Enclosure (B) to                          
ComDesPac Conf. Serial. O1744
Dated             29 August 1944   

CONFIDENTIAL

Briefs of Narratives of Coordinated Anti-Submarine Action Including U.S.S. ENGLAND, U.S.S. GEORGE, U.S.S. RABY, U.S.S. SPANGLER and U.S.S. HAZELWOOD of 19 - 31 May 1944.


1.     First Anti-Submarine Action.

        (a) On 19 May 1944, GEORGE (ComCortDiv 39 O.T.C.), RABY and ENGLAND (ComCortDiv 4O) were conducting an anti-submarine search. Ships were formed on a scouting line, distance 4000 yards. At 1325 (Zone minus 11) ENGLAND made a doubtful sound contact which was investigated and evaluated as a submarine. GEORGE and RABY were directed to assist. ENGLAND made five hedgehog attacks at 1340, 1350, 1413, 1423, and 1433. On the second hedgehog attack, two explosions were obtained four seconds after the projectiles hit the water. On the third attack, air bubbles were observed to be rising. On the fifth attack, two or three hedgehog explosions were heard twelve seconds after striking the water and a fathometer reading of 54 fathoms was obtained. About two minutes later, a series of smaller muffled explosions were heard followed by a tremendous explosion of such intensity several men on the fantail were knocked off their feet. No water plume was observed to result from this explosion.

       (b) Twenty minutes later debris including bag of rice, numerous pieces of wood and cork and of powder tube began rising to the surface and about an hour later, oil was observed to be bubbling to the surface in large quantities.  After a local search for an hour, ENGLAND was directed to remain in the area while RABY and GEORGE conducted a retiring search until sunset. About 2000 all ships left the area but returned about dawn in accordance with a dispatch received during the night. The following morning oil was observed still rising at the scene of the last attack, The oil slick had spread over an area six miles long and from two to four miles wide.

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2.     Second Anti-Submarine Action.

        (a) At 0345 (Zone minus 11) 22 May 1944 while on a scouting
line, GEORGE made SL radar contact at 17,000 yards range. This was soon confirmed by ENGLAND.  A11 ships ceased echo ranging and GEORGE proceeded to develop the contact at flank speed while ENGLAND opened out to the northeast. The plot indicated the target was dead in the water.

        (b) At 0410 GEORGE turned to unmask gun batteries and illuminated the target momentarily with searchlight. GEORGE did not sight the target but ENGLAND had s glimpse of the submarine before it submerged.

        (c) Soon after GEORGE made sonar contact at 1700 yards and fired  a hedgehog pattern. The hedgehog battery was not ready and the pattern was fired from 7 to 8 seconds late. GEORGE then lost sonar contact and ENGLAND was direct to attack.

        (d) At OA25, using information obtained from CIC, ENGLAND made sonar contact at 2500 yards,  Two hedgehog attacks were made at 0433 and 0444. 18.2 seconds after firing the second patterns three or more hedgehog projectiles detonated,  These detonations were followed by several smaller detonations and 7 1/2 minutes later a violent underwater explosion occurred. Contact was regained and while closing for the attack at a range of 1100 yards, a tremendous underwater explosion occurred followed by deep rumbling sounds.  After the explosion, the recorder trace of the submarine continued for a few seconds and then seemed to spread out in range and bearing, Sonar contact was not regained.

        (e) 0535 the OTC ordered a special search with the ships in column
circling clockwise about 2000 yard from the last contact and echo ranging from ahead to 20° abaft the port-beam. Every few minutes one of the ships would peal off and explore the. attack area. This procedure was continued until 0630 during which time a strong odor of oil was detected. At daylight an oil slick about 100 to 300 yards wide-and extending  from 400 to 600 yards from the position of the last. attack was seen, GEORGE reported sighting a .piece of wood believed to be a section of deck' planking.

        (f) 0630 A retiring search was begun in accordance with FTP 219 and continued-until 1115 when the unit again passed through the area of the attack. Several patches of very thin light oil were seen in the area of the attack. Meanwhile the wind had shifted from ENE to SE and there had been frequent rain squalls. No samples of the oil or the reported piece of wood were recovered. A fresh oil slick in the vicinity of the attack with oil apparently bubbling up at the end of the slick was reported by a plane in the area. A piece of wood believed to be deck planking was sighted in the area of the attack.

