HMAS 'Kalgoorlie' and 'Whyalla', Ulithi, Caroline Islands, Philippines, March 1945

This watercolour drawing depicts HMAS 'Kalgoorlie' and 'Whyalla' vessels of 21st Mine Sweeping Flotilla (MSF) and USS 'Randolph' at Ulithi, Caroline Islands, Philippines in March 1945. 'Whyalla' is seen at the left of the composition, 'Kalgoorlie' in the centre background and the damaged American aircraft carrier 'Randolph' is on the right. The 'Randolph' was one of several American aircraft carriers damaged in action off the Southern coast of Japan. It was attacked by a Japanese Kamikaze at Ulithi on 11 March 1945. The plane struck the 'Randolph' in the stern just below the level of the flight deck near where roughly 200 men were watching a movie on the Hangar Deck. Twenty-seven men were killed and 105 were wounded. 'Randolph' was repaired at Ulithi without having to retire further east and so was able to re-join the fleet in less than a month. This drawing shows the 'Randolph' from the port stern quarter. The fire that followed the attack has removed the paint from the ship’s hull, and the hull has flash corroded – hence the red/brown colour on the painting.

This image depicts some of the final stages of the war in the Pacific and the alliance between Britain and the United States that was so crucial in securing it. Ulithi was an important point in the Pacific as it was a base for both American and British fleets and therefore a point from which combined operations for landings in the Philippines and Okinawa could be launched. HMAS 'Kalgoorlie' was one of nine corvettes requested to defend the British Pacific Fleet and was in the command of the artist, John McBryde, from November 1944.