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NARRATIVE OF A/S ATTACK OF H.M.S. "CALPE" IN COMPANY WITH
 
 
U.S.S. "WAINRIGHT" AND SINKING OF U. 593.
 
 
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S E C R E T.
  
     
  Submitted:  
     
          At 1400, 13th December, 1943, U.S.S. "Wainright" and H.M.S. "Calpe" were carrying our A/S search on course 090°, speed 14 knots, Zig-Zag No. 14, distance between ships 4,000 yards, "Calpe" on starboard beam of "Wainright", in the vicinity of position 37° 49 N  06° 00 E; Wellington aircraft co-operating.  
     
  2.        U.S.S. "Wainright" signalled at 1407 that he had a contact on his port beam which was inside his turning circle and that he was turning to investigate.  I accordingly altered course to 360° and reduced speed to endeavour to obtain contact, keeping within 2,000 yards of "Wainright".  
     
  3.        At 1412 (approx) "Wainright" carried out an attack dropping a five charge pattern; I manoeuvered to bring the estimated bearing of target 2,000 yards ahead and closed on course 360°, speed eight knots, obtaining poor A/S contact, bearing 020°, range 1,700 yards, "Doppler" effect was very evident.  Target was closed to 900 yards on course 020 at eight knots, a deliberate attack was carried out, H.S.D. reporting slight movement left.  At 1428, I aimed off to course 008°, increasing speed to 20 knots (speed through water 18 knots) and delivered a ten charge pattern attack with maximum settings.  Normal charges 350 feet, heavy charges 550 feet.  Submarine was estimated as deep and this was confirmed when contact was lost at 600 yards.  Charges were fired at 1430, time to fire reported by H.S.D. using recorder firing bar; all charges fired correctly.  
     
  4.        Contact was obtained at 1,700 yards after running out on course 350°.  While turning to run in for a second attack, contact was lost at 2,200 yards, but picked up while preparing for a deliberate attack, on bearing 195°, distance 1,700 yards.  "Wainright" had meantime manoeuvered over contact and signalled that submarine was dead ahead of "Calpe".  I closed at slow speed, target was reported by A/S C.O. and H.S.D. as moving slowly left definite Sub contact, and at 1,000 yards I increased to twenty knots and aimed to course 185°.  A large air bubble swirl had now appeared on the surface of water in the immediate vicinity of "Calpe's" first depth charge explosions.  While closing, the target was reported at 600 yards range and moving right, but there was sufficient time to aim off again to 215° and contact was held to instantaneous echoes, ten charge pattern with maximum setting being fired at 1441; time to fire given by A/S C.O. from the recorder firing bar and confirmed by Plot.  All charges fired correctly, except one, which fired shallow, but this was to our advantage, as charges fired above and below 'U' Boat.  
     
  5.        While running out on course 215° the U. Boat surfaced on Westerly course at 1444, "Wainright" being 2,000 yards to the N.W. of him and "Calpe" 2,000 yards to the S.S.W.  Fire was immediately opened by both ships with Oerlikon and Pom-Pom to prevent U.Boat's crew manning their guns.  The next few minutes were rather hectic and there was a distinct danger of "Wainright" and "Calpe" hitting each other in their exhuberance.  
     
  6.        The U. Boat made no attempt to fire their guns and were seen to be abandoning ship with premeditated alacrity and the submarine settling low in the water.  
     
  7.        At 1457, the Whaler was manned and lowered to pick up survivors and altogether 3 officers and 40 ratings were brought safely on board "Calpe" unharmed except for their depth charging experiences and immersion in the water.  
     
     

 

     
     
 
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  8.        "Wainright" and "Calpe" closed to within 100 yards of the U. Boat and I instructed her by loud hailer not to scuttle, while lowering whaler, "Wainright" sending motor-boat to try to prevent this, but it was soon obvious that the machinery for scuttling had been set in motion on the way to the surface and that no chance remained of saving her.  
     
  9.        "U" 593 after a short career and brief success sank at 1508 bows first, A/S Operator reporting sounds of breaking up and minor explosions as she sank.  She had sailed from Marseilles twelve days previously and had torpedoed H.M.S. "Tynedale" and H.M.S. "Holcombe" on the 12th December, 1943, in the vicinity of her own destruction.  
     
  10.        The Whaler was hoisted and I reported ready to proceed to U.S.S. "Wainright" at 1536, ships forming A/S searching station for passage to Algiers.  
     
