Written Records, AWM54 741/5/9 PART 2 - [Patrols - Reconnaissance:] Report on Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit, by Sqn Ldr D F Thomson RAAF [Report minus maps] - Part 16

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Official Records

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

AWM2022.1720.28641

Difficulty:

19.

Cotton wool, large quantities
Winchesters, for distilled water etc. 2
Medicine glasses, pipettes and rubber teats for
same, measuring glasses etc. spare bottles
Eyeshades, green
Glasses, sun
Drugs
Quinine ) NOTE : It should be noted that the crew of the

Atabrin ) "Aroetta", including natives, are all subject
to attacks of malaria.
Acid, tannic
pieric
Acid, boracic (powder) (for cockroaches) say 25-lbs
Insecticide for spraying insects etc.
Naphthaline 15-lbs
Iodine
Acriflavine
Mercurichrome
Corrosive sublimate
Dettol
Monosol
Castor oil 2-gals
Epsom Salts
Cascara
Calomel
Cough Mixture (concentrated)
Mouth wash and gargle
Linament
Flastine (large quantity and/or Antiphlogestine
B. V. M 10 gals
Formalin

Anaestheticas. local
Novacaine
Morphine
H₂O₂ for ear complaints
Pot. permanganate (snake-bite) etc
Neko germicidal soap
Snake bite outfitd

It would be appreciated if authority could be obtained
for the O.C. of this party to make use of an ambulance or
air transport in the case of serious illness or accident to a member
of the detachment.

(Sgd) DONALD F. THOMSON
Flight-Lieut
R.A.A.F

19 Sept. 41

20.

PART 2

1. Details of Arms and Ammunition held by Special
Reconnaissance Unit June 1942 (furnished at request of Norforce)

2. Inventory of Stores and Equipment at handing over of
Unit April 3rd 1942.

(See also W.E. Table of NORTHERN TERRITORY COASTAL RECONNAISSANCE
UNIT, R.A.E.)

21.

MOST SECRET

A.K. Aroetta,
Groote Eylandt,
June 18 1942

For: Advanced Headquarters, Norforce.

Subject: Details of Arms and Ammunition Held by Special Reconnaissance
Unit and Disposal of Above.

In reply to your signal 081/940 of June 8th, and
acknowledged by my signals A1/45 and B/9, requesting details of
the arms and ammunition held by this Unit and distributed at
various depots, the following information is furnished. As a
high grade cypher is not held on this vessel it was deemed unwise
to make this report by M.T. and it has therefore been held until
it can be despatched by Safe Hand File from Groote Eylandt.

2. Machine Guns

Vickers. .303 M.G. Mark II. Two (2). These guns are
mounted for A.A. defence and for general services, aboard
the A.K. Aroetta, one on the port and one on the starboard,
side.

Browning .50 calibre. Aircooled. This is a twin aircraft
gun which was obtained from the U.S. Army Air Corps in
Darwin and now mounted on the A.K. Aroetta. This gun which
was on a Boeing aircraft heavily damaged at Manila, is
not in good order and no doubt suffered severely during
the campaign. Both barrels are in poor condition, though
still serviceable. It is hoped to secure new barrels for
replacement.

Bren L.M.G. Mk. I Four Bren guns are held by this Unit,
one of which was supplied by A.H.Q. to assure that spare
parts would be available to maintain three in operation.
No spare parts were obtainable at that time (August 1941.)

T.S.M.G fifteen (15) Thompson Sub-machine guns are held.
Rifles Short Lee Enfield. 50, of which one is
unserviceable.
Snipers rifles. (British) five (5) with telescopic sights.

Revolvers. Webley, .45 calibre, Mk VI, three (3)

HAND GRENADES.
50 hand grenades are held.

Ammunition
Hand Grenades (see above. page 1)

22.

S.A.A. Ball. Approximately 75,000 rounds are now held. It should
be noted that very little of this ammunition is of
recent manufacture. Of 35,000 rounds supplied by the
Army, a quantity was manufactured many years before
the war and represents very old stock.

