HMAS

Shropshire

By 24 October some 144,800 Americans were ashore and fanning out when reports were received of the approach of a Japanese fleet through the Sulu Sea. The Japanese Navy’s plan was to bring three fleets from different locations to converge on the American transports in Leyte Gulf and defeat the seaborne invasion.

The Japanese aircraft carrier fleet moved south from the Inland Sea with the aim of decoying Admiral Halsey’s 3rd Fleet away from the Gulf, while Admiral Kurita with a force including five battleships slipped through the San Bernadino Strait and descended on Leyte from the north and from the south. Vice Admiral Nishimura advanced towards Leyte through the Surigao Strait. As the Japanese had hoped Admiral Halsey was attracted away from Leyte to counter the threat of Admiral Ozawa’s carriers approaching from Japan and this enabled Kurita with his battleships and cruisers to penetrate to Leyte Gulf where, on 25 October, he engaged twelve American escort carriers with their attendant destroyer screen and escorts off the beachhead.

Although Kurita had temporarily gained an upper hand, he mistakenly believed that he was up against Halsey’s fleet and failed to press home his advantage, electing instead to withdraw. In the meantime Halsey’s carrier aircraft had destroyed all four Japanese aircraft carriers in the northern group.

Meanwhile, to the south, the Japanese force under Admiral Nishimura had been approaching Leyte through Surigao Strait. Nishimura was under orders to be in Leyte Gulf at dawn as Kurita attacked from the north. But blockading Nishimura’s way was Rear Admiral J Oldendorf, who commanded an overwhelmingly powerful force of no fewer than six battleships as well as cruisers and destroyers. Both Shropshire and Arunta formed part of that group.

At approximately 3:00am on 25 October, American destroyers opened fire with torpedos on Nishimura’s force, sinking the battleship Fuso and two destroyers. At 3:56am Shropshire opened fire to starboard with her 8-inch guns on the battleship Yamashiro, as did the US cruisers Boise, Phoenix and five of the American battleships.

The Yamashiro photographed circa 1940 in Chinese waters. Note the distinctive forward superstructure and her 12 x 14-inch guns mounted in six separate turrets. (US Naval Heritage Command NH 90769)

Captain Nichols later reported that:

A very high rate of fire was attained in rapid salvoes; as many as eight broadsides in two minutes being fired. We fired thirty two broadsides at what we thought to be a battleship - it was accurate and hits were obtained. The standard of drill was very high and reflects highly on the gunnery department. Shropshire suffered no damage even though four broadsides from the enemy passed overhead.

Chief Petty Officer Arthur Cooper, Shropshire’s Chief Gunner’s Mate, whose action station was in the ship’s gunnery transmitting station later recalled:

The targets were picked up by radar at 32,000 yards and we opened fire at 15,000 yards - our fall of shot hooter soundings enabled corrections to be made especially as we took corrections from other ships firing and hitting the targets and illuminating the enemy vessels. After the fourth broadside we fired in accordance with the gun ready lamps showing at least six guns ready before ringing the fire gongs. The enemy, moving at 19 knots slowed to 15, then to 10 and finally stopped dead in the water. The battleship we hammered [was] below the horizon with explosions coming from her - quite a few went over us but no hits [were] sustained.

Able Seaman Stan Nicholls, the Commander’s Runner, recalled:

Yamashiro did not have a chance, she had been saturated by the fleet’s massive broadsides and put out of action.

At 4:19 Yamashiro capsized and sank, taking most of her ship's company with her. Japanese losses in the Battle of Leyte Gulf were so heavy that the Imperial Navy virtually ceased to exist as an offensive force and the Allies gained sea control.

The next major Allied advance towards Japan was to Lingayen Gulf in the northern Philippines, and the island of Luzon. On 9 January 1945 Shropshire, in company with HMA Ships Australia, Arunta and Warramunga, formed part of the bombardment and fire support group. Control of the Australian ships had passed backed to Australia (Captain JM Armstrong) which was flying the flag of Commodore HB Farncomb, RAN, following the completion of repairs to damage caused by the suicide aircraft attack at Leyte Gulf.

Shropshire gunners preparing shells for her secondary armament.

Shropshire's gun crews serving her secondary 4-inch guns.

The Lingayen invasion force was subjected to a fierce onslaught by Japanese kamikaze suicide pilots who swarmed over the fleet extracting a heavy toll on Australian sailors in this extraordinary form of attack. The suicide missions were launched well before the assault convoys reached Lingayen and again Australia became a victim when on 5 January, some 140km west of Subic Bay, kamikaze aircraft penetrated the defensive screen damaging seven ships. The kamikazes came in just above the water defying heavy anti-aircraft fire. At 4:35pm one executed a steep turn and ended in a vertical dive hitting Australia on the port side of the upper deck amidships and inflicting heavy casualties. Arunta had her side holed and lost two men killed in a separate incident.

In spite of the damage sustained, Australia and Shropshire entered Lingayen Gulf on 6 January to carry out shore bombardments. At 5:34pm Australia was hit by another kamikaze and she sustained two more direct hits on 8 January. A further hit followed on 9 January, the day of the landing, which cut off the top of her third funnel. With her bombardment duties complete Australia was withdrawn from the intense battle and returned to Australia for repairs and a welcome respite from the action.

Following Australia’s departure, Commodore Farncomb transferred his flag to Shropshire which the following month took part in the bombardment of the Corregidor beach area before the successful assault on the fortress which fell on 26 February 1945. On 16 March 1945 Shropshire returned to Sydney for maintenance and a period of R&R for her crew.

In June 1945 Shropshire was back in the operational area and after supporting the landings at Brunei, she was part of the force at the Balikpapan landings on 3 July. Shropshire then returned to the Philippines and was there when the Japanese surrendered. She sailed for Tokyo Bay and was present for the surrender ceremony. She remained in Japanese waters until 17 November when the Broad Pendant of the Commodore Commanding Australian Squadron was transferred to HMAS Hobart (I) and Shropshire departed for Sydney.

HMAS Shropshire's ship's company, February 1945.

 

In May 1946 Shropshire left Australia for the United Kingdom, carrying the Australian Contingent for the Empire Victory celebrations, returning to Australia in August.

In January 1947 she became Squadron representative in Japanese waters, returning to Sydney in March 1947 in preparation for paying off, her days as an active warship ended. Since first commissioning in the Royal Australian Navy she had steamed 506,445.9 miles. The ship paid off into Special Reserve on 10 November 1949 after a number of periods in different Reserve categories.

HMAS Shropshire in Portsmouth, May 1946.

After several years lying in Sydney Harbour, Shropshire was sold as scrap on 16 July 1954 to Thomas W Ward Ltd, Sheffield, on behalf of the British Iron and Steel (Salvage) Corporation. On 9 October 1954 she left Sydney in tow of the Dutch tug Oostzee bound for the shipbreakers in Scotland. Shropshire was broken up at Troon and Dalmuir.

Shropshire awaiting disposal in Sydney Harbour.

Further reading

• 'Fire Across the Pacific' by David Mattiske © 2000
• 'HMAS Shropshire' by Stan Nicholls. The Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1989.
• 'The Royal Australian Navy, An Illustrated History' by George Odgers.