GALLANT ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1943, Page 3

GALLANT ACTION

FOUGHT BY NEW ZEALAND CORVETTES IN DESTROYING JAPANESE SUBMARINE. PRIME MINISTER PRAISES CREW. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day The return to New Zealand of the crew of one of the two New Zealand corvettes which sank a Japanese submarine off Guadalcanal in January was announced last night by the Prime Minister, Mr Frtiser. He also released the official narrative of the * action. “The citizens of Auckland will, I know, avail themselves to the full of the privilege of extending the most cordial welcome to these men who displayed such outstanding courage and tenacity in the face of overwhelmingodds in their brilliant and successful action,” said the Prime Minister. “I desire most heartily to associate the Government and the people of New Zealand with the welcome which will be extended to them, and which will most fittingly mark their achievement. I feel sure that the story of their spectacular success will rouse the greatest enthusiasm among the people of New Zealand. “These corvettes fought a night action at close range with a large Japanese submarine off Guadalcanal Island. and completely destroyed it. In the words of the official narrative: “The U-boat was more than twice the length and three times the tonnage of the corvettes. It had a considerable higher speed, its main gun fired shells of much more than twice the weight of its opponents, and it was heavily armed with torpedoes. Moreover, the submarine was carrying a landing party of soldiers, who put up a hot fire with rifles and machine guns during the action. “The U-boat was destroyed with the loss of all save one of its large company.” OFFICIAL NARRATIVE. The official story of the action states that the ships distinguishing themselves formed part of a New Zealand flotilla operating in the Solomon Islands area under the orders of Admiral Halsey U.S.N. With few exceptions their crews were New Zealanders, chiefly of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, Lieutenant Commander G. Bridson, D.S.C., R.N.Z.N.V.R., was in command of the corvette which opened the attack, and thrice rammed the U-boat. Lieutenant Commander P. Phipps, D.S.C., R.N.Z.N.V.R., commandered the other ship, which finally drove the enemy ashore. Both had served earlier in the war in the United Kingdom in command of minesweepers escorting Channel convoys for which work both were decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross.

“On the night of Friday January 29, the corvettes were on patrol off the northern end of Guadalcanal Island when one ship detected the near presence of a submarine. She at once altered course, increased to full speed, and proceeded to attack, her,, consort standing by to assist. A pattern of depth charges was dropped over the position of the submarine, which apparently was damaged and stopped. Running on for a short distance, the corvette turned for a second attack. Another pattern of depth charges was dropped, which must have shaken the U-boat severely. It surfaced immediately afterwards, and was clearly seen moving at speed in an effort to escape in the darkness against the land. AN EAGER PURSUIT. “Both corvettes turned toward the submarine at full speed to close the range. The ship which had dropped the depth charges was much the nearer and decided to ram the big submarine, which had opened accurate fire with its main guns. The corvette struck the U-boat squarely just aft of the conning-tower, at the same time firing every gun that would bear and making a number of hits. The enemy’s gun was put out of action and a nummer of soldiers on deck were seen to go overboard. The corvette broke away and then rammed a second time. She got in a glancing blow on the stern of the U-boat, which, though badly damaged and on fire, was still maintaining a good speed. “The second corvette was getting shots whenever possible, but her style was cramped by the tenacity of her sister in sitting on the submarine’s tail. Nevertheless, she proved an able second and fired star shells to help ill’ uminate the- scene. “The leading corvette’s searchlights were kept trained on the U-boat, from whose deck troops opened fire with rifles and machine guns. An officer in the conning-tower, probably the captheir blazing landing barges which were lashed on deck. VALIANT SEAMAN. “Particularly gallant was the conduct of Acting Leading Signalman C. Buchanan, of Port Chalmers, who, while operating the all-important searchlight, was mortally wounded by several machine gun bullets, but remained at his post till he was relieved by another rating. He died from his wounds on January 31. “An alteration of course by the submarine put the corvette in a favourable position, and increasing to full speed, she rammed for the third time. The U-boat was struck on the starboard side this time, just abaft the the conning-tower, where soldiers could be seen firing against the glare of their blains landing barges which were lashed on deck. “The momentum of the corvette as she rammed caused her to ride up on the U-boat’s deck, where she listed heavily, still firing every gun that would bear. The shock of the impact effectively disposed of the enemy troops by spilling them into the sea. Three minutes later, with her engines going full astern, the corvette broke clear from her dangerous position, leaving the enemy seriously damaged and low in the water. SECOND CORVETTE TAKES OVER. “The action had now been continuous for nearly an hour, and as hei’ guns were too hot to work the corvettte disengaged and cleared tjie range for her consort. The submarine had been hit many times and was badly on fire, but was able to maintain a good speed. The second corvette pursued the Üboat and, despite its frequent changes of course, scored several more hits.

The U-boat was making for the land when it struck an offshore reef. At daybreak about 40 feet of the forward part was showing at a steep angle above water. “In all the action lasted 2’ hours, and during that time there was only one casualty in the New Zealand ships,” concludes the report. “With the exception of one wounded man who was recovered from the water, the whole of the submarine’s complement, including the soldiers, perished."