Approximately 35,000 rounds has been supplied by
Army Ordinance, the remainder of the stocks held were
obtained by me from the RAAF to enable adequate
practice to be had with the machine and Bren guns,
and because it was considered advisable to hold
large reserves of ammunition in case the Unit should
be cut off from supplies. The S.A.A. Ammunition
supplied by the R.A.A.F. was of recent (1941)
manufacture, but is said to be subject to "hang fire"
and is not to be used by aircraft.

.50 calibre - A.F & tracer, link loaded. Approximately three
hundred (300) rounds now held plus an additional
30 cases 17950 rounds) which have been supplied by
RAAF North-eastern Area, and which are now at
Groote Eylandt. This brings the total .50 calibre
ammunition stocks available to approximately 11,000.
.45 ammunition. Quantity held. approximately 1500.
Distribution of Arms
The Vickers M.Gs are mounted on the vessel, as stated
above, as well as the twin .50 Browning. Two Bren
guns are carried on the vessel, and two are held at
the depot at the Police Station, Roper Bar, Roper
River.

T.S.M.Gs. Of the 15 Thompson submachine guns, ten
are carried in the vessel, 5 held in the Depot at
Roper Bar.

Rifles. Twenty five are carried on the Ship; (one of
these is unserviceable); one is on issue to Sgt
Elkington in charge of O.P. Gulnare Bluff, Roper
River, the remainder (24) are at the Depot, Roper Bar.

Sniper's Rifles. All of these rifles are carried in
the Aroetta.

Revolvers. Two held on Aroetta, one on issue to Sgt
Elkington, Gulnare Bluff, O.P.

Ammunition. Twenty cases (24,000 rounds) are held in a depot at
Elsie Station, on the Upper Roper River.

15 cases (approximately) at Roper Bar Police Station
in the Depot established there.

23.

Two (2) cases only, 2 495 rounds, are concealed in a cache near
the Four Mile Landing on the Roper River to be available in case
of emergency for Guerilla fighting.

1000 rounds held by Sergeant Elkington at the O.P. Gulnare
Bluff (with 50 rounds of .45 ammunition for the Webley Pistol)

The remainder of the S.A.A. Ball and all the .50 calibre
ammunition except that newly arrived at Groote Eylandt, is held
on the Ship.

(SGD) DONALD F. THOMPSON
Squadron Leader, R.A.A.F
Commanding, Special Reconnaissance
Unit.

APPENDIX III PART 2.
INVENTORY OF STORES & EQUIPMENT
AUXILLARY VESSEL AROETTA
SPECIAL RECONNAISANCE UNIT
NORTHERN TERRITORY FORCE.

Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory.

This is to certify that the Auxiliary Ketch Aroetta
together with three boats and all arms, stores and
equipment of the Special Reconnaissance Unit has this
day been handed over by me to Lieutenant A.E. PALMER, A.I.F.
for conveyance to Darwin, as ordered by Advanced
Headquarters, Northern Territory Force.

Inventory of Stores and equipment pages 1 to 33, attached.

Handed over by me : (SGD) DONALD F. THOMSON
Squadron leader, R. A. A. F (Seconded)
Commanding Special Reconnaissance Unit,
Northern Territory Force.
Received by me :
(SGD) A.E. PALMER
Lieutenant, A. I. F.
2nd I/C Special Reconnaissance
Unit
Date : April 3rd 1943

Distribution: Copy No. 1 : Advanced Headquarters, Norforce
for "Q" Branch, Northern Territory
Force.
" " 2 Commanding officer.
" " 3 2nd I/C.

25.

1. 61 foot Vessel Ketch AROETTA. Registration Certificate
with "Q" Branch.
2. Main Mast complete with Booms, gaff, blocks, halyards and
sheets.
3. Mizzen complete with Boom, gaff, blocks, halyards and sheets.
4. Main sail with one new spare unit.
5. Mizzen sail
6. Jib Sail and one new spare unit.
7. One main awning
8. One mizzen Awning
9. Main hatch with double cover, battens, cleats and wedges.
10. Mizzen Hatch with cover, battens, cleats and wedges
11. Engine room hatch with cover, battens, cleats and wedges.
12. Jib-boom complete with bob-stay and back stays.
All the above with standing and running rigging in sea going
condition.

