PENSACOLA CONVOY
(PLUM CONVOY)
AND OTHER CONVOYS
ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIA
DURING WW2
| visits since 24 February 2002 |
On 7 December 1941, a US convoy of seven ships was escorted by the cruiser Pensacola on its way from Hawaii to Manila to reinforce the Philippines. The convoy was ordered back to Hawaii but President Roosevelt then redirected the convoy to Brisbane, Australia.
USS Yacht Niagara
USAT Holbrook
SS Coast Farmer
Admiral Halstead (both SS Coast Farmer and Admiral Halstead were carrying some 18 crated 24thGP P40E’s (one of the P40E’s lacked a Rudder))
SS Chaumont
SS Republic (7th BG personnel)
SS Meigs (latter [sunk at Darwin 19/2/42) 52 A24's 27th BG (Lt)]
Dutch Ship Bloemfontein (75 strong AVG P40 Outfit on board)
USS Pensacola (8" Gun Cruiser as escort)
The Pensacola Convoy departed mainland USA 21-23 November 1941 and arrived in Brisbane on 22 December 1941
The reinforcement and resupply of the Philippines was ordered by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On 14 November 1941, Roosevelt approved the plan for Operation Plum.
The convoy was carrying a brigade from the U.S. Field Artillery Corps, made up of 4,600 National Guard (reserve) personnel:_
* 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery
Regiment (Texas National Guard)
* 1st and 2nd Battalions, 147th Field Artillery Regiment (South Dakota
National Guard)
* 1st Battalion, 148th Field Artillery Regiment (Idaho National Guard)
U. S. Army Air Forces ground crews were also on board, along with aircraft disassembled in crates: 52 Douglas A-24 dive bombers and 18 Curtiss P-40 fighter planes.
Materiel on board included: 20 off 75 mm field artillery pieces, AA ammunition, 2,000 500-lb bombs, 3,000 30-lb bombs, 340 motor vehicles, 9,000 barrels of aviation fuel, 500,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition and 9,600 rounds of 37 mm anti-aircraft shells.
| Casey to Evatt | Washington, 11 December 1941 |
| Cablegram 1135
|
Secret
|
| As you know a convoy of American ships is
likely to be diverted to Brisbane carrying American personnel, aircraft and artillery,
previous destination Philippines. You also realise that American Naval Forces and
Aircraft are likely to retire to Australia if forced from Philippines. It occurs to me
that it would be good to suggest strongly to relevant American quarters here that a
shipment of appropriate American ammunition, spare parts and bombs be sent to Australia at
the earliest possible moment to enable abovementioned vessels, aircraft and weapons to be
employed effectively from Australian bases if need be. [AA: A 5954, Box 535] |
The following "Most Secret" note was sent from Nankervis, the Secretary, of the Department of Navy to Shedden, the Secretary of Defence Co-ordination:-
| Nankervis | Melbourne, 12 December 1941 |
| To Shedden Note |
Most Secret |
| I desire to forward information the following
copy of a message which has been received by the Chief of Naval Staff [Royle] from the Australian Naval Attache, Washington [Harries]. The message is dated 11 December. "Convoy 4002 (7 merchant ships) escorted by U.S. Cruiser Pensacola now in vicinity Fiji has been ordered to Brisbane. Contents include 2,400 United States Army Air Corps Troops, 2 Field Artillery Regiments, 52 A-24 Fighter Bombers, 38 Tomahawks (what we call a Kittyhawk). Further details equipment and subsequent disposal will be signalled later. Approximate date arrival 16-17 December Australian time. [AA:A 5954, Box 535] |
The two Field Artillery Regiments mentioned above, was the Provisional Field Artillery Brigade which actually comprised the following mixture of units:-
The original intention was to send two battalions from the 147th Field Artillery Regiment (South Dakota) and two battalions from the 148th Field Artillery Regiment (Idaho), (i.e. two full regiments) but the 2nd Battalion, 148th Field Artillery, was not fully trained, so it was replaced by the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment from the Texas National Guard.
Many of the British 75mm guns in the Oahu garrison were also carried as cargo on the ships of the Pensacola convoy headed for Manila. They were not accompanied by gun crews and were intended simply to increase General MacArthur's fire power. He had requested 105mm howitzers but they were not available. The British 75mm stayed on board after the ships left Brisbane and were then taken to Java. Only one of the many guns was used at Java. It was used to replace a standard gun damaged by a Japanese air attack. All of the guns were later captured intact by the Japanese.
