NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
 
THIRD NAVAL DISTRICT
  
 
50 CHURCH STREET
  
 
NEW YORK, N.Y.
  
 
DHq-11/ND3
  
 
Serial No. 3521-0
  
 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL
  
 
                                                                                                               23 June 1943.
  
 
 
 
From:  The District Intelligence Officer, 3ND.
To:  The Director of Naval Intelligence.
   
Subject: Report of sinking of U-521.
 
 
 
 
1.   The report of the sinking of U-521 on 2 June 1943 is submitted as of possible interest to the section preparing the “Weekly” or “Post Mortems”:
  
     
 
 
 
        “U.S.S. FURY
  
 
 
 
        Supplementary Narrative to Form ASW-8 dealing with attack on and sinking of Axis Submarine U-521 on 2 June, 1943.
  
     
 
        1.  The narrative as given here is based on discussions of the attack by the Commanding Officers of the escorts involved and is intended to give as complete and comprehensive analysis of the attack as possible.  Due to the rapidity in which events occurred extreme accuracy as to times, distances, courses and bearings is impossible.
  
 
 
 
        2.  The convoy NG 365 composed of 14 ships was on course 1860 T making 8 knots.
  
 
 
 
        3.  Action of the U.S.S. FURY (Escort Commander):
  
 
 
 
            At about 1239Q the FURY was patrolling ahead of the convoy on the right leg of the patrol when the port lookout reported that the PC 565 was making smoke and had picked up speed.  Simultaneously the PC 565 reported by light that she had a good contact.  Observation revealed that she was flying the black contact pennant and at 1240Q she dropped a pattern of depth charges.  General Quarters was sounded on the FURY.  About one minute after the depth charge attack the submarine was seen to break surface.  The conning tower was plainly visible and what appeared to be a portion of the deck appeared briefly.  The submarine sank on an even keel in 5 to 10 seconds after breaking the surface.
  
 
 
              The convoy was ordered to make a 450 emergency turn to starboard. And executed the turn at 1242Q.  Radio report of contact was made.  
     
              When it was observed that a D.C. attack had been made speed was increased to 15 knots and course altered to head for the contact.  
     
              When the submarine surfaced the PC 565 headed for it and dropped one depth charge in the position where submarine was last seen.  
     
              Not wishing to foul the area the FURY circled to the south of the contact at a distance of 2000 to 2500 yards from the contact.  
     
              At 1252Q the PC 565 signaled that they were picking up a survivor.  
     
 
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Subject:      Report of sinking of U-521                                                      23 June 1943.
 
___________________________________________________________________________
  
 
 
 
            At 1300Q the FURY altered course to rejoin convoy.  The PC 565 and the BRISK remained in the area of sinking to continue search and collect evidence of destruction.
  
 
 
 
            At 1435 the following amplifying radio report was made in code.
  
 
 
 
            “PETER CHARLIE FIVE SIX FIVE MADE DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK ON UNDER WATER SOUND CONTACT X SUBMARINE FORCED TO SURFACE THEN SANK X ONE SURVIVOR PICKED UP CLAIMS TO BE COMMANDING OFFICER OF SUBMARINE X SURVIVOR STATES HE WAS IN CONNING TOWER AT TIME OF ATTACK AND SUBMARINE SANK UNDER HIM AS HE ORDERED SUBMARINE ABANDONED X POSITION THIRTY SEVEN ZERO SEVEN NORTH SEVENTY THREE ZERO FOUR WEST AT ONE TWO FOUR ZERO QUEEN X THIS FROM CHARLIE TARE UNCLE ZERO TWO POINT NINE POINT THREE X INFO TO COMINCH AND COM FIVE X FURTHER EVIDENCE OF DESTRUCTION X LARGE AIR BUBBLE X LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL AND WOOD X PORTION OF HUMAN BODY PICKED UP”
  
 
 
 
            At 1307Q convoy resumed base course.
  
 
 
 
            At 1630Q the PC 565 rejoined convoy.
  
 
 
 
            At 1720Q the BRISK rejoined convoy.
  
 
 
 
            At about 0550Q the next day June 3, 1943 the PC 565 transferred the survivor and evidence of destruction to the U.S.S. PILOT in accordance with ComEastSeaFron Despatch 022111.
  
 
 
 
        4.  Action by the PC-565:
  
 
 
 
            Below is an exact copy of the narrative accompanying the Form ASW-1 that the PC 565 turned over to the U.S.S. PILOT with the survivor.
  
 
 
 
            “At about 1235 Queen, June 2, 1943, in DR Lat. 37-43N, Long. 73-16W, as escort of convoy, we were patrolling at about 12.5 knots, on course 2250T, the right leg of our patrol, when contact was reported bearing 205T, range 1600 yards.  At 1236Q, the crew went to general quarters and course was altered to 205T.  Two cut-ons were given as 195T and 205T.  The chemical recorder was cut in at about 1000 yards and speed was increased to 15 knots at about 800 yards.  Between 1000 and 800 yards the target bearing changed slowly to the right and course was altered to 215T.  The range rate was reported at 12 knots bearings continued to change slowly to the right until at 350 yards range the right cut-on was 2250 and our course 242T.  We held contact to 100 yards and bearings dropped slowly aft until at time of losing contact the bearing was 200T.
  
