Precis of Attack by HMCS Morden

     
     
  Ass. Comm. Serial No. 178__
 
 
Reference:  A/S.W.2393/42.
 
 
 
 
Precis of Attack by MORDEN.
 
 
 
  Date:  1.9.42.                                Time:  0050.                                Position:  57° 41'N.  
                                                                                                                         31° 30'W  
     
  Weather Conditions:  Wind N.  Force 3;  weather be; sea 32; visibility 10 miles.  
     
  Depth of Water:  1.300 fathoms.  
     
  Convoy:  S.C. 97.  
     
  Warning:  R.D.F. contact at 1,500 yards.  
     
  Narrative:  At 0050 an R.D.F contact was obtained on the starboard quarter.  On investigation the U-boat was sighted on the surface steaming in the direction of the Convoy.  An attempt to ram was foiled by the U-boat diving.  Two depth charges set to 50 feet were fired by eye as the ship closed the U-boat's wake.  Contact was established by asdic and two further attacks were carried out.  
     
  Details of Attacks:  
 
No. of Attack.
1st.
2nd.
3rd.
Time
0116
0128
0137
   
Doppler )
None
None
  )
H.E. )          Not
None
None
  )           in
Movement of target. )       Contact
Right
Left.
  )
Range of losing contact )
300 yards
300 yards
       
Time to fire obtained by
Eye
Recorder
Recorder
 
No. of depth charges.
2
5
10
 
Depth settings
50 ft.
150 ft.
150 & 300 ft.
 
  Contact was lost after the third attack and a search was carried out for ten minutes before rejoining the convoy.  
     
  Surface Evidence:  U-boat sighted at close range.  No evidence of damage.  
     
  Asdic Evidence:  Recorder trace has been forwarded and still shows a clear marking.  It is noted that no doppler or hydrophone effect were heard even when the U-boat was diving.  
     
  C.O.'s Opinion:  It is difficult to imagine that the U-boat could have avoided being hit by the depth charges.  
     
  Submarine Tracking Room's Opinion:  There were six to eight U-boats in the vicinity of Convoy S.C. 97 and it is accordingly impossible to say whether the particular U-boat attacked survived.  
     
     

 

 
 
     
  Decision of U-boat Assessment Committee:   On the evidence available it is impossible to say if the U-boat suffered any damage.  It is presumed that the C.O.'s opinion refers to the first attack and that his U-boat was still alive and kicking twenty-one minutes later.
          The attack is assessed as "Insufficient evidence of damage."
     
  30th November, 1942.__