SINKING OF JAPANESE SUBMARINE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 7, 4 October 1943, Page 4

SINKING OF JAPANESE SUBMARINE

New Zealand Ship’s Part NARRATIVE OF ATTACK AND DESTRUCTION

The part played by another Ngav Zealand, naval unit, H.M.N.Z.S. Tui, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander JG. Hilliard, in the sinking of a large Japanese submarine, is told in the story of the attack on and subsequent destruction of the submarine now released by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. The submarine Avas slightly larger than the one sunk by the New Zealand corvettes Kiwi and Moa. It had a normal displacement of 2563 tons, and carried a crew of 97 officers and men. When the submarine was detected the Tui made an investigation and dropped depth charges. Contact was lost after this attack, but over an hour later smoke was observed in the general direction in Avliich the depth charges had been made. The ship returned and sighted an object which appeared to be a submarine’s conning tower. Later, the submarine avhs seen to be on the surface emitting much smoke and making off at speed. The Tui opened fire with her 4-ineh guns, and it is believed a hit was obtained at extreme range. The Tui at full speed was unable to gain on the submarine, but an aircraft made a series of depth charges after which the submarine Avas seen to sink at a sharp angle. A feAV minuets later two heavy underwater explosions were heard. The Tui entered a dense patch of oil and searched the area in darkness, during Avhich six Japanese survivors were rescued, and taken away for Interrogation.

Survivors identified the submarine as that which shelled tanks near Santa Barbara, California,, in February, 1942. They also stated that the depth charge attack of the Tui damaged the submarine. before its final destruction by the aircraft. The Tui has been congratulated by the New Zealand Naval Board and the Admiralty on her part in detecting the submarine and bringing about its destruction.