U.S.S. JOYCE (DE-317)
 
Fleet Post Office
  
 
New York, New York
  
     
  DE-317(FMR)/A16-3                                                                                 16 April, 1944  
  Serial No. 035  
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
 
From: The Commanding Officer.
  The Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet.
   
Via: 1.  Commander Escort Division, TWENTY-TWO.
  2.  Commander Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.
  3.  Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.
   
Subject: Contact and Action Reports.
   
Reference: (a)  Article 712, U. S. Navy Regulations.
  (b)  Atlantic Fleet Confidential Letter, 13CL-43, (Revised).
   
Enclosure: (A)  Recorder Trace of Submarine.
  (B)  DRT Chart Track of Action.
  (C)  Pictures taken during action with submarine.
 
     
          1.        In compliance with references (a) and (b), you are advised that this ship located and depth charged an enemy submarine on 16 April, 1944.  Initial depth charge attack forced enemy submarine to surface where she was shelled by this ship, the USS PETERSON (DE-152) and the USS GANDY (DE-764).  The GANDY also rammed.  As a result of combined depth charges, shelling, ramming and scuttling charges fired by submarine, submarine was sunk in 53 fathoms in position 40°09'N.  69°44'W. at 1430 queen.  
     
          2.        At 1204, 16 April, received report that Merchant ship 21 in Convoy CU-21 had been torpedoed.  At this time convoy was in process of forming up.  The weather was overcast, visibility varied from one to two miles, with calm sea heavy swell and wind Northwest, force two (2).  JOYCE was patrolling off starboard rear flank of convoy about ten (10) miles from the van.  Convoy course 090°, speed 12 knots.  1205 - All hands were called to general quarters.  1231 - Headed west at full speed for straggler approximately five (5) miles astern of main body of ships.  1220 - Advised straggler of situation, directing him to proceed at utmost speed and took up station to screen.  1250 - Sighted torpedoed ship, PAN PENNSYLVANIA bearing about 080°T, ship dead on water heading 090°.  1300 - Left station on straggler and proceeded to assistance of PAN PENNSYLVANIA.  GANDY and PETERSON sighted in area searching for submarine.  1303 - JOYCE was close aboard port beam of PAN PENNSYLVANIA.  Noted unusually large hole, (about fifty (50) feet along at water line) in port side of PAN PENNSYLVANIA just forward of fire  
     
 
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  DE-317(FMR)/A16-3
  Serial No. 035  
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
  Subject:        Contact and Action Reports.  
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  room.  Crew of PAN PENNSYLVANIA had abandoned ship and were in rafts and life boats, in gasoline slick off starboard side.  1308 - Commenced picking up survivors from PAN PENNSYLVANIA.  1315 - Requested GANDY to provide close screen for operations.  PETERSON also engaged in picking up survivors.  1345 - All survivors had been removed from water.  Underway at 10 knots on course 290°.  1350 - Sonar gear picked up good sound contact at 1800 yards range, bearing 320°T.  Sound contact evaluated as submarine.  Headed for center bearing and commenced attack at fifteen (15) knot speed.  Cut-on's moved to left.  Headed for left cut-on and at about 700 yards applied five (5) degrees lead.  At about 250 yards range noted that left cut-on was dropping to the right due to too much lead, no doppler during run.  Turned right to correct.  Contact was held to a range of 120 yards.  1353 - Fired 13 charge shallow pattern.  Only eleven (11) charges dropped owing to failure of two Mark 9 charges to roll from stern racks.  After dropping charges, increased speed to full to get into position for another run.  1357 - JOYCE turning right with 10 degree rudder.  1400 - Submarine surfaced off JOYCE'S starboard quarter, distance approximately 2000 yards, with GANDY in beautiful position for taking submarine under fire.  GANDY immediately opened fire on the submarine hitting her repeatedly.  Submarine returned fire.  JOYCE headed for target withholding fire until GANDY cleared.  As GANDY passed submarine some of her shells hit PAN PENNSYLVANIA; gasoline from ruptured tanks then caught fire.  When range was clear JOYCE engaged submarine with forward 3" guns and 20 mm.  At the same time submarine was under cross fire from PETERSON and GANDY.  PETERSON and JOYCE on courses and speeds, which if continued would bring about foul range situation.  JOYCE ceased firing and altered course to right to clear range for PETERSON.  PETERSON was observed to close submarine, the JOYCE put submarine under fire from her after guns and commenced turn to left in order to open up with all guns.  1403 - Submarine was observed to fire a white flare.  Officers from submarine later denied that such a flare had been fired, however, JOYCE believed flare to be token of surrender, ceased fire and headed over towards submarine.  1405 - JOYCE close aboard submarine with crew of submarine on deck and conning tower with lifejackets on.  JOYCE ordered submarine to abandon ship.  Submarine apparently had difficulty in preserving equilibrium as forecastle was first well out of water, then awash and finally well out of water again.  At 1415 muffled explosion was heard in submarine,  
     
