believe that they were struck with a weapon Dutch tanker.

In the fight entered the second Japanese raider “Aikoku Maru.”  He was shooting at “Bengal”, which soon was hit by a 140-mm projectile in the forecastle, was flooded as a result of nasal Mosquito bay.  “Bengal” was to retreat to the north, dropping smoke floats.  However, they did not work, and the “Bengal” received from going after “Aikoku Maru” is another 140-mm projectile in the stern.  In the officers’ cabins caught fire, but it was extinguished.  At 12.45 “Bengal” was finally able to put a smoke screen and again changed course, came out of the fight.  By the time it was over ammunition for the 76 mm cannon.  Looking up from the enemy, “Bengal” went on Diego Garcia, which arrived safely on November 17.  In battle, the Japanese released him on about 200 rounds, minesweeper had two holes, body and superstructure were excised fragments, but none of the crew was neither killed nor wounded.

Fight “Ondina”

Meanwhile, the tanker “Ondina” continued to fight with a burning “Hokoku Maru.”  The Japanese have made contact with the bridge and knocked on the tanker foremast.  In turn, some of the shells with the “Ondina” hit the Japanese ship’s superstructure.  Regulation “Hokoku Maru”, despite the best efforts of the crew put out the fire, it became more and more critical.  The fire engulfed the engine room, power supply stopped.  Convinced of the futility of attempts to save the ship, the commander “Hokoku Maru” ordered the team to leave the ship.  The evacuation was not completed when at 13.12 Raider terrible explosion occurred.  Pillar of fire rose several hundred feet – apparently, the fire reached the cellars of ammunition.  “Hokoku Maru” quickly sank.

After the death of “Hokoku Maru” tanker “Ondina” tried to escape, but was soon overtaken by the second Japanese raider.  “Aikoku Maru” from a distance of 3 km 5 hit “Ondina” with two rounds in the bow and two – in the superstructure, causing fires.  Tanker fired back, but soon were shot last ammunition from a small 102-mm shells.  Captain “Ondina” ordered to lower the flag, lock the car and leave the ship.  Almost immediately after this order B. Horsman was killed on the bridge of his ship, the Japanese struck by shrapnel exploding shell.

The command “Ondina” sat in the boats lowered and moved away from the tanker.  Approaching him at 400 meters, “Aikoku Maru” was released in “Ondina” two torpedoes, did a great hole in the starboard side.  After that, the Japanese opened fire with machine guns boat “Ondina” and engaged in rescuing the crew of “Hokoku Maru.”  On board the “Aikoku” was raised by 278 people, 76 Japanese, including the captain, “Hokoku” Imacato died.  Then back to the raider banked at 30 degrees, “Ondina” and released it yet torpedo that passed by.  Having determined that the tanker sinking soon, “Aikoku Maru” retired, leaving the crew of “Ondina” to certain death in the boats in the ocean.

However, the XO tanker Rehvinkel organized a rescue team and returned to the “Ondina”.  Fires were extinguished, the ship was lined kontrzatopleniem levobortnyh compartments.  In 21 hours the car failed to start.  “Ondina” inched back course.  “Ondina” requested on the radio for urgent assistance.  However, after reports of a “Bengal” tanker is destroyed or captured by the Japanese.  Therefore, radiographs were considered a trap.  “Ondina” got yourself a week to Fremantle.  Besides the captain Horsman, who died on the ship, the team lost four men during the machine-gun fire boats, one person was seriously injured.  Captain Horsman was posthumously awarded the Dutch government by the Military Order of William the 4th degree, and calculation tools “Ondina” – Bronze Cross.

The consequences of the battle

In addition to the moral and psychological factors sinking Japanese auxiliary cruiser escorts and weak civilian ship battle “Ondina” and “Bengal” has important policy implications.  After the loss of his strong raiders in a collision with a negligible escort Japan renounced raider operations that could create serious problems allies.

Biography

Graf had studied management and, after obtaining the patent glider pilot in 1932 and the pilot of aircraft engine in 1936, he joined the Luftwaffe where he studied advanced control between 1936 and 1938.  Graf II./JG-51 was then assigned to a fighter squadron equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 E1, with the rank Unteroffizier ‘s (Sergeant).  During the campaign in France, he conducted 21 patrols along the German-French border without firing a single shot!  On 20 January 1940 he was assigned as an instructor at a group hunting reserve located in Merseburg.  On May 1, he was promoted to Leutnant (lieutenant) and was transferred to the fighter squadron No. 52 (Jagdgeschwader 52) 6 October of the same year.  On 14 October 1940 the unit was transferred to Romania where he participated in the formation of Romanian driver, allies of the Germans.  End of May 1941 he was transferred to Greece with a detachment of III./JG-52 to support the German invasion of Crete.  During this period he made many ground attack missions.

His unit was then transferred back to Romania before taking up residence at the airfield of Byala Tserkov in Russia.  The 4 August 1941 Graf shot his first enemy plane, I-16, during an escort mission Stukas, near Kiev.  In October Graf had 12 wins and 24 January 1942, he received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross after his 45th victory.

