U.S. DESTROYERS ATLANTIC FLEET
 
 
DESTROYER ESCORT DIVISION SIXTY-TWO
  
 
U.S.S. OTTER (DE-210), Flagship
 
     
 
EXCERPT FROM WAR DIARY
 
     
 
19 April 1945
 
     
 
0800 1200 2000
47 - 03 N 46 - 15 N 45 - 11 N
54 - 21 W 54 - 00 W 51 - 30 W
 
     
  0530 Task Group 22.8 underway from NOB., Argentia, Newfoundland in company with Task Unit 22.7.1 on A/S patrol pursuant to CinCLant despatch 151649 of April 1945.  0632 Task Group 22.8 took departure from sea buoy, set base course 218°T., speed 15 knots.  Task Group 22.8 formed in column astern of USS OTTER (Guide) in following order:  USS VARIAN, USS HUBBARD, and USS HAYLER.  Distance between ships, 1400 yards.   0734 Changed base course to 205°T.  0950 Changed base course to 121°T.  1018 Changed base course to 150°T.  1100 Changed base course to 121°T.  1145 Took station on Task Unit 22.7.1 and Commander Task Unit 22.7.1in USS PILLSBURY became OTC.  USS POPE is guide.  Ships of the Task Unit 22.7.1 bear 270°R., from USS POPE in the following order:  USS FLAHERTY, USS CHATELAIN, USS PILLSBURY, USS NEUNZER, and USS DAVIS, distance between ships 4 miles.  USS OTTER is guide for Task Group 22.8 on station 4 miles astern of USS POPE and 2 miles from her beam in interval.  Ships of Task Group 22.8 formed bearing 090R, from USS OTTER, distance between ships 4 miles in the following order:  USS VARIAN, USS HUBBARD, and USS HAYTER.  Changed base speed to 16.7 knots.  2100 USS HUBBARD, USS HAYTER, and USS POPE investigating radar contacts.  2230 USS VARIAN investigating radar contact.  2350 All ships on station, all contacts reported to be fishermen.  
     
 
20 April 1945
 
     
 
0800 1200 2000
43 - 42 N 43 - 18 N 43 - 03 N
48 - 00 W 46 - 37 W 45 - 31 W
 
     
  In accordance with previous instructions contained in Commander Task Group 22.3 despatch 200300 of April 1945 Task Unit 22.7.1 and Task Group 22.8 are assigned center of scouting line barrier and two ships from each Task Group 22.3 and Task Group 22.4 are assigned end positions.  Task Group 22.3, with Commander Task Group 22.3 in USS BOGUE as OTC., and Task Group 22.4, with Commander Task Group 22.4 in USS CORE, to operate in twenty-five mile  
     
  ENCLOSURE (A) to CTG 22.8  
  Conf. ltr CCD62/A16/(Eve)  
  Serial 04 dated 15 May 1945.  
     

 

     
     
 
19 April 1945  (Cont.)
  
     
  areas south and north of barrier line respectively.  Scouting line to be under operational command of Commander Task Unit 22.7.1.  0445 Changed base course to 114°T.  1400 Effected rendezvous with Task Group 22.3 and Task Group 22.4.  1500 Maneuvering to gain assigned stations and remaining on station until line is formed.  2000 Ships in barrier line on axis normal to base course in following order from North to South:  USS KIETH, USS OTTERSETTER, USS POPE, USS FLAHERTY, USS CHATELAIN, USS DAVIS, USS NUENZER, USS PILLSBURY, USS HUBBARD, USS VARIAN, USS OTTER, USS HAYTER, USS JANSSEN, and USS COCKRILL.  Distance between ships 5 miles.  USS CORE with 4 ships of Task Group 22.4 patrolling to North of line and USS BOGUE with 4 ships of Task Group 22.3 patrolling to south of line.  Set base course 075°T., speed 12 knots.  
     
 
21 April 1945
 
     
 
0800 1200 2000
43 - 16 N 42 - 39 N 42 - 40 N
42 - 49 W 40 - 37 W 40 - 58 W
 
     
  0315 Barrier line shifter to North-South axis.  0400 Changed course to 107°T., to shift barrier center to 43 N - 41 W as ordered by CinCLant.  1100 Changed course to 090°T., commenced barrier patrol on station, reversing course every two hours on even hour, speed 5 knots as ordered by Commander Task Unit 22.7.1.  
     
