UNITED STATES FLEET
 
 
HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF
 
 
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.
 
     
  FF1/A16-3(18)  
     
  Serial:  02387                                                                                                       19 July 1943.  
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
 
From: Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.
To: Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet.
   
Subject: VC-9 Anti-Submarine Action by Aircraft Report No. 19, dated 12 June, 1943, Analysis of.
   
Enclosure: (A)  Subject Analysis.
 
     
          1.        Enclosure (A( is forwarded herewith.  
     
     
                                                                                 F. S. LOW,  
                                                                         Assistant Chief of Staff.  
     
  Copy to  
      CinCPac            (2)  
      ASUB               (2)  
      ComAirLant      (2)  
      ComAirPac       (2)  
      Comdr. USS BOGUE        (2)  
      Assessment Committee       (7)  
      ComdVC-9                        (1)  
      Lant ASW Unit                   (1)  
      AirASDevLant                    (1)  
      FX-43                                (20)  
      FX-422                              (1)  
     
     
  G. L. RUESSEL,   
  Flag Secretary.  
     
     
     
 
 

 

 
 
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
 
ANALYSIS OF ANTI-SUBMARINE ACTION BY AIRCRAFT
 
                                                                                                                                        3446  
  Unit:  VC-9                                       Unit Report No. 19                          Incident No.  3534 to  
                                                                                                                                        3540 incl.  
                                                                                                                                        C-33  
     
  Base of Operations:  USS BOGUE  
     
  Squadron No. of Aircraft:  TBF's - 12, 9, 6, 7.  
                                           F4F's - 18, 15, 13, 17.  
     
 
Aircraft Commanders: TBF: Lt.(jg) R. L. Stearns, USNR
    Lt.(jg) W. S. Fowler, USNR
    Lt.(jg) H. E. Fryatt, USNR
    Lt.(jg) W. F. Chamberlain, USNR
     
  F4F: Lt.(jg) R. L. Johnson, USNR
    Lt.(jg) R. J. Tennant, USNR
    Lieut. R. S. Rogers, USN
    Lt.(jg) S. E. Heim, USNR
 
     
  Location of attack:  Latitude:    30-49 N  
                                Longitude:  33-49 W  
     
  Date:  June 12, 1943.                                   Time: 1145                                Zone:  Plus 2  
     
  Weather:  Clear, no clouds.  Visibility 15 miles.  Wind 8 knots from 430.  Sea smooth  
     
  Depth of Water:  About 2400 fathoms.  
     
  Mission:  First pair of planes - Anti-Submarine Patrol.  
                Subsequent planes - Attack Follow-up.  
     
  Approach and Contact:  First sighting was made while flying at 3000 feet altitude.  Submarine was fully surfaced and lying to at a range of one mile just abaft the plane's port beam.  Both planes launched an attack immediately, the fighter preceding the TBF in a strafing run.  Subsequent planes came directly to the scene and conducted coordinated attacks.  
     
  Attack:  The submarine started to submerge but, with its conning tower still above water, the first bombing attack was conducted from an altitude of 50 feet, airspeed 180 knots, target angle 2250.  About five minutes later, the second TBF delivered its bombing attack just as submarine was beginning to surface after having made two shallow dives.  During subsequent attacks the submarine remained on the surface steering radical zig-zag courses.  Other pertinent data is contained in the following table:  
     
 
- 1 -
 
     
 
 

 

 
 
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
 
Attack
Approx. time
Plane
Bombs
Spacing
Fuze Setting
No.
Mark
1
1145
12
4
17-2
salvo
25 foot
2
1150
9
4
17-2
75 ft.
do
3
1206
6
2
17-2
75.ft
do
4
1209
7
2
17-2
salvo
do
5
1210
7
(1
17-2)
salvo
do
(1
44)
 
     
  Reported Positions of Explosions:  
 
First Attack - Straddled submarine at coning tower, two together on each side about 25 feet apart.
Second Attack - One alongside starboard side of submarine just abaft its bow;  other three 50 foot apart along a line directly ahead of submarine.
Third Attack - Two explosions bracketed submarine just abaft the conning tower.
Fourth Attack - Two directly under conning tower.
Fifth Attack - Two directly under conning tower.
 
  The reported positions are substantiated by photographic evidence forwarded with the report.  
     
  Reported evidence of Damage:  
 
First Attack - The submarine continued to dive, but resurfaced almost at once at the perimeter of the explosion area, headed 900 to the right of its original course, and trailing oil.  About 75 yards further ahead, it made a shallow dive, returning to the surface in time to receive a second bombing attack.  Oil and air bubbles were in evidence.
Second Attack - No additional evidence of damage.
Third Attack - Submarine listed to starboard and started sinking slowly by the stern.
Fourth Attack - No additional evidence.
Fifth Attack - Violent explosion at submarine's center which threw large amounts of oil and debris 500 feet in the air.  When the spray died down, nothing but wreckage and survivors could be seen in
 
     
 
- 2 -
 
     
 
 

 

 
 
 
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
 
    the water.  Photographs forwarded with the report clearly show the oil trail, the explosion of the submarine, and the area in which the explosion had just taken place.  Many of the submarine's crew were killed in this engagement.  Some survivors were rescued by a surface vessel in the area.
 
     
  Subsequent Actions by Aircraft:  The first fighter to attack expended his ammunition in about 15 minutes and returned to the carrier.  The other planes were recalled to the carrier 5 minutes after the explosion of the submarine.  One plane dropped a rubber boat to the survivors in the water.  
     
  Analysis of Attack:  The reported positions of bomb explosions are well substantiated by photographic evidence forwarded with the report.  11 bombs exploded very close aboard the submarine, and many of them are believed to have been within lethal range.  The strafing attacks, conducted largely by the fighting planes, were so effective that although the action lasted for 25 minutes the submarine was unable to fire a shot until the very last attack was being delivered.  
     
  Comments:  The performance turned in by the personnel involved in this engagement was outstanding in that:  
          (a)  the coordination between planes on both bombing and strafing attack was excellent;  
          (b)  the bombing accuracy was well above average;  
          (c)  the strafing attacks were very effective;  
          (d)  an excellent photographic record of the engagement was obtained, and  
          (e)  the life of one of the enemy's largest submarines was abruptly terminated in a most unusual fashion.  
     
          The report of this engagement was complete and very well prepared.  The descriptive narrative and the excellent series of photographs included in the report provided a clear picture of the entire action and were of material assistance in making an analysis.  
     
     
     
     
                                                                                                                    Enclosure (A) to  
                                                                                                                   Cominch conf ser. ___
                                                                                                                    dated______, 1943.  
     
     
 
- 3 -