U-boat Archive - U-233 - USS Baker Action Report

U.S.S. BAKER (DE190)

c/o Fleet Post Office

New York, N. Y.

7 July 1944

DE-190/A16-3

Serial 017

From:	The Commanding Officer.
To:	The Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet.

Via:	(1) Commander Task Group 22.10
	(2) Commandr in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.

Subject:	Action Report of Sinking of German Submarine (U-233), on 5 July 1944.

Enclosures:	(A) ASW-1 (Revised) Form.
	(B) Track Chart (To Cominch only-with Advance copy).

1. TASK ORGANIZATION

Commander Task Group 22.10, Captain R. C. Young, U.S.N. (In U.S.S. Card (CVE11)).

Commander Escort Division 48, Commander George A. Parkinson, U.S.N.R. (In U.S.S. THOMAS (DE-102)).

U.S.S. Card (CVE11), Captain R. C. Young, U.S.N.

U.S.S. Thomas (DE102) (F), Lt. Comdr.David M. Kellog, U.S.N.R.

U.S.S. BOSTWICK (DE103), Lt. Comdr. Clifton G. Hall, U.S.N.R.

U.S.S. BREEMAN (DE104), Lt. Comdr. Edward N. W. Hunter, U.S.N.R

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	U.S.S. BAKER (DE190)
	7 July 1944
	DE190/A16-3
	Serial 017

	Subject: Action Report of Sinking of German Submarine (U-233), on 5 July 1944
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	U.S.S. BRONSTEIN (DE189), Lt. Comdr. Sheldon H. Kinney, U.S.N.
	U.S.S. BAKER (DE190), Lt. Comdr. Norman C. Hoffman, U.S.N.R.

	2. MISSION

	To operate offensively against enemy submarines.

	3. DOCTRINE

	In accordance with U.S.F. 10A as concerned screening operations. In accordance with F.T.P. 223 as concerned A.S.W. operations.

	4. TIME

	All times mentioned herein are zone plus 1 hour and 20 minutes and the equivalent in GCT.

	5. TACTICAL SITUATION

	At 1907 local time, (2027), 5 July 1944, Task Group on base course 066⁰T speed 12 knots, zigzagging in accordance with plan 12, Zigzag Diagrams 1940. THOMAS, BOSTWICK and BREEMAN stationed as inner screen about CARD. BRONSTEIN and BAKER were stationed 090 and 270 relative, respectively, from CARD, distance 20,000 yards. Sound conditions were Sonar medium 40/11C.

	II. NARRATIVE

	At 1907 local time, (2027) U.S.S. BAKER gained Sonar contact on a submarine bearing 110⁰T range 2200 yards. The base course of the dispotion, at the time, was 066⁰T, speed 12 knots. The locality was approximately 42⁰ 16.5' N - 590 49' W. U.S.S. BAKER was occupying station 270⁰ relative from guide, U.S.S. CARD, distance 10 miles.

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	U.S.S. BAKER (DE190)
	7 July 1944
	DE190/A16-3
	Serial 017

	Subject: Action Report of Sinking of German Submarine (U-233), on 5 July 1944
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	Upon gaining this contact, U.S.S. BAKER streamed her FXR gear, went to General Quarters, called for a short pattern shallow (5 Mk 8 Depth Charges) came right to the center bearing, and went to standard speed. As soon as Depth Charge racks and "K" Guns reported fully manned, the pattern was changed to a full pattern medium (13 Mk 8 Depth Charges). This pattern depth was chosen since no conclusive evidence was available, as yet, of the submarine's depth, and it was felt that an error in the direction of too deep was preferable to a pattern set too shallow. Especially was this considered advisable, with Mk 8 Depth Charges, in the hope that these might fire magnetically if the submarine proved shallower than the estimate.

	As the range to the submarine was closed, a high doppler was heard (closing indication) but practically no bearing movement was as yet noted. It was later believed that this was a result of the high target angle -- approximately 30⁰ to 315 degrees. Not until 400 yards was a bearing drift evident. At that time, it was obvious submarine was moving fromright to left in relation to the attacking ship. The ship therefore, was conned left with full rudder, and 5 seconds late firing on the recorder was ordered.

