Missing Pieces: - Royal Australian Navy

152 Missing Pieces
Following the end of WWII, RAN planners were confronted with a conundrum: at a time
when its ships were worn out from over six years of warfare and many of its experienced
cadres were disappearing back into civilian employment, the political leadership was
expecting Australia to ‘pull its weight’ in regional affairs. 462 A modern and balanced
Australian force capable of independent operations in the Southeast Asian region and
beyond had to be created. In 1946 the RAN gained agreement for a building program to
boost its destroyer force; two Battle class were laid down and plans for four of the larger,
more modern Daring class were approved in principle. 463 The 1943-44 government
also agreed to the opening of negotiations with the Admiralty for the transfer of two
light fleet carriers to the RAN, and on 2 June 1947 the carrier program was included
in the Five-Year Defence Plan announced by the government. This significant decision
required a restructuring of the Australian Squadron, an increase in personnel to man
the new ships and aircraft, and the improvement and recommissioning of two former
RN airfields on the east coast for use by the new squadrons — a considerable staffwork,
recruiting and training burden. 464
In February 1948, Rear Admiral John Collins, RAN, became the first Royal Australian
Naval officer to hold the position of CNS. Despite Admiralty suggestions that Collins
was too inexperienced to do justice to the position, the Australian Government held
firm in its decision to appoint him in preference to another British officer. But Collins’
new post was no sinecure. By mid-1949, the RAN’s segment of the Five-Year Defence
Plan was foundering. The RAN’s inability to attract sufficient manpower caused CNS
to decommission three ships, while construction delays meant that only one of the two
Battle class destroyers could be completed within the plan’s timeframe. The second
aircraft carrier would not now be available until 1952. 465 In October 1950, the RAN
had a personnel target of 15,173 regulars and 7580 reserves to reach by July 1951,
with one light fleet carrier and its carrier air group, three cruisers (obselete), five
destroyers, 12 frigates and 32 old corvettes. Four Daring class destroyers were under
construction, while five wartime destroyers of the Q class were being converted to
fast ASW frigates. 466
Accordingly, the small number of destroyers available in July 1950 caused ACNB
considerable difficulties in providing ships for Korean service: only three Tribal
class destroyers were in commission, HMA Ships Arunta, Warramunga, and Bataan,
all of WWII construction. The Australian Government committed the frigate HMAS
Shoalhaven and destroyer HMAS Warramunga at the outbreak of hostilities in Korea,
and Bataan would later replace Shoalhaven. The only other destroyer available was
the incomplete new Battle class HMAS Tobruk, while manpower shortages meant that
crewing ships for active service caused considerable posting turbulence. 467 The RAN
was as unready as most of the UN navies for action in Korea.
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