| CTU22.7.1/A16-3neb COMMANDER TASK UNIT 22.7.1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Serial No: 01 USS PILLSBURY (DE-133) | ||||||||||||||||
FLAGSHIP |
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| C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L | ||||||||||||||||
| At sea, | ||||||||||||||||
| 25 April 1945. | ||||||||||||||||
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NOTE: All times plus two zone time. |
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| 1. At 1308 on 23 April 1945, while engaged in search for sonar contact that had been made at 0615 by the U.S.S. CHATELAIN (DE-149), at Latitude 42-37 N, Longitude 41-24W, received report from CTG 22.3 that one of BOGUE planes had sighted surfaced submarine. CTG 22.3 ordered all ships assigned to barrier line (14), to proceed on course 090° T, at best sped to scene of sighting. Ordered all ships to form line on me, normal to course 090° T. As situation developed, and more accurate data was obtained on bearing and distance of plane at scene of sighting, it was determined that scene was approximately NE, distance 70 miles. The course of search line was adjusted accordingly and changed from time to time as new data came in. Picked up plane over datum point, on SA radar, showing IFF code 4. As development progressed, more planes arrived at scene, and as distance closed, planes contacted search line and directed center to datum point. Datum point plainly marked by smoke float. At 1710 center of search line passed over datum point on course 035° T, speed 16.8 knots. Four ships assigned to barrier line, late in arriving. Bathythermograph reading indicated assured sound range of 2,000 yards. Assuming that planes would keep submarine submerged, based search on course 035° T, until 1810 at which time line had arrived at submarine six hour circle; here split the line, ships on the left (five ships) 90° turn to the left, proceeded in northwesterly direction, required distance to overlap NW limit of initial sweep, then turn in a southwesterly course and sweep back. Ships on the right side of line continued on course 035° T until 1820 at which time they made a 90° right turn. Shortly after coming to new course (125° T), NUENZER now third ship in column in this group reported possible sound contact, mushy echoes, sheared out to investigate. Speed of this group reduced to five knots. Immediately following, FLAHERTY the fourth ship in column, reported contact, | ||||||||||||||||
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| CTU22.7.1/A16-3neb COMMANDER TASK UNIT 22.7.1 | ||
| Serial No: 01 USS PILLSBURY (DE-133) | ||
FLAGSHIP |
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| C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L 25 April 1945 | ||
| Subject: Action against enemy submarine - Report of | ||
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| mushy echoes - classification as nonsub. Based on assumption that submarine had recently passed through this area on a northeasterly course and that echoes were from old wake, turned back to course 035° T and continued on until 1835; no further developments. (Now believe that we had submarine at this point). At 1835, ships of this group turned 90° (125° T) to the right and proceeded on this course to overlap southeasterly limit of initial sweep, then turned to southwesterly course and continued sweep in that direction. At about 2100, the four ships that were late, arrived in the vicinity of the datum point, and were ordered to sweep thoroughly the area within a ten mile radius of the datum point. The southwesterly sweep by other two groups continued on until they reached submarine furthest out circle, at which time the group to the NW turned back to cover by retiring search, the area to the NW of datum point that had not been covered by sweeps. The southeasterly group to do likewise to cover SE area. At about 2200, the southeasterly group picked up sound contact and spent an hour-and-a-half in this area in investigating and searching. Negative results, initial contact non-sub. Proceeded to cover area to SE of datum point by retiring search. At 0829, 24 April, in a position, bearing about 020° T, distance 50 miles from datum point, and on submarine 19 hour circle, DAVIS reported possible sound contact and left formation to investigate. Speed of group reduced to five knots. DAVIS proceeded back on an approximate reverse course. At 0840, DAVIS was torpedoed at Latitude 43-51 N and Longitude 40-16 W. | ||
| 2. The ships present at this time, NUENZER, HAYTER, FLAHERTY and PILLSBURY. At 0841, NUENZER and HAYTER were ordered to conduct operation "Observant"; FLAHERTY to pick up survivors, and PILLSBURY to proceed to scene and take position for circling point of contact at 6000 yards. At 0851 the two other search groups ordered to the scene. At 0851 FLAHERTY in the vicinity of survivors reported sound contact. At 0854 FLAHERTY classified contact as wake and returned to continue work. At 0855 the DAVIS had sunk so that only the mast was showing. At 0900, DAVIS's depth charges exploded. At 0917 FLAHERTY still in the vicinity of the survivors, had another sound contact, this time with down doppler. At 0920 PILLSBURY proceeded to assist FLAHERTY, HAYTER ordered to pick up survivors; NUENZER to circle point of contact. At 0934 FLAHERTY lost contact, reported estimation of depth at more than 500 feet. At 0937 FLAHERTY regained contact, bearing 230° T, distance 1700 yards. Necessary to take in FXR gear, blanking echoes. At 0940 PILLSBURY made contact bearing 275° T, distance 1500 yards, down doppler. At 0941 FLAHERTY made H/H attack, PILLSBURY assisting. Negative results. FLAHERTY ordered to make depth charge attack, magnetic settings, but lost contact early on way in and could not make straight DC run. At 1005 ordered creeping attack with PILLSBURY directing, FLAHERTY attacking. CORE plane | ||
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| CTU22.7.1/A16-3neb COMMANDER TASK UNIT 22.7.1 | ||
| Serial No: 01 USS PILLSBURY (DE-133) | ||
FLAGSHIP |
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| C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L 25 April 1945 | ||
