Monday news

By
Monday, June 07, 2004

*Parking gripes grow with beach
-Pensacola Beach News, 6-7-04

USS England page 4

Fifth attack.
Now the 25th. of May, Ruby had a radar contact at a range of 15,000 yards at 2312 (11.12 PM)this group seemed to like working at night, perhaps the Japanese submarines running on the surface at night kept a less vigilant watch, believing they would be safe. On the other hand, the American Navy had most efficient surface radar equipment, and to pick up the low silhouette of a surfaced submarine at 7.5 miles was quite and achievement.

Ruby had closed to 4,100 yards before this submarine dived. England's sonar picked up the target at 1,700 yards, and at 2323 ( 11.23 PM ) squired off her Hedge Hogg projectiles, to hear 4/6 explosions 11 seconds after firing them. No further sonar contact could be made, and in daylight, debris was recovered to confirm the death of the fifth Japanese boat.

Sixth attack.
No the 30th. of May, Hazelwood had picked up a radar contact at a range of 7,000 yards, at 4,000 yards it disappeared, probably an indication that this submarine had submerged. Two depth charges attacks were made on where it was believed the submarine had dived, but with any tangible result. At 0220 ( 2.20 AM ) George and Ruby were sent to assist in the hunt and Hazelwood was released.

At 0528 ( 5.28 AM ) Ruby attacked a sonar contact some 7 miles south of George and two Hedge Hog patterns were despatched. George fired a third HH pattern, and heard three explosions. At 0835 ( 8:35 AM ) and aircraft closed George to direct her to an oil slick some half a mile long by a quarter mile wide, it was about 4 miles north of the first position attacked with depth charges. At 1337 ( 1.37 PM ) George fired of  a HH pattern to hear an undetermined number of explosions. Contact was maintained with this submarine, and at 0150 ( 1.50 AM ) George obtained a depth reading of 35/41 fathoms, for this submarine.

This firm contact was tackled during the dark hours with a Hedge Hog run, and 7/8 violent explosions were registered. At 0302 ( 3.02 AM ) a large submarine was sighted between the two destroyer escorts who were 4,000 yards apart, it then dived, and George maintained sonar contact till sunrise.

At 0550 ( 5.50 AM ) England and Spangler joined the hunt, with England using her HH to attack almost an hour later, Ruby, Spangler, and England, all made separate attacks, but it was the attack by England that drew results, 9.2 seconds after her projectiles were sent off 6/10 explosions were heard. In a further 5 minutes 43 seconds, a huge under water explosion erupted. Debris, and an oil sample were picked up, including painted wood, and deck planking with Japanese writing on it.

Again we have positive evidence of the destruction of yet one more Japanese submarine, to bring the total to an amazing figure of six kills, all credited to one ship, USS England.

Depth Charge attacks versus attacks made with the Hedge Hog ahead throwing weapon.
Although both Depth Charges, and the Hedge Hog ahead throwing weapon were employed in  these  attacks against the six Japanese submarines, it was without exception, the Hedge Hog weapon that proved to be the killer. The basic reason for its development, was the fact that it allowed the attacking ship to remain in contact with its target right up to the time of firing off its 24 projectiles, and here we find that reason fully justified. England achieved kill after kill!

With a Depth Charge attack, when the hunter ran over the top of the hunted, the ASDIC equipment in its dome ( usually sited in the ship's keel, generally located below the level of the bridge ) lost contact with the enemy submarine. The attacker still had to steam the distance between the ASDIC dome, and the stern where the Depth Charges are housed, before these weapons could be fired. In that dead time, the submarine under attack, no longer pinned by the ASDIC beam, can, and usually does, takes violent avoiding action. Depth Charges detonate anyway, Hedge Hog only detonate on achieving a hit.

Depth Charges are fired preset to a particular depth, and, no matter where the quarry may be located, when reaching that set depth, they explode. On the other hand, with the Hedge Hog's 24 projectiles, they only explode on impact with their target. Thus, any explosion heard after firing a HH pattern will indicate a hit or hits upon the enemy
submarine.

The Hedge Hog was lethal in all six attacks, and six kills were all credited to USS England.

AN UNSURPASSED RECORD IN ANY OPERATIONAL AREA DURING WW2.