1 December 1942
In late 1942, the war in the Pacific had not yet decisively turned in the Allies’ favour. Japanese air power – from bases in Truk (Chuuk), occupied Timor, Rabaul and elsewhere in the region – proved to be a deadly force. Allied air cover was limited in range and effectiveness. Smaller RAN ships were vulnerable to massed waves of attacking aircraft.
In November 1942, these ships were deployed to resupply Australian and Allied troops on Timor and evacuate refugees.
- HMAS Armidale
- HMAS Kuru
- HMAS Castlemaine.
Armidale was a lightly armed, Australian-built corvette that had only been commissioned in June of that year. After suffering mission delays and repeated attacks from Japanese aircraft, Armidale skilfully and bravely fought off 2 waves of aircraft. However, on 1 December 1942, Armidale was sunk by 2 torpedoes dropped by Japanese bombers from the third wave.
As Armidale slid beneath the waves, Ordinary Seaman Edward 'Teddy' Sheean fired the Oerlikon gun until he went under. Sheean was mentioned in despatches, and later awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.
Those crew who survived the sinking, and strafing from Japanese planes, were adrift in a makeshift raft, a motor boat and a repaired whaler. Enduring a harrowing time at sea, the men in the motor boat and a repaired whaler were rescued. However, after one brief aerial sighting, the men in the makeshift raft were never seen again. Only 49 of the 149 crew survived.