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| Subject: SINKING OF "U.131 and "U-434". | ||
| From: Admiral Commanding, North Atlantic, Gibraltar. | ||
| Date: 28th January, 1942. No. x.41/521. | ||
| To: Secretary of the Admiralty. | ||
| (Copies to: Flag Officer Commanding, Force H, | ||
| Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches, | ||
| Captain (D) 19th Destroyer Flotilla). | ||
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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| Be pleased to lay before Their Lordships the attached reports on the sinking of "U.131" and "U.434". | ||
| 2. These actions reflect great credit on the gunnery of H.M.S. EXMOOR and the A/S efficiency of H.M.S. BLANKNEY. | ||
| 3. My recommendations for honours and awards are attached. | ||
| (Sdg.) G. F. B. EDWARD-COLLINS | ||
| Vice Admiral. | ||
| Enclosures: | ||
| 1. Captain D.19's No. 327/563 of 22.12.41 on BLANKNEY's AS/13/41 of 20.12.41, and Forms S.1203 from BLANKNEY and EXMOOR. Track charts and recorder trace. | ||
| 2. Captain D.19's No. 327/564 of 22.12.41 on BLANKNEY's S.1203 and A/S/14/41 of 20.12.41. Track charts and recorder trace. | ||
| 3. Recommendations for Honours and Awards. | ||
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| Enclosure No. 1 to V.A.C.N.A.'s No, X.41/521 of 28.1.1942. | ||
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| From: Captain (D), 19th Destroyer Flotilla, H.M.S. LAFOREY. | ||
| Date: 22nd December, 1941. Ref. No. 327/563. | ||
| To: The Flag Officer Commanding, Force "H", H.M.S. MALAYA. | ||
| (Copy to: The Commanding Officers, H.M.S. BLANKNEY | ||
| H.M.S. EXMOOR). | ||
Destruction of U-Boat by Gunfire on 17th, December, 1941. |
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Reports. |
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| The attached reports No. AS/13/41 dated 20th December, 1941 with two track charts and recorder tracing from BLANKNEY and form S.1203 with signals from EXMOOR are forwarded. | ||
| 2. From the interrogation of prisoners in EXMOOR it appears certain that the depth charge attack carried out by BLANKNEY at 1057 (zone 1) was responsible for forcing the U-Boat to the surface, as they state that she was depth charged at 1200, German time. | ||
| 3. The sighting of this U-Boat by STANLEY at long range from aloft as well as her similar success the next day when U.434 was sunk, shows the great importance of a good look-out high up. | ||
| 4. The results obtained by EXMOOR at long range reflect credit to her gunnery, and it is probable that STANLEY's gunfire also contributed to the success. | ||
| 5. The high speed at which this U-Boat attempted to escape on the surface is important. The Commanding Officers of BLANKNEY and EXMOOR have both commented to me on this point. I have instructed EXMOOR to forward a track chart of the engagement if it is reliable as it appears that U.131 may have exceeded 18 knots. | ||
| 6. The results of the interrogation of prisoners rescued by BLANKNEY are in the hands of the Staff Officer, Intelligence, at Gibraltar. | ||
| CAPTAIN. | ||
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| H.M.S. BLANKNEY | ||
| 20th December, 1941 | ||
| Ref. No. A/S.13/41. | ||
| Sir, | ||
| I have the honour to submit the following report of the destruction of the German U-Boat 131 on 17th December, 1941: | ||
| 2. At 0940A/17 H.M.S. BLANKNEY was stationed about 6 miles on the Port Quarter of Convoy H.G.76, mean course 283 degrees, in position 34°35' N. 13°27' W., when a submarine was reported, bearing 190°, 22 miles from the Convoy. Course was altered to 210° and speed was increased to maximum. | ||
| 0935: An aircraft from H.M.S. AUDACITY was sighted, circling low, bearing 193°, and course was altered to 195°. | ||
| 1018: Speed was reduced to 17 knots, and A/S operating commenced. | ||
| 1022: The aircraft pointed out an oil patch by firing machine-gun bursts, but no contact was obtained. | ||
