SYDNEY AT WAR: THE UNTOLD STORY
PROGRAMME LENGTH
1 hour
This program deals with the events of late May and early June 1942 when Sydney Harbour was the target of a Japanese submarine attack.
Much of the program is told from the Japanese perspective. Members of the naval units defending the harbour and survivors of HMAS Kuttabul are also featured.
There are some interesting and challenging issues raised by this program. It should engage students. The Japanese perspective on these events should be enlightening for most.
Denis Mootz
STAYING FOCUSED.
This is the data collection stage of the activity.
The detailed questioning is designed to ensure that students decode the visual and aural materials presented to them in the video.
The video programs can be stopped at the end of each section. This will allow students to share and discuss answers.
Introduction.
Note the reference to the ‘partying people’ and the ‘working section’.
Note reference to the ‘phony’ period.
Where were Australians fighting the war? Impact?
How did this change after the Japanese ‘raid’? Why?
Why were people ‘scared’ during the ‘raid’?
Act 1.
Note the comments from Lt Teji Yamaki.
What was the Japanese naval aim in the South Pacific?
Note details of the Japanese submarine force sent to the South Pacific.
Note details of the ‘midget’ submarine ‘task force’.
Note the comments by Kazuo Ueda on Lt Chuman, Lt Ban, Ensign Ashibe and Lt Matsuo.
What characteristics did these young men have to ensure success for their mission?
Note the comments by Itsuo Ashibe about his brother’s attitude to war and his duty.
Note Donald Horne’s comments on Sydney in the 1940s.
Note Horne’s conclusions about Japan’s strategy against Australia.
Note details of the ‘boom net’ that protected Sydney Harbour.
Why were people reporting submarines in the Lane Cove River and elsewhere? Implications?
How were these reports dealt with?
Act 2.
Note the comments by Susumu Ito about his feelings when leaving Japan.
Note details of the missions flown by Susumu Ito.
Note the details of the reconnaissance mission of 30 May from submarine I-21.
Note details of the plane and how it was launched from the submarine.
Note what Ito knew about Australia.
What did Ito find when he flew over Sydney? Implications?
Note the end of Ito’s flight and his rescue.
Act 3.
Note details of the operation of the Navy Auxiliary Patrol.
Why is it suggested that the attack was planned for a Sunday night?
How did the Navy Auxiliary Patrol respond to the alarm?
Note Jim Nelson’s description of events at the boom net.
Why was the submarine alternatively reversing and going forward?
How did they respond to the identification of the submarine? Result?
How did the commander of the harbour respond to the alarm?
Note how Lt Ban and submarine A-28 proceeded with its attack.
What was A-28’s target?
Why would navigation of Sydney harbour be difficult in these conditions?
Note the conditions and dangers faced by the submariners.
Note details of HMAS Kuttabul.
Note Colin Whitfield’s comments about the use of HMAS Kuttabul.
Why was Bill Williams reluctant to return to service? Result?
Why was Colin Whitfield upset when woken up? Result?
How did Neil Roberts manage to survive the sinking of HMAS Kuttabul?
What “shattered” HMAS Kuttabul? Result?
Act 4.
Note Neil Roberts’ description of his escape from HMAS Kuttabul.
Where was the second torpedo?
Note the comments of Susumu Ito about the mini-submariners. Implications?
How did Lt Chuman do his ‘duty’ in A-27?
Why did Lt Ban miss his target, the USS Chicago?
How did the harbour defenders respond to the attack? Result?
Note the details of the ‘raising’ of the ‘midget’ submarines.
Note the actions of Frank Lindgard.
Note how these operations were described in the film newsreels.
Where were the dead from HMAS Kuttabul buried?
Note the actions of I-24 on 8 June 1942. Result?
Act 5.
Note the comments by Kazuo Ueda. Implications?
Note the sentiments expressed in the letter from Warrant Officer Tsuzuku. Implications?
Note Kazuo Ueda’s comments.
Note the comments from Susumu Ito. Implications?
Note the events of 9 June 1942.
Note Itsuo Ashibe’s comments.
