| DE635/A16-3 U. S. S. ENGLAND (DE 635) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serial No. 016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| c/o Fleet Post Office, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Francisco, Calif., | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CONFIDENTIAL 27 May 1944. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1. The following report of action is submitted in accordance with reference (a). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. On the morning of 22 May, while operating on anti-submarine patrol in accordance with Commander Third Fleet's secret priority despatch 200105 of May, in company U.S.S. GEORGE (DE 697), with ComCortDiv 39 aboard as OTC, U.S.S. RABY (DE 698), and with ComCortDiv 40 aboard the ENGLAND, a Japanese submarine was attacked and destroyed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. At 0350, on b/c 312° T, in vicinity 01° 35' N, 150° 34' E, formation scouting line, interval 4000 yards, normal to base course, the U.S.S. GEORGE obtained radar (SL) contact bearing 303° T, range 14,000 yards. OTC ordered Condition One set and the GEORGE to attack. At almost the same time ENGLAND obtained radar contact 280° T, 15,000 yards. On orders OTC all ships ceased echo ranging. OTC informed ENGLAND and RABY that plot showed sub dead in the water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At 0400 on orders OTC, ENGLAND increased speed to 20 knots opening out to the northeast and slowed to 15 knots when approximately NE of sub. At 0410 GEORGE illuminated target with searchlight preparatory to opening fire. Sub at that time was bering 240° T, range 4100 from ENGLAND. Apparently the man on the searchlight of the GEORGE did not see the target for he illumininated only momentarily and then only while training the light. No guns were fired. The Commanding Officer and bridge personnel of the ENGLAND glimpsed the target as the GEORGE's searchlight swept by. Almost immediately after searchlight was turned on sub pip on radar began to disappear and disappeared completely at 0411 bearing 233° true, range 3900. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| CONFIDENTIAL U. S. S. ENGLAND (DE 635) | ||||
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| At this time, the GEORGE obtained sound contact and closed for projector Mk. 10 attack. Fired with negative results and contact was lost after attack. OTC ordered ENGLAND to search for sub and continue attack; this was at 0420. At 0425, after receiving search information from OTC, made good sound contact bearing 193°, range 2500 yards and closed for projector Mk. 10 attack. Fired at 0423 - results negative. Regained contact on the run out and opened range for another attack. Fired on second attack at 0444 and 18.2 seconds (stop watch time) after firing three and possibly more projector charges exploded. Sub depth 240'. Immediately after firing gave right full rudder to open out and when charges exploded increased speed to fifteen knots to open out and bring all guns to bear in event sub surfaced. 0450 Love, while turning to search area again regained contact at 1500 yards, firm strong echo, and continued turn to close in for attack. 0451:25, with sub bearing 218° T, range 1100 and with ENGLAND headed for and making run on sub, a terrific explosion followed by a deep rumbling sound, lasting several seconds, made this ship vibrate as if we had a bent propeller. The shock of the explosion was felt throughout the ship and was also easily felt by the GEORGE and the RABY, who were standing by at three to five thousand yards. The explosion point could not be seen as it was still very dark. After the explosion point could not be seen as it was still very dark. After the explosion the traces of the sub on the recorder were still good for a few seconds and then seemed to spread out both in range and bearing so as to seem like a very large knuckle. After the explosion ENGLAND circled area and followed regain contact procedure with no success. | ||||
| At 0535 OTC ordered what is considered a very effective search to regain contact in event sub had not been destroyed. He ordered ships to circle point of last attack, which was marked by night marker we had dropped, in a clockwise direction at a range of 2000 yards, echo ranging from ahead to 20 abaft the port beam. Every few minutes one of the three ships, equally spaced around the circle, peeled off and ran through the attack area searching, then rejoined circular screen, another ship peeling off and searching area. This procedure continued until about 0630 without further contact. On one of the runs through explosion area the RABY reported heavy smell of diesel oil. On the ENGLAND's next run through the area the strong smell of oil was again noted. It was still too dark to see. After daylight an oil slick was seen extending down wind about four to six hundred yards from explosion point and about 100 to 300 yards wide. Oil was very heavy in this slick at 0630. No oil sample was obtained since we expected to remain in area and did not stop at that time to obtain one. GEORGE passed through area and informed us by TBS that wood debris in oil slick was seen. Contrary to our expectations, however, we did not remain in area for at this time OTC ordered ships to form on him to conduct retiring box search #6 from FTP 219. Ships formed on GEORGE | ||||
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| CONFIDENTIAL U. S. S. ENGLAND (DE 635) | ||||