He was the first fighter pilot in the world to reach 200 victories on 26 September 1942, when he shot his 200 th, 201 th and 202 th opponents over the airfield Pitomnik near Stalingrad.  Following this action he was awarded the rank of Hauptmann (Captain), and since 16 September 1942, he was also wearing the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds that has been assigned as 5th soldier Wehrmacht.

The Aviator, “crazy” soccer, had also created a football team of the Luftwaffe, the Rote Jäger (red hunters) who was very popular in the Third Reich and then had many famous players in their ranks.

During the first half of 1943, Graf commanded a flying school for advanced fighter pilots based in Bordeaux in France.  On 21 July 1943 he was assigned to a new specialized in high altitude fighter to counter unit Mosquitos British.  This unit was named JG-50 on 15 August 1943.  Graf earned three victories when he served in the unit, including two four-engine bombers B-17.

On 11 November 1943, Graf, then Oberst (Colonel), was appointed Kommodore (Wing Commander) of JG-11.  Within this unit he participated in the six months after the defense of the Reich.  On 29 March 1944, Graf shot a P-51 and struck another, which caused him to be injured after jumping from his damaged aircraft.

Graf then returned to his old unit, JG-52 became its Geschwaderkommodore (Wing Commander) October 1, 1944.  He led the unit during its continual retreat through East Prussia, the Silesia and Bohemia.  He ended the war with the rank of Colonel (Oberst).  He totaled 212 wins, 202 obtained on the eastern front and 10 on the front west.  He had flown over 830 missions.

At the capitulation of Nazi Germany, Hermann Graf was ordered by General Seidemann to go to Dortmund to engage the British.  However, not wanting to give up the rest of the JG/52 (including non navigating personnel), he disobeyed and gave the rest of his unit (including German ace Erich Hartmann ) to U.S. authorities in Pilsen ( Czech Republic ).  Unfortunately, under an agreement between Russians and Americans, the majority of the JG/52 was delivered to the Soviets.  Graf and Hartmann were deported to Russia (Gryazovets camp near Moscow ).  Given their reputation (including both were awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with bright), they were subjected to great pressure NKVD to recognize the guilt of the German army at abuses during the war.  If Hartmann did not yield (which cost him about 10 years of camp), Graf gave quickly and publicly acknowledged that the war was a mistake.  After his release in 1950 and his return to Germany, it caused him to be expelled from the association of former fighter pilots (Kameradschaftsbund der Jagdflieger) and be believed (wrongly) to spy in favor of the Russians.

After the war he continued to fly and became a member of the Swiss Aeroclub.  From 1965 he was hit by Parkinson’s disease and died at his home in 1988.

Decorations

Wound Badge in Silver

Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (9 December 1941)

Badge pilot observer Gold with Diamonds

Insignia Pilot Romanian

Knight of the Order of the Romanian Crown (23 May 1941)

German Cross in Gold (April 1942)

Iron Cross (1939)  2nd Class (9 August 1941)

1st Class (31 August 1941)

Combat Badge Luftwaffe fighter pilot to Gold  Bronze (15 May 1941)

Silver (25 August 1941)

Gold (10 November 1941)

Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds  Cross Knight January 24, 1942 as Leutnant der Reserves and pilot in 9./JG 52

93rd oak leaves 17 May 1942 as Leutnant der Reserves and Staffelführer the 9./JG 52

11th swords May 19, 1942 as Leutnant der Reserves and Staffelkapitän the 9./JG 52

5th Diamonds September 16, 1942 as Oberleutnant der Reserves and Staffelkapitän the 9./JG 52

Mentioned five times in the journal Wehrmachtbericht

Due to a mutiny of soldiers Indian officers against their British, Japanese troops managed to occupy the island without resistance. However, the submarine American USS Seawolf (SS-197) causes significant damage to the Japanese cruiser Naka.

Background

Christmas Island was then a British possession part of the institutions of the Straits (Straits Settlements), located 298 km south of Java. She gets up to be important for two reasons: it is a perfect outpost control of the Indian Ocean and has resources phosphate necessary for the Japanese industry.

After the occupation of Java in February-March 1942, the Imperial Headquarters Japanese gives the orders for Operation X (the invasion and occupation of Christmas Island) March 14, 1942.

The cons-Admiral Nishimura Shōji is assigned command of the Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet with the light cruiser Naka for flagship. The fleet also consists cruisers Nagara, Natori, as well as destroyers Minegumo, Natsugumo, Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze, Satsuki, Minazuki, Fumizuki, Nagatsuki, oil Akebono Maru transport ships Kimishima Maru and Kumagawa Maru and 850 men the 21 th and 24th Special Forces base and the 102nd construction unit.

On the island, the British garrison (32 soldiers, mostly Indians, led by a British officer and four NCOs), has a 155 mm gun made ​​after the First World War from Singapore and probably three anti guns -aircraft.

Indian troops, apparently believing Japanese propaganda about the liberation of India from British rule, mutinied and killed their officers on the night of 10 March 1942 and imprison some other European inhabitants of the island until a performance that apparently will be thwarted by the Japanese occupation ,.

Course of the battle

At dawn on March 31, 1942, a dozen bombers Japanese launch a raid on the island destroying the radio station (now located at the site of the post office).

Fragments of bombs dropped are still observable in the 1980s. Because of the mutiny, the Japanese expeditionary force able to land at Flying Fish Cove ally without opposition.

