50 Cents - Elizabeth II 4th Portrait - Shores Under Siege - Impact Zones

Part of the RAM's "Shores Under Siege" series commemorating the 70th anniversary of attacks on Australian coastal waters during World War II, this issue focuses on the impact zones struck by Japanese midget submarines and aircraft in 1942. Sydney Harbour was penetrated by three Ko-hyoteki-class midget submarines on the night of 31 May — one of which sank HMAS Kuttabul, killing 21 sailors. The broader campaign reached as far as Townsville and Broome, the latter suffering a seaplane attack that killed at least 70 people, mostly Dutch refugees.