U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM (AVD9) |
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c/o Fleet Post Office |
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New York, N.Y. |
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| Refer To: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DD255/A16-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Serial 008 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 December 1943. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1. In accordance with reference (a) the advance copy of the Action Report covering action by this ship against an enemy submarine on 13 December 1943 is forwarded herewith. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| R. F. Miller. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM (AVD9) |
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c/o Fleet Post Office |
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New York, N.Y. |
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| Refer To: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DD255/A16-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serial 008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 December 1943. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1. On December 13, 1943 the U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM was steaming in company with U.S.S. CLEMSON as escort to U.S.S. BOGUE as part of Task Group 21.13 on anti-submarine sweep in accordance with The Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet dispatch 062209 of November 1943. U.S.S. GEORGE E. BADGER and U.S.S. DUPONT, the balance of Task Group 21.13, were conducting a holding down screen and making numerous attacks on a submarine in a nearby area. Weather conditions were blue sky with detached alto cumulus clouds sea condition 2 from 0900, wind 12 knots from 1150, estimated sound range 112500 yards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. At 0910 (all times Greenwich Civil Time) a plane from the U.S.S. BOGUE reported renewed oil spots on the surface in the vicinity recently left by the U.S.S. GEORGE E. BADGER and U.S.S. DUPONT. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. At 0915, upon rejoining of the U.S.S. GEORGE E. BADGER and U.S.S. DUPONT, the U.S.S. CLEMSON and U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM were ordered by the U.S.S. Bogue to proceed to area of oil slick bearing 2800 true, distance 15 miles. Set course at 2800 true and increased speed to 24 knots. 0949 Arrived in area of oil slick; changed speed to 15 knots and commenced retiring search with U.S.S. CLEMSON paralleling our course at approximately 1000 yards, axis of search 1400 true which was the estimated course of submarine by plane. 1025 Plane reported submarine’s course approximately 1800 true. Altered axis of search to conform. Both escorts continued to alter course as advised by plane. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. At 1102 U.S.S. CLEMSON made sound contact and attacked with depth charges at 1108. U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM followed through and made contact at 1100 yards and passed over submarine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM (AVD9) |
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c/o Fleet Post Office |
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New York, N.Y. |
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| Refer To: | ||
| DD255/A16-3 | ||
| Serial 008 | ||
| 20 December 1943. | ||
| Subject: Report of Action of 13 December 1943. | ||
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| obtaining a fathometer reading of 80 fathoms. Attack was not made due to water disturbances from previous attack. U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM regained contact at 1116 and prepared to attack when Q.C. training gear went out of commission. Withdrew from scene to make repairs as U.S.S. GEORGE E BADGER picked up contact and took station to coach U.S.S. CLEMSON into position, the U.S.S. GEORGE E BADGER having expended all of her depth charges previously. 1135 U.S.S. CLEMSON attacked. 1147 U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM sound gear back in commission; rejoined. 1151 U.S.S. CLEMSON attacked again. Fathometer reading of 25 fathoms. At 1158 U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM regained contact and attacked at 1102 with shallow pattern of nine depth charges. Upon completion of this attack this ship came about to course 0760 true, speed 15 knots to follow U.S.S. CLEMSON’S next attack. 1213 U.S.S. CLEMSON attacked again. 1216 Submarine surfaced bearing 0000 true, distance 3000 yards. | ||
| 5. Gun one and gun two commenced firing immediately. Speed increased to full and course changed to close the submarine. Submarine had considerable headway and continued to increase speed. Believe at the end it was making about 8 knots. As submarine definitely had fight in her, decision was made to close as quickly as possible and ram if necessary. As soon as within range and bearing clear, 20MM guns opened fire. Gun two had to cease firing as ship assumed collision course. Gun one maintained continuous fire. | ||
