U.S.S.GANDY (DE-764)
 
c/o Fleet Post Master New York, New York.
 
     
  DE-764(FMR)/                                                                                               16th April, 1944.  
  Serial No.  
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
 
From: The Commanding Officer.
  The Commander in Chief, U.S.Fleet
   
Via: 1.  Commander Escort Division, TWENTY-TWO.
  2.  Commander Destroyers, U.S.Atlantic Fleet.
  3.  Commander in Chief, U.S.Atlantic Fleet.
   
Subject: Contact and Action Reports.
   
Reference: (a)  Article 712, U.S.Navy Regulations.
  (b)  Atlantic Fleet Confidential Letter, 13CL-43, (revised).
   
Enclosure: (A)  Recorder Trace of Submarine.
  (B)  DRT Chart Track of Action.
  (C)  Pictures taken during action with submarine.
 
     
                  At about 1205 GCT April 16 1944, the general alarm was sounded.  Upon reaching the bridge I was informed that a ship of the convoy was hit, and upon looking the ships over noticed heavy smoke coming from the stack of 21 who was not yet in station.  Our station was on the port flank during the forming up.  I ordered the widening of the search arc and more erratic zig-zagging and proceeded to patrol up and down the port flank in search of the sub.  
     
                  At about 1230 received orders to return to the scene of the torpedoing and assist USCG PATTERSON in covering the PAN-PENNSYLVANIA and USCG JOYCE who was to pick up survivors.  We came about and went to flank speed.  
     
                  At 1237 the shaft revolutions per minute were up to 600.  At 1248 No. 4 main engine was secured due to crankcase explosion and overheating of cylinders 6 and 7, compelling reduced and unbalanced speed throughout the remainder of operation.  
     
                  En route to scene, what appeared to be torpedo wake was noticed parallel to us about 75 yards distant.  We stood erratically down the course for about 5000 yards without contact until trace was lost and then proceeded to cover Joyce in picking up survivors.  
     
                  There were too many survivors and PETERSON was directed to assist.  
     
                  While circling these two ships the after lookouts reported streaks of bubbles in the water which appeared to be torpedo wake coming from aft and we came around in an attempt to track  them down but decided after a short search that they had been late in seeing them and they possibly came from the other direction and proceeded to swing around the other two vessels.  At about 1350 the JOYCE finished picking up survivors and started to assist covering the PETERSON when she made contact.  At this time both vessels were off our port bow and we were on 265°T. at 15 knots.  JOYCE steamed across our bow reporting that she had contact at relative bearing 000°, relative speed 15 knots and about 400 yards ahead of her.  JOYCE'S course was 310°.  At 1356 we changed course to 239°T to clear the green marker of the pattern dropped by JOYCE and at 1358 came right 30 degrees to 269° T to open slightly on the sub's assumed course of 270° to 290°T, sound searching the area constantly with no results, even from the pattern of JOYCE.  At 140° the sub's bow broke water at an angle of about 30°, broad on our starboard bow, distance about 600 yards from us and 200 to 250 yards west of the marker.  I gave the order, "Right full rubber, come to 320°, open fire, and stand by to ram."  As we came about I found that I had ordered too much of a change and ordered "Shift rudder".  It was my intention to ram at the after AA gun mount but the sub's movement caused us to ram about 25 or 30 feet from its stern.  On the order to ram, Lieutenant/  
     
 
 

 

     
     
 
- 2 -
     
  Lieutenant H.W.Perkerson, Jr. executive officer, ordered the sound head hoisted, showing quick thinking and poise.  It is believed that the after section was cut off.  
     
                  After striking, the rudder was left at "left full" to throw our propellers clear.   
     
                  Gunfire was continued as we swung left along the starboard side of the sub and further casualties to sub personnel were observed.  
     
                  At about this time the sub was well on our quarter and a voice was heard on one of our voice radios shouting something in a Germanic accent.  Supposing it an offer to surrender, I ordered "cease firing" which, after a few seconds delay, got through to the guns.  Almost immediately the sub manned a machine gun battery and commenced firing on us.  We swung left to bring guns to bear and after a very few bursts, fire on the sub ceased and they commenced abandoning ship.  
     
                  The JOYCE came alongside the sub to pick up survivors while we drew off to cover then and assess our damage.  
     
                  At 1430 the sub sank stern first.  
     
                  A thorough check of the ship disclosed small buckling of plates abaft the doubling plate for ram, various antennae shot away, pock marks from shrapnel and 50 calibre, and a larger hole in stack, minor calibre holes in boat, SA coaxial leaking, possibly from shrapnel.  Leak and cause located.  
     
                  Personnel casualties were as follows:  
     
                  TAYLOR, W.C., Sk3c, USN-I - Wound, thorax, left lower (shrapnel), admitted to sick list.  Considered serious  
     
                  LANDS B.F., S2c, USNR - Wound, cheek, right, and hand, left (shrapnel)  Treatment:  shrapnel removed, dressings applied and returned to duty  
 
                  LATHAM V.J.K., SM3c, USCG - Wound, left index (shrapnel)  Treatment shrapnel removed, dressing applied, to duty, fit for same.  
     
                  WGISENANT, W.W. S1c, USNR - Wound, cheek, right and hand, let (shrapnel)  Treatment shrapnel removed, dressing applied and returned to duty.  
     
