U. S. S. VARIAN (DE 798)
FLEET POST OFFICE
NEW YORK, N. Y.
	S E C R E T                                             29 April, 1945
	DE 798/49
	Serial 0024/45
	From: The Commanding Officer. To    : Commander in Chief, United States Fleet. Via   : Commander Task Group 22.8   Commander Task Unit 22.7.1   Commander Task Group 22.3     Subject: Anti-Submarine Action on 24 April, 1945 - report of.     Reference: (a)  Article 712, United States Navy Regulations.   (b)  Atlantic Fleet confidential ltr. 13CL-43.     Enclosure: (A)  Anti-Submarine action form ASW-1, dated 29 April, 1945, containing supplemental information to this report.
	1.        This vessel took part in the action in which an enemy submarine was destroyed on 24 April, 1945, at 43 -45 North, 40 - 22 West.  Inasmuch as all action by this vessel was of a coordinated nature, enclosure (A) does not give an accurate and complete picture and is submitted as a supplement to this report, containing pertinent technical and navigational information only.
	2.        On 23 April, 1945, while patrolling on station in the barrier line set up by CTG 22.3, an enemy submarine was sighted by an aircraft approximately fifty miles East.  All fourteen vessels of the barrier patrol subsequently took part in retiring searches about this datum point.  At 1040 on 24 April the U.S.S. DAVIS (DE 136), one of the ships conducting the retiring search, was torpedoed.  VARIAN arrived at the scene of torpedoing at 1245.  At 1325 CTU 22.7.1, who was in charge at the scene, ordered VARIAN to organize a scouting line and to commence a search, passing through the point of last known submarine contact.  In so doing sound contact was obtained by VARIAN at 1405, range 1500 yards.  This contact was evaluated as "possible sub".  Echoes indicated target motion and logical target width but were slightly mushy with no doppler indications.  Further investigation indicated "definite sub" however.  Upon closing the target, contact was lost at about 600 yards, and the range was immediately opened to regain contact.  It was decided that the submarine was deep, and CTU 22.7.1 ordered this vessel not to attack but to hold contact and direct other vessels in creeping attacks.  At 1418 VARIAN directed U.S.S. JANSSEN in on an attack, and she fired depth charges at 1420.  CTU 22.7.1 then suggested creeping attacks using two firing
	- 1 -

 

U. S. S. VARIAN (DE 798)
FLEET POST OFFICE
NEW YORK, N. Y.
	SECRET                                              OFFICIAL BUSINESS
	Page 2
	DE 798/49
	Serial 0024/45
	ships abeam of each other, and at 1451 VARIAN directed the U.S.S. JANSSEN and U.S.S. HUBBARD in such an attack.  At 1514 the JANSSEN and HUBBARD were again conned over the submarine by VARIAN in another double creeping attack.  CTU 22.7.1 then suggested creeping attacks with three attacking ships, and accordingly VARIAN directed U.S.S. HUBBARD, U.S.S. NEUNZER and U.S.S. FLAHERTY in the fourth creeping attack at 1542.  There were numerous depth charge explosions at various depths on all creeping attacks.  Depth of explosions were not recorded by VARIAN, however.  Contact was then lost by VARIAN when one of the attacking ships streamed FXR gear and blanked out the submarine echo.  Contact was subsequently regained at about 1645.  It was then decided that VARIAN should close contact and obtain depth reading using 147B gear.  Contact was lost at about 600 yards, without obtaining depth reading.  A doubtful echo, however, was picked up about one thousand yards from the plotted position of the submarine.  Although the echo was not good and it was regarded as a very doubtful contact, VARIAN fired hedgehogs at 1659 to be sure.  There were no explosions.  The contact was dropped, and VARIAN proceeded back to where the other ships still held contact on the submarine.  NUENZER then conned VARIAN in with the idea of obtaining depth reading.  A depth reading of 580 feet was recorded by VARIAN.  At the last minute VARIAN was ordered to drop depth charges as directed by NUENZER.  Although VARIAN did not have time to set a complete pattern, thirteen charges set on magnetic were fired at 1718.  Inasmuch as several other ships then had contact, and VARIAN did not have enough Mark 7 Mod 3 depth charge pistols to fire another creeping attack pattern, she was ordered to rejoin the scouting line which was standing by at about 8,000 yards from the datum point.  A short time later, contact was lost entirely, and CTU 22.7.1 ordered all ships to join the scouting line and then directed the scouting line over the last known datum point.  While conducting this search, VARIAN obtained contact at 1930 and was again ordered by CTU 22.7.1 not to attack but to hold contact and direct and coordinate attacks by other vessels.  At this time, echoed were clear and sharp, there was definite doppler indications, and it wa decided that the submarine was probably not at an excessive depth.  Therefore, U.S.S. KEITH was conned into a favorable position to obtain contact.  At 1958 she obtained contact and started in on a hedgehog run but did not fire.  She did obtain a 147B depth reading of 200 feet however.  VARIAN continued to hold contact, passing ranges and bearings over TBS, and soon FLAHERTY obtained contact, and at 2010  she fired hedgehogs.  One explosion was heard 21 seconds after firing, and oil commenced bubbling to the surface.  FLAHERTY fired hedgehogs again at 2028 with no hits.  At this time target appeared dead in the water, echoes became mushy and indistinct, and several times contact was lost entirely by VARIAN.  FLAHERTY, however, decided to make another attack on the same spot although her echoes also were not indicative of a definite submarine.  At 2038, before FLAHERTY had time to fire on this run, the submarine surfaced about 2,000 yards from the point of sound contact.  The submarine was brought under fire by all ships
	- 2 -