At 9:49, the American submarine USS Seawolf launched four torpedoes against the Naka all miss their target. This attack again at 6:50 the next morning, launching three torpedoes against the Natori also missed. In the evening, with his last two torpedoes with a range of 1000 m , the Seawolf manages to touch the Naka on its starboard side, near the boiler room No. 1. The damage is severe enough to the point that Naka had to be towed by Natori to return to Singapore, before being forced to return to Japan to undergo a year of repairs. After the success of the attack, the Japanese vessels conduct a hunt underwater for more than seven hours, but the Seawolf escapes.

And consequences

The Natori returns on Christmas Island and the Japanese re-embarked April 3, 1942, with the exception of a detachment of 20 men in Banten Bay. The phosphate extract is loaded onto transport ships. After the end of the occupation in 1945, during which the Japanese have forced many local Muslims to devote themselves to worship, the liberating Allied troops destroyed a shrine Shinto.

7 mutineers Indian survivors found are pursued by a military court in Singapore and five of them were sentenced to death in 1947. The sentences were commuted to life imprisonment after the governments of India and Pakistan have opposed their execution.

History

The Cross of Military Merit (Militär-Verdienstkreuz) is called Cross of Military Merit in Gold (Goldenes Militär-Verdienstkreuz) to distinguish it from the first military decoration class (Militär-Ehrenzeichen I. Klasse), less Prussian decoration for bravery enlisted soldiers is a similar cross, but in silver. Cross of Military Merit in Gold is also known as the “Pour le Merite for NCOs and enlisted men” (Orden Pour le Mérite für Unteroffiziere und Mannschaften), which is after the Pour le Mérite, the highest military decoration for Prussian officers.

Cross of Military Merit in Gold was founded by King William I of Prussia, February 27, 1864. It is initially reserved for staff with the rank of Feldwebel (then the highest non-commissioned officer rank) and below, but eligibility was later extended to the soldiers in the rank of Offizier-Stellvertreter a grade, created in 1887, which is roughly comparable to the rank of sergeant.

Description

Cross of Military Merit in Gold, as its name suggests is a medal of solid gold (later made ​​gold plated silver) representing a Maltese cross with a central medallion.

The obverse of the medallion depicts the intertwined initials of the founder WR (William Rex) surmounted by a crown, the royal monogram of the Prussian monarchy. On the flipside, the registration kriegs VERDIENST (War Merit) is attached at the bottom with two branches of oak leaves.

The medal is worn on a black ribbon with white side stripes on the left chest.

Awards

The first awards were given to the Austro-Prussian War of 1866-16 officers and men September 20, 1866 for their particularly outstanding contribution made ​​by their bravery and merit. No allocation has been made ​​for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, when the Prussian military decoration principal for both officers and enlisted men, was the Iron Cross. Other ceremonies were followed from 1873 to 1884 in 34 sub-officers of the Russian guard, from 1895 to 1906 for their bravery in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Only five awards were made ​​before the First World War : four colonial conflicts and for the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

During the First World War, the Iron Cross is again restored, and for the first years of the war, it becomes the Prussian military decoration principal.

The first ceremony of the Cross of Military Merit was held on 15 October 1916 George Dulz a Vizefeldwebel (Sergeant) of the Rhine 6th Infantry Regiment No. 68 (6. Rheinische Infantry-Regiment Nr 68), followed by 54 other awards in 1917. The rest discounts Cross of Military Merit was made in 1918.

Despite the greater number of awards in 1918, the decor remains extremely rare compared to the number of eligible Prussian soldiers and compared to the number of awards the Iron Cross and most other decorations enrolled States of German Empire.

The last ceremony November 3, 1918 to Charles Beck, a Vizefeldwebel in the reserve infantry regiment No. 83 (Reserve-Infantry-Regiment Nr 83). The Infanterieflieger (infantry aviator) Heinrich Ernst Schäfer was received posthumously on June 11, 1918.

The last owner of the Gold Cross of Military Merit, a former sergeant in the Infantry Regiment “Duke of Holstein” (Holstein) No. 85, August Reese died in 1988 at the age of 102 years.

The decoration has been awarded only 1,760 times the German soldiers.

Recipients received a monthly allowance, which was maintained even after the end of the Prussian monarchy in November 1918 through the era of the Third Reich, then recovered in West Germany in 1957.

Privileges

The award of the Gold Cross of Military Merit give special rights to the recipient:

Preferred by food authorities

A monthly allowance amounting to three crowns later RM 9, from 20 August 1939 and RM in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957 and DM 25 in 1986, 50 DM

Military honors by the gun

Funeral procession for the death of the holder

History

Development

The Beachy Head is part of a fairly homogeneous set of 31 ocean submarine patrol large, also known as 1500 tonnes due to their displacement. All entered service between 1931 ( Formidable ) and 1939 ( Sidi Ferruch ).

Of 92.30 meters long and 8.10 wide, they have a draft of 4.40 meters and can dive up to 80 meters. They move on the surface 1572 tons and 2082 tons diving. Propelled to the surface by two diesel engines with a total power of 6,000 horses, their maximum speed is 18.6 knots. Elevated electric propulsion of 2250 horses allows them to reach 10 knots. Also called “submarine large cruise” their range surface is 10 000 nautical miles at 10 knots and dive 100 nautical miles at five knots.

