Rear Admiral Peter H Doyle AO, OBE RAN

Commanded HMAS Perth during “Sea Dragon” Operations

HMAS Perth (D 38) was the second Australian destroyer to serve on the gun line during the Vietnam War. She came under fire four times and on one occasion, on October 18, 1967 the ship incurred a direct hit from North Vietnamese coastal defence batteries. In this action, seven sailors were wounded, two of them seriously. Perth fired back.

Able Seaman John (“Rocky”) Rose was in his action stations look-out position at starboard anti-aircraft control, above the bridge, around 0800 when his ship was struck aft by accurate gunfire. To his astonishment below, he observed one angry commanding officer on the bridge wing direct his fury at his USN counterpart in the heavy cruiser, USS Newport News (CA 148). Later coming alongside, at a rate of thirty knots, Perth’s commander then used a loud hailer to rage at his equivalent in Newport News. “Where were you when we needed you?” To which his opposite number replied: “My guns were under maintenance.” The Australian then “ordered” the American: “Get my wounded off my ship and get them back to Subic Bay while I will go out to sea to see how much damage I have”. This exchange did not mar their professional and personal relationship.

Rear Admiral Peter Doyle, who died of cancer earlier this month in Melbourne, was the then commanding officer of HMAS Perth during that incident. He would also assume occasional command of northern and southern Sea Dragon forces. Perth joined with other warships of the US Seventh Fleet as they operated in the Gulf of Tonkin and elsewhere. Every few days, having exhausted their combat inventory, they would return to the sea lanes near the Demilitarized Zone to fuel, provision and ammunition. An aggressive Australian sea captain, Peter Doyle was always impatient to have another crack at them.

Peter Doyle was born in Lithgow, NSW on 27 September 1925, the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Doyle, of East St. Kilda. He was educated at Caulfield Grammar, Melbourne and Trinity Grammar, Sydney. Peter was one of 21 thirteen year old boys, who entered the Royal Australian Naval College at Flinders Naval Depot as cadet midshipmen on 1 February, 1939. On graduating 1 September, 1942 he with his fellow midshipmen then went to sea. He later joined the Royal Navy Eastern Fleet where he served in the cruiser HMS Kenya from 1943 to 1944 during the Burma campaign against the Japanese. He then transferred to HMAS Napier where he served for a year until the end of the war when he was promoted to lieutenant.

There followed a familiar post-war career where he would undertake professional courses with the Royal Navy and serve in more HM ships. On return to Australia, he was posted to HMAS Anzac during the Korean War. For his good service in Anzac, he was mentioned in despatches: “He showed great ability and was most reliable in carrying out the duties of navigating officer though inshore operations during severe winter conditions proved an exacting test. He showed commendable coolness when the ship was taken under accurate enemy fire.”

Peter Doyle specialized in navigation. “Pilots” traditionally never enjoy much sleep at sea. His class mate, Andrew Robertson, observed that he could be a little crotchety at times but he was forgiven by his fellow officers for that very reason. Doyle could be sharp, but his sting was often leavened by quick humour. Later he would mellow out and be more tolerant of the sensitivities of others’. On return from Korea, in 1953, Peter married (Eunice) Anne Tracey and it was a loving partnership which produced three children, Stephen, Jane and Louise. His wife Anne would pre-decease him in 1996.

Now a lieutenant-commander, Peter began a steady rise through the ranks in a short decade of relative peace. He would return to the Far East Strategic Reserve, in HMAS Melbourne, during the Malayan Emergency. In 1961, by then a commander, he was appointed to his first sea command as commanding officer of the fast frigate HMAS Quickmatch. In company with HMAS Vampire (Captain A.M. Synnot, RAN) both made a diplomatic visit to Saigon in the then Republic of Vietnam. He regarded that visit as one of the highlights of his naval career. Five years later, he would return to Vietnam where he would offer the North Vietnamese his selected vocabulary of naval violence.

Promoted to captain, in late 1964, it was soon obvious that he would achieve flag rank. In July, 1966 he was appointed to command HMAS Perth on her return from the US. HMAS Perth distinguished herself on her initial deployment to Vietnam. The ship and her crew were awarded the United States Navy Unit Commendation. Captain Doyle was again mentioned in despatches: “For devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy as captain of HMAS Perth on operational service in Vietnamese waters from September, 1967 to April, 1968”.

Further honours and promotions would follow. In 1970 he was appointed as an ordinary officer in the military division of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). “In all (his) appointments Captain Doyle was reported as being an outstanding officer of high standards, a good seaman and a first class commanding officer”.

From 1968 to 1970, Captain Doyle headed the Naval Intelligence Directorate. He was being groomed for flag rank. Selection for attendance at the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1971 removed any doubt. On return, he headed the naval command in Western Australia from 1972-74. In 1976, Commodore Doyle was appointed to command the flag ship, the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. After further service in Defence Headquarters, by then a Rear Admiral, Peter Doyle achieved the pinnacle of his career. From 1980 to 1981 he was the Flag officer Commanding the Australian Fleet. He would also receive an Order of Australia, in the officer category (AO). His last senior appointment was as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff from 1981 to 1982 on his retirement.

Vietnam was an unpopular war and Peter Doyle would never be mistaken for a populist officer. In an all-volunteer navy, Perth’s men had nothing personal against the armed forces of North Vietnam. They merely accepted them as the “duty enemy” of the day. Those sentiments were returned equally on that eventful day of October 18, 1967. The men of Perth had similar moral courage and they, too, “made it so”. Thankfully, both nations now live in harmony and friendly governmental relations head “daily orders”.

This is not a hagiography. Admiral Doyle’s successful career is impervious to any rehabilitation. He was a man of integrity who demanded the highest standards. He lived on his nerves and his subordinates always respected his anger. Rear Admiral Sheldon H. Kenney, USN, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Seventh Fleet had the highest praise for “his” sea captain. “Captain Doyle is a poised, competent, alert and bold naval officer. Among the some 75 cruisers and destroyers of my command in the Seventh Fleet, no ship is better able to fulfill her combat missions than HMAS Perth”.

The Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Fleet was more sanguine in his measured praise. On hauling down his flag, in March 1968, Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral Sir) Richard Peek said of Doyle.” He is intensely ambitious and although he gets on well with his seniors he is inclined to drive rather than lead. For this reason I believe that men will be intensely proud to have served in Perth rather than happy to have served under Doyle”. “Peter” Peek’s professional judgment was realized for he had marked Doyle’s suitability for flag rank as “almost certain”.

Perhaps the penultimate words belong to “Rocky” Rose and his shipmates. Peter Doyle commanded many ships and even greater respect. More feared than loved, he remained a sound commander. In peace and war, you knew where you stood with Doyle. He was concerned for the welfare of the crew. He was fair, firm and honest. The navy is not a democracy. Peter Doyle strived to achieve that Australia would remain one. Yet the last words belong to Peter Doyle. “No one in Perth will forget our ordeal by fire so early in our deployment, as a result we all became older and wiser very quickly. I was very fortunate in having such a fine and professional team”. The proud men of HMAS Perth now know that Captain Doyle was happy to serve with them. A family has lost a father. The naval profession has lost a fortunate son. Peter Doyle will find charity in history.