The Rag Tag Fleet: The unknown story of the Australian men and boats that helped win the war in the Pacific

by Ian W. Shaw

The unknown story of how a fleet of Australian fishing boats, trawlers and schooners supplied US and Australian forces in the Pacific - and helped turn the course of World War II. from China to New Guinea, the Pacific belonged to the Japanese. In this desperate situation, a fleet of hundreds of Australian small ships is assembled, sailing under the American flag, and crewed by over 3000 Australians either too young or too old to join the regular armed forces. Their to bring supplies and equipment to the Allied troops waging bloody battles against Japanese forces across the South Pacific. THE RAG TAG FLEET is the unknown story of the final months of 1942 - when these men ran the gauntlet of Japanese air attacks, malaria and dysentery, reefs, and shallow, shark-infested waters to support the US and Australian troops that defeated the entrenched Japanese forces at Buna on the New Guinea coast, and so helped turn the war in the Allies' favour. Their bravery, ingenuity and mettle helped turn the tide of the war. For the first time, their story is told.'enthralling . . . makes for a fascinating read.' CANBERRA TIMES

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II, Australia, Naval History, Military Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2017

Reviews

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a well researched and detailed read that made the book come alive both in describing the political, strategic and action consequence of the role that the Small Ship Section played in WW2 especially in the Battle of Buna- Gona. I loved the fact the the narrative kept moving so that you could see what was happening but at the same time explain why it was happening. The importance role played by these men who where consider to old, to young or to unwell to enlist in Australian Forces but hired by the American Army to run the gauntlet of the Japanese navy, army and especially the ever present, Zero's to bring Soldier, medical equipment, food, ammunition and other military equipment to the front to support the American Army. This book tells of there bravery, courage, humour and loses in a clear and practical way that honours and respects their deeds with information and stories collect through wonderful research. The role they played in the success of battle maybe not as well known but it was important and this book if worth the read just to understand more, clear 5 Stars!!

[Tim Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For years I have read histories of units that served in PNG in WW2 and most have the flaw they they do not cover their supporting units. This excellent work finally describes the work done by the US Army Small Ships section in supporting the operations there. As such the unit is inaccurately named as initially the majority of crew were Australians deemed unfit for service in the Australian Military. Here they were hired by the US Army to crew the also Australian light freighters and seine fishing trawlers that were needed for operations in the shallow reef littered PNG coast. They transported supplies, troops, artillery and even tanks from the rear dumps to the army operating areas. The crews suffered the usual medical deprivations of various tropical diseases as they did the job. Additionally the lightly armed ships were attacked by American aircraft and torpedo boats in inevitable friendly fire incidents as well as strafing and bombing by Japanese aircraft.

This is in the style of some of my favourite military histories. It does not just describe the action but tells the stories of the people in it. You learn the names of most of the crews, how they became involved in the Small Ships and how they ended up. It also delves into the minutiae of the ships operations and daily life all of which help bring the people to life. This is well set into the overall framework of the campaign with good descriptions of what is going on around them which makes it quite readable for people who don't know the history of the PNG campaign. This book has been a long time coming but well worth the wait. 4.5 stars as I think it needed more detailed maps

[Lou Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artillery in the theatre didn't fly; it floated on barges brought to the front by small Australian fishing boats and schooners, captained and crewed in the main by Australian sailors.

This is a landmark book containing a wealth of facts and figures.

Australia's small ships, akin to the little ships at Dunkirk, served a little-known but vital role in the WWII battle of Buna-Gona. Before MacArthur's air force could put its ego aside and get itself organised, Australian and NZ small ships crewed not only by Australians and New Zealanders, but by crew as diverse as Chinese, Filipino, and Torres Strait Islanders, shipped supplies and rations to soldiers at the front.

Their role even continued beyond the Japanese surrender to include humanitarian projects for those left homeless and destitute by war.

The book brings so many stories into one place and lists plenty of resources, that it's now only a matter of time before someone with a historical fiction bent uses it to weave together a heart-rending, warm, human tale.

There is so much emotion to work with here: the loss of good men to friendly fire. Clothing rotting in damp heat, men with nothing to sleep under at night, tired and demoralised, suffering from tropical diseases and vitamin-deficiency. The larrikin way in which one enterprising Aussie makes a deal with the Americans to supply them with cement in return for lumber (after that devastating friendly fire incident, you wouldn't call it theft but just desserts). The fear-sweat dripping off a lone civilian, camped on the darkened night-time mud flats like a tethered goat, waiting to signal the rise of the tide, every sound amplified into man-eating crocodile attacks. The emotion experienced as the first of the US Navy fleet arrives with sonar and radar, causing the entire small ships fleet to become redundant. The heartache when formal recognition of service was denied for so long.

My favourite part to this book was the denouement. I had tears in my eyes as these civilians either returned home or were interred. Of their post-war lives, or their widows' pain. And of the ships themselves, whether burned, destroyed, sunk, or rebranded.

This has obviously been a labour of love for Shaw.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[David Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

In late 1942 General Macarthur launched his first offensive against the Japanese. It was against Buna, a stronghold on the north coast of New Guinea. Macarthur wanted to show his US Army-led command, the South West Pacific Area based on Australia, could successfully support an offensive. This would avoid its relegation to a secondary theatre, by the US Navy-led Pacific command then fighting the Guadalcanal campaign. The Buna campaign was an ill planned makeshift affair. It seriously underestimated the strength of the Japanese defences and the logistics required to support the campaign.