Starts April 4, 1932 with hull number Q179, the Beachy Head is launched 14 October 1935 and commissioned June 4, 1937.

World War II

It is assigned at the beginning of the Second World War, the 8th division of submarines based in Brest, he forms with the Agosta, the Ouessant and Sidi Ferruch.

At the outbreak of war on September 3, 1939, he was sent to patrol off the ports on the north coast of Spain, which is part of the refugee fleet of German trade, suspected to act as feeders to the U- Boote German. At the beginning of October, he was sent with the 8th Division in the Caribbean. He then escorted two convoys from Halifax to Liverpool and returned to Brest April 20, 1940. After a small fairing, it is sent to Casablanca where he is when the armistice comes into force on 25 June 1940. He then patrol in the Gulf of Guinea and returned to Dakar 21 August 1940.

Under the command of Lieutenant Commander Lancelot, the Beachy Head is the basin in Dakar when, on September 23, the Free French and British attack the capital of French West Africa. Quickly refloated, the unfinished work, he nevertheless managed to torpedo the 25 the battleship HMS Resolution, which remains out of combat for nearly nine months.

October 28, he formed the Casabianca, the Sfax and Sidi Ferruch the 2nd Division submarine based in Casablanca. He joined Toulon January 3, 1941, where he placed guards then refit. On November 12, it is reset and sent to Madagascar, where he arrived February 19, 1942.

On 5 May 1942, the submarine was surprised by the bombardment beginning the Battle of Madagascar and tries to pair with two-thirds of his crew out of the large bay, about 6 hours. Three Swordfish the grenadent and begins to drift. He suffered two more attacks that reach the hull. At 6 h 10, the submarine began to sink. The commander surfaced to allow the crew to evacuate the building sinks. It was then that the three Swordfish turns, returns to the scene of the attack and grapeshot the survivors, leaving two missing and four injured sailors from Beachy Head. The submarine disappeared at 12 ° 16 ’30 “South, 49 ° 17′ 05″ East.

Bailed out by the Allies the following year and then set aside, it will eventually scrapped in 1946.

The causes of the battle and the sinking of Sydney remain controversial. The loss of Sydney was a shock and a lot of disbelief in Australia because it was one of the most famous ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and was sunk by a converted cruiser cargo. The only eyewitnesses to the battle were the crew of Kormoran but as the two vessels moved away after the battle, the exact reasons for the sinking of Sydney remain unknown.

In March 2008, the wreck of the Kormoran and Sydney were found after a long search. Both ships are about 200 kilometers off Steep Point, at a depth of about 2500 meters and about 12 nautical miles (22 km) from each other.

Ships

Sydney was launched September 22, 1934, the shipyard Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd in Wallsend, in England. It was a modified light cruiser of the Leander class of 6830 tons, commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1935. Its armament consisted of eight twin 152 mm guns and four 102 mm guns mounted separately. Externally, the most notable change from Sydney to the original design Leander is the replacement of the single stack by two much narrower and taller stacks. Sydney was easily distinguishable from the other ships of the same type by the presence of a beam in front of the bridge and its unique opening for 102 mm guns located amidships. He also had a seaplane Supermarine Walrus (who had replaced a Supermarine Seagull), led by members of the squadron No. 9 of the Royal Australian Air Force.

In 1940, Sydney was credited with sinking a cruiser modern Italian during the Battle of Cape Spada and two Italian destroyers in other commitments. After his return from the Mediterranean, the command of the famous Sydney rose Commander John Collins relatively inexperienced commander Joseph Burnett.

The Kormoran was a freighter that the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) was transformed into warship disguised as a merchant ship. It was under the command of Fregattenkapitän (Commander) Theodor Detmers. German Dutch cargo ship simulated Malakka Straat. Although lacking a protective armor and without the speed of a real warship, the Kormoran had concealed weapons, including six 150 mm guns and torpedo. It was in service for a little over a year and had sunk ten merchant ships in the South Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific.

Navigation of the two ships to the commitment

On October 16, after conducting successful actions against Allied merchant ships in the northern Indian Ocean, the Kormoran joined the supply ship of the Kriegsmarine, the Kulmerland to refuel and resupply, and for file of prisoners and five crew members requiring medical attention at a predesignated place off Cape Leeuwin, southwest of Australia. The two ships traveled together to the northwest until 25 October. Detmers wanted to lay mines off Fremantle. However, while the Kormoran was heading to Australia, he received a warning from the German radio war warning of the approach of a convoy, escorted by the heavy cruiser British Cornwall (which sank in May another German auxiliary cruiser, the Pinguin). Detmers took evasive action, changing course to the north, before approaching again the coast near Shark Bay.

On November 5, in Albany, south-west of Australia, Sydney began to escort the troop ship the Zealandia  which led to Singapore. Sydney and Zealandia arrived in Fremantle on November 9. They were delayed by a strike aboard the Zealandia and could not leave Fremantle before November 11. They reached the Sunda Strait on November 17 and told the Sydney escort of Zealandia in Durban  before returning to Fremantle. Sydney had planned to arrive in the afternoon or in the evening of 20 November.

