DE635/A16-3                               U. S. S. ENGLAND (DE 635)
Serial No. 017
                                                                                                                  c/o Fleet Post Office,  
                                                                                                                  San Francisco, Calif.,  
  CONFIDENTIAL                                                                                   28 May 1944.  
     
 
From: The Commanding Officer.
To    : The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
   
Via   : (1)  Commander Escort Division Forty.
  (2)  Commander Escort Division Thirty-Nine.
  (3)  Commander Third Fleet.
   
Subject: Action Leading to Destruction of Japanese Submarine on 23 May 1944 at 01°-26' N, 149°-20' E, - report of.  (All times are Love)
   
Reference: (a)  Pacific Fleet Confidential Letter 2CL-44.
   
Enclosure: (A)  ASW-1 for each attack.
 
     
          1.        The following report and enclosures are submitted in accordance with reference (a).  
     
          2.        On the morning of 23 May, in vicinity 01°-26' N, 149°-20' E, while conducting anti-submarine patrol in accordance Commander Third Fleet's secret priority despatch 200105 of May, in company U.S.S. GEORGE (DE 697), with ComCortDiv 39 aboard as OTC, U.S.S. RABY (DE 698), and with ComCortDiv 40 aboard the ENGLAND, formation radar scouting line normal to base course, interval 15,000 yards, with GEORGE as guide, RABY to port and ENGLAND to starboard, b/c 036° T, standard speed 15 knots, the RABY made radar contact bearing approximately 085° T, range 8,000 yards from her.  Time was 0604 Love.  At that time all ships in unit were setting Condition I for dawn alert and just before RABY and ENGLAND closed interval to GEORGE to 4,000 yards for normal day cruising.   
                  The RABY, on obtaining contact closed range and target presumed to be submarine, disappeared from the radar screen.  GEORGE and ENGLAND by this time were closing on the RABY at full speed on orders of OTC.  Shortly after losing radar contact the RABY obtained firm sound contact and closed for Projector Mark 10 attack, giving ranges and bearings of contact over TBS which were used by our CIC to plot in submarine relative to us.  From this time, 0617, until 0653, the RABY continued attacking and re-attacking until contact was temporarily lost, after having fired four salvos of Projector Mark 10 patterns with negative results.  During the RABY's attacks the ENGLAND and GEORGE were circling attack area at a range of about 2,000 yards at ten knots speed, plotting sub in CIC.  
     
 
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CONFIDENTIAL                     U. S. S. ENGLAND (DE 635)  
 
 
 
Subject:  Action Leading to Destruction of Japanese Submarine on 23 May 1944 at 01°-26' N, 149°-20' E, - report of.  (All times are Love)
 
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                  When the RABY lost contact temporarily the OTC ordered the GEORGE to contact and attack submarine.  GEORGE made contact at 0659 and began attacks using Projector Mark 10 attacks, and the RABY joined the circle around the GEORGE.  At 0707 the GEORGE, having fired one salvo with negative results, lost contact and at 0715 after eight minutes of searching with no luck, OTC ordered ENGLAND to contact and attack.  We searched in area of lost contact for sixteen minutes without hearing any echoes that seemed good.  In meantime the GEORGE and RABY were circling point of last contact at about 2,000 yards and had commenced echo-ranging (normally ships on circle did not echo range when ship in circle had contact as it interfered with the ship making attack).  At 0731 the GEORGE obtained sound contact bearing 310°, range 1,000.  This was bearing approximately 130° true from last point of contact at a range of 4,300 yards.  The sub apparently did his best to clear the area at his best speed.  Plotted from point of last contact to point of regaining contact he showed a speed of six knots.  
                  After regaining contact GEORGE again closed in to continue Projector Mark 10 attacks.  Attacking and re-attacking they fired four more salvos with negative results.  At 0814 with the GEORGE still maintaining contact the OTC ordered her to turn contact over to ENGLAND, as we were only remaining ship that had not tried our luck on this particular submarine; and the GEORGE and RABY, though they had done an excellent job on maintaining contact, were having little luck with attacks.  
                  At 0819 made firm sound contact on bearing given by CIC and proceeded to make Projector Mark 10 attack.  Fired full salvo, results negative.  Opened out for second attack, regained contact on run out, and at range of 1,030 yards changed course to run in.  Fired full salvo at 0834.5 and 22-1/2 seconds after firing, charges exploded.  This was by far the heaviest Projector charge explosion we had had, and it is estimated ten to twelve exploded.  The GEORGE and RABY, two to three thousand yards away, both felt the explosions.  For several seconds after the explosion all was quiet and then several small explosions were both heard and felt.  Again two or three minutes elapsed and a very violent, intense explosion occurred at 0838:25.  At this time ENGLAND opening range attempting to regain contact.  Made sound contact in explosion area but this seemed to be an explosion knuckle and ENGLAND changed course to make a depth charge attack.  Closed in and dropped thirteen charge pattern, deep setting (350-450 feet).  (Had previous orders from OTC that if explosion similar to sub blowing up occurred, to drop full depth charge pattern at best estimated depth and position).  It is believed that by the time charges exploded sub was deeper than depth set.  
     
