SUBMARINE’S PANIC

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 111, 4 February 1943, Page 5

SUBMARINE’S PANIC

Probably Damaged By N.Z. Bomber

(Ollieial War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, February 2. The Japanese submarine which was sunk by the New Zealand corvettes off Guadalcanal last week was the second to be attacked by the Dominion forces taking part in the battle for the South Pacific. The first one, which was hunted by a Lockheed Hudson reconnaissance bomber of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, was also in the Solomons area. It is not known positively, however, to have been destroyed.

A scoreboard on the wall of the New Zealand air operations dug-out on Guadalcanal, includes a Japanese submarine probably damaged, as well as two float-planes definitely destroyed. This submarine episode happened some time before last week’s naval success. The New Zealand aircraft, which was engaged on a routine patrol, sighted the submarine on the surface.. Keeping iu the sun behind it in order to conceal its approach, the bomber flew into attacking position almost before the Japanese had realized their danger. The submarine then crash-dived with such desperate suddenness that the s ole Japanese look-out on the conning tower had no time to get below. Ilis panicstricken ship left him flrmndering helplessly jn the waler with only a few awful moments in which to decide whom to Illume most for his fate—his own crew or that of the bomber.roaring over his bead.

In the next instant depth charges came hurtling down round him. straddling the diving submarine. When the churning sea grew calm again a disc of oil had spread over its surface —evidence of probable damage to the submarine.