Halcyon Class Minesweepers HMS Speedy
Attack on U-Boat 14.6.42
 
  Back   

 

  

Source: ADM 199/1783 Proceedings of U-boat assessment committee. Attacks on U-boats

 Précis of attacks by HMS SPEEDY 

Date:       14th June 1942
Time:       2022
Position:   37° 00’ N, 9°54’ E. 

Depth of water:         100 fathoms

Weather conditions:     Wind light airs, weather VG, sea nil, visibility 10-15 miles. 

NARRATIVE:

At 2020 SPEEDY was screening convoy Harpoon in a position 2½ miles 20° abaft Malaya’s starboard beam. High level and torpedo bombing attacks were in progress at the time and a zig-zag at full speed was being carried out. A destroyer, believed to be HMS Marne was seen dropping depth charges and, on investigating the area, a contact was picked up at a range of 1,600 yards which was classified as ‘submarine’. SPEEDY altered towards and carried out a counter-attack. The target was moving rapidly left and, at a range of 600 yards, a further alteration of course was carried out. Thereafter the contact was closed on a steady bearing. A five charge pattern, set to 150, 250 and 350 feet was fired by recorder at 2022. Two heavy explosions were heard about five seconds after the explosions caused by the depth charges. Shortly after large air bubbles were seen and the u-boat then broke surface. It was seen to be lying on its side with a list of at least 80°, probably more than 90°. The colour appeared to be dark green. It remained on the surface for about five seconds after which it sank and further large air bubbles were seen to come to the surface just to the right of the position in which the U-boat sank. Slight traces of oil were also seen. Contact was regained and held until the range was 600 yards when it was lost in the wake. A second attack was not carried out because (a) it was considered that the U-boat had been sunk, and (b) ordered had been received that escorts were to rejoin the screen as soon as possible after a counter attack. 

High level and torpedo bombing attacks throughout and SPEEDY’s armament was in action during this attack.   

SURFACE EVIDENCE

A U-boat was seen on the surface shortly after the attack, and was variously described as follows: 

1) By the 1st Lieutenant, (a Submarine Officer) was an object 35 to 40 feet long and 4 to 5 feet high in the centre, which was definitely the saddle tank of a submarine. 

2) By a Sub Lieutenant (A) RCNVR taking passage, as a grey elliptical shape about 30 feet long which surfaced with considerable turbulence and sank again within five seconds, leaving a stream of large air bubbles. 

3) By another Sub Lieutenant (A) RNVR taking passage, as the oval shape of a submarine’s saddle tank. 

No survivors, or wreckage of any description, was seen. 

ASDIC EVIDENCE

Asdic conditions were described as being very good. The echo was moving rapidly left throughout the approach and some Doppler was noticed. A recorder trace has been forwarded and shows a rather broad trace in “Scale 10”. Some, at least, of the echoes appear to have been on the wake.
 

C.O.’s OPINION

In the opinion of the Commanding Officer and other officers on board it is considered that this U-boat was definitely sunk. 

V.A. MALTA’s OPINION

As no bridge log was kept the attack cannot be analysed due to insufficient asdic information. The asdic personnel concerned were interrogated when SPEEDY arrived in harbour, and from the information received, it was considered that the target was definitely a U-boat. 

Contact was regained astern where, from eye witness accounts, large air bubbles appeared on the surface and what appeared to be the saddle tank of a U-boat; neither the conning tower nor any part of the super-structure was seen. 

Without more definite evidence I do not consider the claim can be assessed as higher than probable. 

SUBMARINE TRACKING ROOM’S OPINION

We have no relevant tracking information. The position is more consistent with U-boat having been Italian, but it is understood that C I C Italian Section have no information suggesting that the U-boat was sunk. 

DECISION OF U-BOAT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE

The echo trace could have been that of a U-boat. If the two heavy explosions reported were, in fact, internal explosions, it is almost certain that wreckage would have come to the surface. If the depth charges caused one side of the U-boat to be open to the sea and the U-boat to come to the surface on its beam ends, it is again considered that either there would have been wreckage or that the U-boat would remain in that position for more than five seconds. 

If this was a U-boat she was brought to the surface trimmed fore and aft and therefore it must be expected that the damage was in the centre. 

The Committee are unable to accept the sighting evidence as positive evidence that this was the saddle tank of a U-boat. 

In the absence of intelligence reports indicating that an Italian U-boat was sunk on this occasion, the attack is assessed as ‘Insufficient evidence of the presence of a U-boat’.

20th August 1942

 

Home

This site was last updated 17 Januar 2012