 
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CONFIDENTIAL                     U. S. S. ENGLAND (DE 635)  
 
 
 
Subject:  Action Leading to Destruction of Japanese Submarine on 23 May 1944 at 01°-26' N, 149°-20' E, - report of.  (All times are Love)
 
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                  After charges exploded circled area following regain contact procedure but had no success.  About fifteen minutes after last attack noticed some wood debris in water and lowered boat to recover.  Oil slicks began to appear about 1045 and by noon oil was bubbling up in large quantities.  Obtained oil samples, many pieces of deck planking, some with bolts still in them, cork stoppers, and a small piece of wood, only recently wet, with Japanese writing on it.  
                  Since 0850 GEORGE and RABY had been conducting retiring search curve.  About noon they changed course toward contact area to observe oil slick.  
                  At 1242, on orders of OTC, c/c to depart area and continue search for bigger and better subs.  Oil slick at that time was approximately five miles long, 1000 to 1200 yards wide and still bubbling to the surface in quantity.  
     
     
                                                                                             W.B. PENDLETON.  
     
  Advance Copy  (1)  Cominch  
                           (2)  ComDesPac  
     
  Enclosures to Advance Copy (1):    (A)  ASW-1 for each attack.  
                                                         (B)  DRT track.  
 
                                                       (C)  Recorder traces.
 
     
     
     
 
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  IV.  NARRATIVE  
     
          This attack, at the time of attack, seemed to be a bow attack, however, range rate of 9.5 knots on recorder does not seem to check.  The DRT plot shows sub in almost direct bow and the conning officer fired what was believed to be on the center bearing.  Recorder traces seem as much if not more like beam than bow and also seem to indicate sub was almost stopped.  
          It is to be noted, however, that sub tried to follow up in our wake at about 4 to 5 knots speed.  This is shown by DRT plot and range rate of 5.5 knots on recorder traces as we were opening range at ten knots.  While opening out we made and held contact by echo ranging within 20° of our screws - a great advantage that it is believed only a DE has.  
          After sub exploded ENGLAND changed course to drop a full pattern of depth charges in area of last known position of submarine.  (OTC had previously ordered attacking ship to do this if sub exploded).  Dropped full pattern with deep settings (350' to 450').  This was a good opportunity to compare the intensity of a thirteen charge depth charge pattern with submarine exploding.  The men in the engine rooms of both the ENGLAND and the GEORGE reported that the explosions of depth charges seemed like a minor explosion compared to sub explosion.  
          After ENGLAND dropped depth charges regain contact procedure was followed without regaining.  RABY and GEORGE conducted a retiring search curve to the sub's four hour circle without success.  
          This sub is considered definitely sunk.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

     
     

FBE4-39/  
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
ESCORT DIVISION THIRTY-NINE
     
                                                                                                    USS SPANGLER(DE696)  
                                                                                                    June 12, 1944  
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
  SECOND ENDORSEMENT to  
  DE635/A16-3  
  Serial 017  
  Dated 28 May 1944  
     
 
From: Commander Escort Division THIRTY-NINE
To    : Commander-in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Via   : Commander Third Fleet.
 
     
          1.        Forwarded.  
     
          2.        The deep set depth charge pattern referred to at bottom of page 2 of basic latter, was dropped in order to offset any possibility of the violent explosion being a deceptive action to aid escape.  
                                                                                                   
     
     
     
                                                                                                     
                                                                                                    HAMILTON HAINES  
     
  Copy to:  
         CCD 40  
         USS ENGLAND  
     
  Advance Copy to:  
         Cominch  
          Comdespac