Japan Shells Sydney: War Reaches Australian Shores
Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour on the night of May 31-June 1, 1942, and Japanese submarines I-21 and I-24 shelled the Sydney and Newcastle coastlines on June 8, 1942. The shelling caused minimal physical damage: approximately 30 shells were fired at industrial targets, with most falling in residential areas or the ocean. One shell struck a house, injuring a couple sleeping inside. The psychological impact far exceeded the physical damage: the attacks shattered the widespread belief that Australia was beyond the reach of enemy forces. The government accelerated military mobilization, including conscription for home defense, and deepened Australia's alliance with the United States. The midget submarine attacks two nights earlier had already killed 21 sailors when a torpedo struck the depot ship HMAS Kuttabul.
June 8, 1942
84 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on June 8
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