What happened to A-28 and Lt Ban and Ensign Ashibe?
EXTENSIONS.
Useful, interesting, challenging, books, sources and websites will provide materials to supplement and complement the History presented in the video program.
The data collected here should be used in the notemaking below.
Some useful Internet sites:
War in the Pacific: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_War
http://www.pacificwar.org.au/
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/pacificwar/timeline.htm
http://www.ww2pacific.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_for_Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_naval_activity_in_Australian_waters
http://m24maritime.heritage.nsw.gov.au/TheRaid/Japanesesubmarinecampaign/tabid/74/Default.aspx
Japanese C1 / B1 class submarines:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B1_type_submarine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-22
http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-22.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-24
http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-24.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_C_submarine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-21
http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-21.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-27
http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-27.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-28
http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-28.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-29
Japanese A-Class submarines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko-hyoteki_class_submarine
http://m24maritime.heritage.nsw.gov.au/TheRaid/Midgetsubmarineprogram/tabid/63/Default.aspx
Sydney Harbour Defenses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_anti-submarine_boom_net
http://coastalgunner.tripod.com/index.html
http://m24maritime.heritage.nsw.gov.au/TheRaid/Defences/tabid/61/Default.aspx
The Navy Auxiliary Patrol: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4847983555/
http://m24maritime.heritage.nsw.gov.au/TheRaid/Sydneyon31May1942/tabid/59/Default.aspx
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4767851236/
Attack on Sydney Harbour: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Sydney_Harbour
http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/underattack/sydharbour.html
http://www.ozatwar.com/japsubs/midgetsubs.htm
(A game) http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Battlestations:_Pacific/Attack_on_Sydney_Harbour
USS Chicago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Chicago_(CA-29)
HMAS Kuttabul: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Kuttabul_(ship)
http://m24maritime.heritage.nsw.gov.au/TheRaid/SinkingoftheHMASKuttabul/tabid/65/Default.aspx
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/4512/story08.htm
Shelling of Sydney Harbour: http://www.ozatwar.com/japsubs/japsshell01.htm
http://www.ozatwar.com/japsubs/japsshell03.htm
A-28: http://maritime.heritage.nsw.gov.au/public/site_view.cfm?site_id=4
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/docs/M24_1942_info_sheet.pdf
NOTEMAKING.
This is the collation stage of the activity. Students need to organise the field of information and begin to explore its context.
Directions and /or Inquiry questions are provided for notemaking / summary exercises that will follow the viewing of the video. The materials / data for the summaries have been collected above.
The activity could be done in teams, groups, or by individuals, or as a class with teacher direction.
1. Draw up a timeline / chronological chart of the events described and discussed in this program.
2. Note details of the “War in the Pacific”.
3. Note details of the “Battle for Australia”.
4. Note details of the defenses of Sydney Harbour.
5. Note details of the B-class and C-class Japanese submarine.
6. Note details of the A-class Japanese mini-submarine.
7. Note details of the operations of the Japanese submarine task force.
8. Note details of the HMAS Kuttabul.
9. Note details of the events of 31 May / 1 June 1942 in Sydney.
10. Note details of the Japanese submariners.
ISSUES & INQUIRY.
Key issues and inquiry questions that have been raised by the video are addressed at this stage for discussion and research.
1. Why was a submarine “task force” operating off Australia’s coast?
2. Why was Sydney Harbour attacked?
PROBLEMS of EVIDENCE.
Questions of reliability and validity of the perspectives, evidence and sources presented in the video program need to be considered, tested and researched.
1. What were Japanese military aims in the Pacific region?
What part would Australia play in achieving these aims?
2. What suggests that the mini-submarine operation was a ‘suicide mission’?
COMMUNICATING.
The key issues and inquiry questions are potential topics for debate, essay writing, reports, historical recount and explanation.
1. Write a REPORT on the “Battle for Australia”.
2. Prepare notes (both sides) for a DEBATE of the proposition that the “Battle for Australia” is a convenient fiction.
3. Explain Japan’s attacks on Australia during World War 2.