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The 8 ships of the Pensacola Convoy arrived in Brisbane on 22 December 1941. Another source states that there were approximately 70 crates of A-20 and A-24 aircraft on board. Many of these were sent to Amberley for assembly. Archerfield was then to receive later shipments of crated aircraft for assembly.
General Barnes, on board the transport ship "Republic", was welcomed to Brisbane by Colonel Merle-Smith from the American Consulate in Melbourne. By 5 pm General Barnes and his officers had established their temporary Headquarters and their accommodation in the original Lennons Hotel in George Street.
Harries, the Australian Naval Attache in Washington sent a Cablegram to Royle, The Chief of Naval Staff, told Royle on 12 December 1941 to advise that that Brigadier General Julian F. Barnes, of the U.S. Army, who was on board the Pensacola convoy, was about to receive the following message.
| ......You are designated as Commander U.S.
Troops in Australia which includes troops in your convoy, those already there and those to
arrived in future...... ......Contact General [MacArthur], U.S. Forces ... Far East at Manila and place your force under his direction, informing him of units, armaments and supplies included. Immediately on arrival have senior Air Force officers assemble and prepare for combat all planes. Make every effort to get these planes to Philippine Is. General MacArthur has been requested to send additional pilots to Australia if practicable. If he cannot do this, call ... Australian authorities who have been requested to assist. Before unloading other troops and equipment, consult Commanding Officer of your Naval Escort and C. in C. U.S. Asiatic Fleet to see if any possibility of moving troops to Philippine Is. If this is impracticable, unload and use your force and supplies as situation dictated with following [objectives] in mind: First[,] Aid defence of Philippine Islands. Second, Aid our Allies. .... [AA: A 5954, Box 535] |
| Casey to Evatt | Washington, 16 December 1941 |
| Cablegram 1160 |
Most Secret |
| General MacArthur
has telegraphed appreciation
to the War Department, the gist of which is that the retention of the Philippines is the
key to the Far Eastern situation. In consequence everything possible is to be done to
reinforce the Philippines with fighting and heavy bombing aircraft. It is probably safer
not to telegraph the proposed methods of so doing other than to say that, in the process,
American fighter (P.40) and heavy bombing (B17 and possibly other) aircraft may be passing
through Australia. These will be in addition to aircraft in convoy now approaching
Australia of which you know. I have asked for notice of their probable arrival so that
R.A.A.F. may be warned. Above is also additional to heavy bombers which may be flown from Philippines to Australia for reconditioning and return. United States army air corps is enquiring what air transportation (civil or otherwise) is available in Australia for transport of United States army air corps ground staff personnel, ammunition and bombs from Brisbane to Darwin ex abovementioned convoy. I have said this best discussed with Officer Commanding army air corps troops on arrival although I would relay enquiry as a warning to R.A.A.F. ... [AA: A 5954, Box 535] |
Another Cablegram (below) talks of 125 P-40 Tomahawks and 5 DC-3's being sent from California in December 1941 to Australia. From another source, I believe that the 4th Air Depot Group left San Francisco on 15 December 1941 on board the U.S. Army transport, President Coolidge, and arrived in Melbourne on 1 February 1942
| Casey to Evatt | Washington, 17 December 1941 |
| Cablegram 1163 |
Most Secret |
| .... United States is sending "in the next few days" two fast ships (President Polk and President Cooleridge) [sc. Coolidge] from the Californian coast to Australia, containing 125 P 40 fighter aircraft, 5 transport aircraft D.C. 3 type, together with United States Army Air Corps fourth mobile depot group of about 550 officers and men. Each aircraft will be accompanied by pilot, crew, observer and armourer. Above ships will also carry some ammunition and bombs. The mobile depot group will have hand tools and such other necessary maintenance equipment and machinery as the ships can carry. This depot group is to establish itself at the most appropriate place in Australia (they presume either Brisbane or Townsville) for the assembly of the above-mentioned and subsequent arriving aircraft. Subsequently about 35 or 40 P 40 fighter aircraft with pilots, bombers and ammunition may be expected monthly as reinforcements by subsequent ships. All of the above fighter aircraft are destined on the present plans to fly to the Philippines via Darwin and appropriate stopping places. ...... [AA: A 5954, Box 535] |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I'd like to thank Nelson Lawry and David Rawlings for their assistance with this home page.
REFERENCE BOOKS
"Australian War Strategy 1939 -1945"
By John Robertson & John McCarthy
"Gateway to
Victory"
By Noel Tunny
"Fight Back from the
North"
By Noel Tunny
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© Peter Dunn 2004 |
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This page first produced 18July 1999
This page last updated 02 March 2008
AUSTRALIA
@ WAR
