Submarines, silent killers

[bob10]

There are only 2 types of vessels during war, submarines & targets, Bob


https://youtu.be/x8DxhS8wpoI

[bob10]

The cold War


https://youtu.be/VbM7XqDrXAI

[bob10]

Henry Stoker & AE2


Henry Stoker and the AE2 | Submarines in the Dardanelles, 1915 | Gallipoli and the Anzacs (http://www.gallipoli.gov.au/submarines-in-the-dardanelles/henry-stoker-and-the-ae2.php)

[bob10]

Australias Oberons, super secret squirrels


Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/cold-war-exploits-of-australias-secret-submarines/story-e6frg6z6-1226742599268)

[bob10]

Collins class, not all bad


https://youtu.be/nqFVOL7mLd4

[bob10]

Collins class, not all bad


https://youtu.be/nqFVOL7mLd4


oops, the link didn't post


https://youtu.be/d8Kv4rqR6RQ

[bob10]

About the series " submariners ", ABC shops.


Under pressure: Submariners documentary - TV & Radio - Entertainment (http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/under-pressure-submariners-documentary/2005/12/19/1134840789508.html)

[bob10]

Sea spies


https://youtu.be/ewV7NtkPfqg

[bob10]

The Galleries - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/gallery/)

[bob10]

U-Boats, WW1


The U-boat War in World War One (WWI) - Kaiserliche Marine - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/wwi/)


Most successful U-Boats, WW1




http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/most_successful.html

[bob10]

Allied warships hit WW1


Allied Warships hit by U-boats - German and Austrian U-boats of World War One - Kaiserliche Marine - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/warships.html)

[bob10]

Many thanks to Mick88, who tells me about Dudley Marrows, DSO,DFC, who flew the Sunderland that sank U-461. Dudley if still fit & well at 95, living in Mildura'


RAAF - Fighting the U-Boats (http://www.3squadron.org.au/subpages/raaf.htm)




The Type XIV boat U-461 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/boats/u461.htm)

[bob10]

U-461 last patrol


Patrol of German U-boat U-461 from to - Kriegsmarine U-boat patrols - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/details.php?boat=461&date=1943-07-30)

[Tombie]

Enjoying your posts Bob... Keep 'em coming!!! :cool:

[bob10]

Allied submarines lost WW2


Submarines - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/allies/warships/types.html?navy=HMAS&type=Submarine)


Allied warship commanders Battle of the Atlantic


Allied Warship Commanders - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/allies/commanders/)


Allied naval decorations, WW2 [ not complete]


Allied Warship Commanders - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/allies/commanders/decorations/)

[bob10]

Only when we look at losses from both sides , do we get some idea of the tragedy WW2 was.


Allied War Losses - Allied Warships - uboat.net (http://uboat.net/allies/warships/war_losses.html?navy=HMAS)


Wartime allied submarines service histories [ not complete] I find this especially interesting. Each history has a narrative on the patrol, plus maps indicating position. Great for anyone with relatives on the boats


Wartime service histories - Allied Warships of WWII - The Ships (http://uboat.net/allies/warships/wartime_histories.html)

[bob10]

You thought you were having a bad day....




0840 hours - In position 11?47'N, 93?13'E sighted a convoy leaving Nankauri Strait. The convoy was seen to consist of 2 merchant ships and 3 escorts. Started attack on the leading and largest merchant ship.