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3.     Third Anti-Submarine Action.

        (a) On the night of 22 - 23 May 1944 ENGLAND, GEORGE and RABY were formed on a scouting line, distance 16,000 yard's, searching for a submarine reported to have crash-dived in thee area, . At 0600 (Zone minus 11) 23 May;1944 RABY made radar contact at a range of 11,000 yards, RABY was directed to attack with GEORGE and ENGLAND assisting. All ships were directed to cease echo ranging. The submarine, which had been lying to when contact was first made, increased speed 5 to 8 knots and when the range closed to 6000 yards dived.

        (b) A sonar search was begun and at 0614 RABY made sonar contact at a range of 1800 yards, RABY then conducted four hedgehog attacks with negative results. After RABY's last attack GEORGE made a hedgehog attack, after which contact was lost.

        (c) At 0704 GEORGE regained sonar contact about 4000 yards from the scene of the last attack. GEORGE then made four attacks without result.

        (d) ENGLAND was then directed to attack. GEORGE maintained contact until ENGLAND was able to obtain contact. ENGLAND made two hedgehog attacks at 0823 and 0834. On the second attack some 8 to 10 hedgehog hits were obtained 14.5 seconds after the charges struck the water. Three minutes later a violent underwater explosion occurred and ENGLAND, in accordance with previous instructions from ComCortDiv39, then dropped a 13 charge depth charge pattern set from 350-450 feet on the estimated position of the explosion. No further sonar contact was obtained. GEORGE and RABY then began a retiring search while ENGLAND continued to search in the area of the last attack.

        (e) At about 1045 ENGLAND observed oil rising in quantity and sighted debris on the surface. ENGLAND recovered debris which included 12 pieces of deck planking, some still containing bolts, cork stoppers, small pieces of wood with Japanese inscriptions, a bottle cork and a sample of oil.

        (f) Search was continued until dusk without further contact. at dusk the Task Group withdrew with the intention of returning later to conduct a radar search, should the submarine have survived.

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4.      Fourth Anti-Submarine Action.

        (a) At 0122 (Zone minus 11) 24 May 1944 while formed on a scouting line, order of ships port to starboard, ENGLAND, GEORGE and RABY distance 8 miles, GEORGE made radar contact at 17,000 yards. Ships were ordered to cease echo ranging and all ships closed at flank speed. The submarine which had been tracked lying to on initial contact then turned away and submerged when range decreased to 900 yards.

        (b) At 0150 ENGLAND obtained sonar contact as 1750 yards. Due to wake interference and apparently considerable evasive action on the part of the submarine, sufficient data was not obtained to conduct accurate attacks and no charges were fired on the first two runs. A fathometer reading of 20 fathoms was obtained on the second run. The submarine was reported echo ranging in the final phase of the runs. On the first hedgehog attack made at 0214, two or three hits were obtained at 7.2 seconds after projectile struck the water. A rumbling noise followed.

        (c) A doubtful contact was made at 0224 which was attacked with a hedgehog pattern without result. After this attack ENGLAND was left to conduct a search of the area.

        (d) At 0702 ENGLAND put a boat in the water and recovered several pieces of deck planking and observed several small patches of oil in the water. At 0815 the Group Commander ordered a three ship retiring search as he was not satisfied the submarine had been destroyed.

        (e) At 0946 ENGLAND made sonar contact in a position some 18 miles south of the last attack made in the morning. After one dummy run, a hedgehog pattern was fired without results. Contact was not lost and after making several runs on which insufficient information was obtained to conduct accurate attacks, another pattern was fired at 1108. While making dummy runs, ENGLAND obtained a fathometer reading of 35 fathoms at 1040.

        (f) At 1120, it was decided to make a creeping depth charge attack withy ENGLAND conning GEORGE. On the first attempt, the target turned and apparently proceeded directly toward ENGLAND and no charges were dropped. The "set-up" was reformed and the attack approach resumed. When the GORGE closed to about 400 yards, the sound of 'venting was heard and ENGLAND believing the target might attempt to counter with .torpedoes, went to full speed and turned clear of the area, GEORGE, who. was in a position to attack, increased speed to 15 knots and dropped a 32 charge  pattern. ENGLAND then circled and dropped a 13 charge pattern in the area of GEORGE's attack. Search was continued by three ships until dark without regaining contact.

        (g) On the afternoon of 25 May at 1330, oil and debris were noted in the water covering an area of several square miles. The position was some 32 miles northwest of the scene of the attack on the first submarine at 0214, 24 May (some 35 hours before).  it was considered that this debris and oil slick were associated with that attack. On the attack a wooden box had been dropped which was identified by the gunnery officer as being the same box sighted in the debris. During the35 hours, a current setting to the northwest and toward west northwest with a :drift of' .8 to 1.2 knots had been observed. Debris recovered included a small piece of blank paper, a bottle cork, several small pieces of insulating cork, numerous small pieces of deck planking, and a small piece of mahogany. RABY reported seeing. a pair of gloves in the water, but these were not recovered.

        Evaluation of Target.

        It is considered the first target attacked at 0224 was a submarine. However, from the extremely doubtful character of the recorder trace for the attacks on the following day, it is considered the target was probably non-submarine.

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5.      Fifth Anti-Submarine Action.

        (a) While proceeding in a scouting line, composed of GEORGE, RABY and ENGLAND distance 16000 yards, RABY, at 2304 (Zone minus 11 time), 26 May 1944, made radar contact at 15,000 yards. This contact was conf9irmed by ENGLAND. All ships ceased each ranging. Target was tracked on a course heading for the approaching DE's at a speed of eleven knots. 2312 ENGLAND altered course to obtain a position on the beam of submarine to illuminate or fire torpedoes. The submarine then submerged at a range of 4100 yards. A sonar search was begun at 2315 and three minutes later ENGLAND made a good sonar contact at the range of 1700 yards. 2323 hedgehog pattern was fired, which resulted in from four to six hedgehog detonations eleven seconds after charges struck the water. Several minor underwater explosions and rumbling noised resulted. Sonar contact was not regained. After a local search of about an hour RABY and GEORGE conducted a retiring search. ENGLAND was left in the are to continue searching locally. 0530 RABY and GEORGE reversed course rejoining ENGLAND in daylight, when debris covering a very large area was observed. Only a slight but definite oil slick was noted. Debris recovered was evidence of sinking, consisting of:

14 pieces of deck planking (1 marked with Japanese lettering).
  4 small pieces of dry white pine.
  2 bottle corks.
  1 piece of polished mahogany with a brass fixture attached.
      (This was believed to have been from a chronometer case).
   1 heavy wood block possibly from a gun foundation.
   Numerous small pieces of wood.
   Numerous pieces of pressed cork.

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6.      Sixth Anti Submarine Action.

        (a) O144 (Zone minus 11 time) 30 May 1944 HAZELWOOD made radar contact which was first believed to be a rain cloud. The contact was tracked and at a range of 7000 yards was evaluated as a surface target. At 4000 yards radar contact disappeared and HAZELWOOD began a sonar search. Sonar contact was made and two depth charge attacks followed at 0203 and 0226.

        (b) At about 0220 GEORGE and RABY operating in the general area under the command of ComCortDiv 39 proceeded to assist with the contact. As the DE's were closing HAZELW00D lost contact. 0405 RABY reported a momentary radar contact on a surface target astern of HAZELWOOD. 0430 another momentary radar contact was made which again did not develop into sonar contact. At this same time ComCortDiv 39 released HAZELWOOD to proceed on duty assigned. 0437 GEORGE proceeded to the point of last sonar contact and began a retiring search.

        (c) 0528 RABY gained sonar contact in a position seven miles to the south of GEORGE and attacked with hedgehog pattern. She then had recorder casualty and turned the contact over to GEORGE who attacked with two hedgehog patterns. Fathometer readings of 30 and 25 fathoms were obtained on these runs and water noises were heard.

