Source: ADM 199/1783 Proceedings of U-boat assessment committee.  Attacks on U-boat by Bramble and Seagull 

Précis of Attacks by Bramble and Seagull 

Date: 8.7.42
Time: 1620

Position: 67° 26’N, 41°23’ E
Depth of Water: 23 fathoms

Weather conditions: Wind – light, variable, Force 1. Sea – calm. Visibility – 1 to 1 ½ miles closing down later to 2 cables.

NARRATIVE 

HM Ships BRAMBLE  and SEAGULL were carrying out an A/S sweep off the entrance to Archangel. The ships were in line abreast one mile apart steering 170° at 5 knots. At 1620, SEAGULL on the port beam of BRAMBLE, obtained a contact at a range of 1,500 yards on the port bow. The echo had a closing inclination and the bearing was reported to be drawing left and the contact was classified as ‘submarine’. A series of attacks were then carried out by both ships. Details are as follows:

Varying visibility sometimes down to two cables hampered the movements of ships when hunting and attacking. The necessity for conserving depth charges particularly as there were no reserve stocks in North Russia at that time, was the reason for the small pattern that were used. Although no track chart has been forwarded it is fairly clear that all these attacks were made on the same contact as there appeared to be no difficulty in holding the target, both ships being more or less continuously in contact. BRAMBLE was required for other duties and left the area after the seventh attack, seagull remaining in the vicinity. 

A Dan buoy was laid in the position of the contact at 2135 by SEAGULL. Thereafter SEAGULL remained in contact without attacking during the night. Nothing was heard until 0200 when, at a range of 600 yards, strong hydrophone effect, tapping noises and whistle effect were heard. At this time the range started to open and the target was again attacked as described above, the contact being held until 0835/10, with no further movement or sound. At 0417/14, on returning to the position, SEAGULL found the contact in the same place still stationary and quiet.

SURFACE EVIDENCE

Oil and bubbles were seen coming to the surface in a steady stream, but there is no record of a sample having been obtained or analysed nor is the probable type of the oil mentioned in the reports of either ship.

Four loud underwater explosions were also reported by SEAGULL at 1810 and two by BRAMBLE at 1847. It is possible, however, that these were delayed depth charge explosions in view of the fact that the depth of water is only 23 fathoms, and BRAMBLE had been dropping depth charges set to 250 feet and SEAGULL set to 150 feet.

It has been reported that a Russian minesweeping trawler met with an obstruction in 67° 27’ N, 41° 20’ E whilst sweeping on the 9^th July.

ASDIC EVIDENCE

Details of the contact held have been described above. Recorder traces obtained during the period of this attack have faded but a trace obtained of the contact on the 10^th July has been forwarded by SEAGULL. This is clearly marked and has the general appearance of a submarine contact. If, in fact, as stated in SEAGULL’s report, the target started to move at 0200/9 to the tune of various noises, having remained stationary since the previous attack at 2017/8, the possibility of this contact being a wreck would appear to be ruled out. 

C.O.’S OPINION 

SEAGULL: Considered that the U-boat was sunk. 

BRAMBLE: It appears that the U-boat must have been so badly damaged in one of the earlier attacks that she was not able either to surface or move away from her position. The U-boat made little or no movement after the earlier attacks which evidently crippled her. 

S.O. 1^st Minesweeping Flotilla’s Opinion

The C in C, White Sea Forces informed me that the Russians still intended to carry out diving operations but that an opportunity had not yet occurred. The Russians, however, must have carried out some form of investigation as he also informed me that one end of the considered U-boat was lying 40 feet from the bottom and he had no evidence of any wreck in that vicinity.

With reference to RAD’s minute, all explosions from BRAMBLE and SEAGULL of depth charges dropped were accounted for, and the explosions referred to were from a different source. 

SUBMARINE TRACKING ROOM’S OPINION

There is no tracking evidence of the presence of a U-boat.