USs Billfish...worst depth charging ?

Bubblehead1980 · 09-12-13, 06:26 PM

I am sure any depth charge attack was a harrowing experience but some were worst than others, more intense, accurate etc.

Most of us have read many accounts...Gato, Drum(when conning tower was cracked during intense depth charge attack, lead to a Balao class conning tower being placed when a Gato one was not available during refit period) , Halibut, Plunger(early war), Salmon (October 44). From what I have read, the BIllfish endured the worst one I have read about in the Makassar Strait on November 11, 1943.

Billfish was forced to 650 feet to get under the charges.The CO was paralyzed with fear, the XO could not command due to illness from lack of air.A Lieutenant took charge, realized the boat was leaking oil and that was how the DD was keeping track, so ordered reverse of course and escaped in the confusion.After 12 hours of attack, they survived.

I plan to order the book by Don Keith(who also authored the book about Batfish) to learn more.Just wondering what the most harrowing depth charge attack you have read about is.

09-12-13, 06:26 PM	#1
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,100 Downloads: 605 Uploads: 44	USs Billfish...worst depth charging ? I am sure any depth charge attack was a harrowing experience but some were worst than others, more intense, accurate etc. Most of us have read many accounts...Gato, Drum(when conning tower was cracked during intense depth charge attack, lead to a Balao class conning tower being placed when a Gato one was not available during refit period) , Halibut, Plunger(early war), Salmon (October 44). From what I have read, the BIllfish endured the worst one I have read about in the Makassar Strait on November 11, 1943. Billfish was forced to 650 feet to get under the charges.The CO was paralyzed with fear, the XO could not command due to illness from lack of air.A Lieutenant took charge, realized the boat was leaking oil and that was how the DD was keeping track, so ordered reverse of course and escaped in the confusion.After 12 hours of attack, they survived. I plan to order the book by Don Keith(who also authored the book about Batfish) to learn more.Just wondering what the most harrowing depth charge attack you have read about is. Last edited by Bubblehead1980; 09-13-13 at 04:14 AM.