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| 4000 yards abeam, RABY to port, ENGLAND to starboard, starting course 180 true. Conducted this search until 1115 when we changed course to pass back through explosion area. Arrived in attack area about 1140 and for an area of several miles around noted patches of very thin oil slicks. In the meantime, since contact, adverse climatic conditions had set in and frequent hard rain squalls and shift of wind from ENE to SE are believed to have scattered the oil. It had no general direction of movement as would have been the case had sub only been damaged and able to depart area, as would have been his probable desire. | ||||
| 4. The evasive tactics of the submarine, were quite similar to those encountered by this vessel in attacks on Japanese submarine on 19 May. The first attack was quarter changing to stern, sub very slow; second attack slow sub also noted in close bow attack with sharp left drift just prior to firing. It is considered possible that these attacks and on previous attacks by this vessel subs were expecting depth charge attacks and probably would have increased speed in order to throw off our firing time and clear the pattern, had we committed ourselves to a lead. | ||||
| 5. There are several questions that arise from attacks on this submarine. One of the most confusing being that of the violent explosion occurring seven and one half minutes after the projector charges exploded. ComCordDiv 40, the Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer all concur in the belief that the explosion was more violent than that caused by 600 lb depth charges. It also seems very unlikely, with sound conditions as good as they were, and with the area being so thoroughly searched by three anti-submarine vessels following explosion, why, if it is considered possible Nip was only severely damaged, contact was not regained. Information is very much desired as to the explanation regarding explosion. | ||||
| 6. Again, as in the submarine attack on the 19th of May, all hands performed as a team that knows how to play the game to win. At this point the Commanding Officer is more than proud of his command. | ||||
| W.B. PENDLETON | ||||
| Advance Copy: (1) Cominch | ||||
| (2) ComDesPac | ||||
| Enclosures to Advance Copy (1): (A) ASW-1 for each attack (2) | ||||
| (B) Recorder Traces. | ||||
| (C) DRT track during attacks. | ||||
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| EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE TO SUBMARINE (Cont'd.) | ||
| On 23 May a plane patrol sighted and reported a fresh oil slick at 01° 36' N, 150° 45' E. Plane further reported oil apparently bubbling. This is believed to be oil slick from this submarine as no other attacks had been reported in this area. Direction of oil slick fits in with set and drift experienced in this area. | ||
| IV. NARRATIVE (Use Additional Blank Page if Necessary) | ||
| After first attack with no hits picked up sub after opening to about 400 yards, and turned in for attack at about 1100 yards. Had slight up doppler and figured this to be a bow attack - sub speed 2 knots. Range rate obtained was ten and one-half but do not believe we were making over 9 knots due to frequent use of rudder. Just prior to firing, a sharp left drift was noted and conning officer believed sub was turning right. Fired and hit 3° to left of center bearing. | ||
| After hit, opened out range at 15 knots and maneuvered to bring all guns to bear. He disappointed us by not surfacing so we c/c to make another run and were headed for him when he blew up. | ||
| It is to be noted that plot which shows sub in close bow attack at very slow speed and conning officer believed sub turning right at time of firing. Range rate on recorder was 8-1/2 to 9 knots. This disagreement is not understood, but the sub was hit on this attack. | ||
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| FBE4-39/ | ||||||||
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET |
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ESCORT DIVISION THIRTY-NINE |
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| USS SPANGLER(DE696) | ||||||||
| June 12, 1944 | ||||||||
| CONFIDENTIAL | ||||||||
| SECOND ENDORSEMENT to | ||||||||
| DE635/A16-3 | ||||||||
| Serial 016 | ||||||||
| Dated 27 May 1944 | ||||||||
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| 1. Forwarded. | ||||||||
| 2. It is desired to correct one minor error in that initial contact was made by GEORGE at 0345 (L) at 17000 yards. | ||||||||
| 3. The question of the violent explosion following hits by Mark 10 projectiles is a most interesting one. Following the one on this occasion suspicion of possible deceptive measures to aid escape prompted Commander Escort Division THIRTY-NINE, the OTC, to direct the immediate laying of a deep set depth charge pattern should it be experienced again. The fact that these explosions did not occur until after hits with Mark 10 projectors had been obtained seems to discredit the possibility of deception. Also the intensity of these explosions being many times greater than that caused by depth charges indicates destruction of the submarine itself. | ||||||||
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| HAMILTON HAINES | ||||||||
| Copy to: | ||||||||
| CCD 40 | ||||||||
| USS ENGLAND | ||||||||
| Advance Copy to: | ||||||||
| Cominch | ||||||||
| Comdespac | ||||||||
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