Reverse Monsun : data for a British campaign in the IO

[keltos01]

HMS Trenchant sinks the Japanese battleship ‘Ashigara'
HMS Trenchant undertook a patrol by the entrance to the Banka Strait near Palembang in Sumatra on 8th June 1945. HMS Stygian accompanied Trenchant and positioned herself out to sea. A Japanese destroyer emerged but spotted Trenchant as she fired a torpedo. Trenchant managed to withdraw in the darkness, and Stygian launched a follow up attack which was also unsuccessful. The destroyer launched its own similarly unsuccessful counter attack.
Meanwhile, Trenchant spotted the 12 700 ton Japanese cruiser ‘Ashigara'. She carefully positioned herself and as this was such a valuable target she fired all eight of her bow torpedoes at a range of 4000 yards. Five torpedoes hit the target, blowing off the cruiser's bow. Fire quickly spread and she developed a list and sank a couple of hours later.

Crew in working rig on casing of HMS Trenchant at Freemantle in Australia, July 1945 (RNSM)



This was a spectacular result for Trenchant, but more importantly it removed the only Japanese heavy cruiser in that area. She had been in the process of transporting thousands of Japanese troops to Singapore on what was the eve of the Australian landings on Borneo, and it potentially saved many Allied lives. The submarine's Commanding Officer, Commander Arthur Hezlet, received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his role in the attack.

HMS Trenchant entering a harbour in the Far East, camouflaged, flying Jolly Roger flag, 1945 (RNSM)




Jolly Roger of HMS Trenchant (RNSM)