0912 hours - Fired 6 torpedoes from 1500 yards. Went deep on firing the last torpedo and took avoiding action. Five explosions were heard.
0921 hours - The first 2 depth charges were dropped but these were not very close. 1005 - 1114 hours - A further 9 depth charges were dropped but none were close. Escorts and aircraft remained in the area throughout the day dropping occasional depth charges. (2)

3 Jan 1945
HMS Shakespeare (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) attacked a small Japanese merchant ship with 4 torpedoes in position 11?51'N, 93?12'E. No hits were obtained.
Shakespeare then surfaced for gun action. What happened next can best be described by giving here the 'full text' of the patrol report as written by Lt. Swanston from 3 January 1945 to 8 January 1945.
(All times are zone -6.5)
0515 hours ? Dived 10 nautical miles East of Nankauri Strait.
0715 hours ? Sighted the mast and funnel of a southbound merchant ship of about 700 tons. Closed to attack but could not get nearer then 3500 yards. Nothing else was in sight.
0750 hours ? Fired 4 torpedoes from 3500 yards. No hits were obtained. The ship was and remained on a steady course. Enemy speed was 7 knots.

0758 hours ? Surfaced for gun action. Closed at high speed on main engines and opened fire at a range of 5000 yards. After the 4th round the ship turned directly towards and opened a very inaccurate fire with a gun thought to be a 12pdr. Altered course 20 degrees to port and also opened fire with the Oerlikon. Unfortunately it jammed after the first burst.

0805 hours ? 15 Rounds had now been fired for 1 hit and possibly 2 waterline hits. Sighted what was thought to be a submarine chaser coming through Nankauri Strait. Range was 9000 yards. Turned away and cleared the bridge and gun platforms preparatory to diving. By this time the range of the merchant ship was down to 1500 yards and it obtained a direct hit on our pressure hull just forward of the engine room bulkhead door outside the W/T office. This hole although just above the waterline with the submarine stopped was awash when under way. A considerable quantity of water poured in, eventually filling up the auxiliary machinery space and partially flooding the control room and engine room. The ballast pump was immediately started and efforts made to stop the inflow of water through the hole. These effects were however ineffective and very soon the ballast pump was flooded and ceased to work. Brown's system in the steering was holed and after a short period out of control, steering was resumed from aft following control room Evershead. By this time the auxiliary machine space had been abandoned and shut down. The battery ventilation and engine outboard induction trunking, exterior to the pressure hull had both been riddled with splinter holes. This meant that the engine room door had to be kept open and that water flooded into the engine room. By this time the W/T transmitting panel and the gyro compass had been flooded. The submarine was unable to dive in this condition. The 3? gun, the Oerlikon and the Vickers guns were therefore manned again. During the action that followed the P.O. Tel. And the Ldg. Tel., on their own initiative, went on the bridge and down on to the saddle tanks and began to plug the hole from the outside with a blanket. While they were doing this the merchant ship obtained 4 more hits. The blast from one of these blew off the P.O. Tel's boots and burned both feet. He continued plugging the hole.
Fire was re-opened with the 3? and Vickers guns. A clearing charge failed to clear the jammed round in the Oerlikon. The range was now about 1000 yards, which was maintained as Shakespeare steered away from the merchant ship. The gunlayer and trainer of the 3? gun had both been wounded. Their places were taken by the First Lieutenant and Telegraphist Britton. The stern torpedo was then fired at the merchant vessel to discourage him. It missed.

0820 hours ? Obtained a hit on the enemy's gun which was now out of action. He then turned away with a noticeable list to port. The submarine chaser meanwhile had closed to 6000 yards and opened fire. Course and speed was maintained and Shakespeare got away from him as he, fortunately, went to the aid of the merchant ship. The Vickers guns were then reloaded and the spare Oerlikon barrel was fitted in lieu of the jammed one. A chain of buckets was also organised from the control room to the bridge and gun tower. This was the only means to get rid of the water. Course was now set to the 10 Degree Channel. Now we had to wait for the air attacks to start. The merchant and submarine chaser meanwhile set course towards Port Blair.

0900 hours ? The port engine seized. Shortly afterwards the P.O. Tel., who was still working on the saddle tanks plugging the hole, fell over the side. Stopped and manoeuvred on the main motors to pick him up. Course was then resumed on one engine only at a speed of 7 knots. The P.O. Tel. and Ldg. Tel. then joined the bucket chain. After about one hour the P.O. Tel came to the bridge and performed duties as air-lookout until dark, and, although wounded on both feet and the left arm, also took occasional burst with a tommy-gun on very close aircraft.