                  April 17, 1944.  All injured men received 1/2cc. tetanus toxoid.  Taylor W.C. SK3c, USN-I, on sick list.  Liquid diet and sulfathiazol.  
     
                  Ship was about eight operating days out of shakedown and the crew performed their duties very well except in the matter of records.  Quartermaster log was not kept and course and times are from CIC which failed for about two minutes at time of attack.  
     
                  Speed at ramming was slightly less than 15 knots due to drag of full rudder.  
     
                  All damage repaired except coaxial and one antenna within ten hours after the action and the remaining antenna the next morning.  
 
 
                  Interchange of information between the three ships was excellent until the GANDY lost her transmitting antenna, and then JOYCE and PETERSON used TBS which the GANDY acknowledge by light.  
     
                  As this ship did not take any prisoners, the type of sub was not known, but it appears to have been about a 500 ton class.  
     
                  The Pattern dropped by the JOYCE was accurate.  There is no doubt that it threw the sub out of control and caused it to surface, if not causing greater damage.  
     
                                                                                            
                                                                                W. A. SESSIONS,  
                                                                                Lieut-Comdr., USNR.  
                                                                                Commanding USS GANDY (DE-764).  
     
                                      

 

     
     
 
U. S. S.  GANDY
 
(DE 764)
 
                          Refer to
                          File No.
                          DE 764/
  Serial 09  
  CONFIDENTIAL                                                                                               27 April 1944  
     
 
From: The Commanding Officer.
To:   : Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet.
Via  : (1)  Commander, Task Group 21.5
  (2)  Commander, Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.
   
Subject: Anti-Submarine Action by Surface Ship.
   
Reference: (a)  Lantflt Confidential ltr. 13CI-43 (revised)
   
Enclosures: (A)  ASW-1 report of 16 Apr. 1944.
  (B)  Track Chart.
 
     
  1.                Enclosures are forwarded as directed in reference (a).  
     
  2.                Advance copies have been sent to commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet and ASW Unit, Boston, Mass.  
     
                                                                                     
                                                                                       W. A. SESSIONS.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 

 

 

 

     
     
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  ComCortDiv 22                                    1st Endorsement                                       30 April, 1944  
  USS POOLE (DE-151)  
  A16-3  
     
 
From: Commander Escort Division 22
To: Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet.
   
Via: 1.  Commander Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet
  2.  Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet
   
Subject: Anti-Submarine Action by Surface Ship.
 
     
          1.        Forwarded.  
     
          2.        The USS GANDY (DE-764) was for the period covered by the above report, operating as a part of Escort Division 22, having been assigned to definite temporary duty.  Escort Division 22 for the period covered by the above report was designated Task Group 21.5.  THe USS JOYCE (DE-317), USS GANDY (DE-764), and USS PETERSON (DE-152) were operating together on 16 April in the vicinity of the torpedoed steamer PAN PENNSYLVANIA from convoy CU-21.  The JOYCE had made sound contact with the enemy submarine and depth charged her to the surface.  The GANDY upon receiving the contact report from the JOYCE was taking station as assisting ship and was preparing to make a run on the submarine after the attack by the JOYCE.  Before reaching attack position, the submarine surfaced and the GANDY opened fire and rammed the submarine thereby inflicting further damage to the enemy.  
     
          3.        Subject to the final assessment of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Assessment Board, it is recommended that the commanding officer of the GANDY be awarded suitable decoration as may be deemed fitting.  The commanding officer of the GANDY, after the action, promptly repaired practically all of his battle damage thereby enabling him to continue operations with the Task Group in escorting a Trans-Atlantic convoy.  
     
          4.        The Commander Escort Division 22 (Commander Task Group 21.5) considers that the performance of the commanding officers of the USS JOYCE (DE-317), USS GANDY (DE-764), and USS PETERSON (DE-152) highly satisfactory and commendable in all respects.  
     
                                                                                            
                                                                                              W. W. KENNER  
                                                                                              Captain, USCG  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 

 

     
     
 
UNITED STATES FLEET
 
DETROYERS, ATLANTIC FLEET
 
  Refer to  A16-3/FF13-6  
  Serial  01796  
                                                                                                                                            Care of Fleet Post Office  
                                                                                                                                            New York, N.Y  
  CONFIDENTIAL  
                                                                                                                May 11, 1944  
  SECOND ENDORSEMENT to:  
  CO, USS GANDY (DE 764)  
  DE764/Ser. 09 of 27 April 1944.  
     
 
From: Commander Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.
To:   : Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet.
   
Subject: Contact and Action Reports.
   
Reference: (c)  SecNav P16, S03-7-37 of 7 March 1944 contained in Navy Dept. Bulletin of 15 March 1944.
 
     
          1.        By copy of this endorsement Commander Escort Division TWENTY-TWO is directed to make appropriate recommendations for an award for the Commanding Officer, U.S.S. GANDY (DE764) in accordance with paragraph 9(d) of reference (c).  
     
          2.        The Commanding Officer, U.S.S. GANDY (DE764) by copy of this endorsement is directed to make appropriate recommendations for the award of the Purple Heart to personnel wounded in action.  
     
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                        T.  L.  LEWIS  
                                                                                                        Chief of Staff  
  cc:  CO, USS GANDY (DE764)  
      ComCortDiv 22
        CinCLant (complete less Enc.(B))