HMS Sharpshooter attack on U boat 13.9.42

Source: ADM 199/1783 Proceedings of U-boat assessment committee. U-boat attack by Sharpshooter

SHARPSHOOTER was in position ‘W’ astern of Convoy PQ18, when at 1131, a firm contact, bearing 110° at a range of 2,100 yards was obtained. The ship turned towards and increased speed to attack, using a 5° throw off. The first pattern was dropped at 1135 ½ . Three further attacks were carried out and the details of all these attacks are as follows:

No. of attack	1^st	2^nd	3^rd	4th
Time	1135 ½	1140 ½	1203 ½	1216
Inclination	Opening	None	Opening	Opening
H E	None	None	Yes and whistle effect	Yes
Did target appear to move	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Range at which contact was lost	Instant echoes	Instant echoes	Instant echoes	Instant echoes
Time to fire obtained by	Recorder	Recorder	Recorder	Recorder
No. of D/C’s	5	4	4	4
Depth settings	150, 250, 350 & 500 feet	250 & 350 feet	250, 350 & 500 feet	150, 250 and 350 feet
Remarks	Conning tower partially surfaced		Conning tower shown	Air bubbles

After the first attack the U-boat’s conning tower partially broke surface, and a portion of the U-boat is reported to have surfaced again at 1204 i.e. just after the third attack. SHARPSHOOTER states that after this attack she became directing vessel to enable TARTAR to attack but that the latter lost contact during the run in and broke off the attack. TARTAR did however carry out two attacks on contacts which could not definitely be classified as ‘submarine’. It is not clear however whether TARTAR was attacking the same contact as the one attacked by SHARPSHOOTER. The attack by TARTAR are the subject of a separate report.

Air bubbles were seen after the fourth attack and contact was lost shortly after. The hunt was then broken off and the ships returned to their stations on the screen. SHARPSHOOTER states that full patterns were not fired owing to a failure of the firing gear.

As stated in the narrative. The conning tower of the U-boat was seen on two occasions, the first being shortly after the first attack and the second shortly after the third attack. It is noted, however, that TARTAR, who was assisting in this hunt, presumably did not see the conning tower on either occasion as she makes no mention of it in her report. Air bubbles were also seen shortly before contact was finally lost. It is noted that depth settings were between 150 and 500 feet. It would appear, however, that the U-boat was shallow, a position which is borne out by the fact that in each attack contact was held on instant echoes.

Asdic conditions were described as good. The recorder trace has evidently faded considerably but the echo marks are clearly visible for most of the time. They have the appearance of being a ‘submarine’ contact though in one or two places they are rather ragged indicating possibly that contact was being held either on or through the wake.

A most promising attack. The U-boat appeared to be blowing tanks after the fourth attack.

Analysis of tracking evidence of U-boat operations against PQ18 tends to suggest that three U-boats of the total operating may never have returned to base.