DECK FIXTURES

1. One windlass complete with handles.
2. Two deck houses. Galley complete with wood stove
Water Closet with one Pedestal Seat.
3. Patent Worm steering gear with teak Wheel Complete.
4. Wheel housing and table combined.
5. One Binnacle Stand complete with Binnacle (see Navigation List)
6. Two sets of davits complete with Boat falls and guys
7. One cradle aft to carry spare sailing dinghy.
8. Two cat-heads with fishing gear complete.
9. Two iron towing bollards aft.
10 Twelve iron awning stanchions.
11. Two galvanised water tanks 90 gals. capacity each.
12. One wooden crutch for mizzen boom.
13. Two cork life buoys.
14 Twelve Life Jackets (kapok)

BELOW DECK
1. One iron water tank of 180 gals. capacity
2. One Electrolux Model K550 Type 608P
3. Bulk Fuel Tanks & service tanks ( see list of engine room
fixtures)

26.

Below Deck Fixtures (continued)
4. Main engines & Auxiliaries (see list of engine room Fixtures)
5. Four tons of pig iron ballast in bilge

MAIN CABIN FITTINGS
1. Folding table & locker combined
2. Two book shelves
3. One cupboard with double doors and shelves
4. Two bunks and bunk boards
5. Two wire mattresses for bunks
6. Two coir mattresses

7. Two kapok pillows
8. Four drawers with locks
9. Two bench lockers
10. One sky-light complete with canvas cover
11. Two aids lockers with sliding doors.
12. Two ladders.
13. Clips and stands to accommodate 25 rifles
14. Wall slings for 5 rifles.

AFTER CABIN FITTINGS.
1. Two bunks & bunk boards
2. Two wire mattresses for bunks
3. Two coir mattresses
4. Two kapok pillows.
5. One cupboard with doors and shelves.
6. One ladder.
7. Wireless shelves and drawer.
8. Clips & Stands to accommodate 9 rifles.
9. One sliding door.

FORE-CASTLE FITTINGS.
1. One ladder
2. Six bunks
One chain locker
Faint locker under flooring

27.

GROUND TACKLE

Four anchors 200 lbs; 114lbs; 70lbs; 15 lbs.
Two lengths of 11/16th black iron cable, 45 fths, each
One length 3/8th, galvanised iron chain 30 fths.
50 fths, 5 inch Manila warp

DECK STORES

85 Feet of flexible steel wire 1½ rls.
Two Iron pulley blocks Double.
Two Iron pulley blocks Single.
One triple wooden block.
Two double wooden blocks.
Five single wooden blocks.
One double galvanised iron block.
120 fths 2½" manila rope.
100 fths 3" Manila rope.
130 fths 1½ Manila rope.
60 fths 1" Point line
One lead line with lead and three spare leads.
80 yds Birkmyre Water-proof Canvas (double width)
23 yrds Cotton canvas single width.
Two coils raising wire.
One doz. hanks seaming twine.
Twenty hanks Roping twine
Two doz. sewing needles.
Two doz. roping needles
Six seaming palms.
One wooden fid
One heaver
One serving mallet.
Two 15" black iron turn-screws
One set Port & Starboard Steaming lights.

28.

DECK STORES (Continued)

26 . Five hurricane lamps
27. Four primus stoves.
28. Three Tilley lamps (complete with cases).
29. Twenty 4-gal, water containers, U.S.A Pattern.
30. Twelve Paint brushes
31. Six mast hoops
32. Five Full axes and four spare handles

33. One Insect Proof food safe.

34. Two Insulated Food Containers Complete

PAINTS.

16 lbs Red oxide in oil
30 lbs Red lead (dry)
28 lbs White Lead
34 lbs White Putty ready mixed.
31 pints Black paint
2 gals. Copal Varnish
7 Gals. Raw oil Linseed.
1 Gall. Boiled Oil Linseed.
1½ Gals Middle green
3½ Gals. Light Green
3½ gals Hawthorne Green
1 Gal. Sky Blue
4½ Gals Azure Blue

Last edited by:

Loretta Corbett

Last edited on:

1 March 2025, 4:34 pm

Last updated: 27 February 2025