| 1023: One Depth Charge was dropped set to 150 feet. on the oil patch. Numerous oil patches were observed and the ship was run down an oil track on a course of 250°. | ||
| 1026: "Rattle" effect was heard ahead, but still no contact was obtained. | ||
| 3. At 1045 contact was gained, bearing 210°, range 1000 yards. Several doubtful echoes appeared and one firm one. The latter was too close, and it was necessary to alter away before attacking. | ||
| 1053: Course was altered to the bearing of the contact, range now being 1600 yards, and a deliberate attack was carried out. The target showed some movement left, with slight opening inclination, but the recorder trace was not very satisfactory. | ||
| From A.R.L. plot, however, it appeared that the enemy altered course towards me in the final stages of the attack, although no change of Doppler was noticed at the time. | ||
| 1057: A full 6-charge pattern was fired at medium depth setting. As the charges were dropped the ship ran through an oil patch. Contact was not regained, except for one unmistakable "non-sub." | ||
| 4. At 1123 H.M.S. STORK who had by now arrived with H.M.S. EXMOOR and STANLEY organised a line abreast search. Diagram II enclosed shows details of courses. | ||
| 1253: STANLEY, it is believed sighted a submarine on the surface. All ships increased to full speed and course was altered to 060°. | ||
| /1258: . . . . . . . . | ||
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| 1258: EXMOOR sighted the submarine and she opened fire at 1307. | ||
| 1308: H.M.S. BLANKNEY sighted the submarine bearing 042°, at extreme range, and a martlet aircraft which was attacking was observed to crash. | ||
| 1309: Fire was opened but it was not until 1314 that the submarine came into range. Course was altered to Starboard to bring no. 2 mounting to bear. | ||
| 1316: The first straddle was observed and altogether six straddles were observed before, at | ||
| 1323: the submarine sank, the range then being 12800 yards. | ||
| 5. EXMOOR who was at much closer range, was observed to score several straddles and one obvious hit. EXMOOR and STANLEY then picked up the submarine's survivors while BLANKNEY circled as an A/S precaution. | ||
| 6. STORK and STANLEY, and it is understood, H.M.S. PENTSEMON also fired, but their fall of shot was not observed in BLANKNEY. | ||
| 7. From the position of the U-Boat when sighted in comparison with that of BLANKNEY's Depth charge attack, it seems probable that BLANKNEY actually did attack the U-Boat and damage her, as prisoners when in EXMOOR stated that they had been damaged by Depth Charges and were unable to submerge. | ||
| 8. One pattern was fired by an unknown ship, at about 11 o'clock, however, being heard by Asdics. | ||
| 9. Tracings of A.R.L. Plot and track chart and chemical recorder trace, together with form S.1203, are enclosed. | ||
| I have the houour to be, | ||
| Sir, | ||
| Your obedient Servant. | ||
| LT. COMMANDER R.N. | ||
| The Captain (D), | ||
| 19th Destroyer Flotilla. | ||
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| Enclosure No. 2 to V.A.C.N.A.'s No, X.41/521 of 28.1.1942. | ||
DESTRUCTION OF U.434 REPORT. |
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| From: Captain (D), 19th Destroyer Flotilla, H.M.S. LAFOREY. | ||
| Date: 22nd December, 1941. Ref. No. 327/564. | ||
| To: The Flag Officer Commanding, Force "H", H.M.S. MALAYA. | ||
| (Copy to: The Commanding Officer, H.M.S. BLANKNEY). | ||
| Forwarded: | ||
| I consider the destruction of U.434, which seems to have adopted extreme anti A/S tactics, to reflect great credit on Lt. Commander P.F. Fowlett, D.S.C., R.N. and on his A/S team. | ||
| 2. From the examination of the first attack it appears that no serious damage was done in this instance, but the second attack, which followed almost immediately after STANLEY's attack, caused the damage and made the destruction of the U-boat certain. | ||
| 3. When the Gyro Compass broke down after the first attack, no accurate plots of further movements was made. | ||