| Subject: Action against enemy submarine - Report of | ||
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| had arrived at scene to assist with survivors. At 1019 FLAHERTY reported hearing torpedo, discontinued creeping attack, but dropped depth charge pattern to drive sub down, charges detonate at great depth, magnetic setting. PILLSBURY holding contact. At 1028 PILLSBURY lost contact. At 1030 remainder of search group arrived at scene and two planes from BOGUE to assist with survivors. Two ships, OTTER and OTTERSTETTER, were ordered to assist HAYTER with survivors. Others to form sweep line, three miles from point of contact. At 1032 PILLSBURY regained contact. PILLSBURY lost contact at 1045. At 1056 started operation "Observant". At 1125 PILLSBURY made contact, which faded at once. At 1130 discontinued "Observant", PILLSBURY and FLAHERTY joined sweep line. Line moving in toward point of lost contact (10 ships on line) VARIAN, JANSSEN, COCKRILL, CHATELAIN, POPE, KEITH, HUBBARD, PILLSBURY, NUENZER and FLAHERTY, distance 2000 yards, at speed 10 knots. At 1205 VARIAN made contact bearing 128° T, distance 700 yards, JANSSEN ordered to assist. Line continued on thru to clear area, line kept intact. Contact lost by VARIAN two or three times, echoes weak, no doppler. At 1219 VARIAN started JANSSEN in on creeping attack. At 1233 dropped pattern, negative results, charges detonate deep. At 1233 HUBBARD ordered in to work with JANSSEN on a two-ship creeping attack with VARIAN directing both ships. At 1253 dropped pattern, negative results. At 1255 NEUNZER ordered in to work with JANSSEN and HUBBARD to make a three-ship creeping attack. At 1259 HUBBARD reported fathometer indications, 600 feet. At 1314 dropped second two ship creeping attack, JANSSEN and HUBBARD dropping, VARIAN directing. NUENZER not in position. Very little movement most of the time. Sent FLAHERTY in to relieve JANSSEN. At 1340 dropped creeping attack, three ships, HUBBARD, NUENZER, FLEHERTY dropping, VARIAN directing. At 1346 CHATELAIN sent in to work with attack group. At 1316 VARIAN reported shallow depth, ordered hedgehog attack. At 1405 FLAHERTY started in on H/H attack, contact lost. At 1411 regained contact. FLAHERTY started in again for H/H attack, reported too deep for H/H, lost contact, commenced "Observant". At 1418 OTTER and HAYTER left scene with survivors, OTTERSTETTER continuing search. At 1436 sweep line started in. At 1442 contact regained by NUENZER while conducting "Observant", no movement. Sweep line pulled away. At 1515 VARIAN reported depth 580 feet on 147B. At 1517 VARIAN dropped creeping attack, directed by NUENZER. Negative results. Contact lost and regained. At 1524 ordered three-ship creeping attack, CHATELAIN directed FLAHERTY, HUBBARD, NUENZER, negative results. At 1540 OTTERSTETTER ordered to join sweep line. At 1600 lost contact, started "Observant". At 1647 sweep line started through. At 1649 COCKRILL reported contact while on "Observant". At 1705 lost contact, "Observant ships" ordered to join line. At 1731 VARIAN made contact bearing 165° T, distance 1,550 yards, line went on through, little movement, echoes not good. | ||
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| CTU22.7.1/A16-3neb COMMANDER TASK UNIT 22.7.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serial No: 01 USS PILLSBURY (DE-133) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FLAGSHIP |
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| C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L 25 April 1945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject: Action against enemy submarine - Report of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PILLSBURY, KIETH, FLAHERTY to scene. Organized for creeping attack. KIETH reported 220 feet depth, called off creeping attack, ordered hedgehog. KIETH attempted H/H attack but was fouled by PILLSBURY. At 1810 FLAHERTY fired H/H with VARIAN assisting. PILLSBURY reported underwater explosion detected on sonar. At 1814 VARIAN reported oil slick alongside dye marker for hedgehog attack. Seen by PILLSBURY. VARIAN held contact, reported no movement. Air bubbles reported. At 1828 FLAHERTY fired H/H, negative results. At 1839 sub surfaced while FLAHERTY was coming in for third attack. Submarine taken under fire immediately by ships at scene. At 1844 submarine sank, Latitude 43-54N. Longitude 40-22 W, going down by head at sharp angle, survivors seen in water with rafts and life preservers. Picked up thirty-three survivors including the commanding officer. Captain's name, Paul JUST. Papers found on survivors indicated submarine was U-546. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. Resume of individual ship activities during action, from 0840, 24 April, to 1844: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a.) HAYTER, OTTER, OTTERSTETTER engaged in rescue of DAVIS' survivors until all recovered. Picked up total of 77 including three officers. CTG 22.8, in OTTER, in charge of rescue work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (b.) Attacks on submerged submarine: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| NOTE: CO HUBBARD in charge at scene of attack, for attacks #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (c.) Ships that engaged enemy with gunfire and took prisoners: PILLSBURY, KIETH, VAIAN, FLAHERTY, and NUENZER. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (d.) Ships present and not specifically mentioned, and all ships not otherwise engaged were held in formation on sweep line, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| CTU22.7.1/A16-3neb COMMANDER TASK UNIT 22.7.1 | ||
| Serial No: 01 USS PILLSBURY (DE-133) | ||
FLAGSHIP |
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| C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L 25 April 1945 | ||
| Subject: Action against enemy submarine - Report of | ||
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| ready to move in, in event of lost contact. | ||
| F.S. HALL | ||
| Commander, U.S. Navy, | ||
| Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 | ||
| Distribution: | ||
| (AC) Cominch | ||
| ComDesLant | ||
| LantFlt. ASW Unit, NOB, NORVA. | ||
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