0930 hours ? A seaplane was sighted over Nankauri Strait come towards and started a low level dive bombing attack from astern. When the range had closed sufficiently he was given a short burst from a Vickers gun manned by the second Coxwain. This caused him to release his bomb 20 yards away on the port side, set him on fire. He was seen to crash into the sea 1000 yards on the starboard bow. This had a most heartening effect on the whole ship's company. The bomb was a small one and caused no damage.

1000 hours ? 2 Jake aircraft appeared. They each carried out a dummy low level attack and then came in and bombed us. Each machine carried 2 small bombs and 1 was dropped extremely close. The splash flooded the bridge and bust an H.P. air line inside the submarine in the bilges. The escaping air caused the bilge water to ?fountain? and the ratings in the compartment thought we had been holed again. The spare Oerlikon now also jammed, again due to defective ammunition but it could be cleared with a clearing charge.
In the second attack the bombs fell some distance away. Up to 1420 hours, 5 more bombing attacks by Jake aircraft, each carrying 2 50lb. bombs, were made. These aircraft were all kept at a respectful distance by Vickers and Oerlikon fire. Their bombs all fell wide and caused no damage. One aircraft was hit with the Oerlikon. When the Jake aircraft flew overhead, upon completion of their bombing runs, they sprayed Shakespeare with their machine gun.

1420 hours ? Sighted an unidentified escort vessel closing from the starboard quarter. On sighting this all decyphered signals and patrol orders were burnt. All code books were sacked up, ready for ditching. The remaining 2 torpedoes were also brought to the ready. But the escort vessel did not close any further and possibly went to pick up the pilot from the downed plane leaving us to the mercy of the Japanese air force. A bomber and 2 fighter-bombers now appeared. One of the fighter bombers attacked first. He dropped 2 bombs and made an ineffective machine gun attack. The bomber then came in at a height of 300 feet. It dropped 2 1000lb bombs which near missed us. The splinters wounded 2 ratings on the gun platform. The second fighter bomber then came in, released his bombs, turned round and made a low level diving cannon firing attack from aft, which raked the bridge. One Vickers gunner was mortally wounded and superficial damage was caused. This aircraft was hit by at least 2 of the Vickers guns. He then retired.

From 1600 hours until just before sunset single attacks by groups of 4 aircraft, fighter bombers with machine guns, occurred at half-hourly intervals. All however kept at a respectful distance. The Oerlikon finally jammed during these attacks, again due to defective ammunition, and could not be cleared. The 3? gun was used throughout the day, about 200 rounds had been fired. Several shells burst close to aircraft and made them turn away.
Half-an-hour before sunset a bomber, 2 fighter bombers and a seaplane appeared. The fighter bombers carried out dive bombings attacks from the sun, dropping 2 bombs each. When not attacking they were circling in and out of the clouds and it was difficult to tell which aircraft would attack next. The bomber pressed home his attack from a height of 300 feet. 2 Heavy bombs landed close to the port quarter and he fired his rear gun as he passed overhead. He was most likely hit by fire from the Vickers guns.

Just after sunset, at 1830 hours, this performance was repeated by the fighter bombers only but they kept a respectful distance and their bombs fell wide. With the darkness the air attacks ceased and it was possible to take stock of the situation inside the submarine, which was as follows

Port engine out of action, starboard engine in fair shape.
Auxiliary oil and water pump out of action due to flooding.
Main motors out of action due to flooding.
W/T and gyro compass out of action due to flooding.
Submarine being steered by Evershed from the control room using the telemotor aft.
Hole 9? by 4? in the pressure hull.
Hole in the gun tower.
Diving compass out of action.
Hole in no.2 port main ballast tank.
4? depth of water in the control room. Battery boards tight.
Starboard side H.P. ring main severed outside W/T office.
L.P. blower line slightly damaged.
Ballast pump out of action.
Upper conning tower hatch could not be shut.

