WWI forum
World War One discussions.
Re: Persic Sunk, September 6, 1918
Posted by:
Franklyn K. Brown
()
Date: May 15, 2004 02:46PM
I am interested in World War One sub chasers, and I have accumulated a comprehensive file on these vessels. Included is a copy of an official U. S. Navy account of a multi-chaser attack on a U-boat on September 6, 1918. The approximate location was Latitude N 57 degrees 20 seconds and Longitude W 5 degrees 46 seconds. Although the British Admiralty did not confirm the attack as a "kill", the report describes the sounds as picked up by the chasers' hydrophones. The full report describes what appears to be attempts to remedy the irrreparable damage caused by intensive depth charge attacks. The very last sounds from the submarine heard by the Listeners of three chasers simultaneously were interpreted as twenty five rifle or pistol shots. This suggests that the U-boat crew fell to euthanasia, followed by suicide of their executioner, about thirty hours after the attack had begun.
It was a rule of the Admiralty that credit for a "kill" would be granted only upon submission of solid evidence such as crewmen (or bodies) and/or unmistakable wreckage detritus. None was retrieved, therefore no Admiralty recognition was forthcoming.
Given the resourcefulness of Kapitans, it is not beyond reason (although not highly probable) that the U-boat could have released some diesel fuel and air, staged the sounds, and then waited patiently (and silently) for the attackers to "take the bait" and leave the site, confident that they had indeed destroyed an enemy submarine. "Cest le Guerre".
If you will send me your Postal address I will send you a full copy of the report, including a diagram of the attack.
My e-mail address is fkbrown90@aol.com .
I make the same offer to your overseas correpondent. Will you please check to see if he has received this information?
Please forgive my faltering powers of perception, but I am confused as to the correct number of the apparently stricken submarine that was attacked. Do you think it was UB 87 or was it UBB 87?
RSVP.
Franklyn
It was a rule of the Admiralty that credit for a "kill" would be granted only upon submission of solid evidence such as crewmen (or bodies) and/or unmistakable wreckage detritus. None was retrieved, therefore no Admiralty recognition was forthcoming.
Given the resourcefulness of Kapitans, it is not beyond reason (although not highly probable) that the U-boat could have released some diesel fuel and air, staged the sounds, and then waited patiently (and silently) for the attackers to "take the bait" and leave the site, confident that they had indeed destroyed an enemy submarine. "Cest le Guerre".
If you will send me your Postal address I will send you a full copy of the report, including a diagram of the attack.
My e-mail address is fkbrown90@aol.com .
I make the same offer to your overseas correpondent. Will you please check to see if he has received this information?
Please forgive my faltering powers of perception, but I am confused as to the correct number of the apparently stricken submarine that was attacked. Do you think it was UB 87 or was it UBB 87?
RSVP.
Franklyn