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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Fremantle, Australia: Submarines and Z-Force Operations
Part of Pacific Week on WW2TV
With Michael Nelson
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We lost internet for a couple of minutes in the middle, don't worry we come straight back.
In today's show we will learn about Fremantle near Perth in Western Australia. From the early war years when it was the main transport hub to the Middle East via convoys including troop transports, to the start of the Pacific War. We will talk about the role of John Curtin, the Australian PM who was the member for Fremantle and the US and Dutch navy retreat. We move on to talk about the establishment of the base including an upgrade of defences to what would become known as Fortress Fremantle, which will includes the evolution of the RAAF in the area.
We will also talk about US navy operations out of Fremantle, the vital home-front and the training of the Z force commandos which often took place out of Fremantle - particularly in midget submarines and submersible canoes.
Michael Nelson lives in Fremantle is a self-described local history buff and long-time WW2TV supporter.
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As a young submarine sailor we pulled into Garden Island in April1979 on USS Tunny SSN682. Never knew the history of the area. "Youth is wasted on the young" Did research a few pubs, did some diving, we(Tunny crew) marched in the ANZAC Parade and enjoyed ourselves. Favorite Liberty Port of the 22 yrs in the Navy. Did learn about submarine operations out of there latter in life and about Z Force,well as much as anybody knows. We drank a fair amount of Swan Lager while there. I did not know the name of the River LOL. Thanks for the program!!! BZ!!
Thanks for sharing your story Robert
Michael Nelson “hits it out of the Park” with his presentation here on wW2TV. Bravo!
Yet again a presentation that wouldn't get to appear anywhere else. Brilliant work. Thank you, Woody and Michael
A brilliant episode & brilliant photos from Michael. I came across so much new stuff. Fantastic.
Very entertaining and informative. I look forward to more presentations from Michael.
What an incredible presentation by Michael. I have a keen interest in US submarines in World War 2 and knew that Australia was a major base during the war, but now I know so much more! Thank you, Michael & and Woody, for sharing this important story.
Brisbane was a go-to repair location.
There is today a few places dedicated to the American subs and repairs done here. Research should bring up the trail of memory.
Other areas of interest for Anerican subs are in WA.
Woody/Michael, Thank you for educating me on a subject that I didn’t know much about. Very interesting! Bob
Absolutely a wonderful presentation! Michael taught us so much of Fremantle's history during WW2 that many don't know much about. I knew something of the U.S. Submarine operations there, but never in such detail. All the many photos were superb and helped bring the story alive for the viewers. Good Oh Mate!
Excellent episode Woody and Michael. I learnt some thing's about my own country I did not know today. Thanks for that. Definitely do a show on the US Navy subs in the Pacific Woody.
Excellent job gentlemen. My Great Uncle was based out of that area during the war and his time in Australia was one of his best memories of that part of his life. He always spoke fondly about the Australian people. Thank you for telling this little known bit of history!
Wonderful show, Michael. Thanks Woody--
Our family farm in Coomberdale WA 185 km North of Perth hosted the Commander of mother ship HSS Pelias along with some submarine Officers and sailors, they wanted to go hunting! My father as a teenager at the time still recalls attending to this request with a funny outcome, we have photos and a letter of thanks from their Commander Madden - also a Havanna cigar and tin of cigars of which my family didnt smoke but I still have. My father and his Father were cordially invited down to stay at the Ritz and have an unofficial tour through one of the submarines, Father fondly remembers this still.
What a great story, thanks for sharing
Fantastic presentation by Michael. Very informative and comprehensive. Learned a lot tonight. So much new information that gives me a new perspective and I look forward to hearing more from Michael.
Ive lived in perth all my life and my parents now live in freo and both my father and I are amateur historians and I learned a lot
From Perth aswell champ
Thanks. I’d recommend reading Silent Fleets by Lynne Cairns or Fremantle’s Submarines by Michael Sturma if you want to learn more. Both are excellent local books.
Yes please, bring Michael back!
Once again I'm late....first class example of your skills. Thank you from America
Kangaroo hunting! That was the "Piece de resistance" for me. 😁I am totally enjoying watching this replay!
A wonderful show and I have visited the USS Alabama in Mobile Bay, AL, Pensacola Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL, and Eglin AFB in Fort Walton Beach, FL and part of the tours was about how important these bases were in WWII and how they changed the Gulf coast communities which were rather isolated and impoverished before the war.
USS Albacore has been found off the coast of Japan, sunk by a mine. Reported today 3rd March 2023.
Wilkes was Commander of Submarines, Asiatic Fleet, not commander of Asiatic Fleet. At that time, the Commander of Asiatic Fleet was Admiral Thomas C Hart.
You’re correct. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
@@michael_nelson Well, on one slide, at the end of the intro material, you identified Wilkes as commander of the Asiatic Fleet, but on a later slide you identified him as Commander, Submarines, Asiatic Fleet.
Another masterclass effort by WW 2 TV ! Thanks from Washington State a major Submarine part of America.
watching now- excellent subject. thank you
What an interesting and enjoyable presentation! Well done!
Fremantle has a submarine base and now hmas ovens now stood on the old submarine base sloop and now its a maritime museum in Fremantle
@32:54 This is the kind of detail I appreciate. I've read and heard a lot about US subs (and ships) returning to Pearl for repairs, and I was wondering 'Why not Oz?' And when Oz is mentioned, most often it's Brisbane. And again @ 1:19:32! I get very excited when I see floating repair drydocks. BTW, ARD-19 entered service in '44 and continued service for the USN until 2001. It was picked by the USCG and used until 2018. Then sold to a private repair facility.