| 6. As the submarine crossed the bow from port to starboard, rudder was given to maintain collision course at which point the submarine turned hard right and came bow on. Left rudder was given and for a while both ships turned inside and its stern must have cleared the bow by a matter of inches. At the time of crossing, the rudder was hard left, both engines ahead full. Ramming could possibly have been accomplished by use of the engines at the last moment, but it was felt at that moment ramming would not be necessary. | ||
| 7. The rudder was immediately eased to permit gun two to bear and four rounds with four hits were made before the submarine sank at 1221 in latitude 26019’W, longitude 29058’W. At 1224, 1229, and 1234 underwater explosions were heard. | ||
| 8. Throughout this action gun one maintained a constant fire. The first few rounds were over, but once the range was obtained there were few if any missed. | ||
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U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM (AVD9) |
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c/o Fleet Post Office |
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New York, N.Y. |
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| Refer To: | ||
| DD255/A16-3 | ||
| Serial 008 | ||
| 20 December 1943. | ||
| Subject: Report of Action of 13 December 1943. | ||
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| The first hit struck the forward part of the conning tower starting a fire and causing considerable damage. Another hit removed the forward gun as it was about to be manned. Later, after the submarine crossed the bow, a hit completely wiped out the top of the conning tower. Numerous hits on the hull were noted. Ammunition expended 23 rounds 3”/50 A.P.; 9 rounds 3”/50 AA; 1 round 3”/50 illuminating. | ||
| 9. Gun two and the twenty millimeter groups were unable to bear most of the time but advantage was taken of every opportunity. Ammunition expended: 11 rounds 3”/50 A.P.; 330 rounds twenty millimeter. | ||
| 10. Two Lewis .30 caliber machine guns mounted on boat mounts located on the fire control platform were used effectively. Ammunition expended: 176 rounds. | ||
| 11. As the submarine turned inside of us and crossed the bow, a gun on the conning tower commenced firing and strafed the quarterdeck causing the following casualties before it was put out of commission: | ||
| DEAD: | ||
| CROWELL, Rex Dolos, 621 89 21, F1c, V-6, USNR | ||
| Diagnosis: Wound Gunshot lung, left lower lobe. | ||
| THE WOUNDED: | ||
| PENOYER, Charles Clinton, 620 27 30, MM2c, V-6, USNR | ||
| Diagnosis: Wound, Lacerated scalp. | ||
| BRODY, Paul (n), 298 91 54, CMM, V-6, USNR | ||
| Diagnosis: Wound Shrapnel, chest. | ||
| ROCKWELL, Harry William, 602 23 21, F1c, V-6 | ||
| Diagnosis: Wounds, multiple shrapnel. | ||
| MURNAN, Paul Andrew, 710 91 56, F3c, V-6, USNR | ||
| Diagnosis: Wounds multiple shrapnel. | ||
| WARD, Thomas William, 68 88 07, SF2c, V-6, USNR | ||
| Diagnosis: Wounds multiple shrapnel. | ||
| SAYERS, Lee Monger, 725 30 80, MM2c, V-6, USNR | ||
| Diagnosis: Wound, shrapnel, left ankle. | ||
| OWEN, Chester Lee, 630 06 01, F1c, V-6, USN | ||
| Diagnosis: Wound shrapnel, right thumb. | ||
| CRAIG, Robert Wilder, 658 91 71, S1c, V-6, USN | ||
| Diagnosis: Perforation, Traumatic ear drum bilateral with hemmorrage. | ||
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U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM (AVD9) |
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c/o Fleet Post Office |
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New York, N.Y. |
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| Refer To: | ||||
| DD255/A16-3 | ||||
| Serial 008 | ||||
| 20 December 1943. | ||||
| Subject: Report of Action of 13 December 1943. | ||||
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| All of the above men were members of the repair party and were at their battle stations. At the first sign of gunfire all fell flat on deck with the exception of CROWELL who was hit before he knew what was happening. | ||||
| 12. Throughout the time the submarine was surfaced the planes from the U.S.S. BOGUE maintained a merciless strafing attack. The relentless aggressiveness displayed by the pilots in spite of the fire from the submarine and the fire and ricochet from our own guns was outstanding. | ||||
| 13. The volume of fire from this ship and from the planes of the U.S.S. BOGUE made the topside of the submarine untenable. | ||||
| 14. After the submarine was abandoned and sank, this ship came about in a circle and picked up the following prisoners of war: | ||||
Hermann Hoffman, Ober Lieutenant |
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| Max Coreth, Ober Lieutenant | ||||
