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DaveyJ576 · 11-14-10, 02:52 PM

I wouldn't read too much into the position of the dive planes and the rudder. A depth charge exploding that close to the hull would have really thrown the crew around. It is entirely possible that the planesmen and the helmsman grabbed hold of their wheels in an attempt to keep themselves upright and in the process moved them drastically. It also looks like the charge exploded slightly above the hull which would have had a tendency to push her downwards. Impact with the bottom would have been violent, once again potentially causing the crewmen to inadvertantly move the planes. In addition, it is entirely plausible that the depth charges damaged the control hydraulics, forcing the planes and the rudder to the limits of their travel.

Making an escape from a sunken submarine during wartime is an extremely risky endeavor. The crew would have viewed it with a great deal of trepidation. They would have wanted to wait until they could be reasonably assured that the enemy had cleared the area. Not because they feared capture, but because they didn't want to be run over by the escort or depth charged while they were in the water. Once the Lagarto hit the bottom, the conditions inside the boat would probably have been pretty bad. Men would have been injured and there would have been all sorts of damage, from fires and electrical shorts to flooding and chlorine gas. The crew would have attempted to save the boat, which might have created an additional delay in an escape attempt.

It is pretty clear from the photos and the drawings that the pressure hull was breached in the area of the forward battery/forward torpedo room bulkhead, possibly flooding both compartments. A similar situation occured on the Tang, although on the opposite end of the boat. Conditions got very bad inside the boat before an escape was made and only a handful made it to the surface. It wouldn't be a stretch to speculate that the crew of Lagarto succumbed before they could make an attempt. Chlorine gas, smoke, fires; any of those could have got them.

I am heartened by the fact the Lagarto went down fighting. Frank Latta was no wuss, he would have directed an aggressive attack against the Hatsutaka. Unfortunately the roll of the dice went against them and our shipmates are now resting in a well earned sleep.

11-14-10, 02:52 PM	#9
DaveyJ576 Officer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 241 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	I wouldn't read too much into the position of the dive planes and the rudder. A depth charge exploding that close to the hull would have really thrown the crew around. It is entirely possible that the planesmen and the helmsman grabbed hold of their wheels in an attempt to keep themselves upright and in the process moved them drastically. It also looks like the charge exploded slightly above the hull which would have had a tendency to push her downwards. Impact with the bottom would have been violent, once again potentially causing the crewmen to inadvertantly move the planes. In addition, it is entirely plausible that the depth charges damaged the control hydraulics, forcing the planes and the rudder to the limits of their travel. Making an escape from a sunken submarine during wartime is an extremely risky endeavor. The crew would have viewed it with a great deal of trepidation. They would have wanted to wait until they could be reasonably assured that the enemy had cleared the area. Not because they feared capture, but because they didn't want to be run over by the escort or depth charged while they were in the water. Once the Lagarto hit the bottom, the conditions inside the boat would probably have been pretty bad. Men would have been injured and there would have been all sorts of damage, from fires and electrical shorts to flooding and chlorine gas. The crew would have attempted to save the boat, which might have created an additional delay in an escape attempt. It is pretty clear from the photos and the drawings that the pressure hull was breached in the area of the forward battery/forward torpedo room bulkhead, possibly flooding both compartments. A similar situation occured on the Tang, although on the opposite end of the boat. Conditions got very bad inside the boat before an escape was made and only a handful made it to the surface. It wouldn't be a stretch to speculate that the crew of Lagarto succumbed before they could make an attempt. Chlorine gas, smoke, fires; any of those could have got them. I am heartened by the fact the Lagarto went down fighting. Frank Latta was no wuss, he would have directed an aggressive attack against the Hatsutaka. Unfortunately the roll of the dice went against them and our shipmates are now resting in a well earned sleep.