 
22 April 1945
 
     
 
0800 1200 2000
42 - 25 N 42 - 20 N 42 - 20 N
41 - 00 W 41 - 10 W 41 - 02 W
 
     
  1116 USS OTTER received mail from USS BOGUE.  1700 As ordered by Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 commenced zig zag plan, reversing course as before but steering 45 to left and right of base course alternatively every half hour.  Speed 7 knots.  2015 USS HAYLER reported sound contact.  USS OTTER left station to assist USS HAYLER in search for and development of contact.  2100 Commenced retiring search plan #20, Diagram #11 from FTP 223A around datum point of USS HAYTER's contact with USS OTTER, USS HAYTER and USS JANSSEN.  Speed 15 knots.  Distance between ships 4000 yards.  Commander Task Group 22.8 in charge at scene.  
     
 
23 April 1945
 
     
 
0800 1200 2000
45 - 15 N 42 - 15 N 42 - 50 N
41 - 23 W 41 - 15 W 40 - 45 W
 
     
  ENCLOSURE (A) to CTG 22.8  
  Conf. ltr CCD62/A16/(Eve)  
  Serial 04 dated 15 May 1945.  
     

 

     
     
 
23 April 1945  (Cont.)
  
     
  0310 Commander Task Group 22.3 assumed direct operational command of scouting line barrier.  Ordered barrier patrol plan in accordance with November 1944 U.S. Fleet Anti-Submarine Bulletin.  0450 Abandoned search, ships proceeding to station in barrier line.  0758 Patrol speed increased to 15 knots, distance between ships changed to 6 miles.  1325 USS HAYTER, USS HUBBARD, USS PILLSBURY, USS NUENZER, USS DAVIS and USS CHATELAIN ordered from barrier to search for submarine reported by aircraft to be in position 43 - 04 N, 40 - 20 W.  1651 USS OTTER, USS VARIAN, USS JANSSEN and USS COCKRILL ordered from barrier to join in search for submarine.  Commander Task Group 22.8 in charge.  Ships ordered on scouting line normal to base course at 2 miles interval in following order:  USS VARIAN, USS OTTER, USS JANSSEN and USS COCKRILL.  2133 Arrived at datum point with ships on station.  USS COCKRILL reported white light, believed to be aircraft marker buoy.  Commenced sweep to eastward of datum point.  Two other Groups now searching adjacent area.  One with Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 the other with designated OTC in USS HUBBARD.  2334 Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 ordered search discontinued.  2341 Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 ordered search resumed, three groups to retire clockwise from datum at submarine speed in FTP 223A.  
     
 
24 April 1945
 
     
 
0800 1200 2000
43 - 18 N 43 - 51 N 43 - 42 N
40 - 05 W 40 - 15 W 40 - 45 W
 
     
  Steaming on various courses at 15 knots searching area east of datum point.  0853 Notified by Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 that USS DAVIS (DE-136) had been torpedoed at 0840 at 43-31N, 40-15W.  Ordered to proceed to scene at top speed with group.  Set course 000°T., speed 20 knots.  0907 Changed speed to 24 knots, USS OTTER plus USS VARIAN in company, USS JANSSEN and USS COCKRILL following at 20 knots.  0911 Changed course to 345°T.  1014 Changed course to 341°T.  1035 Arrived at scene of torpedoing.  USS DAVIS had sunk at about 0920.  1045 USS OTTER and USS VARIAN ordered by Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 to commence rescue of survivors to assist USS HAYTER who had been at scene since torpedoing and to standby to join search here.  USS OTTER commenced rescue operations.  1125 USS VARIAN ordered to organize a scouting line and commence search through point of last contact.  1205 USS VARIAN obtained sound contact.  1213 Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 ordered  USS VARIAN to conn other ships in on a creeping attack.  1228 USS JANSSEN dropped charges.  1251 USS JANSSEN and USS HUBBARD dropped a double pattern.  1314 USS dropped another double pattern.  1342 USS HUBBARD, USS NUENZER, and USS FLAHERTY dropped a triple pattern.  1417 USS OTTER ad USS HAYTER completed rescue operations and set course for rendezvous with USS CORE and USS BOGUE respectively to transfer survivors.  
     
