U. S. S. WOOLSEY (DD 437) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DD437/A16-2 HRW/rh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serial 027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. About 15530A December 16, 1943, this vessel received orders from Commander Destroyer Squadron Thirteen (U.S.S. WOLLSEY, flagship) to get underway immediately and proceed with U.S.S. TRIPPE and EDISON to investigate the torpedoing of the S.S. JOHN S. COPLEY off Cape Falcon, Algeria. The U.S.S. NIBLACK and LUDLOW had been detached from convoy NSF 10 to proceed to vicinity of torpedoing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. About 1715A WOOLSEY arrived vicinity of torpedoing. U.S.S. NIBLACK and LUDLOW were relieved and ordered by Commander Destroyer Squadron Thirteen rejoin NSF 10. At 1730A an anti-submarine search was started from initial point 35-56N, 00-53W on course North using plan for "Three A/S vessels - two hours late" from Search Tactics for Anti-Submarine Surface Vessels. WOOLSEY was in center, EDISON to port, TRIPPE to starboard, in line abreast. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. About 1815A a sound contact was obtained but depth charges were not dropped as attack did not develop well. At about 1837A sound contact was regained. This contact led to a deliberate attack and dropping of depth charges set to 200 to 300 feet. Details of this attack are in Enclosure (A). Immediately after this attack ship went to General Quarters and remained so until after sinking of submarine. A subsequent sound contact was made, range was opened to deliver deliberate attack but on closing the attack did not develop well enough and depth charges were not dropped. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- 1 - |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
U. S. S. WOOLSEY (DD 437) |
||||||||
| DD437/A16-2 HRW/rh | ||||||||
| Serial 027 | ||||||||
|
||||||||
| Subject: Action Report. | ||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||
| 4. About 1927A a radar contact was obtained on SG radar bearing 000 true, dead ahead at 1900 yards. Ship was immediately swung to the right to unmask battery, target was illuminated by searchlight, identified as submarine, and fire was opened with 5 inch, 40 mm. and 20 mm. batteries. Details of this attack are in Enclosure (B). Submarine sank at 1935A in Lat. 36-09N, Long. 00-50W, going down stern first until it was vertical with about 25 percent of ship out of water from which position it settled and disappeared in about one minute. Submarine is believed to be U-73 of 500 tons displacement. | ||||||||
| 5. Dead reckoning tracer track chart is included as Enclosure (C). | ||||||||
| 6. Prisoner survivors recovered are listed in Enclosure (D). Roster of crew as shown in list found among survivor's effects is shown in Enclosure (E). The EDISON reported recovery of eleven survivors alive and one dead. The officers and crew seemed to posses good health and morale. Prisoners and their effects were delivered to Army and Navy Intelligence Officers upon return to Mers-El-Kebir, Algeria, about 2400A, December 16, 1943. Officers and men were kept segregated after recovery and were so delivered. Commanding Officer was Oberleutnant Horst Deckert, age 25 years. | ||||||||
| 7. Prisoners reported that depth charge attack caused submarine to leak which forced Captain to bring her to the surface. The ship's doctor stated that they were lucky to get to the surface. Other officers stated that the submarine was not scuttled but that "Your artillery sank us". It was also stated by enlisted prisoners that the Captain ordered ship abandoned as soon as he was under fire. The submarine probably left Toulon, France, about December 2, 1943. Interrogation by intelligence personnel will probably verify the above statements. | ||||||||
| 8. Two WOOLSEY enlisted men were wounded as a result of this action. Both will be recommended for the Purple Heart in separate correspondence. | ||||||||
- 2 - |
||||||||
|
|
|
U. S. S. WOOLSEY (DD 437) |
||||||||
| DD437/A16-2 HRW/rh | ||||||||
| Serial 027 | ||||||||
|
||||||||
| Subject: Action Report. | ||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||
| 9. In this Commanding Officer's opinion the sinking of this submarine was the result of a search promptly ordered and executed. Destroyers were immediately dispatched, the planes from the U.S.S. BROOKLYN were over this area until dark when RAF planes appeared, tugs were sent to assist torpedoed ship, and the anti-submarine search commenced at the earliest possible moment. H.M.S. BRILLIANT arrived just after the sinking and assisted in recovery of survivors. Upon return to port facilities to remove prisoners and an ambulance for the wounded were waiting on the dock. | ||||||||
| 10. All officers and men on the WOOLSEY conducted themselves in a commendable manner. Instances of special and efficient performance of duty will be noted in separate commendations by the Commanding Officer. The Gunnery Officer, Lieutenant (jg) F. W. Hollowell, U.S. Navy, has been recommended for commendation by Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters. | ||||||||
| H. R. WIER | ||||||||
| cc: | ||||||||
| Original to: ComInch | ||||||||
| Copies to : ComInch (direct). | ||||||||
| Cincmed (direct). | ||||||||
| ComNavNAW (direct). | ||||||||
| ComEighthPHIB (direct). | ||||||||
| CinCLant (direct). | ||||||||
| ConDesLant (direct). | ||||||||
| ComDesEighthFlt. (direct). | ||||||||
| ComDesRon - 13. | ||||||||
| Joint - British and Allied Air Board (originals of DRT trace | ||||||||
| and sound track) (direct). | ||||||||
| ASWU - Boston (direct). | ||||||||
| File | ||||||||
|
|
|
