GALLANT FIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1942, Page 4

GALLANT FIGHT

PET EP BY RUSSIAN SHIP ATTACKED BY ENEMY SUBMARINE ATTACKER HIT & POSSIBLY SUNK. AFTER LONG CLOSE-RANGE EXCHANGE OF FIRE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) SYDNEY This Day. A Russian freighter successfully fought off three attacks by an enemy Submarine, believed to be Japanese, off the New South Wales coast. In a close-range, running fight, the Soviet ship scored at least one hit with a light-calibre shell, which may have sunk the submarine. The master and three of the ship’s complement were wounded by splinters and were treated by the ship’s woman doctor. The submarine attacked the freighter at dusk and for three hours pursued it towards port. The officers of the ship said the submarine broke surface about fifty yards from their vessel and opened 'fire without warning. The first shell struck the bridge, and the captain received a wound in the neck. Although dazed and weakened as a result of bleeding, he stayed at the wheel for an hour, directing the defence of his ship. While the battle continued, the ship’s woman doctoi’ performed an operation which, probably saved the captain’s life. The submarine tried to destroy the bridge and wireless apparatus, but by skilfully manoeuvring his ship, the master managed to save all installations from damage. A message was sent for help while the gunners returned the enemy fire. After firing a number of shells, the submarine was forced to submerge by the accurate gunnery of the Soviet crew. It followed the ship for half an hour before it again surfaced and resumed the attack, but it failed to score an effective hit. Shells from the ship began to land close to the submarine, and when its deck was raked with machine-gun fire it submerged once again.

A third attack was made in sight of port. During this encounter, one shell struck the submarine, which some members of the crew claim was destroyed. The damage to the freighter was slight. Part of the bridge was shot away.