Were Limpet Mines Used In Rabaul?

I was more than interested in reading the review of “The Heroes , by Ronald McKie, in the NG “Times Courier” of 24/2/60, tiiidthe reference to the “first proposed canoe attack of the unit was on Rabaut Harbour in 1943”—the Scorpion Raid eventually ‘ was delayed for months and finally cancelled”. (For “PlM’s” review see p. 88 this issue).

Far be it for me to question the cancellation of the raid, as men tioned by author McKie, but I must put on record the fact that one bright day in 1943, when I was in the Jap boob at Rabaul, a Jap cruiser in the harbour was suddenly blown sky-high, with no attendant air raids, and created considerable consternation among the Japs, as well as a high death toll.

Sabotage must have been suspected for we Aussies in the town were put through the usual strenuous interrogation as to our movements and associations.

We were as much surprised as the Japs—but not as downhearted!

On being released in 1945, I enquired about the incident from our own folk and they assured me that limpet bombs had been attached to the cruiser. . . So where do we go from there?

There was another incident which created panic amongst Jap troops in Rabaul in September, 1942, when a huge munition dump, located in the Matupi Farm, exploded. And who did that?

Jap historians, please come in! — Tolala.