  11.        The survivors stripped off their clothing on arrival on board and they were provided with blankets, towels, clothing etc., as far as our limited resources would allow, while their own clothing was dried in the engine and boiler rooms.  They were also segregated, Officers in the Ward Room, Petty Officers in the forward mess, other ratings in the after mess deck.  The majority of the U. Boat's crew were youths of an average age 20-21, and from their own accounts:  they had a happy and efficient ship, Germany would win the war and thousands of U. Boats were being built.  
     
  12.        The Doctor appeared to be the Senior Officer of the three we had on board, and was the only one that could speak English.  In the German crew list, he ranked next in seniority to the Commanding Officer.  He was very eager to speak to the ratings but this was not allowed and I suspect that he may have been a Gestapo agent.  The depth charging had apparently shaken them all considerably and seriously damaged the U. Boat.  "Calpe's" first pattern had exploded all round than as they were trying to escape deep after "Wainright's" pattern; they decided to surface then and were slowly coming up when the second pattern fell and helped them on their way.  
     
  13.        The aircraft's co-operation was magnificent and certainly contributed greatly to the sinking of the U. Boat.  He had been forced to dive at 0030 on December 13th, when sighted by the A/S aircraft and was consequently short of air and his batteries running low.  When attacking and aiming off I took this into consideration and decided that the U. Boat's movement would be small as he could not afford any bursts of speed.  All the U. Boat's crew had a healthy respect for the aircraft and admitted that it was getting almost impossible for them to surface in their Mediterranean hunting area.  
     
  14.        H.M.S. "Calpe" in company with U.S.S. "Wainright" arrived at Algiers at 2358, December 13th, berthing at 44 East.  The prisoners were disembarked in custody at 0120, 14th December, without incident.  
     
  15.        All times in this report are Zone - 1 and may be very slightly in error.  Weather conditions during period of attack:  
               Wind S.E.  f;c  2, cloudy,  sea 1,  swell 2,  visibility excellent.  
     
  16.        In conclusion, I wish to mention the following officer and ratings who performed their duties magnificently and contributed greatly to the destruction of the U. Boat:  
     
                      Lieutenant J.T. Gilhespy, R.N. A/S Control Officer of second attack.  
                      Acting P.O. (Ty) P. Butterworth, H.S.D. C/SSX.21700, Asdic Operator of both attacks and Asdic Control Officer of 1st Attack.  
                      Chief Petty Officer G. Snowdon, L.T.O., C/J.30721, in charge of depth charges and re-loading aft.  
                      Leading Seaman N. Anderson, H.S.D., P/SSX.26192, second Asdic Operator.  
     
     

 

     
     
  REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS.  
                 U.593.  
     
          U. Boat appeared outwardly in first class condition and had obviously had a recent overhaul and docking.  Painted green grey on conning tower and hull, and brown boot-tapping below the waterline.  Approximate size 600-750 tons.  
     
  2.        No heavy armament was observed; the familiar forward gun being absent but it is possible that a 3" gun was mounted forward of the conning tower on a receding platform.  Conning tower was of the normal shape with a railed bandstand aft, on which platform were mounted 3 twin Oerlikons, which had an all-round A.A. arc.  Two machine guns (probably, calibre 0.37") were mounted in fire end of conning tower.  
     
  3.        No R.D.F. aerials or fittings were visible and the normal fore and aft jumping wires and stub mast were absent.  
     
  4.        A door on the starboard side of the conning tower appeared to be fitted and used for abandoning ship.  
     
  5.        The Commanding Officer and two officers were the last to leave the U. Boat, a large inflatable dinghy being left for their convenience.  Scuttling aft appeared well underway when the U. Boat surfaced, and final scuttling, it is estimated, was done by opening a valve of a hatchway on the deck, about fifteen feet forward of the conning tower.  
     
  6.        Co-operation between H.M.S. "Calpe" and U.S.S. "Wainright" worked excellently but it would be of great advantage for British Destroyers to be fitted with voice telephone similar to the Americans, which could be used for inter-communication with American ships when operating together.  It would also be of great value if the American and British ships could have more opportunity of working together in the Mediterranean, as from recent conversations with the Commanding Officer of U.S.S. "Wainright" it was obvious that both of us were a little doubtful of the other's knowledge of American and British signals and tactics.  
     
  7.        The Commanding Officer of U.S.S. "Wainright" was greatly impressed with the accuracy of British Asdics and the explosive force of Minol Depth Charges, which were certainly greater than the explosive used in American charges.  
     
  8.        Recorder trace and track chart are attached.  
     
     
     
                                                                                             
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                                                                     LIEUTENANT COMMANDER IN COMMAND.