DEADLY WEAPONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 6 April 1943, Page 1

DEADLY WEAPONS

MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS USE AGAINST JAPANESE The effectiveness of motor torpedo boats as weapons against Japanese shipping in the Pacific battle area has been described by two United States naval officers during a period of leave in New Zealand. Both men said the small boats are a real thorn in the side of the Japanese navy, which has suffered considerable losses to them and has long since learned to respect them. The two officers are Lieutenant H. M. Robinson, US.N. who was formerly commander of his squadron and has since been appointed to the flotilla staff, and Lieutenant L. H. Gamble U.S.N.R., a squadron executive officer. They began operating in the Solomons at the beginning of last October, and carried out many sortiej in their small craft against Japanese destroyers, convoys and landing parties. DECORATION TO BE AWArRDED Lieutenant Robinson has been in torpedo boats since the beginning of 1941, and Lieutenant Gamble, who is credited with having a higher record of hits against the enemy than any other officer in the squadron, has been in them for about a year. Lieutenant Gamble, who is also reputed to have seen as much action as any other man in the squadron, said he had been advised that on his return to the battle area he was to be awarded the Silver Star. At the time of speaking he did not know exactly which operation had resulted in the award. “Their speed and the ease with which they can be manoeuvred make the torpedo boats a very formidable weapon,” said Lieutenant Robinson. “They operate mainly at night, and present a very difficult target for the enemy. Usually they are able to get within fairly close range before their presence is detected and, having launched their torpedoes, they are away again at highspeed. HIT AND RUN TACTICS “In the main, we adopt hit and run tactics, and the individual actions are of very short duration,” he said. “In much the same way as aircraft attack in wave after wave, so do we go out in groups and keep up a steady hammering on any enemy ships which come near. The size of the ships which we have to attack matters little, for these mosquito boats have a deadly sting.” Lieutenant Robinson said his most exciting night was one during which a Japanese shell blew away the bow of his boat. It happened during the heat of an attack against several destroyers, and it was not until some time later that he knew part of his vessel was missing. “Before, we had managed to get into a good position, a searchlight from one of the destroyers turned on us, and in less than no time two others picked us up,” he said. “Then the fun started. They opened fire on us, and in no time the air was thick with shells. We had to dodge as best we knew. Luckily I had a splendid machine-gunner on my boat, and he soon put out two of the lights. We felt a jar on the boat during the firing, but did not pay much attention to it. Later when we were on our way back I went forward to see if any damage had been done, and found that the bow had been blown right away. It was only the fact of our speed keeping the bow clear of the water that had prevented the boat from sinking. We managed to limp back with her.” NEW ZEALAND SHIPS PRAISED Both men said that the casualties suffered by the torpedo boat squadron were negligible compared with the results achieved. Lieutenant Robinson and Lieutenant Gamble warmly praised the work of the New Zealand corvettes which accounted for a Japanese submarine at Guadalcanar. The two men were three miles away from the action, but they could see and hear the gunfire, which they said was rapid enough to give the impression that a major sea battle was in progress. “The New Zealand corvettes have an important job to do, and they are doing it exceptionally well,” said the two lieutenants. “They have every reason to feel pleased with themselves.”