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Operation Livery

{{Short description|1945 British aerial attacks on Malaya}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}

File:The_Royal_Navy_during_the_Second_World_War_A29859.jpg

{{Campaignbox Bombing of SE Asia 1944-45}}

Operation Livery was a series of naval air strikes on northern Japanese occupied Malaya and air cover missions for minesweeping operations by the British in July 1945 during World War II. It was carried out by the 4th and 7th Minesweeping Flotillas, taking place off Phuket Island, Thailand. It was the last action of the Eastern Fleet during the war.{{cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060023798|title=Operation Livery, July 1945|publisher=Imperial War Museum|access-date=2013-06-16}}

Operation

The escort carrier HMS Empress sailed on 19 July to partake in Operation Livery. Aircraft from herself and Ameer were to attack Japanese targets starting 24 July in northern Malaya and southern Thailand (specifically Phuket Island) while also covering the minesweeping operations of the 4th{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CA-Sussex.htm|title=HMS Sussex, British heavy cruiser, WW2|publisher=Naval History|access-date=2013-06-16}} and 7th minesweeping flotillas in the Strait of Malacca. This was also meant to give the Japanese the impression that landings were going to take place.{{cite book |last1=Begg |first1=Richard Campbell |title=For five shillings a day: experiencing war, 1939-45 |last2=Liddle |first2=Peter |date=2000 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-00-710432-1 |edition=illustrated |pages=375}} Vice-Admiral H.T.C. Walker commanded from aboard the Nelson.{{cite book |last=McMahon |first=William E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v0IyAQAAIAAJ |title=Dreadnought battleships and battle cruisers |date=1978 |publisher=University Press of America |isbn=978-0-8191-0465-6 |edition=illustrated |pages=53}} During the operation, the minesweeper Squirrel struck a mine and had to be scuttled by gunfire from other ships.{{cite book |last=Wragg |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w5nk6ZkTaBsC |title=The Escort Carrier in the Second World War: Combustible, Vulnerable, Expendable! |date=2005 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84415-220-9 |edition=illustrated |pages=160}} At one point, a mine was spotted from Empress and taken under small arms fire until other ships could destroy it. Three Japanese aircraft attacked the cruiser Sussex, which destroyed two and forced the last one to retreat. On 26 July a kamikaze Mitsubishi Ki-51 attacked the Ameer in the Bay of Bengal, but was shot down by AA fire and crashed into the sea 500 yards from the ship. Another kamikaze struck the minesweeper Vestal, forcing it to be scuttled. Between 24 and 27 July, Grumman F6F Hellcats flew over 150 sorties, destroying more than 30 grounded Japanese aircraft while damaging rail and road links.{{cite book |last=Hobbs |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CntiBwAAQBAJ |title=British Aircraft Carriers: Design, Development & Service Histories |date=30 September 2014 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-4738-5369-0 |pages=157}}

British order of battle

=Aircraft=

=Ships=

  • {{HMS|Nelson|28|6}}
  • {{HMS|Sussex|96|6}}{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/32/a1171432.shtml | title=Aboard cruiser HMS Sussex (1945) | publisher=BBC | date=2003-09-10 | access-date=2013-06-16 | author=CSV Media Clubhouse}}
  • {{HMS|Empress|D42|6}}
  • {{HMS|Ameer|D01|6}}
  • {{HMS|Paladin|G69|6}}
  • {{HMS|Raider|H15|6}}
  • {{HMS|Racehorse|H11|6}}{{cite book |last=Ministry of Defence (Navy) |first=Great Britain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ylOAQAAMAAJ |title=The advance to Japan |date=1995 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |isbn=978-0-11-772821-9 |series=War with Japan |volume=6, Part 1 |pages=334 |author-link=Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)}}
  • {{HMS|Rotherham|H09|6}}
  • {{HMS|Plucky|J295|6}}
  • {{HMS|Rifleman|J299|6}}{{cite web | url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-22MS-Algerine-Rifleman.htm| title=HMS Rifleman, minesweeper| publisher=Naval History| access-date=2013-06-16 | author= Lt Cdr Mason, Geoffrey RN (Rtd)}}
  • {{HMS|Vestal|J215|6}} - Damaged by Japanese kamikazes and scuttled
  • {{HMS|Squirrel|J301|6}}- Damaged by a Japanese mine and scuttled
  • {{HMS|Pincher|J294|6}}{{cite web | url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-22MS-Algerine-Pincher.htm | title=HMS Pincher, minesweeper | publisher=Naval History |access-date=2013-06-16 | author=Lt Cdr Mason, Geoffrey RN (Rtd)}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Malaysia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Livery, Operation}}

Category:World War II operations and battles of the Southeast Asia Theatre

Category:World War II aerial operations and battles of the Pacific theatre

Category:Naval battles and operations of World War II involving the United Kingdom

Category:Aerial operations and battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom