CONFIDENTIAL                      Incident No. 6241
	ANALYSIS OF COORDINATED ANTISUBMARINE ACTION BY
	USS ENGLAND, USS GEORGE AND USS RABY
	Employment Submarine Hunt Time 2134 GCT 22 May 1944 Position 01-26N/149-20E Depth of water 2000 fathoms Weather conditions Clear; Visibility good; Sea calm; Wind SE, Force 1 Sonar conditions Good Contact first made by Radar Range 11,000 yards Number of attacks 11 HH
	1.  BRIEF OF NARRATIVE.
	(a)  On the night of 22-23 May 1944 ENGLAND, GEORGE and RABY were formed on a scouting line, distance 16,000 yards, searching for a submarine reported to have crash-dived in the area.  At 0600 (Zone minus 11) 23 May, 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 6 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 ComCortDiv 39, 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.
	- 1 -
	Enclosure (A) to
	CominCh conf ser __02636__
	dated __3 August 1944.__

 

	CONFIDENTIAL
	(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.
	2.  EVALUATION OF TARGET.
	(a)  Submarine.
	3.  EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE.
	(a)  Ten or more hedgehog explosions followed by a heavy underwater explosion was reported; an oil slick some two by four miles in diameter with oil rising was observed at 1242.  Wreckage recovered was deck planking, cork stopper, small piece of wood with Japanese inscriptions.
	4.  ANALYSIS OF ATTACKS.
	(a)  Although it does not appear any attempt was made to employ coordinated attacks, the reports indicate there was an excellent exchange of information between ships.
	RABY's Attacks
	The reports submitted by RABY do not contain sufficient information to make any analysis.  The Task Group Commander's report stated that during the attacks, the submarine maneuvered erratically, created wakes by "running away and fish-tailing" and attempted to escape in RABY's wake.  RABY further believed the submarine attempted to confuse the attack by echo ranging on the RABY.
	GEORGE's Attacks
	No DRT plot was received.  Recorder trace was completely faded.  ASW-1 form not correctly filled out.  No evaluation of the attacks is possible.
	ENGLAND's Attacks
	1st Attack
	Time 0823   Range at which contact was made 2500 yards   Range at which contact was lost 230 yards   H.E. None   Doppler None stated   Target movement Quarter target moving left   Number of charges Hedgehog
	On this attack the projector was fired with full left tilt and the target was reported moving to the left.  However, the data submitted on the ASW form indicates a stern attack with practically no target movement
	- 2 -
	Enclosure (A) to
	CominCh conf ser __02636__
	dated __3 August 1944.__

 

	CONFIDENTIAL
	to left or right.  Range increasing from 5 to 8 knots in the final phase of the attack suggests the submarine attempted to evade by slowing radically.
	2nd Attack
	Time 0834   Range at which contact was made 430 yards   Range at which contact was lost 250 yards   H.E. None   Doppler Slight high to none   Target movement Closing to none   Number of charges Hedgehog
	This appears to be a well conducted attack which resulted in hedgehog explosions 14-1/2 seconds after the projectiles struck the water.  The recorder trace indicates the submarine echo began to widen soon after the explosion occurred there were several water disturbances in the area.  While the disturbed area may have resulted from the explosion of the hedgehogs, the general character of the trace suggests the submarine might well have been severely damaged as a result of the hedgehog explosions.
	- 3 -
	Enclosure (A) to
	CominCh conf ser __02636__
	dated __3 August 1944.__