FIGHTING SUBMARINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1939, Page 4

FIGHTING SUBMARINES

EXPERIENCES IN A CONVOY. U-BOATS ATTACKED BY PLANES AND DESTROYERS. Adventures on the early part of a voyage to New Zealand on a British ship which left England about a fortnight after war broke out were described by Mr S. B. MacLennan, art master at Wairarapa College, who arrived in Masterion on Saturday with Mrs MacLennan. When the ship was leaving dock she came into contact with one of the gates and sprang a leak. In consequence she had to be .placed in dry dock for a day for repairs. The ship left in a convoy, accompanied by destroyers and planes. On the second day out, just before dinner, there was a terrific explosion, and everyone on board thought the ship had been torpedoed. No emergency call was given, however, and it was ascertained that a destroyer had dropped a depth charge on a submarine which had passed quite close tcT the ship. On another occasion, at about nine o’clock in the morning, a ship was seen about four miles away coming towards the convoy.. When Mr and Mrs MacLennan were below, an explosion was heard, followed by a second one and by the time Mr and Mrs MacLennan had gained the deck the ship had disappeared. There was much speculation as to whether it was a French or British ship. On several occasions the planes escorting the convoy dropped bombs, apparently aimed at submarines. Just before the convoy broke there were three submarines around and each ship of the convoy in turn gave the signal that a submarine had been sighted. One of the destroyers dropped three depth charges and it was learned afterwards that one submarine had certainly been sunk.

Mr MacLennan said the passengers on board his ship felt quite safe during the day and the night. The danger periods were at dawn and at dusk. Passengers took their turn at keeping a look-out for submarines. The remainder of the voyage was uneventful.