Shelling of Newcastle

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The Shelling of Newcastle was the last attack on the Australian state of New South Wales during the Second World War.

At 2.15am on 8 June 1942, Japanese submarine I-21 under the command of Captain Kanji Matsumura, began to fire shells at the industrial port. I-21 had travelled across Stockton Bight and positioned itself about 9 km north east of Newcastle.^[1] I-21 travelled eastwards firing almost directly across the stern of the submarine. Their orders were to shell the Newcastle shipyards at Carrington. It is possible that it may have also targeted the BHP Works at Kooragang Island, Fort Scratchley and a large coal ship, the "Iron Knight", which was moored at the steelworks docks.

The Japanese gun crew broke out 20 shells (5.5" shells) from the ready locker. They also brought up another 14 rounds from the armoury below decks. 8 of the shells were "illuminators" or "star shells". All 34 shells were fired at Newcastle. After 13 minutes of firing, the guns at Fort Scratchley returned fire with 4 rounds. I-21 continued firing for another 3 minutes until all 34 shells had been fired.^[1]

Fort Scratchley War Diary^[2]^[3]
Time Line: June 8th 1942

12:45am Air-raid warning - red
1.19am Air- raid warning - yellow
1:21am Air-Raid warning - white (all clear)
2.17am Sounds of gun fire - alarms sound
2.19am Fort battery on alarm station. White flares and gunfire spotted.
2:20am No visible target in search light beam.
2:26am Fort battery opens fire on enemy vessel; not visible in any beam, but located by gun flashes at bearing 067 degrees and approx 5000yds. Four rounds fired from battery. After fourth round fired, no answering fire from enemy. During action rounds fall left of battery into harbour - others appeared to pass overhead.
2:31am No. 2 gun out of action - LBM (lever breech mechanism) damaged.
3.07am Guards posted over unexploded shell (which) also smashed electricity

wire in street (Parnell Place)

5.42am Port closed to outward shipping till daylight June 9th. Port is open to inward shipping - advise Nobby's (lighthouse).

Japanese planes had been mapping and spying on Newcastle since early May 1942. They had also reportedly recovered British maps of the area and used them to plan the attack.