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Bubblehead1980 · 11-10-21, 09:55 PM

December 16, 1943 in "DUNKERS DERP"

USS Seal SS-183 attacked a convoy at dawn, after sinking two ships that night in night surface attack. Shortly after torpedoing two more ships in dawn submerged attack with stern tubes, ran into a problem.

I ordered 250 feet, rigged for silent running and depth charge, with two escorts closing from opposite directions. Suddenly, saw boat was ascending, not descending, before boat could be stopped, SEAL was practically surfaced at a depth of 25 ft and kind of squatted for a moment. SEAL came under heavy gunfire from merchants in convoys just 1500-2500 yards away and escorts 3500-2500 yards away. Fortunately, no rounds hit the SEAL, but the seconds seemed like an hour as finally began descent.

Unfortunately, this gave escorts exact position of my boat and just as settled at 265 feet, a close depth charge exploded by control room. Serious damage in control room and conning tower, flooding in both, much of the equipment smashed. Hull damage went to 43.

Conning tower flooding easily contained by the control room was heavily flooded. Also discovered trim pump was heavily damaged, this made depth control very difficult. Did not want to descend deeper than 250-300 feet with that kind of hull damage. Could only maintain depth with speed of 6 knots ot great. Of course this gave away position to escorts, which hounded depth charging boat relentlessly. Finally after 45 minutes stopped the leaks in control room, began pumping water.

After two long hours, escorts suddenly went quiet, perhaps believing I was dead. One left area at high speed, other remained astern searching, pinging at one point, but never had a fix again.

Water pumped out, came to periscope depth at 1700, neither periscope functional. Back to 150 ft and remained submerged until dark.

Surfaced at dark to find neither periscopes working, three of four bow torpedoes wrecked (no torpedoes left in stern tubes) , plus a previously repaired fuel oil leak had fuel down from 32 percent when submerged for attack to 26 percent.

With six ships sunk and the boat heavily damaged, esp hull damage, turned for Pearl Harbor via Midway.

Never had my boat broach like that before than I can recall. Obviously gave them a fix on me and made that first dc run accurate, seriously damaging the boat. Anyone else?

11-10-21, 09:55 PM	#228
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	Submarine broached ...barely survived December 16, 1943 in "DUNKERS DERP" USS Seal SS-183 attacked a convoy at dawn, after sinking two ships that night in night surface attack. Shortly after torpedoing two more ships in dawn submerged attack with stern tubes, ran into a problem. I ordered 250 feet, rigged for silent running and depth charge, with two escorts closing from opposite directions. Suddenly, saw boat was ascending, not descending, before boat could be stopped, SEAL was practically surfaced at a depth of 25 ft and kind of squatted for a moment. SEAL came under heavy gunfire from merchants in convoys just 1500-2500 yards away and escorts 3500-2500 yards away. Fortunately, no rounds hit the SEAL, but the seconds seemed like an hour as finally began descent. Unfortunately, this gave escorts exact position of my boat and just as settled at 265 feet, a close depth charge exploded by control room. Serious damage in control room and conning tower, flooding in both, much of the equipment smashed. Hull damage went to 43. Conning tower flooding easily contained by the control room was heavily flooded. Also discovered trim pump was heavily damaged, this made depth control very difficult. Did not want to descend deeper than 250-300 feet with that kind of hull damage. Could only maintain depth with speed of 6 knots ot great. Of course this gave away position to escorts, which hounded depth charging boat relentlessly. Finally after 45 minutes stopped the leaks in control room, began pumping water. After two long hours, escorts suddenly went quiet, perhaps believing I was dead. One left area at high speed, other remained astern searching, pinging at one point, but never had a fix again. Water pumped out, came to periscope depth at 1700, neither periscope functional. Back to 150 ft and remained submerged until dark. Surfaced at dark to find neither periscopes working, three of four bow torpedoes wrecked (no torpedoes left in stern tubes) , plus a previously repaired fuel oil leak had fuel down from 32 percent when submerged for attack to 26 percent. With six ships sunk and the boat heavily damaged, esp hull damage, turned for Pearl Harbor via Midway. Never had my boat broach like that before than I can recall. Obviously gave them a fix on me and made that first dc run accurate, seriously damaging the boat. Anyone else?