Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 42]
Destroyers
The arrival of the Australian Destroyer Flotilla brings forward the question what work it has been doing since its advent in European waters.
It is safe to say at the start that the Australian T.B.D's have been occupied in some of the hardest work under the most trying conditions and covering a wider field of activities than almost any other flotilla either English or those of our Allies.
It is fair to assume that the majority of my readers are unacquainted with the units which go to comprise the Australian flotilla though no doubt most people have seen all or more of the boats in Australian ports from time to time. In a few words then, it is made up of two divisions of three boats each. The 1st division all built in England in 1910 comprise the "Parramatta" "Yarra" and "Warrego", the 2nd Division all built at Cockatoo Yard and commissioned in 1916 include the "Swan" "Huon" and "Torrens". The flotilla is homogeneous, that is to say the boats are all of the same displacement, armament and speed.
The flotilla under the leadership fo the late Commander Warren D.S.O., R.A.N. arrived at Port Said August 10th, 1917 and was immediately given the first serious job since it overcame and captured the defences in New Guinea. This was to escort a convoy of five big freighters to Malta.
Into Unknown
On leaving Port Said we had the curious feeling of venturing into an unknown world. Behind us lay peace and security. Submarines were unknown in the waters we had just come from and although it is true an occasional raider did make its presence felt they never came within many thousands of miles where we were stationed and our most dangerous occupation was that of boarding peaceful merchantmen.
Now all was changed. Ships had been torpedoed within sight of Port Said. Day or night guns and torpedo tubes were never left unmanned, both being ready to fire at an instant's notice. Every one had eyes for the elusive periscope and before we had been forty eight hours out from Port