Rona (C.S.R.)

Rona, earlier engaged for many years on the Fiji-Australia sugar trade, took part in the resupply of Allied forces in Fiji.

Fiona (C.S.R.)

Fiona operated from a Darwin base utilised by the Royal Australian Navy as a Stores and Water Supply ship.

Bangalow (North Coast Steam)

Bangalow was requisitioned by the United States Army Small Ships Section for survey, lighthouse support and cable repair duties.

United States Army Small Ships Section

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Some 3000 Australians, usually with maritime connections and aged from mid-teens to the 70s, volunteered to serve with “the Small Ships” as they became known. Formed in the crucial early months of 1942 when many Australians perceived the country threatened, the Small Ships’ main base was moved to Milne Bay in August of that year.

Alongside their merchant shipping comrades, the invaluable Small Ships’ crews endured the hardships and dangers of war in equatorial areas, often doing their own coastal and inlet charting, going where larger vessels could not, incurring ship losses to enemy action and collectively moving northward as the Japanese were pushed back.

Americans joined the many Australians who sailed in the countless small ships, later called “The Forgotten Fleet” under the United States flag. They remained actively involved through to the final repulse battles and the surrender of Japan.

An Ally: United Kingdom

 Allied Fleets in the Second World War
& Indian/Pacific Theatre

Ships from a number of countries assisted the Australia-based effort to repulse and eventually overcome the Japanese aggression in the Asia/Pacific area.

The greater number came from the collective support provided by New Zealand, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway and USA.

United Kingdom companies, like those of other European countries, operated geographically-dispersed fleets prior to the Second World War.  These included several in the Asia/Pacific area and a number of their ships were lost to enemy action as the Japanese incursions into the area took place from 1941 onwards.   Ships of five of these fleets, as relevant to Australia, are outlined at this site.