Well done. Cheers.
19:00 Curtain Australia's best PM criminally underrated and forgotten outside of ww2 buffs even in Australia
Mistakenly assumed Perth waterfront was facing onto the Indian Ocean until I went there and found out otherwise!
Excellent....a little known center of operations.
Wonderful presentation. Loyal ally of US during World War 2 and vital to underwater services
Was trying to think of who Michael reminded me of - Tobias from Arrested Development.
The US in 1942 wanted revenge upon Imperial Japan and the Aussies and Kiwis (to a much lesser extent in numbers) both wanted to fight and were very good at it. What better allies could you find? Also, the Southwest Pacific theater got the bottom of the barrel in terms of equipment and manpower from the US and the resources that Australia could provide were both severely needed but also very necessary.
Paul, do you have any plans to do an episode on the Allied campaign in Syria & Lebanon 7 June 1941 - 11 July 1941 against the Vichy French ? A short campaign but rather hard-fought going by the casualty figures. Australian troops played a significant role in the campaign, but it has received very little attention from Australiam military historians. I am Australian and would like to know more. An ex-Govenor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler won a VC in that campaign.
No immediate plans, but I've added it to my growing list
This was a real Boy's Own story. I certainly had no knowledge of Australia's involvement other than the desert and jungle warfare, without not really knowing about the jungle aspect.
The Western Australian west coast was by no means free of the genuine threat of enemy ships, one case being the sinking of HMAS Sydney by a German raider just prior to the Pearl Harbour attack. HMAS Sydney ( heavy cruiser) went down with all hands (600+) after savage battle. Raider eventually sank also but survivors gave account of battle. Australia had been at war for two years before the USA joined against the axis powers.
back here again, yes we have 2 x letters addressed to my Grandmother from Commander John F Maden from the USS Pelius. Would like to send one...
Yes suspicions of a spy in Jurien Bay/Moora/Along the coast, alleged that bulk rice was purchased by a person of German decent in Moora and then along with other material found buried under the church that the army demolished in Jurien Bay. Plus delivery driver shot at while travelling from Moora out to the coast, strange lights seen and investigated by a special squad of Officers (my Grandfather witnessed this and interviewed by them).
No mention in this video of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru by a US submarine which killed 979 Australian prisoners of war (. 850 soldiers ) heading for Japan. July 1 , 1942
I heard they had people around Fremantle with rifles wandering the night incase of Japanese spy's or stealth landings, and some guy shot a letterbox that didn't comply when he shouted at it to drop and surrender 😂
1:08 WA is so/was so sparesly settled im not surprised women played such a huge role in defence .
I think Oliver Hill was artificial. The fortifications were constructed and then the sand was heaped up on and around them to form the hill.
Yes you’re correct Mark a lot of excavation and engineering work was done around the site. Probably one of the many things I forgot to mention 😂
Fremantle was the 2nd largest submarine base in the world
this is an interesting look at Fremantle with stats on operation out of Pearl and Freo th-cam.com/video/PVyW_x1MJ6A/w-d-xo.html thought you might be interested in the numbers
Interesting stuff BUT you (and others) continually use the name 'Z Force' which is incorrect. The correct name is Z SPECIAL UNIT!
Yep, we've talked about this on WW2TV th-cam.com/users/liveGYqmd2wY07I?si=Htt_1TTsmdgROZwS
@@WW2TV that link is some French thing?
FYI I was fortunate to have a close friendship with around 40 members of ZSU and have over 100 hours of video interviews with many of them that I collected between 2010-2012.
Fixed
Sounds like you should come on as a guest and talk about them one day?
Is it possible for anyone to do a documentary about how servicemen were dosed up with rah-rah patriotism and promised the world but were dumped on their arses when they came back damaged? Because I like real truthful documentaries...
It's TH-cam, so you could make such a video yourself if you wanted to
@@WW2TV Is that you Ben Roberts-Smith?...or that dwarf Brendon Nelson...
I have no idea who they are, and have no time to Google them
@@WW2TV But you got the same amount of time to post back to me, haha...you were in the service weren't you, eh Daryl?, hahahaha.....Now you get that precious time of yours back to workin' on a cure for cancer, eh, cobber...haha...
My name is Paul Woodadge, and I'm a Brit in France
Freo home to the AFL team with the worst theme song in the history of theme songs
5:50 yeh WA started out as a free colony but after about a year of nobody going there they BEGGED for convicts and then where the last state to stop importing them . If this guy is going to persist with the WA attitude going to stop watching . Out of the hundred plus years of federation WA hasn't been a drag on the eastern states for like 10 of them , and every time that happens they winge about succession . Western Australia is the most stupid state imaginable the state government collects more in rego fees than it does from mining royalties ........ you couldn't imagine the wealth just given away to like 5 people
Pretty sure it was just good natured joshing Matthew
@@WW2TV i realise it probably was just its Australia day week and the crying from the right has been off tap and in bad mood , upto the Curtain part atm and agree with everything said since .
I worked in Kalgoorlie WA, got on really well with my co-workers until they found out that I was from east of the rabbit proof fence. So insular. LOL
Ahh typical East coasters. Like to give it but can't take it ...cry a bit harder. don't worry, WA will keep paying for all you dole bludgers over there .. Victoria can't even pay its bills 😜🤣
Treat this as a rehearsal and re- record it. It will be 10x better.
I have no plans to re-record any of my shows
Well, this is annoying.
What's annoying?