| 4. It is requested that the film taken by Sub-Lieutenant S.G. Venner, R.N.V.R. may be returned to this Officer when no longer required by the Admiralty. | ||
| 5. I have instructed Lt. Commander Fowett to forward a list of any Officers and men recommended for their services. | ||
| CAPTAIN. | ||
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| H.M.S. BLANKNEY | ||
| 20th December, 1941 | ||
| Ref. No. A/S.14/41. | ||
| Sir, | ||
| I have the honour to submit the following account of the destruction of the German submarine U-434 by H.M. Ships STANLEY and BLANKNEY on 18th December, 1941. | ||
| 2. BLANKNEY was stationed astern of Convoy HG.76, mean course 350° in position 36°10' N., 16°31'W., when at 0851A, STANLEY, who was on the Convoy's Port Quarter about 5 miles from BLANKNEY, reported submarine on the surface, 190° 6 miles away. | ||
| 3. Course was altered to 230 and speed increased to maximum. The submarine dived almost immediately and was not sighted in BLANKNEY. | ||
| 4. At 0913 STANLEY started dropping single charges along the bearing on which the U-boat submerged. STANLEY informed me that his A/S set was not working satisfactorily. | ||
| 0923: Speed was reduced to 16 knots and A/S operating commenced, on course 250. | ||
| 5. At 0929 contact was gained, bearing 280, 1200 yards, and immediately classified as "submarine". Course was altered to the bearing, and speed reduced to slow. The target was moving right with slight closing inclination. When the range was 800 yards, speed was increased to 18 knots and the run in started. | ||
| 6. The U-boat promptly altered away and increased speed, as Doppler became marked opening and strong H.E. was heard. The plot clearly shows this also. | ||
| 7. The U-boat's powers of evasion were remarkable, and the next two minutes were difficult. My first alteration was to Port (shown on the plot), but was too great, and unfortunately I then over-corrected to Starboard. The submarine passed down the Port side and I estimated to have missed by about 50 yards. A pattern of six charges was fired at 0934. Speed had been reduced to 16 knots by the violent use of rudder and the recorder setting was altered, and the engine revolutions reduced, in order to maintain a steady speed. | ||
| 8. Contact was immediately regained, but here the Gyro Compass started to precess violently, having been thrown off by the shock, and the A/S operator had some difficulty for a minute or two, until it was realised what had happened. | ||
| 9. STANLEY, whose A/S set was still out of action, now did an attack in the direction of the splashes, being directed by BLANKNEY from the flank. She fired a 14 charge pattern, quite close to the U-boat. | ||
| 10. BLANKNEY going slow, was in 600 yards by the time STANLEY's charges had all fired, and I decided to attack at once before the U-boat Commander had time to recover from the effects of STANLEY's pattern. BLANKNEY has very quick powers of acceleration, and I steered straight for the contact, and was doing 18 knots as I passed over it and dropped a six charge pattern, again set to medium. From prisoners remarks it was this pattern which finished them, and, as I had hoped they were not ready for another attack so soon. Actually the | ||
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| interval between STANLEY's last charge, and BLANKNEY's first was less than three minutes. | ||
| 11. At 0948, while throwers were still being reloaded, and as A/S contact held, the U-boat surfaced, 2000 yards distant. I increased to full speed to ram and opened fire with No. 1 mounting which very soon was stopped by the safety depression. STANLEY also opened fire. | ||
| 12. The submarine's crew, however, were clear of the conning tower before they could be prevented from emerging, and jumped overboard, except for one Officer, who very courageously continued firing his gun. He was the only Officer who was not rescued and is believed to have been the First Lieutenant. | ||