According to the stories of the crew of the Kormoran, their ship was off the Dirk Hartog Island and heading north when he was spotted by Sydney about 16 hours on November 19. Both vessels were located approximately 20 km (11 nautical miles). Dutch pseudo-cargo ignored the signals sent by the Sydney and headed for the high seas, followed by the Australian ship. Detmers ordered sending radio signals, indicating that the Dutch freighter Straat Malakka was followed by an unknown ship. The Kormoran had engine problems and could do more than 14 knots (26 km / h). Both ships undertook to exchange visual signals. The Kormoran sent a series of deliberately confusing signals and poorly displayed for 90 minutes while the Sydney approached the Kormoran.

Detmers maintained comedy as long as possible to take full advantage of surprise. He knew that his best chance was in a battle at close range where the benefits of Sydney armaments, fire control system and armor protection would be lower. Burnett finally demanded that the Kormoran him a secret code book, while Sydney was approached about 1000 meters from the Kormoran. According to Detmers, Sydney was still behind the Kormoran, with a course parallel to hers and was not prepared to fight. He could “see men cooking in their white coats lined up along the railing to see near the Dutch ship”.

The battle

Detmers concluded that he had no other choice but the fight and ordered the Dutch flag was lowered and that of the German Navy was hoisted. The weapons went into action to 5:30 p.m. According to the crew of the Kormoran, the Australian warship was not fully prepared to fight – its 150 mm guns were well trained on him – but the guns of 102 mm did not have their servers.

The first salvo of German 150 mm guns was too short but simultaneously burst cannons of 37 mm and 20 mm fell directly on the deck of the Sydney Tower fire control and other parts of the superstructure. The 150 mm guns fired successfully their second salvo. The accuracy of the German gunners in the first minutes of the battle, probably killed many soldiers Sydney and / or destroyed the fire control system, which prevented the Gunners shoot accurately. The seaplane aboard Sydney was also hit and fuel caused a major fire amidships.

Some turrets Sydney then replied with gunfire. According to the Germans, the first shots of Sydney seemed to be a “burst test”: a technical standard targeting where shells were fired on either side of the target. Sydney undergoes fire that started off turrets before (“A” and “B”), leaving only the rear turrets (“X” and “Y”) operational. The crew of the Kormoran indicated that the turret “X” opened a fast and accurate fire, hitting Kormoran in the fireplace and its engine room, killing almost all the mechanics and causing a major fire. The turret “Y” would have fired two or three rounds that have missed their target. Sydney was also hit in the front by at least one torpedo.

Sydney then headed directly to the Kormoran, causing the Germans to think he was going to sink. However, he made a 180 degree turn, apparently in order to use its starboard torpedo. At 17 h 45, four torpedoes were fired but they were content to go behind the Kormoran. At this time, the ship’s engines were already down.

Unfortunately, Sydney was now exposed to the intense fire of the Kormoran, this time on the starboard side. The volume of shots he had been on both sides of the superstructure and the fires that followed had destroyed some other lifeboats and rafts. Only five of the nine lifeboats were found with the wreck. Sydney was hit at least 86 times by the 150 mm guns of Kormoran.

The Australian ship fired a torpedo last 00 to 18 h before to leave to the south. The German gunners continued to fire on him until 18 h 25, when Detmers gave the order to abandon ship. The order was given because of fires that raged on the German ship and became out of control after hitting an oil store. At this time, the fire control system was also destroyed on the Kormoran.

Both vessels sank

The Germans claimed to have seen the burning ship on the horizon until 22 pm that night and saw flames still from time to time, two hours later. Shortly after the Australian ship vanished from their sight, the Germans heard several loud explosions, and thought – perhaps wrongly – that the fire had reached the ammunition bunkers Sydney. However, examination of the wreckage suggested that the cause of the sinking was the torpedo had struck at her bow and had caused a tear in the hull in rough seas. None of the 645 people on board has been found dead or alive (with the possible exception of an unidentified body found later off the Christmas Island).

The fire received during the battle had caused an uncontrollable fire in the engine room of the Kormoran, which had made ​​the control equipment against fire useless. There were 20 deaths and the fire was approaching the storage area mines. Detmers chose to scuttle the ship and explosive charges were placed at strategic points and took the survivors aboard lifeboats, Detmers being the last to leave the ship. The process of abandoning ship took several hours, with the establishment of means of scuttling the lifeboats and laboriously hoisted wedges hand to provide sufficient capacity for the whole crew. 40 Germans, mostly wounded, were killed when a boat capsized in the waves. Shortly after midnight, the charges exploded, followed 25 minutes later by mines. All the stern and the center section of the ship was experiencing a huge fire with flames going up to 300 meters in the night sky while the Kormoran sank by the stern.

Survivors

Detmers, about 320 German sailors and three Chinese civilians working in the laundry  were saved by the lifeboats by merchant ships Aquitania, Shells, Koolinda, Centaur and the Australian ship anti-submarine Yandra struggle. A little later, two lifeboats touched land north of Carnarvon.

Almost all Germans spent the rest of the war in prisoner of war camp near Tatura, in Victoria, they were released in January 1947.

During the war, “Norman” received two awards Battle (Battle Honour s) for Burma from 1944 to 1945 and Okinawa in 1945.

