Fullbore Friday

Do what must be done

The war is almost over. Though you didn’t know it at the time. There were only two weeks left, a fortnight.

…but there is a beast in Singapore that needs to be taken care of first.

There’s just four of you; the CO, Lieutenant Ian Edward Fraser, RNR, the conning officer Sub-Lieutenant William James Lanyon Smith, RNZNVR on loan to the Royal Navy, Engine Room Artificer Third Class Charles Alfred Reed, and your diver, Acting Leading Seaman Magennis.

OPERATION STRUGGLE it is.

On 31 July 1945, the midget submarine XE3 carried out a successful attack on the Japanese cruiser HIJMS Takao berthed at the naval base in Singapore. At the controls of the submarine was Sub Lt. William ‘Kiwi’ Smith, who was awarded a DSO for his part in Operation Struggle.

Midget submarines are operated by a limited crew – four in the case of the XE-class (including a diver) – and have little or no on-board living accommodation. Smith’s drawing shows the internal layout of the XE3. Its total length was just 16.23m (53.25ft).

During Operation Struggle, the crew was cramped together inside the submarine for over 48 hours. For much of the time they were forced to endure sweltering heat as they did not run the fan for fear of the noise alerting the Japanese to their presence.

…

Not long after the submarine stopped the main engine to creep past a listening post, they spotted a ‘Fishing boat’ at around 0300.

Then at 0430 they dived as a large tanker and escorting fishing boat came into view, heading in their direction. By 0800 they had made their way through the Johore Shoal in only 30ft of water and at 0930 they went through the open gate on the boom defence passing near a Japanese guard vessel.

At 1300 they spotted their target, the Takao, and commenced the operation around 1500.

The crew faced several difficulties in laying their explosives: the submarine had to be carefully manoeuvred in and out from beneath the keel of the Takao in shallow water and became stuck on several occasions.

One of the mines failed to detach from the XE3 and the diver had to use a spanner to hammer it loose, and faulty dive equipment released a stream of bubbles to the surface.

Astoundingly however, the submarine was not detected by the Japanese.

At 2100 the XE3 surfaced back outside the Johore Strait ready to head for their rendezvous with HMS Stygian. Soon after the limpet mines exploded blowing a hole in the side of the Takao.

Although it did not sink the vessel, it never sailed again.

Smith received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for this mission, eventually retired at the rank of Commander, and lived to the ripe age of 96 before passing away in 2018.

Fraser Was awarded the Victoria Cross. eventually was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy Reserve. passed away in 2008.

Acting Leading Seaman Magennis passed away in 1986, also received the Victoria Cross.

Reed was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

The Magennis story gives some additional detail.

After arriving at the Takao at 13:00 on 31 July 1945. Magennis slipped out of the wet-and-dry chamber and he attached limpet mines to the Japanese cruiser Takao under particularly difficult circumstances. He had to chip away at barnacles on the bottom of the cruiser for 30 minutes before being able to attach the limpets. During this time his breathing apparatus was leaking and he returned to the submarine after completion of his task very exhausted. On withdrawing, Lieutenant Ian Fraser found that one of the limpet carriers which was being jettisoned would not release itself. Magennis immediately volunteered to free it commenting: “I’ll be all right as soon as I’ve got my wind, Sir”. This he did, after seven minutes of nerve-racking work with a heavy spanner. On completion Magennis returned to XE3 for the second time, allowing the four man midget submarine to make its escape out to open sea to meet the waiting Stygian.

Mission - even if it takes a hammer and a spanner.

Fullbore to one hell of a crew.

Fullbore.