Firsthand: Japanese submarine attacks on Sydney and Newcastle

Summary

The video transcript poignantly captures the chaos and confusion that unfolded during the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour during World War II. Through the eyes of eyewitnesses, it vividly depicts the surreal scene of submarines maneuvering in the harbour, the destruction of the HMAS Kuttabul, and the shelling of the coast by the mother submarine. The melancholic music and personal anecdotes paint a haunting picture of a city unprepared for war, leaving a lasting impact on those who experienced it firsthand.

Takeaways

• 😨 Sydney Harbour came under attack by midget submarines during World War II, which took the city by surprise.
• 💡 The first submarine got caught in a net while trying to follow a Manly ferry into the harbor.
• 💥 The second submarine fired two torpedoes, missing the American cruiser Chicago but hitting the Kuttabul ship, causing significant damage.
• 🚢 One of the torpedoes travelled across the harbor, went up onto a wharf but failed to explode.
• 🇳🇱 The torpedo hit the Kuttabul after going under a Dutch submarine tied alongside it.
• 🚤 The attacking submarine was later raised and recovered from the harbor.
• 🔥 The mother submarine shelled the coast, with dud shells landing on the beach.
• ⚓ The attack happened while the lights were still on at Garden Island, where ships were being built, indicating the city's unpreparedness.
• 🚢 Motorboat drivers were sent out with depth charges, which could have been disastrous if dropped.
• 😨 The attack was a shocking and nasty experience for those present, highlighting the realities of war.

Q & A

What event is being described in the transcript?

The transcript describes the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour during World War II.

How did the first submarine get caught in the net?

The first submarine was maneuvering to follow underneath the Manly ferry, but because it was difficult to maneuver, it missed the gate and went into the anti-submarine net, where it got caught.

What was the purpose of the second submarine?

The purpose of the second submarine was to destroy the American heavy cruiser, the USS Chicago, which was anchored in the harbor.

What happened to the two torpedoes fired by the second submarine?

The two torpedoes fired by the second submarine both missed the Chicago. One torpedo traveled across the harbor and went up onto a wharf without exploding, while the other one went underneath a Dutch submarine and the Kuttabul, exploding against the sea wall.

What was the role of the person who said, 'I was a motorboat driver'?

This person was a motorboat driver who was sent out into the harbor with a large depth charge on the back of the boat, with the intention of dropping it on any enemy submarines.

What did the person see when the sunken submarine was raised?

The person saw the sunken submarine being raised and brought in to Garden Island, and also witnessed them bringing out some of the people from the Kuttabul.

What did the person who was standing on the beach hear and see?

The person standing on the beach heard a thudding noise and saw a light coming on every now and again. When they asked about it, someone realized that it was the sound of shells being fired from a mother submarine, which was shelling the coast.

What happened to the shopfront behind where the person was standing on the beach?

The shopfront behind where the person was standing on the beach was taken out by the shells being fired from the mother submarine.

How did the person standing on the beach feel about the situation?

The person standing on the beach was thinking, 'God, I've only been in the army half an hour, and they're bloody well shooting at me already?', indicating a sense of shock and disbelief at being under attack so soon after joining the army.

What does the transcript suggest about Sydney's preparedness for the attack?

The transcript suggests that Sydney was not prepared for the attack, as there were no sirens and the lights were still on, indicating a lack of proper air raid precautions.