Building

She ordered 15 April 1939 under the financial 1939 years. The keel was laid on July 27, 1939 Thornycroft shipyard in Southampton. Hull launched on October 30, 1940. The ship was built for the Navy British Royal Navy named HMS “Norman” (as a second British ship of the same name, the destroyer of the Holy War.). Construction stretched due to the higher priority nadanemu refurbishment of damaged ships and late delivery of fire control equipment. Finally, along with five other ships of this type of “Norman” was submitted before the end of the Navy Australia, remaining the property of the British government. The service has been adopted as HMAS “Norman” September 15, 1941, before the official end of construction and acceptance tests September 29, 1941. In the same yard also built at the same time the destroyer of this type (ex-”Norseman”) and previously and the same type K.

Service

Northern Europe in 1941

During the first period of the generation of combat readiness “Norman” was stationed at Scapa Flow, composed of Fleet Metropolis (Home Fleet), operating in the waters north of the United Kingdom. Between 7 to 17 October 1941 took a delegation of the Union of Trade of Iceland to Arkhangelsk in the Soviet Union and patrolled in the White Sea. In December, the ship was under repair in Southampton, combined with radar equipment fitting in the head.

1942 Indian Ocean

“Norman” was then directed ultimately to the Indian Ocean in the British Eastern Fleet (Eastern Fleet), where he went sailing January 17, 1942, escorted by a convoy WS-15 through Freetown and Durban (from battleship and the first Polish destroyer ORP “Garland” ). March 4 dokonwojował last part of the vessel (convoy DM-3) to Colombo, Ceylon, ie, before joining the twin ships 7 Eastern Fleet Destroyer Flotilla in Addu Atoll in the Maldives. Attached is (as opposed to other types of ships) to Team B (“free”), Eastern Fleet during the Japanese raid on the Indian Ocean in April, but there were no clashes with the enemy. In May, she operated in the service of Kilindini escort.

Mediterranean Sea in 1942

In May and June 1942 “Norman” was with the 7th Destroyer Flotilla addressed briefly in the Mediterranean Sea, to Alexandria, in order to participate in a strong escort Vigorous operations to Malta. The operation, on 13-16 June, however, met with strong anti-aviation Axis countries and ended in defeat (including embedded HMAS “Nestor”). In late June, he returned with a fleet of the Indian Ocean.

Indian Ocean, 1942-1945

From July 1942 “Norman” again served in the Fleet Eastern Europe, escorting convoys, and the main forces of the fleet, based mainly in Kilindini and Ceylon. From July 30 to August 2 took part in the operation Stab mock attack on the Andaman Islands, pocket battleship and aircraft. From September 9 took part in the second phase of the French invasion of Madagascar, insuring September 10 landing at Majunga from attack submarines (Operation Stream). Over the following months he served escort and patrol, searching for submarines in the region of South Africa, stationed mainly in Durban.

In February 1943 “Norman” shrouded large convoy of passenger ships carrying Australian 9th Infantry Division from Aden in to Australia (Operation Pamphlet). In March and April was renovated in Simonstown, and then returned to service escort and patrol the Indian Ocean. In July, he was docked in Durban.

In October, “Norman” przebazował to Trincomalee in Ceylon, covering Eastern Fleet forces. From 22 to 31 March 1944 he took part in Operation Diplomat – foray main body of the fleet aircraft carrier HMS “Illustrious” in the Indian Ocean in order to meet the aircraft carrier. From April to June was renovated in Sydney (did not take part in the attack fleet in Sabang and Surabaya).

In August 1944 “Norman” returned to 7 Flotilla at Trincomalee. In October he took part in the attack on the Nicobar Islands – Millet operations, having distracted the Japanese before the U.S. landing on Leyte. The composition of the second 63 team group (Task Group 63.2, the cruiser HMS “London” and the destroyers and “Van Galen” bombarded 17 and October 18 Car Nicobar island. He returned to escort duties.

In January 1945, “Norman” worked off the coast of Burma and the Bay of Bengal, in the band 64 newly formed East Indies Fleet. From 18 January 1945 he took part in the action against the islands Cheduba and Ramree (Operation Sankey). January 21 Ramree shrouded landing. January 26 shelled the island Cheduba (the destroyers “Raider”, “Paladin” and “Rapid”), and on January 30 he took part in the landing on the island of Sagu with the “Raider” and four barges desantowymi.

Pacific Ocean 1945

In March, she was trained in Sydney to work with the American fleet and assigned to the British Pacific Fleet (changed the tactical sign on D16). It was based on an extended basis Manus. Along with other Australian destroyers of the N 7 Flotilla, mostly shrouded supply unit (Logistic Support Group – Task Force 112) British main force (TF 57), in the course of the operation in May and June in Okinawa – against the islands Sakishima (operations Iceberg One & Two). Between 19 and 22 May shrouded British aircraft TF 57, where from May 20 towing and escort towing damaged in a collision destroyer HMS “Quilliam” on Leyte. In July and August the fleet shrouded in Manus. After the Japanese surrender he returned to Australia.

During the war, “Norman” swam around 270,000 miles offshore.

