Date: 5.3.42
Time: 2125
Position: 69° 20’ N, 35° 30’ E.
Depth of Water: 90 fathoms
Weather:Wind WNW Force 8, Sea rough Weather
overcast with snow squalls Visibility up to half a mile.
NARRATIVE
NIGER and SPEEDWELL were searching for the
Russian destroyer GROZNI, which had run out of fuel, and after
searching in line abreast were steaming in line ahead to a new
position with NIGER leading. An RDF bearing was obtained at a
range of 4,500 yards and NIGER altered to the bearing. Eventually
the Russian destroyer GROZNI, was sighted ahead. At the same
moment however a U-boat was seen 100 yards ahead on the starboard
beam on the surface but trimmed well down. The U-boat was on an
opposite course. NIGER increased speed and altered course to ram.
The Asdic Operator reported hydrophone effect a few seconds before
this. By the time NIGER had altered course, the U-boat had
disappeared either having dived or been beyond the visibility
which was only two cables.
On losing sight of the U-boat NIGER decided to
drop a pattern of depth charges, but on looking astern it was seen
that SPEEDWELL was still following and it was, therefore
impossible to drop depth charges. A box search was carried out
around the position of the last sighting, and SPEEDWELL
co-operated but no contact was obtained which was not considered
surprising in the weather conditions prevailing. Depth charges set
to 300 feet were dropped at intervals. The search was abandoned
after three and a half hours as it seemed most likely that asdic
contact would be obtained, and NIGER considered it important to
continue her search in accordance with previous orders.
SURFACE EVIDENCE
U-boat was sighted passing at short range but
was not seen again.
ASDIC EVIDENCE
Asdic conditions were bad under the severe
quenching. Hydrophone effect was heard for a short time after the
U-boat was sighted.
CO's OPINION
It is not considered that this encounter comes
under the heading of an A/S attack since the weather spoiled any
chance of using the A/S effectively, and there were no indications
of the U-boat’s presence either before or after the few seconds
during which it was in sight.
SUBMARINE TRACKING ROOM'S OPINION
There is no tracking evidence of damage to this
U-boat.
DECISION OF U-BOAT COMMITTEE
No damage.
18th June 1942