 

U. S. S. VARIAN (DE 798)
FLEET POST OFFICE
NEW YORK, N. Y.
	SECRET
	Page 3
	DE 798/49
	Serial 0024/45
	in the immediate area.  Several hits from three inch shells were observed on the conning tower of the submarine.  At 2045 the submarine sank, bow first, at a very steep angle.  Thirty-three survivors were picked up by five destroyer escorts, VARIAN taking nine aboard.
	3.        It was noted that just prior to the firing point on all creeping attacks, the submarine maneuvered radically and seemed to sense that vessels other then the one pinging on him were about to drop charges.
	4.        The behavior of ship's personnel was cool and disciplined.  All equipment used operated entirely satisfactorily.  There were no equipment failures of any kind.
	5.        All times mentioned in this report are Greenwich Civil Time.
	L. A. MYHRE
	Advance cc:
	Cominch, with sound recorder traces
	and the track chart.
	CO, Atlantic Fleet ASW Unit.
	CO, Anti-Submarine Development Detachment - Surface
	cc::
	ComDesLant.

 

 

 

U. S. S. VARIAN (DE 798)
FLEET POST OFFICE
NEW YORK, N. Y.
	File No.
	1305 - 23 April - Plane got contact.       1630 - We wee ordered to join scouting line.       0840 - 24 April - USS DAVIS torpedoed.       1045 - Proceeding to pick up survivors.       1115 - Ordered to form search line at Datum Point about 6 miles distance.       1205 - Got contact.       1218 - Conned USS JANSSEN in creeping attack.  No hits. 1228 - Fired.       1251 - Conned JANSSEN and USS HUBBARD, dropped D.C.       1314 - JANSSEN and HUBBARD in coordinated attacks.       1342 - HUBBARD, JANSSEN, FLAHERTY in creeping attack.  Other ships joined.  Obtained contact.  We started in to get depth and make H/H/ attack.  1500 Fired H/H but believe not on sub.       1512 - USS NEUNZER conned us in attack - We got 146 B reading of 580 feet.  1518 dropped D.C.       1530 - Ordered back to scouting line.       1730 - Regained contact - Ordered to hold contact and let other ships investigate.       1810 - Conned FLAHERTY into position.  She got contact and fired H/H. one explosion in 21 seconds after firing.  Shortly after observed oil.       1828 - FLAHERTY in again - Fired H/H - No hits.  Fired about in same spot.       1832 - Was directing FLAHERTY in on attack when at 1838 sub surfaced astern.       1841 - Fired torpedo.  REported by plane and FLAHERTY said it passed close to her.       1845 - Sub sank - Picked up survivors.

 

U.S. DESTROYERS ATLANTIC FLEET
DESTROYER ESCORT DIVISION SIXTY-TWO
U.S.S. OTTER (DE210), FLAGSHIP
	S-E-C-R-E-T                                                                 Care Fleet Post Office,
	New York, New York.
	8 May 1945.
	FIRST ENDORESMENT to
	USS VARIAN (DE-798) Secret
	ltr DE-798/A9 Serial 0024/45
	dated 29 April 1945.
	CCD62/DE798/A16/(Eve)
	From: Commander Task Group TWENTY-TWO POINT EIGHT (22.8). To: Commander Task Group TWENTY-TWO POINT THREE (22.3).
	1.        Forwarded.
	2.        During the first several hours of the action covered in the foregoing report this officer's flagship was engaged in the rescue of survivors of the torpedoed USS DAVIS (DE-136).  However, these rescue operations were within visual, TBS and VHF range of the described action.  Consequently, a rather complete picture of the action was obtained.
	3.        Undoubtedly the outstanding performance of the entire action was the effective manner in which the USS VAIAN held contact continuously with a deep and elusive U-boat for almost two hours beginning at 1045, attempting to attack herself, and finding this impossible, opening range and directing four (4) creeping attacks.  It is felt by this officer that the success of the USS VARIAN in maintaining contact with this U-boat, commanded by one of the enemy's most skillful skippers, was due to the superb skill shown by Lieutenant Commander Myhre in handling his ship so as to keep the U-boat at a disadvantage.
	4.        Lieutenant Commander Myhre again demonstrated his skill at holding contact later in the afternoon, when after obtaining contact at 1930 the USS VARIAN conned in USS KIETH and USS FLAHERTY, in succession, while they obtained contact and made hedgehog attacks.  USS VARIAN maintained contact until the U-boat surfaced at 2038.
	5.        Lieutenant Commander Leonard A. MYHRE is to be commended for the splendid performance of his ship.
	6.        Commander Task Unit 22.7.1 was in tactical command at the scene of action.  Since this chain of command no longer exists, this correspondence is hereby re-addressed to Commander Task Group 22.3, with copy to CTU 22.7.1.
	J. F. BOWLING.
	cc:  CTU 22.7.1
	CO, USS VARIAN (DE-798).