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Reading list
The major reference is the official history Australia in the war of 1939-1945 (Canberra : Australian War Memorial). Refer to the volume by G . Herman Gill, Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945 (1968): 61-74. [Relates the history of the attack on Sydney Harbour by the Japanese submarines I21, I 22, I 24, I 28, and I 29].
Erminio Bagnasco, Submarines of World War Two (London: Arms and Armour Press, 1977): 172-201. [Brief account of the history of Japanese submarines.]
Dorr Carpenter and Norman Polmar, Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy (London: Conway Maritime Press, 1986). [Gives specifications of Japanese attack and scouting type submarines and includes photographs.]
Steven L. Carruthers, Australia under siege: Japanese submarine raiders, 1942 (Sydney: Solus Books, 1982). [Discusses the Sydney attacks by Japanese submarines and the subsequent lack of official inquiry into the events. Includes charts and a chronological summary of 31 May- 1 June 1942 and information about USS Chicago and Japanese submarine crew.]
David Jenkins, Battle Surface!: Japan 's submarine war against Australia 1942-44 (Milsons Point, NSW: Random House, 1992): 201-223. [Comprehensive, detailed and clear description of the attacks of three midget submarines with background to attacks on Sydney Harbour including information on cracking of the Japanese naval code, defences of Sydney Harbour, illustrations, charts, diagrams of midget submarines and index. Includes names of Japanese crew members and some biographical background and funeral arrangements.]
Lewis James Lind, Toku-tai: Japanese submarine operations in Australian waters (Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press, 1992). [Lack of Australia's preparedness documented. The official report which was critical of communications and defence organisation is summarised. Many photographs, 'death before dishonour' philosophy described, includes words of a Japanese submariner's song.]
Lewis James Lind, The midget submarine attack on Sydney (Garden Island, NSW: Bellrope Press, 1990). [Personal observations. Includes biographical summary of commanders and their ships in Sydney Harbour at the time of the attacks and description of the aftermath.]
Richard Reid, No cause for alarm : submarine attacks on Sydney and Newcastle, May-June 1942 (Canberra: Department of Veterans Affairs, 2002). [Good introductory summary based on published sources, including personal observations from newspaper reports. Nominal roll of those lost on HMAS Kuttabul, photographs of midget submarines, one at the Memorial and some Japanese crew. Reports and photographs of visit of the mother of crew member, Kieu Matsuo in 1968.]
Peggy Warner and Sadao Seno, The coffin boats: Japanese midget submarine operations in the Second World War (London: L. Cooper in association with Secker & Warburg, 1986). [Known as coffin boat raids, the Japanese crew were on a mission to meet death bravely. Sydney 's preparations for an attack by Japan are documented and also some civilian experiences. Book includes Japanese attack plan for 31 May 1942 and prescient cartoon from Smith's Weekly.]
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