 
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  DE-317(FMR)/A16-3
  Serial No. 035  
     
  CONFIDENTIAL  
     
  Subject:        Contact and Action Reports.  
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  believed to have been from scuttling charges.  1420 - JOYCE was alongside submarine taking survivors aboard.  1430 - Submarine sank, stern first.  1450 - JOYCE had twelve (12) survivors on board including her Commanding Officer, Kapitan Leutnant Klaus Haenert.  While engaged in picking up survivors, JOYCE was covered by the PETERSON and GANDY.  Submarine believed to have been U-550 of improved 517 ton class.  Believe reason for submarine not being located sooner was due to fact that she was under torpedoes ship.  
     
          3.        Enclosures (A), (B), and (C) as required by reference (b) are self explanatory.  
     
     
                                                                                                 
                                                                                                 ROBERT WILCOX  
     
     
     
     
     
 
 

 

 

 

     
     
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  ComCortDiv 22                                    1st Endorsement  
  USS POOLE (DE-151)  
  30 April, 1944  
     
 
From: Commander Escort Division 22
To: Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet.
   
Via: 1.  Commander Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet
  2.  Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet
   
Subject: Anti-Submarine Action by Surface Ship.
 
     
          1.        Forwarded.  
     
          2.        Escort Division 22 of which the USS JOYCE (DE-317) is a regularly assigned unit, is for the period of this report Task Group 21.5.  The JOYCE at the time of the action was operating with the USS PETERSON (DE-152) and USS GANDY (DE-764), the three vessels being in the vicinity of the steamer PAN PENNSYLVANIA searching for the submarine which torpedoed that vessel and rescuing survivors.  Sound conditions at the time were very poor according to bathythermograph.  It is very evident that the JOYCE made a very accurate attack with depth charges, the one pattern completely disabling the submarine and forcing it to the surface.  This is supported by the story told by the survivors of the submarine after being rescued.  It is apparent that the three ships worked well together and the submarine, had she not been disabled, could not have escaped.  
     
          3.        Subject to the final assessment of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Assessment Board, it is recommended that the commanding officer of the JOYCE, Lieutenant Commander Robert Wilcox, USCG. be awarded such decoration as is proper and fitting.  
     
          4.        The Commander Escort Division 22 (Commander Task Group 21.5) considers that the performance of the commanding officers of the USS JOYCE (DE-317), USS GANDY (DE-764), and USS PETERSON (DE-152) highly satisfactory and commendable in all respects.  
     
                                                                                            
                                                                                              W. W. KENNER  
                                                                                              Captain, USCG  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 

 

     
     
 
UNITED STATES FLEET
 
DETROYERS, ATLANTIC FLEET
 
  Refer to  A16-3/FF13-6  
  Serial  01798  
                                                                                                                                            Care of Fleet Post Office  
                                                                                                                                            New York, N.Y.  
  CONFIDENTIAL  
                                                                                                                May 11, 1944  
  SECOND ENDORSEMENT to:  
  CO, USS JOYCE Conf. Ltr.  
  DE317(FMR)/A16-3 Ser. 035  
  of 16 April 1944.  
     
 
From: Commander Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.
To:   : Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet.
   
Subject: Contact and Action Reports.
   
Reference: (a)  SecNav P16, S03-7-37 of 7 March 1944 contained in Navy Dept. Bulletin of 15 March 1944.
 
     
          1.        Commander Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet is forwarding a copy of the Anti-submarine Warfare action report by surface ships to Atlantic Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Unit.  Enclosures (A) and (C) were not received by Commander Destroyers, U. S. Atlantic Fleet.  
     
          2.        Commander Escort Division TWENTY-TWO is directed to make appropriate recommendations to the Chief of Naval Operations, U. S. Atlantic Fleet in accordance with paragraph 9(d) of reference (c) concerning an award for the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. JOYCE (DE317).  
     
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                        T.  L.  LEWIS  
                                                                                                        Chief of Staff  
  cc:  LantFltASW Unit (with ASW Report)  
      CO, USS JOYCE (DE317)
        ComCortDiv 22  
        CinCLant (complete less enclosures)