Casualties to the crew were as below.
T.A. Motherham, (A.B., C/JX.300991)
Mortally wounded in the left thigh ? half shattering his leg ? caused by cannon shell while firing at enemy aircraft.
G. Taylor, (A.B., C/JX. 394962)
Mortally wounded in left temple ? caused by splinter wounds while in bucket chain by the gun tower.
Lieutenant Pearson, RNVR
Wound from splinter in the right foot while controlling 3? gunfire at the enemy merchant vessel
Sub/Lieutenant Morgan, RNVR
Slight splinter wound from cannon shell during air attacks. He was next to A.B. Motherham when this rating was mortally wounded.
J. Wild (A.B., C/JX. 208609)
Bomb splinter wound in shoulder, back, head, one leg and both arms while supplying ammunition during air attacks.
R.F. Whitelam (A.B., C/JX. 352155)
Shell splinter wounds in arm, groin, thigh and leg, while training 3? gun against the merchant vessel.
F. Foster (A.B., P/JX. 141086)
Shell splinter wounds in one leg and both arms while laying 3? gun against the merchant vessel.
V.G. Harmer (P.O. Tel., P/JX. 141086)
Splinter wound in left shoulder, feet burned, while stemming flow of water in hole in pressure hull under fire.
H. Jones (Ldg. Sig. P/SSX. 27809)
Small splinter wound in chest while carrying out the duties of action lookout.
H. Hayes (A.B., D/JX. 257838)
Shell splinter wound in hip and upper leg while manning 3? gun during action against the merchant vessel.
D.K. Roy (A.B., P/JX. 275912)
Burn in stomach from ejected shell case during gun action.
B. Fellows (A.B., P/JX. 415075)
Two fingers lacerated adjusting magazine of Vickers gun.
J. Jockley (S.P.O., P/KX. 98747)
Over all poisoning from cuts in feet and hands during action repair duties.
R. Evans (Stoker, P/KX. 523699)
Poisoning of foot following a cut while on action repair duties.
F. Capper (Stoker, D/KX. 154381)
Poisoning of foot following small cuts obtained during action repair work.
The ships company was then organised for the night, a chain of buckets still being necessary to deal with water coming in through the damaged pressure hull. Course was set to pass through the 10 Degree Channel to get as far away from land as possible by dawn. For the continuation of events see 4 January 1945. (2)

4 Jan 1945
HMS Shakespeare continuation of the events of 3 January 1945

(All times are zone -6.5)
During the night, A.B. Motherham died of wounds. He was buried at sea the following day.
The port circulator had been rigged as a bilge pump. A hammock was rigged as a chute so that the water from the hole ran into the engine room bilges. Attempts were made to repair the port engine but this could not be done.
At dawn the Vickers guns were stripped and cleaned and an attempt was made to clear the Oerlikon in preparation for another day of air attacks. Nothing however happened to everyone's surprise and relief. The second coxwain went over the side and improved the blanket plugging which considerably reduced the inflow of water.
Lt. Swanston then remembered that HMS Stygian was outward bound from Trincomalee to her patrol area. Course was then set to place Shakespeare on the route of HMS Stygian. For the continuation of events see 5 January 1945. (2)

