Difference between revisions 121772595 and 121772597 on dewiki

[[Image:Work fight or perish (RC02370).jpg|thumb|An Australian Government leaflet bearing the likeness and signature of Prime Minister [[John Curtin]], telling Australians that they must make sacrifices for the war effort.]]
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Although the Borneo Campaign was criticised in Australia at the time, and in subsequent years, as pointless or a "waste" of the lives of soldiers, it did achieve a number of objectives, such as increasing the isolation of significant Japanese forces occupying the main part of the [[Dutch East Indies]], capturing major [[petroleum|oil]] supplies and freeing Allied prisoners of war, who were being held in deteriorating conditions.<ref>Grey (1999). Pages 184-186.</ref>


===Australian intelligence and special forces===
[[Image:21henryst44.jpg|thumb|Central Bureau's headquarters building at [[Ascot, Queensland|Ascot]] in Brisbane]]
Australia developed large [[List of Australian intelligence agencies|intelligence services]] during the war. Prior the outbreak of war the Australian military possessed almost no intelligence gathering facilities and was reliant on information passed on by the British intelligence services. Several small [[signals intelligence]] units were established in 1939 and 1940 and these units had some success intercepting and deciphering Japanese transmissions before the outbreak of the Pacific War.<ref>Horner (1982). Pages 224-225.</ref>

General MacArthur began organising large scale intelligence services shortly after his arrival in Australia. On 15 April 1942 the joint Australian-US [[Central Bureau]] [[signals intelligence]] organisation was established at Melbourne. Central Bureau's headquarters moved to Brisbane in July 1942 and [[Manila]] in May 1945. Australians made up half the strength of Central Bureau, which was expanded to over 4000 personnel by 1945.<ref>Horner (1982). Page 242.</ref>

Australian [[special forces]] also played a significant role in the Pacific War. Following the outbreak of war [[Australian commandos|commando companies]] were deployed to Timor, the Solomon and Bismarck islands and New Caledonia. Although the 1st Independent Company was swiftly overwhelmed in the Solomon Islands in early 1942, the 2/2nd and later 2/4th Independent companies waged a successful [[Battle of Timor (1942–43)|guerrilla campaign on Timor]] which lasted from February 1942 until they were evacuated in February 1943.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/japadvance/timor.html |title=Fall of Timor |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=Australia's War 1939—1945 }}</ref> The commando companies also played an important role in the New Guinea, New Britain, Bougainville and Borneo campaigns where they were used to spearhead offensives and secure the flanks of operations conducted by conventional infantry.

Australia also formed successful small-scale raiding and reconnaissance forces, most of which were grouped together as the [[Allied Intelligence Bureau]]. [[Z Special Unit]] conducted raids far behind the front line, including a successful [[Operation Jaywick|raid on Singapore in September 1943]]. [[M Special Unit]], the [[Coastwatchers]] and smaller AIB units also successfully operated behind Japanese lines to collect intelligence.<ref>Long (1963). Pages 617-622.</ref> The RAAF and RAN also formed small elite units, with [[No. 200 Flight RAAF]] providing air transport for the AIB and the RAN's [[Royal Australian Navy Beach Commandos|Beach Commandos]] coordinating amphibious landings.⏎
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===Operations against Japan===
[[Image:Blamey Japanese surrender.jpg|thumb|General Thomas Blamey signing the Japanese instrument of surrender on behalf of Australia on 2 September 1945]]

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[[Image:HMAS Swan guns (079323).jpg|thumb|left|[[HMAS Swan (U 74)|HMAS ''Swan'']] firing on Japanese positions in New Guinea in February 1945]]


In the [[Battle of the Bismarck Sea]] in 1943, [[Bristol Beaufighter]]s of [[No. 30 Squadron RAAF]] proved to be highly effective ground attack and maritime strike aircraft, inflicting heavy loses on Japanese troop convoys, along with other RAAF squadrons. The battle was a combined operation with the [[United States Army Air Force]] and resulted in the sinking of 12 Japanese transporters and destroyers and hampered the Japanese forces in New Guinea.⏎
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The Royal Australian Navy participated the United States-led [[island hopping]] campaign in the Pacific, with the surviving cruisers providing fire support and other ships escorting convoys. At the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], in October 1944, HMAS ''Australia'' became the first Allied ship to be hit by a [[kamikaze]]. The ship survived that and several other suicide attacks, though many crew members were killed.

