HUNTING U-BOATS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1940, Page 4

HUNTING U-BOATS

BRITISH NAVY'S METHODS

DEADLY ASDICS.

ATTACK BY DEPTH-CHARGES.

The following account of a recent successful U-boat hunt compiled from the account of an eyewitness, is issued by the Admir-

alty:— Destroyers were at sea on an independent search for submarines in northern waters. The weather was typical, with a shrewd wind from the north-north-west causing the tops of the little seas to break, and a cross swell from another direction. The sky was grey and overcast, with occasional squalls of rain blotting out the horizon and shutting down the visibility to about seven miles. Reports received announced that an enemy submarine had been located some distance to the southward. Within a few minutes they were steaming in the direction indicated at sortiething over thirty knots. It took them some hours to reach the reported position; but arriving, they slowed down and started to quarter the sea according to the prearranged plan. Their guns were manned, and depth charges ready. Extra lookouts were on the bridge, and the ships’ companies keyed up to the idea of action. They all knew what was in the wind. Though it was afternoon, and those who had kept night watches might reasonably have been asleep, there were few men on the mess-decks. The search continued. For some time nothing happened. Then, quite suddenly, a flag hoisted by one of the destroyers indicated that the scent had keen picked up. The deadly Asdics were at work.. The remorseless hunt

began. Depth-charge after depth-charge was dropped or projected from the throwers—not haphazard; but according to schemes invented and tried out long before the war.

The thudding detonations of those massive canisters about the size of ordinary dustbins seemed to squeeze the air, and caused the sea momentarily to shimmer as if beaten by heavy rain. Exploding at various depths below water, they shook the ships from which they were projected, and raised huge mushroom-shaped hummocks of white water which burst upwards in great spouts of spray tinged grey by the high explosive. The explosions died away, and there came the inevitable suspense as to whether the attack had been successful. Many eyes searched the sea for the signs of a submarine breaking surface, cr oil or wreckage floating up from the depths. But for the time nothing appeared.

Collecting his destroyers, the senior officer ordered another attack. Once more the depth-charges were dropped according to plan--this time with success.

About half-a-mile astern of one of the destroyers the conning tower mid long hull of a submarine suddenly broke surface bow first in a swirl of water. The U-boat’s stern was still under water when her conning tower lid opened, and men started to tumble up on deck. She might have a sting left. Nobody was to know if she intended to surrender, and risks couiu not be taken. But it was a case of surrender. Some of the U-boat's crew could be seen to be leaping overboard. Others were holding up their hands. Her bows started to lift as the stern slowly went under.

, Destroyers approached, stopped. , and went astern to check their way. ' Boats were lowered. They rescued the ’ entire crew, some from the water, some' from the submarine herself. They were described as youngish men and bearded, some still self-possessed; but , others obviously shaken by their or-1 deal. They were well cared for by I their rescuers, who gave them Navy rum and warm clothing. Those U-boat men described what had happened inside the submarine—first the sound of the hunting destroyers' propellers becoming louder and louder: then the thudding detonation of the first depth-charges, coming closer all the time. The first attack caused serious damage to their submarine and made her leak. There came a short respite, during which the propeller sounds could jbe heard receding, and left men wondering whether the hunters had given up the chase. Vain hope; unseen inpal pable fing-

ers were soon groping again beneath our waters. The propeller sounds became louder again, then more depth charges— close, frightfully close. That second attack put out lights, shattered delicate instruments, and caused worse flooding. Very soon the U-boat's stern was full of water, which came spurting in the pipes and rivet holes in the bulkhead. She developed a heavy list. More water started to seep into the interior through the damaged conning tower. The compressed air was leaking. There was only enough pressure left to blow the tanks and come to the surface and give the crew a chance for their lives, which the Commander decided to do. The rest of the story has been told. Shortly after the rescue of her crew that submarine flung her bows vertically into the air, and sank stern first in a flutter of whitened water and an ever-widening patch of irridescent oil spreading over the surface of the sea.