  ENCLOSURE (A) to CTG 22.8  
  Conf. ltr CCD62/A16/(Eve)  
  Serial 04 dated 15 May 1945.  
     

 

     
     
 
24 April 1945  (Cont.)
  
     
  USS OTTER had received on board 26 men, 18 of whom were dead; USS HAYTER had 66 men, at least 10 of whom were dead.  (When these reports from the ships are received copies will be attached hereto.).  1850 Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 reported U-boat had surfaced and had been sunk by gunfire.  USS VARIAN, USS HUBBARD, and other attacking ships engaged in rescue of German survivors.  1956 Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 reported 33 German survivors received on board the ships, including Lieutenant Paul Just, Commanding Officer of U-546.  All ships returning to barrier stations.  2224 USS OTTER and USS HAYTER rendezvous with USS SWEENING and joined in a retiring search for USS SWENNING's disappearing radar contact.  Commander Task Group 22.3 ordered Commander Task Group 22.8 to take charge at scene.  2225 Ships formed at 4000 yards interval in following order:  USS OTTER, USS HAYTER, USS SWENNING, Speed 10 knots. Course 330°T.  2230 Changed speed to 15 knots and changed course to 060°T.  2347 Changed speed to 5 knots on orders of Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 now approaching line to join search.    
     
 
25 April 1945
 
     
 
0800 1200 2000
42 - 19 N 42 - 06 N 43 - 16 N
41 - 00 W 41 - 41 W 43 - 21 W
 
     
  0050  USS HAYTER reported disappearing radar contact, proceeding to investigate.  USS OTTER joined USS HAYTER to commence search of area.  Commander Task Group 22.8 ordered to take charge at scene.  Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 and group of ships joined search and formed in the following order:  SWENNING, USS HAYTER, USS OTTER, USS JANSSEN, USS HUBBARD and USS PILLSBURY (Guide).  Formed line normal to base course 231°T.  Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 assumed command of search.  Distance between ships 2500 yards.  0401 Changed speed to 10 knots.  0423 Search abandoned, ships returning to station.  Commander Task Group 22.3 now in direct charge of barrier line.  Commenced barrier patrol in accordance with Commander Task Group 22.3 despatch 230710.  Patrol speed 15 knots, distance between ships 5 miles.  0550 USS OTTER conducted sunrise burial at sea services for USS DAVIS (DE-136) dead and committed bodies to the sea.  (Details of these services and for those conducted on board USS HAYTER will be found in attached reports.).  0930 Commenced retirement of barrier line to west, by steering courses 53 either side of base course, changing course every two hours.  Speed 15 knots, speed of advance 9 knots.  1830 Arrived at longitude 41 W, position of new barrier line, resumed barrier patrol.  1840 Arrived at longitude 41 W, position of new barrier line, resumed barrier patrol.  1840 USS VARIAN detached to take prisoners of war to Argentia, Newfoundland.  2030 Barrier line consists of ships of Task Group 22.3, 22.4 and 22.8 and Task Unit 22.7.1.  OTC is Commander  
     
  ENCLOSURE (A) to CTG 22.8  
  Conf. ltr CCD62/A16/(Eve)  
  Serial 04 dated 15 May 1945.  
     

 

     
     
 
25 April 1945  (Cont.)
  
     
  Task Group 22.3 in USS BOGUE.  USS BOGUE with four ships of Task Group 22.3 patrolling to south, USS CORE with four ships of Task Group 22.4 patrolling to north.  Order of ships in line from North to South as follows:  USS KIETH, USS OTTERSTETTER, USS POPE, USS FLAHERTY, USS CHATELAIN, USS NUENZER, USS PILLSBURY, USS HUBBARD, USS OTTER, USS HAYTER, USS JANSSEN, and USS SWENNING.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  ENCLOSURE (A) to CTG 22.8  
  Conf. ltr CCD62/A16/(Eve)  
  Serial 04 dated 15 May 1945.