War in the Pacific - secret strike on Sydney Harbour

Students examine primary and secondary sources from the museum's collection to understand the significance of the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour in the context of the war in the Pacific.  

This resource encourages students to develop source analysis skills while deepening their understanding of Australia’s experiences during World War II. 

On the night of Sunday 31 May to 1 June 1942 Sydney Harbour became a battleground as the attack by three Japanese midget submarines brought the war in the Pacific to Australia’s eastern coast. 

Construct a timeline of the events outlined in the video to explain what happened before, during and after the attack on Sydney Harbour.

Answer the discussion questions:

• Why did Japanese forces attack Sydney Harbour?
• Was the Japanese attack into Sydney Harbour expected? Why/why not?
• How was this battle tragic for both sides?  

Australia initially became involved in World War II in September 1939 following Britain’s declaration of war against Germany.  

Australia did not officially declare war on Japan until two years later, on 9 December 1941.

Using the information provided in the video and your own knowledge, create two lists outlining the reasons why Australia and Japan became involved in World War II.  

Discuss the similarities and differences between the reasons for each country’s involvement.  

Examine the three American propaganda posters and answer the discussion questions:

• What is the definition of ‘propaganda’?
• What defining event on 7 December 1941 caused America to enter World War II?
• Summarise the messages conveyed by each poster.
• What do these posters tell us about the motivations of America during World War II?  

Following Japan’s attacks on Pearl Harbour, Malaya and Darwin, Australia was increasingly concerned by their proximity to the war in the Pacific. Britain’s focus was to defeat Germany first. This attitude, along with significant British defeats such as the Fall of Singapore, meant that Australia could no longer rely on Britain for protection and support.  

Examine this educational map produced during World War II and answer these questions:  

• What does this map show about the challenges for allied forces in the Pacific War?  
• How did location influence Australia’s relationships with Great Britian and America in World War II? 

Using the video, sources and your own knowledge, explain:

• Why did Australia shift its primary alliance to America?  
• What did Australia offer America in return for their support?
• What role did Australia’s relationship with America play in the attack on Sydney Harbour? 

Divide into groups and choose one vessel to investigate:

• HMAS Kuttabul
• Japanese midget sub M22 / Ha-21
• Japanese midget sub M24
• Japanese midget sub M27 / Ha-14

Use the video and additional resources to write a summary of this vessel’s role in the attack on Sydney Harbour, including:

• Who was onboard?
• What was their role in the events of 31 May?
• What happened to the crew and vessel during and after the attack?

Additional resources:

• Reconstructing the events of 31 May 1942: Information from the Maritime Museum’s collections database 
• Depths of knowledge: divers to explore secrets of submarine site, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 May 2012. 
• The Night the War Came to Sydney by Robert Nichols, The Australian War Memorial
• HMAS Kuttabul, The Royal Australian Navy
• Australia Under Attack: Sydney and the Midget Submarines 1942 by Dr Richard Reid, Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• The Battle of Sydney Harbour 1942 by Peter Grose, illustrated by Gary Jackson

Examine this recreation of the cabin of one of the Japanese midget subs. Write a letter from the perspective of one of the Japanese submariners onboard, outlining their thoughts on the mission, the war as a whole and what they expect to happen to them after the attack.  

Read the information and examine the objects from the Maritime Museum’s collections. 

The remains of two submarines (M22 and M27) were recovered soon after the battle. Though each submarine had been significantly damaged by explosives, components from the two identical submarines were combined to create one complete submarine.   

This combined sub made a voyage around Australia by road and raised funds for the Naval Relief Fund. On 28 April 1943, the composite midget submarine arrived at the Australian War Memorial where it remains today.   

The bodies of the four Japanese men recovered from the two submarines were buried with full military honours and later cremated and returned to Japan via a diplomatic exchange in 1943. M24 disappeared from the harbour and was not located until 2006 off Bungan Heads, NSW.  

Discuss: 

• Who were these objects made for? 
• Why were these kinds of souvenirs produced? 
• How did Australia commemorate the deaths of the Japanese submariners immediately following the battle?
• How should we commemorate the lives lost in this battle now?

For many years the fate of Japanese midget submarine M24 remained a mystery. In November 2006, the remains of the M24 were located off Sydney's northern beaches by a team of recreational scuba divers. The NSW Government declared a protection zone around the wreck site, restricting entry while archaeological survey work was completed.  

More information from NSW Heritage

In August 2007, two memorial services were held for the relatives of the submariners who died during the attack. One ceremony took place at the HMAS Kuttabul memorial site at Garden Island in Sydney. The second ceremony was an at-sea commemoration specifically for the Japanese family members. Navy divers collected sand from the site of the wreck, that was presented to the relatives of the Japanese submariners.

Discuss:

• What are the main challenges for maritime archaeologists in surveying M24?
• What are the ethical considerations involved for archaeologists studying this site?

Write a response which agrees or disagrees with the following statement:  

• “The composite midget sub is more valuable to historians than the wreckage of M24.” Justify your answer using evidence.  

Reflecting on the attack on Sydney Harbour, discuss:

• What is Australia’s relationship with Japan like now? How has this changed how we commemorate the attack on Sydney Harbour?
• How was the attack on Sydney Harbour influenced by Australia’s relationships with Britain, Japan and America?
• Why is the Australian National Maritime Museum an appropriate place for this story to be presented? What role should museums play in preserving stories such as this one?