[Bubblehead1980]

TMO UPDATE BH V2.0
Donation Narwhal
100 difficulty, contacts on, cameras off.



"SUNK ENEMY SUBMARINE" (Friendly Fire)


Since boat was lost, can't really do a normal report for patrol, decided to do the report write up in the form of after action report of the DE. I had the camera off but can imagine their perspective. May try to replay scenario before I deleted my saves for the career, just to watch the DE work. I used the name RICHARD M. ROWELL DE-403, the DE that sunk the SEAWOLF in a "friendly fire" situation in October 1944. Ironically, also off MOROTAI.

In the "OVERDUE AND PRESUMED LOST" I explain from my perspective what occurred.



AFTER ACTION REPORT
USS RICHARD M. ROWELL
DE-403

5 November 1944
2-34 N 130-16E
100 NM East of Morotai

4 November 1944

1500

Ordered to patrol area East of the recently captured island of MOROTAI, due to attacks by and sightings of enemy submarines in recent days. Arrived in assigned area at 2345.


5 November 1944

0300

Established radar contact with a lone, unidentified vessel bearing 001 and closed the contact. Ordered flank speed and to close contact to investigate.
General Quarters was called at 0304.


Submarine visually spotted bearing 5000 yards, confirmed by radar. Ordered forward gun to open fire when had a shot. Forward gun opened fire at 0314, shell splashes were close but was unclear if hits were scored. Observed a large submarine on the surface, which turned and submerged at 0315. Given there was no recognition signal and the dive/evasion by the submarine, along with not being in a safety area, it was believed this submarine was a enemy vessel and should be attacked.

Submarine was quickly detected on passive sonar, before active sonar was deployed. Sonar detected the boat at estimated 275 ft ft of depth and descending. At 0316, a salvo of hedgehogs were fired at sonar contact directly ahead. Eleven seconds after projectiles splashed in the water, one explosion was observed/heard, indicating a hit at 0317. A pattern of depth charges was dropped over the position as well as ROWELL steamed over the location at 0318. Pattern was set for stern racks and k guns, depth intervals of 150-250-350-450 feet. Sonar lost contact briefly after this depth charge attack.

After coming about, sonar picked up the contact, order was given to close range and another salvo of hedgehogs was fired, followed by another pattern of depth charges at 0323, but no hits were confirmed.

Came about to make another depth charge run on estimated position when at 0325, sound reported that he could hear a submarine, likely damaged, blowing its ballast. Already on the way for another run, reported that hedgehog launcher was reloaded, fired another salvo at 0325:35 with a hit confirmed by a explosion, as ROWELL rolled above target, a pattern of depth charges were dropped as well. Sound contact was lost after depth charge attack. No engine or other sounds of submarine could be heard.

However, at 0333, sounds of a vessel breaking up, collapsing hull was heard.

Continued to sweep the scene but made no further contact nor was any debris located. At 0400 ordered all stop and listened for one hour, until getting back underway at 0500, making sweeps in the area.
At 0530, as dawn broke, a PBY "BAKER 11" arrived in area to assist. At 0611, with the sun rising, spotted a oil slick and debris nearby, indicating the sinking of a submarine.





"OVERDUE AND PRESUMED LOST"
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I was on the way to Brisbane via MIOS WOENDI after 15th war patrol in NAUTILUS(started in December 1941), a successful special mission delivering cargo and personnel to DIBUT BAY, LUZON, as well as using guns to finish off the USS DARTER , grounded on shoal in SOUTH CHINA SEA. Sunk a ATAMI gunboat (gunfire) off LUZON and a No.60 class subchaser (torpedo) in BALABAC STRAIT, survived a depth charge attack (no easy feat in this old boat in late 1944). I had one patrol left before NAUTILUS (as she was in reality during war) was withdrawn and ordered home.

NAUTILUS was cruising east MOROTAI en route to Brisbane via MIOS WOENDI for fuel top off (home port shifted back to Brisbane while was at sea) when APR-1 detected radar emissions, then SJ had a lone contact, which closed faster than I expected, but assumed it to be a IJN vessel, and tried to evade it, Soon, contact was in visual range and identified it as a John C Butler Class Destroyer Escort. Suddenly, it dawned on me , "friendly fire" , yes the friendly fire I implemented into TMO, was there to get me. I've been bombed by "Allied" plans in "friendly fire" incidents, but only once, and it was early war (Clemson Class in 1942/43) was I attacked by a DD in friendly fire, in the campaign.

Well, DE opened fire from about 4500-5000 yards, much further the Japanese usually do, assuming his superior radar assisted in detecting NAUTILUS, forcing a dive. DE roared in with hedgehogs and depth charges. I had the external camera off as usually, so could not go out for a look, but I heard the unusual (in sense not use to them, but have heard them before in testing) noise of hedgehogs launching and was hit somewhere up forward, as had flooding in forward torpedo room, every piece of equipment wrecked in that compartment. Followed up the attack as DE roared above with depth charges, which caused more damage in all compartments. Fought to keep boat from sinking with all back emergency but could not do it, so blew ballast tanks, figured the six inch guns could handle a lone DE or at least leave a mark. Tanks were blown dry, over 70 percent of compressed air used, finally began rising from 330 feet (was sinking below, sure damaged hull would have collapsed).

As was rising, pinging began again and soundman reported enemy closing fast, he was making another pass as we ascended past 155 feet. Heard the sound of hedgehogs launching and seconds later...BAM! Lights flicker on and off, boat shook, damage reports piled in. Flooding in control room, everything in compartment damaged. Then the depth charge pattern followed. Engine room took brunt of it. Batteries were essentially wrecked, two of four electric motors gone. Lost speed and stopping ascending at 135 feet, as loss of power and heavy weight forward dragged boat down at high velocity. Hull collapsed as passed 190 feet (due to hull damage) out of control , in spite of best efforts.