| Herbert Plottke, Boatswain Mate, UO 3545/38S | ||||
| Arno Margraf, Machinist, Chief Petty Officer, UN 3158/37T | ||||
| Hans Bierwolf, Machinist, UO13092/41T | ||||
| Joseph Wieser, Seaman, UN 12097/40S | ||||
| Herman Sagel, Seaman, UN 1555/41S | ||||
| Bernard Kruger, Seaman, UO 4319/41S | ||||
| 15. It is believed by this officer that the reason for the large number of survivors is due to the fact that the majority were forced to remain below decks due to the volume of fire and did not abandon ship until after the submarine sank. This seems to be borne out partially from information from a survivor and from the fact that this ship picked up only eight men who were grouped together and came from the conning tower. The men picked up by the other ships seemed to appear later and away from the first group. | ||||
| 16. After rescuing the one group, this ship assumed a protective patrol while the U.S.S. CLEMSON and U.S.S. GEORGE E. BADGER rescued 15 and 23 survivors respectively for a total of 46 prisoners of war. | ||||
| 17. The prisoners of war had the following casualties: | ||||
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U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM (AVD9) |
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c/o Fleet Post Office |
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New York, N.Y. |
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| Refer To: | ||||
| DD255/A16-3 | ||||
| Serial 008 | ||||
| 20 December 1943. | ||||
| Subject: Report of Action of 13 December 1943. | ||||
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| All of the prisoners of war had oil in their eyes and had swallowed a considerable amount of it. | ||||
| 18. The trainer on gun one, Robert Miller CRAIG, 658 01 71, S1c, V-6, U.S.N.R. was later found to be suffering from perforation of both ear drums due to the firing. | ||||
| 19. The following items are mentioned as being of particular interest: | ||||
| (a) Commander Escort Division ONE in the U.S.S. GEORGE E. BADGER assumed a position wherein he could maintain constant contact with the submarine and still not be in the way of the ships making the attack. As can be understood this was of immeasurable advantage in regaining contact and was undoubtedly a factor in increasing the severity of the attack. | ||||
| (b) Several hit on the submarine were made with ammunition set on safe and the effectiveness of it as an anti-personnel measure was definitely noted. | ||||
| (c) Bow on has always been the weakest defensive position for this class of ship. The mounting of the .30 caliber Lewis guns on the fire control platform is a small but effective effort to remedy the situation. | ||||
| 20. In accordance with United States Naval Regulations, Article 912, the required letter from the executive officer is enclosed. | ||||
| 21. The commanding officer is very proud of the actions of each and every individual and concurs with the statements of the executive officer. | ||||
22. The prisoners of war have been handled in accordance with Vice Chief of Naval Operations confidential serial 01227316 of 19 May 1942, with the exception of the separation of the officers and men. The meager facilities of a destroyer of this type would not permit it. Weather conditions were such after the action as to make the transfer to another ship impractical. No formal interrogation was made, however from the survivors effects and conversation at time of rescue the following information is presented: |
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| (a) Invoices were found dated 10 September, 11 September, 27 | ||||
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U.S.S. OSMOND INGRAM (AVD9) |
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c/o Fleet Post Office |
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New York, N.Y. |
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| Refer To: | ||
| DD255/A16-3 | ||
| Serial 008 | ||
| 20 December 1943. | ||
| Subject: Report of Action of 13 December 1943. | ||
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| October and 1 November 1943 from Lorient, France. All were receipted for 11 November 1943. This would indicate that submarine was the U-172. | ||
| (b) A list of ships sunk was found indicating that on four cruises from 17 May 1942 to 7 December 1943 a total of 28 ships or 173,000 British tons were accounted for. This was confirmed by conversation and it was also mentioned that none had been sunk this cruise. | ||
| (c) The commanding officer of the submarine is regular navy, has served on other than submarines and is the holder of the Iron Cross First Class. | ||
| A letter of report and transmittal will be prepared to the Office of Naval Intelligence covering the above. | ||
| R. F. Miller. | ||
| Copy direct to: Cominch | ||
| Copy direct to: Atlantic Fleet Anti-submarine Warfare Unit, 150 Causway Street, Boston Massachusetts. | ||
| Copy direct to: Deslant | ||
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