This was the finest hour of the Small Ships Section of the US Army. This force was led by American officers and staffed by Australian civilian volunteers. It consisted of small requisitioned ships - mostly inshore fishing trawlers, with some luggers and motor launches. This fleet provided most of the stores for the Buna campaign. The Japanese navy and air forces could interdict the sea supply line. This required the fleet to use an in-shore route along the New Guinea coast between ill-charted reefs and shallows (to avoid the navy) and to operate a night (to avoid the air forces). But for the success of the fleet in supplying allied troops the campaign would have failed.

The dangers were very real. On 16 November 1942 15+ Zero fighters destroyed four small vessels and all the reserve ammo supply for the forthcoming offensive. The Zeros killed some of the crews and many soldiers being ferried to the front (including the quarter master general of the US 32nd Division). This was a major setback, delaying the offensive.

This is a fine account. Not the least of its merits is that is concerned with often overshadowed civilian bravery in wartime. It also indicates the ugly realities of war - the preventable mistakes that cost lives. The above mentioned disaster of 16 November 1942 occurred because a commander failed to seek air cover for the move to a new forward harbor. In another action on 18 October 1942 a friendly bomber attacked two friendly trawlers killing a US war correspondent and the founding US commander of the Small Ships Section. The heroism and casualties of the Section were a product of makeshift arrangements driven by Macarthur's imperatives. After Buna the Section's combat logistics role was taken by purpose-built US-service manned ships.

The book rescues a fine story of great resolution and (largely) civilian bravery from the mists of history. Recommended.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The US Army Small Ships Section was an improvised civilian fleet mobilised by Douglas MacArthur to provide critical logistical support to Allied Operations in the Pacific War.Between 1942-1945,over 4,350 Allied Merchant seaman served aboard commandeered civilian vessels.During the Philippines campaign, the Japanese offensive led to the entrapment of US Forces at Bataan - beyond the reach of assistance from a stretched United States Navy. As the campaign wore on, explorers Sheridan and Bruce Fahnestock conceived the idea of improvising a civilian fleet to deliver supplies to the entrenched forces under the codename 'Mission X.' From an affluent yachting family, their acquaintance with President Roosevelt may have played a role in the mission's ultimate authorisation.On arriving in Melbourne, the Allied withdrawal from the Philippines led to the expansion of the ‘Mission X’ mandate into a broader logistical focus-formalised as an official Section of the Transportation Service stationed in Melbourne. Under the leadership of the Fahnestocks and Arthur R. Wilson, and with the support of Macarthur-the Section assumed a wider role in delivering ammunition, medical supplies, and food to positions beyond the reach of conventional deep draft ships.From May 1942,the Section operated from Macarthur's Headquarters in the Grace Building -assembling an improvised flotilla at No. 10 Pier in Walsh Bay.Recruiting civilians deemed too young, old, or infirm for military service, the fleet grew to commandeer a flotilla of 35 fishing trawlers under Lend-Lease-ultimately expanding to include Dutch freighters and a First World War destroyer.On the 18th of October 1942,the Section conducted its first amphibious assault-deploying the 128th Infantry Regiment ashore near Buna.The Section continued to serve under intensive fire throughout the Papuan and Philippine campaigns-variously collaborating with the 2/7th Australian Battalion, 2nd Engineer Special Brigade, and Sixth United States Army during the Battles of Cape Gloucester, Hollandia, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Cebu.It took a a long time for the men who served in the Small Ships Section to get recognition.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rag Tag Fleet tells the story of the important early days of the US Army Small Ships Section which, perhaps confusingly, was staffed more by Australians than anyone else and, at least in the early days, relied heavily on Australian vessels. Hazarding enemy fire and at times questionable military decision-making, they provided a key logistics role during the campaign for New Guinea. Ian Shaw tells the story well, with quality writing and expression and drawing on a good range of sources, including primary sources. It’s also a story well worth telling, and one that was neglected, particularly in official circles, for far too long.

While the material can be serious, the book itself isn’t heavy reading, and should be comfortable for people that haven’t read much along these lines in the past. The only downside is that the maps could perhaps have been a bit more detailed, and included more of the locations mentioned frequently in the text. It’s a small downside though, and is more than offset by the quality of the writing and the story being told. There aren’t many photographs, and they’re not particularly high-resolution, making this the kind of book that would work well on e-readers.

[AngelaCC · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rag Tag Fleet was a history lesson of the fight for Buna, Papua New Guinea against the Japanese and the roll the Australian Small Ships fleet played in the battle to support Australian and US soldiers. It was an interesting account, from the introduction of the fleet, their captains and sailors, drawn from all corners of the Eastern coastline of Australian ports to the detailed role they played in establishing a support line to the soldiers fighting under extreme circumstances, around Pongani and Buna. Extensively researched, the narrative was somewhat overwhelming in detail, leaving the reader a little disconnected.

[Matty · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title and the outline looked very interesting to me. And I must say the writer has done his research as the book is filled with facts, timelines and locations. But that's just it, it reads like a report and not like a book. The many coming and goings off people, ships, landing and regular air raids are all very real and detailed but I missed a cohesive story line to make this important piece of history more digestible as a reader. Now it's just a summation of facts with some context on locations, characters and war progress. As a result about 60% into the book I lost interest and started skimming parts. I regret this as the story could have more potential in terms of readability.