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Bubblehead1980 · 12-07-09, 12:56 PM

I got this one from the book "Pigboat 39" by Bobette Gugilotta.This book details the S-39 in Manila during the pre-war days, after December 7 and her grounding in August 1942 near the Solomon Islands.The author's husband was an Officer aboard the 39 before and after Pearl Harbor.

Anyway, while patroling Albay Gulf in the Philippines in the days after Pearl Harbor, the Captain of S-39, James W. Coe was looking for a way to attack Japanese ships at night.This was before the night surface attack was even part of the training for US sub crews, so they did not have a TBT.This was before US subs had "night scopes" Unlike fleetboats, they did not have activate sonar.So Coe came up with the idea that Guy Gugliotta(author's husband) would take his role as gunnery/torpedo officer to the limit.

Coe decided that the S-39 would submerge and Gugliotta would sit atop the radio mast, use binoculars to sight target and use a crude com system to rely target information.The plan never materialized though, which pleased Gugliotta very much.

12-07-09, 12:56 PM	#4
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,142 Downloads: 608 Uploads: 44	re I got this one from the book "Pigboat 39" by Bobette Gugilotta.This book details the S-39 in Manila during the pre-war days, after December 7 and her grounding in August 1942 near the Solomon Islands.The author's husband was an Officer aboard the 39 before and after Pearl Harbor. Anyway, while patroling Albay Gulf in the Philippines in the days after Pearl Harbor, the Captain of S-39, James W. Coe was looking for a way to attack Japanese ships at night.This was before the night surface attack was even part of the training for US sub crews, so they did not have a TBT.This was before US subs had "night scopes" Unlike fleetboats, they did not have activate sonar.So Coe came up with the idea that Guy Gugliotta(author's husband) would take his role as gunnery/torpedo officer to the limit. Coe decided that the S-39 would submerge and Gugliotta would sit atop the radio mast, use binoculars to sight target and use a crude com system to rely target information.The plan never materialized though, which pleased Gugliotta very much.