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The opposing 30 eight inch guns of the Japanese soon found the range and pounded the brave little sloop until she lay stopped and helpless in the water, but her brave fight had at least gained a little time for the convoy to increase its distance from the enemy. Yarra although still firing had taken, in rapid succession, hits in the sick bay, engine room and the bridge. Soon after these the barrel of X-Gun received a direct hit. Then with the upperdeck in a complete shambles, all boats wrecked by shrapnel and splinters and all guns apparently out of action the order "Abandon Ship!" was given. Although A and X guns were out of action, The Captain of B-Gun now found that his mount was still capable of firing. He had two Ordinary Seamen left in his Guns Crew and at the 'abandon ship' he sent them aft to save themselves. Leading Seaman Taylor then loaded his gun and trained it ahead on the leading destroyer, now closing in for the kill. Then he laid his gun and fired. Some of the survivors in the rafts said that he fired two rounds, however, after some answering Japanese gunfire B-Gun did not fire again. It is believed that Leading Seaman Taylor scored a direct hit on the destroyer. Upon 2 rafts the brave ship's survivors watched the end, marvelling at the amount of punishment she could endure before she finally slid beneath the waves. Of Yarra's complement of 159 plus 35 survivors from other ships who were taking passage only 34 got away to the Carley Floats. There was no food and very little water as they drifted, burning by day and freezing at night. The courageous Captain Rankin was killed by an eight inch salvo hitting the Bridge soon after he ordered 'abandon ship'. Leading Seaman Taylor was also killed. On the evening of the sixth day they were found and taken on board by a Dutch submarine, thus concluding one of the R.A.Ns finest actions. - there were just 13 survivors. Lest We Forget Compare the Ship Data and Specifications below... Ship Data - HMAS Yarra - Grimsby Class Sloop Displacement (tons): 1,060 Standard, 1,500 Full Load Dimensions (feet): 266.3 x 36 x 10 Propulsion: Parsons Turbines, 2,000 hp, 2 shafts Max. Speed (knots): 16.5 Armament: 3 x 4-inch, 4 x 3 pdr. pom-pom, 1 x .5-inch MG, 2 x DCTs, 2 x DCCs Complement: 160 Built by Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney INJS TAKAO - History and Data Draught: 10.9m (35.76ft) Machinery: Geared TurbinesArmour (4.011n) Armour

(Deck): 76.2mm (3")

(Belt): 102mm (3")

(Turrets) 76.2mm (3") Crew: 762 Type: Cruiser AA Guns: 2 x 4Omm Aircraft:: Three Launched:: May 1930 Speed.. 35 knots Length: 204.7m (671.58ft) Beam: 19m (62.33ft) Displacement (normal): 41,878tnes (41,217t) Displacement (full load): 47,754tnes (47,000t) Guns: 10x203mm; 4x12Omm Launched on 12 May 1930, the heavy cruiser Takao was leader of a class of four, the others being Chokai, Atago and Maya. Wikao was refitted and modernized in 1939-40. As part of the 4th Cruiser Squadron, she covered the japanese landings in Malaya and on Luzon in December 1941, and also the landings in the Dutch East Indies in January 1942. In June 1942, she formed part of the japanese carrier force at the Battle of Midway, which saw the turn of the tide in the Pacific war. August 1942 saw her operating in the Solomons area, and in the battle for Guadalcanal her gunfire inflicted heavy damage on the US battleship South Dakota. In November 1943 she was severely damaged by US air attack while covering the movement of Japanese forces in the Truk/Rabaul area. On returning to active duty she formed part of the defence of the Marianas. In June 1944 she participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In October 1944, during the battle for Leyte Gulf, she was torpedoed by the US submarine Darter. Transferred to the Indian Ocean after repair, on 30 July 1945 she was attacked in Singapore harbour by British midget submarines and was so badly damaged by their charges that she sank. Refloated after the war, she was scuttled in the Malacca Straights in 1946.



