Korean War (1951–1952) HMAS Sydney (R17)

firefly aircraft on board hmas sydney during korean war deployment

in march 1951, first sea lord requested sydney deployed korea while hms glory refitted in australia, maintain commonwealth carrier presence. agreed to, , 38-strong wartime cag formed on 14 may incorporating sea furies of 805 squadron 21st cag. because ran fireflies optimised anti-submarine warfare, , consequently not fitted cannon, cannon-equipped rn aircraft loaned duration of sydney‘s deployment. after completing pre-departure exercises, during several aircraft destroyed in non-fatal, weather-induced deck crashes, sydney , destroyer hmas tobruk sailed korea on 31 august. while en route, carrier s aircraft used fly-past demonstration on rabaul on 6 september, following civil unrest. on arrival, sydney became first aircraft carrier owned commonwealth dominion see wartime service.

a map of korean peninsula. sydney operated off west coast, although deployed east coast on occasion.

sydney attached united states navy (usn) seventh fleet , assigned task element 95.11, operated off western coast of korea. carrier sent on 9 or ten-day patrols in operational area, nine-day replenishment periods in sasebo, nagasaki or kure, hiroshima between each; maintain coverage, sydney alternated usn carrier (initially uss rendova, december uss badoeng strait). ran aircraft used air strikes against north korean units , supply lines; secondary duties including reconnaissance, bombardment spotting, combat air patrols, , anti-submarine patrols. during deployment, carrier operated unarmed usn sikorsky dragonfly (designation up28, acquired nickname uncle peter ) in search-and-rescue , plane guard roles. first helicopter operate australian warship, , first usn equipment used ran. success of helicopter operations convinced ran acquire 3 bristol sycamores; first helicopter squadron in australian military service.

sydney s first patrol commenced on 4 october, 2 days spent providing air support of efforts push front line away han river. sydney briefly repositioned off east coast, aircraft flew strike missions near wonsan. after returning east coast, sydney set record on 11 october light carrier operations: aircraft flew 89 sorties during day, 31 aircraft aloft @ 1 point. following first patrol, carrier sailed sasebo resupply, on 14 october, ships ordered sea avoid typhoon ruth. although order clear anchorage given morning, number of ships present meant sydney did not leave until late in day, , sailed during worst part of storm. firefly, 16-foot (4.9 m) motor dinghy, , forklift lost overboard, 6 other aircraft parked on deck destroyed, , carrier experienced extreme winds—the wind recorder broke after registering 68 knots (126 km/h; 78 mph).

up-28 ( uncle peter ), sikorsky dragonfly assigned sydney, hovering above carrier s flight deck

sydney s second patrol began on 18 october, aircraft involved in strikes against north korean units, coastal shipping, railway bridges, , other supply routes. performed first close air support mission on 21 october, providing cover 1st commonwealth division. 2 sea furies shot down on 25 october; both pilots escaped unharmed. next day, during moderately successful strike involving 5 ran aircraft against railway tunnel, firefly shot down 75 miles (121 km) inland, deep inside north korean territory. there doubts rescue helicopter reach crash site , return safely, @ extreme limit of helicopter range , of return flight occur after dark. despite this, uncle peter s usn aircrew volunteered try, , after observer taught how use owen submachine gun, helicopter launched @ 1622 hours. 4 ran aircraft provided cover 2 downed personnel until ordered return carrier; 2 of fireflies met uncle peter @ 1715 hours, , turned around escort helicopter. @ 1733 hours, uncle peter arrived @ crash site , collected ran aircrew, covering fire provided escorting fireflies , helicopter s observer. 3 aircraft @ extreme fuel limits on return: 2 fireflies barely made sydney, while uncle peter arrived @ kimpo airfield @ 1830 hours , had land aid of truck headlights. rescue longest helicopter rescue transit on north korean territory during war, , sikorsky pilot received both british distinguished service medal , united states navy cross: instance of these 2 medals being awarded same person same action. sydney relieved uss rendova on 27 october , returned kure.