 
 
 
            Since the target was in a good position to attack the convoy it was assumed that he was close to periscope depth and all charges were set at 100 feet.
  
 
 
 
            At 1239 Queen a standard five charge pattern was dropped.
  
 
 
              We continued on course 242T for two minutes or until we were 1000 yards from point of attack.  At that time we turned to the  
     
 
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Subject:      Report of sinking of U-521                                                      23 June 1943.
 
___________________________________________________________________________
  
 
 
 
right with full rudder and slowed to 2/3 speed (about 12.5 knots) to facilitate sound search.  While turning, large air bubbles were seen rising at about the position of the attack and the conning tower broke the surface.  We immediately went to full speed intending to ram.  Heavy smoke from exhausts prevented the #2 gun crew opening fire.  The #1 gun misfired, but the Starboard 20MM opened fire and fired 55 rounds scoring several hits on the tower.
  
 
 
 
            The tower appeared large and seemed to be well out of the water nevertheless the decks and guns did not appear above water.  When about 400 yards from the sub it began to sink and since we could no longer ram, course was altered to the right to pass ahead of swirl.  One depth charge, set at 100 feet, was dropped about 100 yards ahead of estimated position of submarine at 1243Q.  The projectors had not been reloaded.  While on the surface the submarine seemed to be on course between 200T and 150T, and may have been turning left.  The ship was conned by sight during this attack and the ship’s course at time of dropping is uncertain but believed to be about 100T.
  
 
 
 
            We immediately slowed to 2/3 speed and attempted to regain contact.  We were unsuccessful and believed that the sub had sunk.  We headed toward a survivor in the water at spot where sub had submerged and had stopped the engines to pick him up.  While we were coasting, a sound contact was reported on port bow at about 300 yards range, but it was immediately lost.  At the same time a large air bubble appeared at that spot (about 1250Q). We immediately went to standard speed and headed for that spot but contact was not regained.  We picked up the survivor and continued search.  Contact was not regained although we searched the area in every direction to a distance of about 4000 yards.  At 1325 we returned to the area marked by a heavy oil slick in two places – believed to be at the position of our two attacks.  One slick was dark with globules of what seemed to be dark brown oil but the slick was not iridescent.  The second was larger and the oil did not seem to be as well mixed with the water as the first.  The oil lay in heavy patches on the surface and was iridescent, while the smell of oil was extremely strong.  Some patches of vegetable fiber were floating and a sample was obtained.  A few splinters of freshly broken wood were observed.  At 1338 picked up a large piece of flesh.  Continued to search area until 1430Q and rejoined convoy at 1630Q.
  
 
 
 
            When misfire was cleared by unloading shell from #1 gun the primer was dented in at least five places by blows of the striker.  When the action was over, a #3” ammunition in the ready boxes was replaced by ammunition from the magazines.  The delay in loading the projectors was due to some disorganization at those stations.
  
 
 
 
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Subject:      Report of sinking of U-521                                                      23 June 1943.
 
___________________________________________________________________________
  
 
 
 
            Most of the men had been aboard for only a few days, they had had no experience and were imperfectly drilled.  Due to the heavy smoke and excitement they became confused long enough to make the projectors unavailable for the second attack.
  
 
 
 
            The survivor, Lieut. Comdr. Klaus Bargsten, states that he was C.O. of the submarine, the U-521, that he was on course 2500 at the time the charges exploded, that he did not hear our echo-ranging or screws until we were almost over him, that he gave the order to abandon ship but that water poured down the hatch before anyone else could get out and that the submarine sank with the hatch open.
  
 
 
 
            After reaching Guantanamo the PC 565 recalled the following incidents which were not mentioned in the above narrative and submitted them as further information.
  
 
 
 
            “Sub had way on when it first surfaced but lost it rapidly and at time of sinking was stopped or almost stopped.
  
 
 
 
            The sub sank on an even keel without the forward inclination of a normally diving sub.
  
 
 
 
            Additional air slugs that were very large and persistent arose on our quarter at the time we were moving in to pick up the survivor.  These were either not reported to the bridge or were confused with the slug mentioned in the report.  All slugs arose within 100 yards of the last D.C. explosion.
  
 
 
 
            The prisoner said all lights and electrical apparatus was out and water was coming into the central control room and all tanks were blown to the surface.”
  
 
 
 
        5.  Action of the U.S.S. BRISK.
  
 
 
 
            The following was related to the writer upon reaching Guantanamo.  The BRISK observed the attack and had gone to General Quarters.  When the submarine surfaced one shell was fired from the No. 1 gun and missed submarine by approximately 50 yards.  No further shells were fired as they would endanger the PC 565.
  
 
 
 
            The BRISK then circled to the north of the contact and remained in the area about two hours assisting the PC 565 in further search and in collecting evidence of destruction of the submarine.
  
 
 
 
        6.  A rough sketch is attached to illustrate the movements of the ships involved as viewed from the U.S.S. FURY, from the narrative by the PC 565 and by discussion of attack upon reaching port.
  
 
 
 
            A scale of 1 inch to 1000 yards has been used.  However, since the distances involved were estimated (except for the PC 565 sound ranges) considerable inaccuracies may exist.
  
 
 
     
                                                                                                              W. F. JONES  
                                                                                                              Lieut. USNR.  
                                                                                                              CTU 02.9.3  
     
     
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                              B. CONNELLY  
                                                                                                              By direction.