| 13. The U-boat swung stern on and unfortunately I was too late deciding not to ram, but to board, and caught her a glancing blow which damaged BLANKNEY on the Port side. It did, however, throw the Officer in the U-boat off his aim and his last round went through my ensign instead of through the Ship. | ||
| 14. I stopped and lowered the Whaler, but the U-boat soon blew up and sank. | ||
| 15. I then rescued survivors: only four of the crew were missing: and EXMOOR, who had come up in the final stages of the action, provided A/S protection. | ||
| 16. Documents etc. found on the prisoners, and various items of intelligence have been forwarded direct to the Naval Intelligence Officer. | ||
| 17. I enclose a tracing of the A.R.L. plot for the first attack, the chemical recorder traces, Form S.1203; and also a reel of cine film, undeveloped, the property of Sub-Lieutenant S.G. Venner, R.N.V.R. who took photographs of the U-boat and the rescue of the survivors. | ||
| I have the honour to be, | ||
| Sir, | ||
| Your obedient Servant, | ||
| LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, R.N. | ||
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| R.N. 3.3.42. | ||
| The Honours and Awards Committee has considered the destruction of U.131 on 17th December, 1941, by H.M.S. BLANKNEY in collaboration with H.M.S. EXMOOR, STANLEY, STORK and other ships and of the U 434 on 18th December, 1941, by H.M.S. BLANKNEY and STANLEY. Consideration of recommendations for STORK and certain other ships for the part they played in the destruction of U 131 and U 574 has been postponed until the receipt of further reports. Recommendations for STANLEY are submitted on H & A 133/42. The Committee submits that the King's approval be sought for the Appointment and Awards to BLANKNEY and EXMOOR set forth below. | ||
| Two submarines were sunk, and prisoners taken from each. U131 on 17th December was attacked by H.M.S. BLANKNEY by depth charge. Later she came to the surface and was sunk by good shooting from EXMOOR and STANLEY. | ||
| U.434 was attacked by depth charges by BLANKNEY and STANLEY on 18th December. She was forced to the surface and rammed. | ||
H.M.S. EXMOOR. |
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Distinguished Service Cross. |
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| Lieutenant John Blakeley Russel, R.N. H.M.S. EXMOOR. | ||
Distinguished Service Medal. |
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| Chief Engine Room Artificer William Butchart, P/217 ED H.M.S. EXMOOR. | ||
Mention in Despatches. |
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| Lieutanant-Commander Laurence St. George Rich, R.N. H.M.S. EXMOOR. | ||
| Petty Officer Frank Harvey Leslie Croucher, H.M.S. EXMOOR. | ||
| Yoeman of Signals Kenneth Howard Baker, P/J114576 H.M.S. EXMOOR. | ||
| Cook (S) James Livingstone, P/LX 24399, H.M.S. EXMOOR. | ||
H.M.S. BLANKNEY. |
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Distinguished Service Order. |
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| Lieutenant-Commander Philip Frederick Fowlett, D.S.C., R.N. H.M.S. BLANKNEY. | ||
Distinguished Service Cross. |
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| Lieutenant Peter Eric Noel Griffiths, R.N. H.M.S. BLANKNEY. | ||
| T/Sub. Lieutenant John Dunse, R.N.V.R., H.M.S. BLANKNEY. | ||
Distinguished Service Medal. |
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| Stoker Petty Officer Albert George Rosewarner, D/KX 80800 | ||
| Petty Officer Norman Richardson, D/J 112622 | ||
| Acting Leading Seaman George Masters, D/SSX 23819 | ||
Mention in Despatches. |
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| Mr. Pearson Rodney Tiffin, Commissioned Engineer. | ||
| Acting Chief Petty Officer Gordon William Munn D/Sx 144643 | ||
| Stoker Petty Officer Robert Keeling, P/KX 66794 | ||
| Stoker Leonard Glanville, D/KX 115713 | ||
| Able Seaman Frederick Howell, D/JX 127220 | ||
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| VICE ADMIRAL | ||
| CHAIRMAN, HONOURS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE | ||
| 5TH march, 1942 | ||
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