usf2.gif (10730 bytes) USS SIGSBEE  usf2.gif (10730 bytes)

The above painting by Naval artist Peter Hsu (copyright authorized) shows the 502 under air attack 4/14/45

ACTION REPORT SERIES:

SIGSBEE'S FOURTH WAR ACTION

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ACTION REPORT SERIAL 0020, ANTI-SUBMARINE ACTION BY SURFACE SHIP, REPORT.  FORWARDS WITHOUT COMMENT, ASW FORM REPORT OF ACTION ON 6 MARCH 1944 AT 2140 IN LAT. 16.44 S, LONG. 169.37 E, ON SOUND CONTACT WHILE IN INNER ANTI-SUBMARINE SCREEN UNDER COMMANDER TASK GROUP 50.8. DEPTH CHARGE ATTACKS MADE BEFORE CONTACT LOST.

 

From: Commanding Officer  

To: Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Via: 1). Commander Destroyer Squadron 25.  2). Commander Task Group 50.8

Subject: ASW Action Report 6 March 1944.

CONFIDENTIAL: 

ANTI-SUBMARINE ACTION BY SURFACE SHIP

U.S.S. SIGSBEE DD-502                   DATE 6 MARCH 1944      TIME FIRST CONTACT 2140

LAT. 16 DEGREES 44'S        LONG. 169 DEGREES 37' E      COURSE 130 DEGREES   SPEED 16 KTS.

a.  ATTACK FIRST - then collect data for this report

b.  DO NOT "GUN DECK" this report - if data cannot be estimated with reasonable accuracy enter a dash in space for which no data is available.

c.  Draw a circle around the appropriate entry in this report wherever suitable.

d.  Ships equipped with DRT submit pencil tracing of ship's track from time of first contact to termination of operation.

e.  If more than one attack was made on same submarine, submit a seperate form for each attack, omitting paragraph 1 for all attacks subsequent to the first.

1. CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE TIME OF CONTACT:

Deployment of ship: Patrol escort INNER A/S SCREEN

Weather and Light: NIGHT, OVERCAST, MOONLIGHT

Sea: SMOOTH

Wind: Force 2 Direction 225 Degrees T 100 Degress Relative

IF IN COMPANY OF OTHER SHIPS, POSITION RELATIVE THERETO: Station No. 6 in A/S Screen 57 (Pac-10) plus 1,000 yards, screening 5 OBB's in line of Division Columns.

ESTIMATED SOUND RANGE OF THE DAY: 3,000 yards.

2. NATURE OF CONTACT:

Site: NONE                 Sound: PROPELLERS HEARD ECHO RANGE 2,000

Torpedo Sighted: NONE              Ship Torpedoed: NONE

Sub First Reported By: ATTACKING SHIP       MOOMEY, L.H.  SoM2c  600-22-48

Initial Contact by: SOUND 

Remarks: Time   Left Cut   Center Bearing   Right Cut    Range   Range Rate  Own ships course   Remarks

                  2214                            115                                    2000                                 105                                           

                                 105                                         110

                                 100                                         110          1500              13

                  2216       100                                                                               13                 090

                                                                                110            950                                               Sl. opening doppler

                                 095                                         105            800

                  2217       100                                         115            500                                   110  Target width 20 degrees

                                            105                                         120           400                                    120  Wake on left edge target

                       2218        100                                         115           170                                    130

                 2219       Lost Contact - not regained.

3. BARRAGE PLAN:

Charge Number:                              1       2     3      4       5     6      7      8      9     10    11

Time of Drop From 1st Charge:  2219   05   10     15     20   00    00    05    05    10   10

Depth Setting:                               250   200  250  200  250  300  300  250  250  300  300

Own Course: 130 Degrees T   Speed - 15 KTS.    Sub Course - 140 Degrees T   Speed - 4 KTS.

Estimated Sub Depth: 180 FT.   Was Bouy Marker Dropped? NO

Evidence of Damage: No evidence or damage to sub.  Only residue from depth charge explosions noted.

4. TIME BETWEEN FIRST CONTACT AND THIS ATTACK :

Time: 39 minutes

Time Between Last Attack and Abandonment of Search: 1 Hour 11 Mins.

Reason Search Abandoned: Order of OTC (CTG 50.8) to reform 1 hour after losing contact.

5. GENERAL REMARKS:

At 2137, U.S.S. WILSON DD-408 in station No. 7 reported sound contact while task group was on ZZ leg 190 Degrees; Emergency Six-Turn executed immediately, putting SIGSBEE ahead of task group. 2140 this vessel made sound contact bearing 125 Degrees T distance 750 yards.

Dropped a two charge barrage.  Lost contact shortly there-after.  Proceeding independently searching for submarine.  2204 regained contact bearing 280 degrees T, 650 yards.  2206 obtained fathometer reading of 180 feet.  Dropped two depth charges.  Data not sufficient for a full charge destructive pattern. 2214 regained contact bearing 115 degrees T, 2000 yards.  Data very good and made a very good run, firing an 11 charge pattern , medium depth setting, at 2218. Continued search until 2330.  Departed from area in company with U.S.S. Wilson DD-408 to rejoin task group in accordance with CTG 50.8 orders to rejoin if contact not regained within one hour.  During search no evidence was noted.  Classify this contact as possible submarine.

                                                                                                                           V.B. Russell, Cmdr.

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