	The first pattern was dropped at 1913 local time, (2033 GCT). The ship was steadied for about 30 seconds and then swung to the left while the sound operator searched his port quarter to regain contact. A solid echo was received, bearing 310⁰T, range 350 yards, directly in the middle of the search arc suggested. At this point, the remote control tracking unit in the QCT sound stack in the sound stack went out, and three of the ship's soundmen repaired to the lower soundroom to commence manual train. Communication was established to that compartment over the JX sound powered phone circuit, and from this point on relative train of the sound gear was regulated from the sound hut.

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	U.S.S. BAKER (DE190)
	7 July 1944
	DE190/A16-3
	Serial 017

	Subject: Action Report of Sinking of German Submarine (U-233), on 5 July 1944
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	U.S.S. BAKER came around early to head for the center bearing since it was paramount that the attack be made while contact was still being maintained. It was impossible to get cut on's that would indicate bearing drift, so the atacker came in on the center bearing for his approach course. When, at 300 yards, contact was lost because of training difficulties, U.S.S. BAKER came right easy to 109⁰T for the attack course, calculating that the submarine would now be moving from left to right with relation to the attacking ship. The recorder trace indicates that this was true. There was also a large component of motion away from the attacker on this run (A deep quartering to direct stern trace).

	The second full pattern, set shallow in view of the short lost contact range of the first run, was fired at 1920 local time, (2040 GCT) on the recorder. Members of the ship's crew and officers aft, and on the flying bridge, reported a huge gyser of water, mixed with oil, as the second stern rolled charge detonated. The attack course was held about 57 seconds, then right easy 200 rudder, and as U.S.S. BAKER was feeling for sonar contact astern, and deep on the starboard quarter, SL Radar reported a peculiar effect, bearing 050⁰T, range 1200 yards -- a number of small pips resembling sea return.

	The ship was brought right to 000⁰T, and all guns and torpedo tubes trained 055⁰ relative. At about 1925 local time, (2045 GCT), Sonar regained contact estimated 120⁰ relative, range 200 yards, and the ship was brought right to 090⁰T and all guns ordered to load. At 1931 local time, (2051 GCT), Radar reported a large pip 195⁰T, 1200 yards. Rudder was put right full and all ahead full ordered on engines. Simultaneously, the bow of the sub was seen to break surface, at a steep angle, on bearing given by radar.

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	U.S.S. BAKER (DE190)
	7 July 1944
	DE190/A16-3
	Serial 017

	Subject: Action Report of Sinking of German Submarine (U-233), on 5 July 1944
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	All guns opened fire to starboard, range 1200 yards by radar, and hits and close splashes about the sub were observed. About one minute later, "Check Fire" was given and the battery trained to port and ordered into local control as the target angle of the sub was observed to be about 170⁰ and it was not desired to pass astern. The ship was brought right and steadied on 250⁰T, and the fire resumed to port. All guns, except the starboard 20MM could now bear, and the firing was accurate and heavy. Communications to the torpedo tubes were not good, they being on the same circuit with depth charges and "K" guns, and instructionsreguarding a shallow pattern, to be dropped just ahead of the sub, were being given over the circuit. The acting assistant gunnery officer was dispatched to the tubes to put them in local control and fire on a favorable opportunity. At 1935, local time, (2055 GCT), two torpedoes were fired with sub abeam to port.

	Personnel on the bridge, and at the tubes, say they hit, but not witnessed by Commanding Officer. Range was too short to arm. Rudder was put right full, then shifted to left full, and U.S.S. BAKER passed ahead of sub, 75 yards, and fired port "K" guns. "K" guns straddled and detonated close aboard on both bows of sub. Ship was steadied on about 235⁰T. At 1936.5, local time, (2101.5 GCT), all engines were ordered ahead emergency flank, 600 rpm (about 20.5 knots), and rudder put full left.

	The ship now came about and pursued a northeasterly course, all guns bearing and firing on sub. At 1941.5, local time, (2101.5 GCT), U.S.S. BAKER passed close ahead of the sub and laid a full 13 charge pattern squarely in front of him. He rode squarely into the middle of the detonations and was enveloped in the boils. Many of the crew were observed astern of the sub, already having abandoned ship, and many others were observed to be abandoning at this time, and to be caught in the boils.

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