At its peak strength on 30 June 1945 the RAN comprised 39,650 personnel and 337 ships in commission, making it the fourth largest navy in the world at that time. A total of 1911 naval personnel died as a result of hostilities and more than 30 Australian warships were lost in the war, making it by far the costliest in the RAN's history.<ref>Frame (2004). Page 196.</ref>

===Australian intelligence and special forces===
[[Image:21henryst44.jpg|thumb|Central Bureau's headquarters building at [[Ascot, Queensland|Ascot]] in Brisbane]]
Australia developed large [[List of Australian intelligence agencies|intelligence services]] during the war. Prior the outbreak of war the Australian military possessed almost no intelligence gathering facilities and was reliant on information passed on by the British intelligence services. Several small [[signals intelligence]] units were established in 1939 and 1940 and these units had some success intercepting and deciphering Japanese transmissions before the outbreak of the Pacific War.<ref>Horner (1982). Pages 224-225.</ref>

General MacArthur began organising large scale intelligence services shortly after his arrival in Australia. On 15 April 1942 the joint Australian-US [[Central Bureau]] [[signals intelligence]] organisation was established at Melbourne. Central Bureau's headquarters moved to Brisbane in July 1942 and [[Manila]] in May 1945. Australians made up half the strength of Central Bureau, which was expanded to over 4000 personnel by 1945.<ref>Horner (1982). Page 242.</ref>

Australian [[special forces]] also played a significant role in the Pacific War. Following the outbreak of war [[Australian commandos|commando companies]] were deployed to Timor, the Solomon and Bismarck islands and New Caledonia. Although the 1st Independent Company was swiftly overwhelmed in the Solomon Islands in early 1942, the 2/2nd and later 2/4th Independent companies waged a successful [[Battle of Timor (1942–43)|guerrilla campaign on Timor]] which lasted from February 1942 until they were evacuated in February 1943.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/japadvance/timor.html |title=Fall of Timor |accessdate=2008-01-15 |format= |work=Australia's War 1939—1945 }}</ref> The commando companies also played an important role in the New Guinea, New Britain, Bougainville and Borneo campaigns where they were used to spearhead offensives and secure the flanks of operations conducted by conventional infantry.

Australia also formed successful small-scale raiding and reconnaissance forces, most of which were grouped together as the [[Allied Intelligence Bureau]]. [[Z Special Unit]] conducted raids far behind the front line, including a successful [[Operation Jaywick|raid on Singapore in September 1943]]. [[M Special Unit]], the [[Coastwatchers]] and smaller AIB units also successfully operated behind Japanese lines to collect intelligence.<ref>Long (1963). Pages 617-622.</ref> The RAAF and RAN also formed small elite units, with [[No. 200 Flight RAAF]] providing air transport for the AIB and the RAN's [[Royal Australian Navy Beach Commandos|Beach Commandos]] coordinating amphibious landings.⏎
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==Australians in other theatres==
[[Image:Mission 204 (P00763001).jpg|thumb|Four members of the Australian contingent to Mission 204 in [[Yunnan Province]], China, during 1942]]
In addition to the major deployments, Australian military units and individual Australian service personnel served in other theatres of the war.

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* {{cite web |url=http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/index.html |title=Australia's War 1939—1945 |accessdate= |author= |date= |work= |publisher=[[Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|Department of Veterans' Affairs]] }}


{{Australian Military History}}
{{WWIIHistory}}

[[Category:Military history of Australia during World War II| ]]