5 Jan 1945
HMS Shakespeare continuation of the events of 4 January 1945

(All times are zone -6.5)
0900 hours ? It was decided to put an external patch over the hole in the pressure hull in case the weather should deteriorate. This was finished at 1400 hours. During the fitting of this patch speed had to be reduced to 5 knots and the submarine had to be heeled 7 degrees to port. While this work was going on the starboard muffler tank was found to be damaged. The supply to the muffler tank spray was cut out with a chisel thus increasing the flow of circulating water. This enabled speed to be increased to 8.5 knots one the fitting of the patch over the hole was completed. A spare pump was also rigged to remove water from the bilges in case the other pump should fail.
The first hot meal since 2 January was served which revived all hand considerably. Also the bucket chain was no longer needed. The small bullet hole in no.2 ballast tank was plugged by the second coxwain.
2100 hours ? As we expected to come across HMS Stygian around midnight it was decided to fire recognition grenades every hour and Very's lights of the same colour every half hour (to conserve grenades) and star shell every 2 hours throughout the night or until HMS Stygian challenged. For the continuation of events see 6 January 1945. (2)

6 Jan 1945
HMS Shakespeare continuation of the events of 5 January 1945

(All times are zone -6.5)
0100 hours ? Sighted light to the Westward. Shortly afterwards, in position 08?37?N, 87?00?W exchanged pendants with HMS Stygian (http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3464.html) (Lt. G.S.C. Clarabut, DSO, RN). Lt. Clarabut suspected a trap asked for the Christian names of Lt. Swanston's wife as both Commanding Officers were personal friends. The necessary reply was given, together with the Christian names of Lt Clarabut's wife for good measure. Details of damage, casualties, etc. were then passed for transmission.
0200 hours ? Set course for Trincomalee together with HMS Stygian.
0730 hours ? Reduced speed to 5 knots and half-masted colours (as did Stygian)during the burial of A.B. Taylor who had died of his wounds during the previous evening.
0900 hours ? Both submarines stopped and Stygian sent over a working party of 6 men as well as torches, medical supplies and bread by folbot. They also informed us the the destroyer HMS Raider would be meeting us at about 1500 hours.
1500 hours ? HMS Raider (http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4507.html) (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN) arrived. All wounded and injured were transferred to her. Oldham lights, torches, bread and chocolate as well as a working party of 10 men were sent back to Shakespeare by the destroyer. The working party of HMS Stygian was sent back to her and she then continued to her patrol area. HMS Shakespeare and HMS Raider then continued the passage to Trincomalee. Now the crew of HMS Shakespeare could get some hours of well-earned sleep. For the continuation of events see 7 January 1945. (2)

7 Jan 1945
HMS Shakespeare continuation of the events of 6 January 1945

(All times are zone -6.5)
1000 hours ? Water was now so low in the engine room and motor room bilges that the starboard shaft, which had been cooled by it, now fired up at bulkhead gland, and the starboard engine had to be stopped. A tow was passed with some difficulty.
1030 hours ? Commenced towing. HMS Raider working up to 15 knots in an endeavour to get to Trincomalee before nightfall.
1200 hours ? The tow parted. The wire was then passed again. During this operation the stern of HMS Raider landed on HMS Shakespeare's bow causing a neat cut in Raider's side. There was no damage to Shakespeare.
1300 hours ? Towing commenced again but now at a speed of 10 knots.
1630 hours ? HMS Whelp (http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4528.html) (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN) arrived to take over the duties from HMS Raider who then slipped her tow. HMS Whelp passed a towline. During this operation HMS Whelp was also holed. The working party of HMS Raider was returned to her and a working party of HMS Whelp was taken on board.
1730 hours ? In tow again, speed 10 knots.
1800 hours ? The tow parted. Wire had to be passed again.
1930 hours ? Towing commenced again. For the continuation of events see 8 January 1945. (2)

8 Jan 1945
HMS Shakespeare continuation of the events of 7 January 1945

(All times are zone -6.5)
0500 hours ? Passed Foul Point and sipped tow and secured alongside a tug. 0800 hours ? Passed the boom and secured alongside our depot ship HMS Wolfe ending her 15th war patrol. (2)

[bob10]

amazing machine


https://youtu.be/OPC51Mh-jtU

[bob10]

Life on patrol in an Oberon submarine


https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/51/oakley_life_below_waves/