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Saturday, 25 February 2012

Task Force 57

I recently finished reading a book entitled Task Force 57 by a Peter C Smith. I knew it would be about the Royal Navy in the Far East towards the end of World War Two. I had no real idea about the scale of effort and was very pleased to find out that it involved the largest British fleet of the whole war.



After I had read it I lent to one of my friends. When he returned it to me he gave me a DVD by Roland R Smith to view which covered Task Force 57 or the British Pacific Fleet to give its proper name as well as the East Indies Fleet.



The DVD has a pretty dry commentary but the film clips are second to none, much better than the snippets that are fairly common on TV documentaries. The topics covered were as much of the combats that had cameramen present as well as carrier flyoffs and landings, shore bombardments, refuelling at sea as well as Royal visits. I would highly recommend it for viewing.

As far as I'm concerned it is a 'Forgotten Fleet' no more.

Here's a little story I've heard many times but I've shortened it into a blunt comparison of things that really happened.

American Admiral to the Captain of one of their carriers.

'What's happening since that kamikazi hit you two hours ago'

in reply

'We're still fighting the fires Sir'

British Admiral to the Captain of one of their carriers.

'What's happening since that kamikazi hit you two hours ago'

in reply

'We've swept it overboard and ranging another strike on deck Sir.

If you don't see the reasoning behind the story I would suggest a bit of research into the carriers of the period as there were some striking differences in their make up.
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4 comments:

  1. Brigadier Dundas25 February 2012 at 18:40

    Thanks for the nudge; I looked up the difference. The RN used armored decking and the USN kept to a wooden deck prone to fire. Interesting, thanks.
    Don

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  2. Jim Duncan Wargamer25 February 2012 at 19:01

    Yes Brigadier, that is the gist of the correct answer.

    There were, of course, many other differences too, a very interesting subject.

    Jim

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  3. Robert (Bob) Cordery25 February 2012 at 22:54

    Jim,

    My uncle served aboard HMS Indefatigable when she was part of the British Pacific Fleet, and I understand that when she was hit by a kamikaze she was only unable to land aircraft for as long as it took to clear the remains off the deck. Seeing things like this encouraged the USN to press for the introduction of armoured decks on future aircraft carrier designs.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  4. Jim Duncan Wargamer26 February 2012 at 00:30

    My father-in-law also served as a PO on the Indefatigable although I think it was just as the war ended when he was posted to her. He spent most of his war service in the North Atlantic, was sunk twice in frigates and lived to tell the tale. He's passed away now so I can't get any fuller details.

    As for Kamakazi hits on armoured decks I am led to believe that some of them actually bent the deck frames to the point where aircraft in the hangar below were scraping of the hangar roof. We don't let the Americans know too much about that!

    But it is a very interesting subject.

    Jim

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