Commanders

•September 15, 1941 – June 23, 1943 Capt. cf. (Commander) Henry M. Burrell

•June 23, 1943 – November 2, 1944: Capt. cf. (Commander) HJ Buchanan

•November 2, 1944 -: Cdr. (Lieutenant Commander) J. Plunkett-Cole

After the war,

In October 1945 “Norman” was returned to Britain in exchange for the destroyer HMS “Queenborough”, where he arrived Dec. 12, 1945. In the UK, has not entered into active service, and at the beginning of 1946 was withdrawn into reserve in Plymouth, and since August 1950 in Chatham and later in Devonport. In January 1953 it was allowed to store in Penarth. Eventually expelled from the fleet in 1956 and sold for scrap to the yard in Newport, where he arrived April 1, 1958.

Specifications

Note – The data on weapons and radar generally refer to ships, type N, the date changes for a particular ship are approximate.

Armament

•6 guns of 120 mm QF Mk XII on double bases CP Mk XIX, sheltered masks (3xII)

◦Barrel length: L/45 (45 caliber), range 15 520 m maximum elevation angle 40 °, bullet weight 22.7 kg

•One has plot 102 mm QF Mk V on the basis of HA Mk III (up to 1942/1943)

◦Barrel length: L/45 elevation angle 80 °, bullet weight 14.06 kg

•4 automatic anti-aircraft guns of 40 mm Vickers Mk VIII (“pom-pom”) quad-coupled from Mk VII (1xIV)

•4-6 Automatic plot plot 20 mm Oerlikon 20 mm (number gradually increased, 4xI to 6xI, then 2xII and 2xI)

•Five 533 mm torpedo tubes on the camera torpedo PR Mk II (1xV), 5 torpedoes Mk IX

◦◾from 1942 to 1943 – 10 launchers (2xV)

•1 chute for six bombs and two depth charge throwers (20-45 depth charges)

Equipment

•sonar

•Artillery fire control system: dalocelownik (DCT) and the main rangefinder (the superstructure bow)

•general surveillance radar Type 286 (from 1941, the main mast), then type 291

•AA fire control radar Type 285 (from 1941, the position EDM)

•general surveillance radar SG-1 (at the end of the war, the main mast)

Destroyers J / K / N

British destroyers in World War II

Australian warships of World War II

I-10 was the command ship that took part in the attack on the Allied fleet from Madagascar in zaschodnie to the U.S. coast. He was one of the most successful Japanese units during his service he sank a total of 15 enemy ships.

Construction and equipment

The construction of I-10 began in Kawasaki shipyard in Kobe, September 20, 1939, was the second (after the I-9) submarine type A1, formed on the basis of such plans J3. As individuals we have additional space command for the squadron commander and special communications equipment. Also increased their range and modified the position of the catapult, thus significantly accelerated seaplane service u The construction of I-10 was completed October 31, 1941 year.

Service

Operation “Z”

The first task I-10 (under the command of Capt. cf. Yasuchika Kayabara) under the Sixth Fleet Reconnaissance Unit was a reconnaissance patrol in the areas of the South Pacific. The ship sailed from the port of Yokosuka November 16. Fourteen days later (November 30), during aerial reconnaissance seaplane shipped got lost. Forced to do reconnaissance from the deck of a ship commander recognized American-class cruiser Astoria (December 4, near Pago Pago).

Two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, I-6 sent a report of a diagnosis of Lexington aircraft carrier and two cruisers around Oahu heading for the U.S. coast. For this reason, all nine vessels involved in the operation got the order to initiate the chase. Later that same evening I-10 caught unarmed motorowiec “Donerail”, sailing under the Panamanian flag. Kayabara artillery opened fire, hitting the bridge and radio. The captain ordered the ship attacked the evacuation, but the crew of I-10 machine gun fired one of the two lifeboats, killing cast. “Donareil” sank in two hours after the start of the attack. With 40 people on board 16 people were killed during the shelling, while another 16 (including the captain) when traveling survivor launch.

When the pursuit of an aircraft carrier was considered a failure submarines assigned a new task – to patrol the West Coast. I-10 got a body of water near San Diego, but have not encountered any enemy. The base of Yokosuka returned on January 21.

The activities in the Indian Ocean in 1942

In response to the request of the Navy of attacking convoys in the Indian Ocean issued March 27, formed headquarters 8 submarine squadron of Admiral Noboru Ishizaki, where I-10 is the flagship. The squadron that was dedicated team who had to make a trip on the water of Madagascar. In addition to I-10 belonged to the I-16, I-18, I-20 to 1 Squadron equipped with a miniature submarine Ko-hyoteki and I-30 of 14 with a seaplane. The team (in addition to I-30) to the base of Penang Ferry April 25-26, and after four days the ships began to head towards Africa. After air reconnaissance carried out with I-10 May 29 at 22.30 on Reda Diego Suarez Ishizakiego team attacked ships located there, including the British battleship HMS “Ramillies”.

I-10 ended August 9 patrol returning to base in Penang with eight zatopieniami .

In the Solomons

The third patrol I-10 conducted under a new commander – Captain Takashi Yamada (later appointed captain). The base at Truk she arrived on 27 October. Patrol around the Solomon Islands took place from November 24 to December 18 and did not bring any new sinking. After almost a month of rest, January 15, 1943 I-10 embarked on her fourth patrol, whose aim was to transport routes between the Solomon Islands and New Zealand. This time Yamadzie managed to sink one American ship with a displacement of 7176 tonnes (January 30) and damage to another (March 1). Patrol at the port of Sasebo ended March 21.

