UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
 
 
TASK GROUP SIXTY POINT SEVEN
 
 
U.S.S. ERICSSON (DD440), Flagship
 
  CTG 60.7/A16-3                                                                                    Care of Fleet Post Office  
  Serial:  028                                                                                              New York, New York     
                                                                                                                 10 May 1945  
  C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L  
     
 
From: Commander Task Group SIXTY POINT SEVEN (CCD15).
To    : Commander in Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.
   
Subject: Narrative of Search, Attack and Sinking of German Submarine at 090T, 14500 yards from Sandy Point, conducted by vessels attached to Task Group SIXTY POINT SEVEN, 5-6 May 1945.
   
Reference: (a)  CominCh Serial 7152 of 29 October 1943.
   
Enclosure: (A)  Narrative of Anti-Submarine Action of Task Group 60.7.
  (B)  Track Charts, ERICSSON, ATHERTON and MOBERLY.
  (C)  Photographs, numbers 02205, 02168, 02170, 02173, 02174, 02175, Photographs marked "A", "B", and "C".
 
     
          1.        Enclosures (A), (B), and (C) are forwarded herewith in accordance with reference (a).  
     
          2.        It was hoped that the track charts could be married together into one complete chart, however, for clarity this was not done.  
     
          3.        While the ATHERTON made the initial contact and first drop, it is felt that the MOBERLY and ERICSSON very definitely were deciding factors in the actual sinking.  The AMICK although on the scene but for a short period contributed to the success of the mission by being there in the early vital stages of the hunt.  This undoubtedly lead the German Captain to a decision, namely trying to hide on the bottom rather than head for open sea.  
     
          4.        Commander Task Group 60.7 exercised overall tactical command at all times, however, the commanding officer of the MOBERLY assisted greatly in organizing the first search plan.  
     
          5.        The items shown in the photographs in Enclosure (C) were all boxed, and shipped to the Chief of Naval OPerations (Division of Naval Intelligence) by registered express.  
     
     
                                                                                    F. C. B. McCUNE.  
     
  Copy to:  ComDesLant  
  Advance copies:  Cominch  
                             ASW Unit, Fleet OPerational Training Command,  
                             LantFlt, NOB, Norfolk  
     
     

 

     

   
 
NARRATIVE
  
     
          Upon detaching at Point "Zebra" New York section of Convoy GUS-84, Task Group 60.7, less the USS BOOTH at 051127Q departed for Boston via Cape Cod Canal.  The BOOTH and been assigned to escort the SS BANFF PARK to Cape Cod Canal for onward routing instructions.  Enroute USS AMICK, USS ATHERTON and USS MOBERLY conducted full power runs and the USS ERICSSON a special high speed test run, the latter in order to test a new spring bearing.  Voice radio communications, however, were maintained between the ships at all times, though the ERICSSON which has greater speed stood ahead and in the group following the ERICSSON, the commanding officer of the MOBERLY was senior.  At 1840 upon arrival at the Cape Cod Canal, a visual message was received ordering the Task Group to proceed to the scene off Point Judith where a ship was torpedoed, and these orders were confirmed about an hour later by a dispatch from Commander Eastern Sea Frontier designating CTG 60.7 as OTC.  The canal pilot was hurriedly disembarked and the ERICSSON stood to the scene at highest possible speed.  Since the three other escorts were in the Narragansett swept channel, and therefore closer to the area of the torpedoing, they were ordered to proceed to the scene, and immediately commenced a search with the commanding officer of the MOBERLY as senior officer, acting under the direction of the Task Group Commander.  
     
          At about 1920Q the group of three arrived in the area of the torpedoing and commenced their searches.  It was decided that an independent search should be conducted for a short period until tactics were devised as to further action.  It was then decided that a scouting line should be formed heading South from Point Judith for ten miles and return.  Rather then have the ERICSSON join this scouting line, the Task Group Commander ordered her to continue her search, standing on the the Eastward to place a barrier line from Block Island to Buoy "Item".  
     
          At 2018Q the ATHERTON made contact on what was believed to be definitely a submarine.  Doppler and hydrophone effects were indicated and the ATHERTON immediately commenced attacking.  In her first attack the ATHERTON dropped a full shallow pattern of magnetic depth charges of which one exploded and subsequently attacked with three full hedgehog patterns.  There were explosions in each attack and one of the explosions was so great that it was thought possible it might be a counter mining of previous magnetic depth charges.  The ATHERTON was authorized to turn on her searchlights for a short period for the purpose of investigating results of her attacks and noted oil geysers, air bubbles and considerable debris, but since it was believed that the target could have been an old wreck, and also that submarine might surface close at hand, searchlights were used very briefly.  It was further believed that if the target were a submarine, that it was positively sufficiently damaged so that it would not be able to move.  Hence, the Task Group Commander decided to continue searching the entire area for other contacts until daylight, at which time he would investigate more thoroughly the results of the ATHERTON's attacks.  The spot where the ATHERTON attacked was adequately marked so that it could easily be found at daylight.  At 2035Q the AMICK was ordered to join the BOOTH in escorting the SS BANFF PARK, in compliance with dispatch orders received from Commander Eastern Sea Frontier.  During the night USS NEWPORT, USS RESTLESS, USS ACTION, USS SEMMES, USS BARNEY, USS BRECKENRIDGE and USS BLAKELY joined in the search under the command of CTG 60.7, and were  
     
  Enclosure (A)  
     
     

 

     

   
  assigned the area North of the swept channel, each ship being assigned for patrol purposes areas roughly ten miles East and West, five miles North and South as indicated on ERICSSON's track chart.  
     
          Radar tracking during the night was very difficult due to the fact that many buoys, small fishing craft, and other small craft were in the area, and had to be diverted.  
     
          At daylight the ERICSSON, ATHERTON and MOBERLY returned to the vicinity of the ATHERTON's attacks and debris such as the following was found:  German officer's cap, believed to be that of the commanding officer of the submarine; southwester; several emergency abandon ship kits containing canteens, rations, and inflatable rubber life rafts; considerable air bubbles; oil slicks extending for a distance of over a mile; considerable other debris much of which had German markings; a jackstaff; chart table top; planking; considerable other miscellaneous debris.  It was decided to conduct further attacks using the three ships in sequence to conserve individual depth charges and to make use of both the MK 8 and Mk 9 charges.  At about daylight three blimps arrived on the scene and were requested by voice radio to identify oil slicks, to further mark the already buoyed location of the submarine and to photograph the area.  
     
          The Task Group Commander decided that the pressure hull of the submarine had not yet been cracked open and ordered a series of hedgehog attacks which were secondarily conned by the blimp, although perfect sonar contact was held at all times.  After the blimps assisted in photographing the area and pin-pointing the submarine's location, the Task Group Commander gave permission to the blimps to conduct attacks using their equipment, during which attacks the surface craft stood well clear of the area.  
     
          At about 1100Q the USS SEMMES arrived in the immediate vicinity and requested permission to conduct an attack in order to try out her new type of locating gear and the Task Group Commander granted permission.  
     
          By this time it was believed certain that there were no more unexploded depth charges or hedgehogs on the bottom to endanger divers who were requested by the Task Group Commander.  After each attack after daylight the blimps reported that more oil, air bubbles and debris rose to the surface.  
     
     
                                                                                                F. C. B. McCUNE  
     
  Enclosure (A)