Interesting ASW Tactic.

Red October1984 · 01-15-13, 05:21 PM

I read last night in "War In The Boats: My WW2 Submarine Battles" that the Japanese were dragging hooks along the bottom of the ocean to try and snag the USS Crevalle. They managed to hook onto the Crevalle and drag it around for a bit until the Captain of the Crevalle decided to get away.

How often did they do this during the war? I never heard of such a thing.

Sailor Steve · 01-15-13, 06:11 PM

I'm not sure, but if they did it there should be other stories, from both sides.

On the other hand, how does he know that's what was really going on? Real life doesn't have external views. I can't imagine what else could "drag it around for a bit", but he had no way of seeing what was happening outside his sub.

nikimcbee · 01-15-13, 08:00 PM

They did this during WW1, before they had depth charges. I know they talk about the tactic in this book:
http://www.amazon.com/The-U-boats-Se.../dp/0809426757

Red October1984 · 01-15-13, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I'm not sure, but if they did it there should be other stories, from both sides.

On the other hand, how does he know that's what was really going on? Real life doesn't have external views. I can't imagine what else could "drag it around for a bit", but he had no way of seeing what was happening outside his sub.

Ruhe explained that when they bottomed their boat they heard clanking noises all around with the hydrophones. It dragged across the hull a couple times and finally it snagged on. They were towed into slightly deeper water when they turned on the engines and started evading.

Sailor Steve · 01-15-13, 08:55 PM

That's pretty descriptive.

Red October1984 · 01-15-13, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

That's pretty descriptive.

Well, It went on for like two pages and the print in the book is this big and i'm just asking about what I read.

Got a problem with that?

Sailor Steve · 01-15-13, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red October1984

Well, It went on for like two pages and the print in the book is this big and i'm just asking about what I read.

Got a problem with that?

Just the opposite. I meant that from that description there's not much else it could have been.

Unless they were dragging chains around, just to yank the Yank's chain, so to speak. But that's probably not what happened.

Jimbuna · 01-16-13, 06:34 AM

IIRC there are a few references in the Clay Blair Silent Victory book of the Japanese using grappling hooks on suspected enemy subs in shallow waters such as harbours.

Red October1984 · 01-16-13, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

IIRC there are a few references in the Clay Blair Silent Victory book of the Japanese using grappling hooks on suspected enemy subs in shallow waters such as harbours.

I'm going to read Silent Victory soon.

Jimbuna · 01-16-13, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red October1984

I'm going to read Silent Victory soon.

Very slow at the start but once the Americans get their equipment sorted (mainly torpedos) it soon becomes a one sided fight.

Red October1984 · 01-16-13, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Very slow at the start but once the Americans get their equipment sorted (mainly torpedos) it soon becomes a one sided fight.

I'm going to read Threat Vector by Tom Clancy next and after that I'm going to read Silent Victory.

Bilge_Rat · 01-16-13, 06:27 PM

"Silent Victory" is a great book. I do remember some references to the Japanese using grappling hooks, but that was very rare. It is also what the crew "thought" was happening, based on the noise.

I dont know if anyone actually checked whether it was an "official" ASW tactic of the IJN. I was more under the impression that it was a spur of the moment thing by the local commander. From "Silent Victory" and other books, I got the impression the IJN did not have formalised ASW tactics like the Allied Navies and took more of a "Fly-by-the seat-of-your-pants" approach.

Jimbuna · 01-17-13, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

"Silent Victory" is a great book. I do remember some references to the Japanese using grappling hooks, but that was very rare. It is also what the crew "thought" was happening, based on the noise.

I dont know if anyone actually checked whether it was an "official" ASW tactic of the IJN. I was more under the impression that it was a spur of the moment thing by the local commander. From "Silent Victory" and other books, I got the impression the IJN did not have formalised ASW tactics like the Allied Navies and took more of a "Fly-by-the seat-of-your-pants" approach.

Rgr that...my understanding too

01-15-13, 05:21 PM	#1
Red October1984 Airplane Nerd Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 6,243 Downloads: 115 Uploads: 0	Interesting ASW Tactic. I read last night in "War In The Boats: My WW2 Submarine Battles" that the Japanese were dragging hooks along the bottom of the ocean to try and snag the USS Crevalle. They managed to hook onto the Crevalle and drag it around for a bit until the Captain of the Crevalle decided to get away. How often did they do this during the war? I never heard of such a thing. __________________

01-15-13, 06:11 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I'm not sure, but if they did it there should be other stories, from both sides. On the other hand, how does he know that's what was really going on? Real life doesn't have external views. I can't imagine what else could "drag it around for a bit", but he had no way of seeing what was happening outside his sub. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-15-13, 08:00 PM	#3
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	They did this during WW1, before they had depth charges. I know they talk about the tactic in this book: http://www.amazon.com/The-U-boats-Se.../dp/0809426757 __________________

01-15-13, 08:55 PM	#5
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	That's pretty descriptive. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-16-13, 06:34 AM	#8
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	IIRC there are a few references in the Clay Blair Silent Victory book of the Japanese using grappling hooks on suspected enemy subs in shallow waters such as harbours. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

01-16-13, 06:27 PM	#12
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,855 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	"Silent Victory" is a great book. I do remember some references to the Japanese using grappling hooks, but that was very rare. It is also what the crew "thought" was happening, based on the noise. I dont know if anyone actually checked whether it was an "official" ASW tactic of the IJN. I was more under the impression that it was a spur of the moment thing by the local commander. From "Silent Victory" and other books, I got the impression the IJN did not have formalised ASW tactics like the Allied Navies and took more of a "Fly-by-the seat-of-your-pants" approach. __________________

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