The activities in the Indian Ocean in 1943

Again, as flagship of 8 I-10 squadron got a mission to patrol the Indian Ocean. Under the command of Captain Tonozuka Kinzo she left the base Penang July 26. In the Gulf of Aden, he managed to sink a Norwegian tanker Alcides (July 22) and then 13 days later, he returned to base without further fighting.

Setting off in the sixth patrol September 2 onto the deck I-10 took the new commander of the 8th Squadron – Admiral Ichioka Hisashige and television crew with the task of shooting material for a propaganda film. During the two-month cruise ship sank four ships – including two Norwegian. After returning to Penang (October 31) recorded materials were assembled in the movie “Gochin!” (Zatopić!), which provides, among others the sinking of one of the ships, and the assistance given Norway survivors.

Activities in the Pacific in 1944 and the sinking of

At the Commander Nakajima Seiji I-10 got in the allocation of the west coast of the USA. As a result of the American attack on Truk (17-18 February 1944) she suffered a minor injury that did not prevent him, however, set out on his sixth patrol Feb. 25. At the end of the week (March 4) east of Mile I-10 was attacked by bomb damage to the abyssal and had to go to repair the port Yokosuka.

In his last cruise I-10 departed on May 9 in the Marshall Islands. Its aim was to identify his seaplane Majuro U.S. base, which he did on June 12. Aircraft did not find any vessel mooring and crashed when trying to land. June 22 Nakijama was ordered to break out to the island of Saipan and the evacuation of the Vice Admiral Takagi with the Sixth Fleet headquarters. Five days later, I-10 sent its last report. The most likely version of the sinking of the ship is sinking it on July 4. According to her, at 17 Nakijama team tried to attack oil tankers sheathed by the escort carrier USS Breton and the destroyer USS Riddle. However, he was discovered by the latter and attacked (unsuccessfully) with depth charges. About 18.22 joined to fight the American destroyer USS David W. Taylor, who sank an enemy warship. Other sources serve as a cause of the sinking of the I-10 attack enemy aircraft.

Conducted attacks

Units sunk by I-10

Name of entity

Tonnage

Date of flooding

Coordinates

Donerail ( Nordhval)

4473 tons 08-00N, 152-00W

Atlantic Gulf

2639 tons 21-03S, 37-36E

Melvin H. Baker

4999 tons 21-44S, 36-38E

King People

5224 tons 20-00S 40-00E

Queen Victoria

4937 tons 21-15S, 40-30E

Express

6736 tons 23-30S, 37-30E

Nymphe

4504 tons 15-48S 40-42E

Hartismere

5498 tons 18-00S, 41-22E

Alchiba

4427 tons 18-30S, 41-40E

Samuel Gompers

7176 tons 24-28S, 166-20E

Alcides

7634 tons 03S, 68E

Bramora

6361 tons 06-00N, 67-00E

Elias Howe

7634 tons 11-40N, 44-35E

Storviken

4836 tons 11-43N, 48-07E

Congella

4533 tons

Units damaged by I-10

Gulfwave

7141 tons 20-30S, 174-45E

Anna Knudsen

9057 tons 14-20N, 50-47E

Japanese submarines of World War II

The Jacob van Heemskerck during WWII

During May 1940, the ship was still under construction. It was early in service on 10 May and sailed by the First Officer, Jhr Gustaaf Alexander Berg (1896-1951) with 33 crew members from Amsterdam to the United Kingdom because the designated Commander (of Holthe) by the confused state on May 10, do not on time could be on the ship. In Portsmouth, the ship was further reduced, previously included the depth charge racks of torpedo boats G 13 and G 15 used.

With a crew of about 260 heads the “Jacob van Heemskerck ‘escorted the cruiser’ Hr. Ms. Sumatra were transferred. Aboard which Princess Juliana and her two daughters to Halifax The crossing lasted from 3 to 11 June 1940.

On November 28, 1942 held the Australian cruiser HMAS Adelaide (under Captain James Claude Durie Esdaile) and Heemskerck the German runner Ramses in the Indian Ocean, approximately 830 nautical miles WSW of the NW Cape of Australia (23 º 30′Z, 99 º 21′O) . The German crew brought the ship to sink before it was seized.

On May 5, 1943 Teunis de Jong hit sailor overboard. The cruiser sailed back to find him, but De Jong could not be found. In Linschoten is a memorial to commemorate him.

On November 20, 1969 the ship was taken out of service, after which it was sold on June 23, 1970 to be demolished

Commanders, FROM, To, Name

May 10, 1940  May 14, 1940  lieutenant 1st class Esquire Foreest Arnold (1901-1964)

May 14, 1940  April 30, 1943  captain-lieutenant Esquire Edzard Jacob van Holthe (1896-1967)

April 30, 1943  May 27, 1944  sea ​​captain William Harmsen

May 27, 1944  September 15, 1944  sea ​​captain William of The Dark

September 15, 1944  October 15, 1945  captain-lieutenant Esquire Gustaaf Alexander Berg

Cruiser Tromp Class

Dutch cruiser

Dutch ship inn

Dutch navy ship in World War II