Chapter 4.2
Whippet in Action
”Do you think that’s awfully wise?” Major Lumsden (GOCHD, HPS)
Singapore was in our hands, Sir John Grimes garrisoning his forces there to secure our position against British attack, with the Transport fleet stationed in Singapore harbour. The date was now 23rd March 1838, and it had been 4 days since the meeting concerning Operation Whippet had taken place. Today would be the day that the Australian Government would announce publicly the alliance between the United States of America and Australia.
The reserves that had been mobilized were to be fully trained and equipped by the 22nd April. They would be used as garrisons around the Australian homeland in the major centres of population, such as Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Alice Springs, which controls the north/south access of central Australia. Although they were not first class divisions, they were certainly determined to defend their homes against the British invaders.
A key section of Whippet was, what the Prime Minister called
“Total War”, every aspect of war must be applied to the enemy and to the population, and that the war be taken to the enemy. This included building a navy for Australia, of fighting ships that can be used offensively.
“How can we defeat the British at sea?” The PM asked at the daily cabinet meeting, attended my military staffers and the PM’s cabinet colleagues alike.
“It’s impossible Sir.” Arthur Cranwell, Admiral Sommer’s replacement announced
“Tad defeatist isn’t it?” Lumsden shot back
“We can’t manage to field any numbers like they could, and even then, we are not experienced enough at sea warfare, it’s a delicate art form you know…” Arthur Cranwell returned the observation.
“Surely we can do something, which is better than nothing!” Lumsden tapped his pipe and tried to relight it.
“Perhaps there is one thing, we could use Merchant Raiders to intercept the British transport ships and avoid contact with their main fleets, that would annoy them somewhat…” Arthur Cranwell had a smug look on his face after that.
“We will need to do more than annoy them Arthur! But explain to the rest of us what these ‘Merchant Raiders’ are and how they work.” The PM directed the question toward Arthur Cranwell.
“Light for god sake!” Blurted out Lumsden just as Arthur Cranwell was about to speak.
“Anyway they are disguised as ordinary merchant vessels and conceal armament of all type, small calibre rifles to 4 inch guns and all sorts. They are really quite good!” Arthur Cranwell looked suitably pleased at his explanation.
“What are our shipyards capable of producing?” mused the PM.
“It’s whether or not we can afford to, of which we can afford two ships” Arthur Cranwell pointed out.
So the meeting devolved into other matters, including the proposed American invasion plans and the next landing sight for the Australian expeditionary force once Singapore was secured. The launching of two ‘Merchant Raiders’ would expand the Australian Navy and give it greater fighting power to try and match the British, however ships cannot be produced instantly, and this fact was acknowledged by the meeting.
They would be christened the ANS Brisbane and the ANS Cairns, and would operate once completed off the Australian coast in interdicting the British shipping lanes.
Disaster in the next chapter…