sydney @ anchor in korean waters during 1951

sydney began third patrol on 5 november, operating on west coast of korea , escorted canadian destroyers athabaskan, cayuga, , sioux, , american destroyers hanna , collett. on same day, first ran casualty of war occurred, when sea fury pilot failed pull strafing run , crashed. despite foul weather, carrier s aircraft continued attack lines of supply , communication, , provide support united nations ships: 1000th combat sortie flown on 12 november, day before patrol s end. on 18 november, after replenishing in sasebo, sydney, tobruk, , british light cruiser hms belfast sailed hŭngnam, joined task force 95.8 aid usn bombardment of hŭngnam during 20–22 november. on day, sydney being refuelled rfa wave chief when there accident resulted in large spill of fuel , damage wave chief s refuelling rig. aircraft sydney performed strikes against coastal artillery batteries, barracks, industrial areas, , railway lines, , provided combat air patrol ships. @ conclusion of operation, sydney returned west coast, unable resume operations because of snow , high winds until 27 november, day before being relieved.

in december, un command temporarily switched of responsibilities of task element 95.11 , fifth air force. consequently, sydney required provide air support convoys between japan , korea amongst other duties of fifth patrol, commenced on 7 december. on 8 december, second ran pilot killed; although bailing out flak-damaged sea fury, struck tail of own aircraft, , died wounds. 4 other aircraft damaged day. clear weather, lasted until 14 december, allowed carrier maintain high rate of attack against north korean troop concentrations, railways, , coastal vessels, while providing air cover task element. ending on 18 december, fifth patrol costly sydney s cag, 1 pilot killed, 5 aircraft destroyed, , 25 aircraft heavily damaged. carrier in kure christmas, , relieved uss badoeng strait on 27 december, start of sixth patrol. remaining days of 1951 spent providing air cover in inchon area both un ground forces , supply convoys returning japan. on new year s day 1952, sydney s aircraft helped repel north korean invasion of island of yongho do. third ran pilot lost in korea died on 2 january while performing combat air patrol around carrier; personnel on flight deck saw aircraft fly cloud, not emerge. no wreckage found, , assumed plane dived yellow sea. of patrol, ran aircraft attacked artillery emplacements , concentrations of junks in cho do-sok area, while proving air support south korean army , irregular forces.

deck crew working on sea fury during snow storm

sydney s seventh , final patrol commenced on 16 january, hmas tobruk, hmcs sioux, uss hanson, , uss radford accompanying. patrol marked minimal flying activity due extremely poor weather , lack of co-ordination between un forces , convoys ran aircraft meant escort. primary targets strike missions changed north korean supply line infrastructure water towers, took longer repair. on final day of patrol, aircraft sydney did not fly @ all, overnight weather conditions had rendered of deck-parked aircraft unusable, including 5 encased in frozen sea water. on 25 january, sydney relieved hms glory, , sailed home.

sydney completed 7 patrols during 122-day korea deployment: flying operations conducted 42.8 days, poor weather stopped operations 11.7 days, transits , operational area or between assignments consumed 29.5 days, , 38 days spent in harbour. during time, ran sea furies flew 1,623 sorties, while fireflies flew 743, aircraft using 802 bombs, 6,359 rockets, , 269,249 rounds of 20-millimetre (0.79 in) ammunition between them. 3 ran pilots killed , fourth wounded, while thirteen aircraft lost: 9 shot down north korean flak artillery (which damaged aircraft on over ninety other occasions), , 4 deck accidents or foul weather. replacement aircraft loaned british far east reserve supplies.

ran aircraft damaged or destroyed estimated 66 bridges, 141 pieces of rolling stock, on 2,000 structures, 469 watercraft, , 15 artillery pieces, while causing on 3,100 north korean casualties. australian damage assessment practice considered conservative, , claims of great underestimation ran made personnel inspecting aftermath of ran attacks. personnel sydney , cag received 4 distinguished service crosses (one bar), 1 distinguished service medal, ten mentions in despatches, , 2 united states legions of merit. of personnel aboard have been eligible australian active service medal, korea medal, united nations service medal korea, , returned active service badge, while sydney herself awarded battle honour korea 1951–52 . carrier s presence in korea allowed australian government avoid deploying additional australian soldiers.

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