Page 4.
THE HMAS WARREGO II STORY
Continued: -
Warrego, under the command of
Lt. C.A.Byrne RANVR, arrived in Leyte, Philippine Islands on 1/1/45 to take up
her most important role in the war. As US Task Force Invasion Survey Ship she
was to survey and buoy the approaches to landing beaches prior to D Day. This
enabled the landing craft to speed the US troops ashore without fear of hitting
submerged obstacles. These survey duties were carried out during and subsequent
to the re-taking of Lingayen Gulf, Subic Bay. Zamboanga, Ilo-Ilo, and other
invasion beaches. These actions, together with the extensive surveys of Subic
Bay & Manila harbour, the general survey, salvage & escort duties
involved in the re-taking of the Philippines earned high praise from the US
Command. The battles which ensued were particularly fierce with much loss of
life inflicted by both attackers & attacked, many vessels were sunk or
damaged by air & ground fire & by Kamikaze air & sea craft. While
carrying out these dangerous duties Warrego was fired at on many occasions and
had to take evasive action and return fire to repulse land, air & sea
attacks. An action at Zamboanga resulted in the survey boats being targeted
& AB Eric Mole & Lt. Davis USNR being badly wounded. AB Mole remained
on board and fully recovered. He was awarded the DSM & AB Tremethick a MiD.
Warrego left the Philippines for Morotai on the 26/5/45.
On 1st June Warrego was on passage from Morotai to Wewak NG where a survey was carried out and on the 12 & 13/6 she bombarded with 641 4" shells, Jap positions that Australian Army guns could not reach. Morotai was returned to on the 17/6 and preparations were made for the invasion of Balikpapan, Borneo. Warrego acted as an escort in the convoy and at the invasion site was in charge of mine clearance & sweeping operations and the buoying of the swept channels. The Japs' unwittingly made a last effort to sink the ship. When USS YMS 97 was sweeping nearby her port float struck the starboard bow of the Warrego and a mine, fouled in the wire, exploded on the anchor chain about 20ft from the ship. Only minimal damage was sustained although the ship was showered with water & shrapnel. After completing this operation Warrego returned to Morotai then proceeded to Darwin via the west passage around New Guinea then via Thursday Island & the inside passage of the Great Barrier Reef to arrive in Sydney on the 3lst July for a refit.
FROM THE DAY HMAS WARREGO WAS
COMMISSIONED TILL 31/7/45 SHE HAD BEEN UNDERWAY FOR 16651 HOURS AND STEAMED
168297 MILES. THE PREVIOUS 8 MONTHS HAD BEEN SPENT IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE
ENEMY AND HER CREW HAD SPENT A CONSIDERABLE PROPORTION OF THAT TIME CLOSED UP
AT ACTION STATIONS OR AT SECOND DEGREE READINESS, THEY HAD AT TIMES BEEN SHORT
OF FOOD. STARVED FOR MAIL AND HAD VERY LITTLE RECREATION. AS THE WAR ENDED JUST
15 DAYS LATER, FOR VERY MANY OF THE CREW, HER ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY MEANT THEY HAD
SURVIVED THE WAR AND HAD REACHED THE END OF THEIR NAVAL SERVICE. FOR OTHERS, IT
MEANT LEAVE TO RECHARGE THE BATTERIES BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO FURTHER DUTIES.
HER SKIPPER FOR THE VOYAGE FROM 7/12/44 TO 31/7/45 WAS THE RECIPIENT OF SEVERAL
AWARDS AND SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME Sir Clarence Askew BYRNE OBE, DSC, BSM(USA),
RANVR.