        (d) 0630 GEORGE fired a third hedgehog pattern and obtained a fathometer reading of 26 fathoms on the run. Three hedgehog detonations occurred on this attack. Both ships then continued attacking with hedgehog patterns during which time fathometer readings were obtained and submarine was heard to be apparently blowing tanks. ComCortDiv 39 report stated RABY obtained a hedgehog hit at 0744. RABY's report stated these attacks were made "without obtaining hits (?)".

        (e) At 0835 a plane closed GEORGE and led her to an oil slick approximately 1/2 mile long and 1/4 of a mile wide in which bubbles and oil were reported rising. This slick was approximately four miles to the northeast of the position where GEORGE and RABY were attacking.

        (f) 0917 GEORGE who had rejoined RABY regained contact and dropped a 13 charge pattern. Contact was then lost and not regained until 1034 by GEORGE who was then investigating a reported periscope sighting. On developing the contact GEORGE had a steering casualty and turned the contact over to RABY who classified it as only possible and did not attack.

        (g) A large number of doubtful contacts followed which led ComCortDtv 39 to consider the possibility that the target was a reef. However, the plots on both ships indicated that the contact was maneuvering radically and it was then decided to hold contact until it maneuvered in a position free of wakes.

        (h) 1337 An approach was began in which the submarine did not appear to be turning away and which was in an area free of wake disturbances. 1346 GEORGE fired a hedgehog pattern which resulted in an undetermined number of hedgehog explosions.

         (i) Contact was maintained throughout the afternoon and at 1550 GEORGE stopped over the contact and obtained soundings of 35 to 41 fathoms by fathometer and 50 fathoms by hand line. Considerable water noises described as "bubbling and gurgling" were heard. Again considering the possibility that the contact might be a reef  it was decided to maintain contact until the submarine, if present would attempt to surface.

        (J) Prior to dark RABY was directed to maintain contact at a distance of about 1000 yards throughout the night. GEORGE then proceeded to investigate the slick previously reported. 1922 GEORGE now obtained a momentary radar contact five miles to the southwest. While searching in the vicinity of this contact seven or eight violent 'underwater explosions in groups of two and three were heard by both ships. At 1956 RABY had a steering casualty and lost sonar contact. GEORGE regained contact at 2038 and held it until 0302.

        (k) 0302 31 May, a large' submarine was sighted between the two DE's who were then about 4000 yards apart. Before the ships could clear the line of fire the submarine submerged. GEORGE made sonar contact at 2000 yards range but lost it before an attack could be made. RABY regained the contact and fired a hedgehog pattern at 0409 with negative results. A fathometer reading of 33 fathoms was obtained on this attack. GEORGE then regained and held contact until sunrise.

        (l) 0550 ENGLAND and SPANGLER joined and were ordered to stand by at about 5000 yards, 0649.'GEORGE attacked with a hedgehog pattern. 0659 RABY attacked. 0713 SPANGLER attacked, 0735 ENGLAND fired a hedgehog pattern which resulted in from six to ten .hedgehog detonations 9.2 seconds after the projectiles hit the water, Five minutes and 43 seconds later a tremendous underwater explosion occurred. About two hours later oil began to rise within 500 yards of the position of ENGLAND's attack.Soon after debris appeared. The following debris was reoovered:

Oil samples.
Several pieces of smoothly finished wood.
2 or 3 small pieces of wood painted red. (one covered with
    a substance that appeared to be candle tallow)
3 cork stoppers, one with a label bearing Japanese characters.
Several pieces of deck planking, 1 piece about 10 feet long
      marked with several Japanese characters.
6 pieces of painted soft wood.'
1 bar of soap.
Several pieces of cork.
1 Piece of split reed containing a powder.

There were several pieces deck planking that were not 
      recovered.
The area Was littered with granulated cork.

        (m) While RABY, SPANGLER and ENGLAND were conducting their attacks GEORGE proceeded to investigate a large oil slick reported to the northwest. This slick was between four and five miles northwest of the position where the attacks were occurring. This second slick was described as two miles long and 1/2 mile wide with oil still rising.

        (n). ComCortDiv 39 report States that both slicks were investigated at 1500 and it was noted each had "its own source of rising oil."

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